The Indian Blue Book Report 2023 Underlines Good Uptake In Used Car Sales
- By Bhushan Mhapralkar
- May 23, 2024
The Indian Blue Book (IBB) report by Car&Bike and Das WeltAuto (the used car division of Volkswagen) has underlined a significant uptake in used car sales in the country. As per the report, the sale of used cars is expected to reach 10.92 million units by FY2027-28 as the supply of good quality cars that were bought post the covid years starts to grow in the market.
Valued at USD 31.33 billion in FY2022-23 as per the sixth edition of IBB report, the used car market in India is currently witnessing higher demand versus supply in response to the drastic slowdown in new car purchases in the Covid fiscal (FY2020-21).
Expected to more than double to USD 70.48 billion in FY2027-28 as high-quality passenger vehicles bought in the years after the pandemic, the Indian used car market is in for a good show.
Roughly linked to a phenomenon where the slowdown in purchase of new cars leads to a surge in the demand for used cars, the arrival of passenger vehicles no more than 3.5 to five years of age, the used car market in India is expected to experience good momentum. It is also expected to see some formalisation, according to source, but grow nonetheless on the organised side as well as the unorganised side. The organised side of the used car market in the country is currently an estimated 35 percent.
As owners of new cars purchased post the pandemic period decide to upgrade, the buyers of used cars are expected to get to choose from high-quality cars, albeit with records and a higher residual value. Budget buyers looking at quality pre-owned cars on the back of being more informed about car technicalities, the present situation points at an increasing availability of cars that are not just well maintained, but are also replete with a good safety kit among other attributes. An example of such an offering is the Volkswagen Taigun, which has managed to retain 80 percent of its residual value after three years unlike the models sold by the German automaker earlier.
With the make, model and variant turning out to be a big consideration among 71 percent used car buyers, the tendency of buyers to inform themselves well is increasingly witnessed as per the BBI report. Stressing on the fact that majority of buyers are highly budget conscious (63 percent) even as they look for quality cars, the report highlights a pull towards used cars that offer a better safety kit and safety rating. The Volkswagen Taigun for example, is five-star GNCAP rated.
The sixth edition of the BBI – walking the foot steps of the earlier edition – highlights the fact that 71 percent of the used car buyers also acknowledged overall repairs and servicing costs as a big consideration.
About 45 percent of buyers/intenders prefer local dealers for exploring, followed by auto tech start-ups (26 percent) and OEM backed brands (23 percent). In terms of awareness and preferences of car leasing, 28 percent of buyers were found to be aware of the concept. The indication, as per the report, is that 62 percent of used car buyers would avail of the same in the future.
In the case of used car buyers, warranty and financial assistance topped the list of demands as a service. A majority of them – 56 percent of them – did not prefer an EV used car.
From the vehicle seller’s perspective, 59 percent of them reasoned that they wanted to upgrade to a new vehicle as the reason to do away with their existing set of wheels. Some of them reasoned that it was the sufficiency of having another vehicle. The extra cars bought during Covid-19 period are being sold now, the sixth edition of BBI report highlights.
What has been aiding the arrival of high-quality cars that were bought during the post pandemic period is being attributed to the fast tracking of auto technology. Automotive tech startups and OEM backed companies are ensuring that the actual Turn Around Time (TAT) to sell a car is down to three days!
Full payment within 24 hours remains the top priority for sellers followed by vehicle inspection at a location of their choice.
“The pre-owned car market is significantly growing with the potential of it being double by FY2028. The growth primarily comes from the evolving trends and customer preferences while selecting a pre-owned vehicle. A notable shift is the top priority for safety features, a transition similar to the new car industry, enabling a brand like Volkswagen, to be more accessible and in-demand for customers with our 5-star GNCAP rated product portfolio – Taigun and Virtus. The high preference for safety features and standards among customers is positively impacting the residual value of Volkswagen cars, especially the Taigun. We are confident the Das WeltAuto. business, will continue to grow as one of the top certified pre-owned car brands in India for customers,” said Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India.
Ashutosh Pandey, CEO & MD, Mahindra First Choice, averred, “The latest edition of the Indian Blue Book, a collaboration with Das WeltAuto. by Volkswagen, reinforces our confidence in the Indian pre-owned car market's explosive growth potential. The increasing involvement of organized players is bringing stability and trust to this market; achieving consistent profitability and providing superlative customer experience remains the top priorities for organised players.”
Mahindra First Choice Wheels-backed Indian Blue Book launched the first edition in 2015 to highlight the trends in the used car industry in India. Since then, the annual report has been established as the largest and most intensive primary research conducted in India. Since 2022 Das WeltAuto., the pre-owned car brand of Volkswagen, and Car&Bike, a 100 percent subsidiary of Mahindra First Choice Wheels, have co-curated this research report.
Tata Motors To Gift Sierra SUVs To Women's World Cup Winning Team
- By MT Bureau
- November 05, 2025
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has announced it will present the Indian Women’s Cricket Team with the first lot of the soon-to-be-launched Tata Sierra SUV following their victory at the ICC Women's World Cup. The Tata Sierra is slated to be launched on 25th November.
The company will gift the top-end model of the Sierra to each team member as part of its salute to the team’s journey and contribution to the country.
Shailesh Chandra, MD and CEO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “The Indian Women’s Cricket Team has made the entire nation proud with their extraordinary performance and remarkable win. Their journey stands as a true testament to determination and the power of belief, qualities that inspire every Indian. At Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, we are privileged to present these legends with another legend, The Tata Sierra. This is our salute to their spirit and the pride they have brought to the nation – Two legends, One spirit, Infinite inspiration.”
Maruti Suzuki India Crosses 30 Million Unit Sales Milestone
- By MT Bureau
- November 05, 2025
Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has attained a new milestone by crossing the 30-million-unit sales milestone in the domestic market.
The new benchmark was attained by the company over a course of 42 years, with the first 10 million unit sales taking 28 years and 2 months to achieve.
The 20 million unit sales took 7 years and 5 months, while the recent milestone took just 6 years and 4 months.
Interestingly, the entry-level hatchback Alto was the most preferred model in the country, with over 4.7 million units sold, followed by Wagon R with 3.4 million units and the sporty Swift with 3.2 million units.
The Brezza and Fronx SUVs also played an instrumental role in contributing to the sales milestone, being featured among the top 10 models sold in the country.
It was on 14th December 1983, Maruti Suzuki India delivered its first model, the iconic Maruti 800, to its first customer.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “When I look at the length and breadth of India and think that 3 crore customers have placed their trust in Maruti Suzuki to realise their dream of mobility, it fills me with humility and gratitude. Yet, with car penetration at approximately 33 vehicles per 1,000 people, we know our journey is far from over. We will continue to make every possible effort to bring the joy of mobility to as many people as we can, while also be an asset to both the economy and the environment at the same time.”
Sharad Agarwal Is Tesla India’s First Business Head
- By MT Bureau
- November 04, 2025
American electric vehicle maker Tesla has appointed Sharad Agarwal, former Chief Business Officer of Classic Legends, as its new business head, according to a report by Bloomberg.
The report further stated that Agarwal joined the EV maker a week ago and is tasked to drive sales for Tesla in India, which as per industry observers, has not performed as per the company’s expectations.
Agarwal, an automotive industry veteran, had begun his career with TVS Motor Co as Area Sales Manager in December 2002, before joining Mahindra First Choice Wheels as its Business Head for North and Eastern region in March 2007.
It was in January 2013, he moved to Audi India as the head of Sales, before taking over as the head of Lamborghini India in April 2016, where he spent almost 9 years, before joining Classic Legends.
During his tenure at Lamborghini, the Italian super luxury car maker saw its dealerships across India achieved a Return on Sales (RoS) of more than 10 percent, setting a new benchmark for the automotive business in the country. He also grew India’s ranking for the automaker as the third market globally in terms of PR visibility in 2021.
He also expanded Lamborghini India’s reach to over 60 cities, with sales volumes from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contributing more than 25 percent of the total.
Tesla, which formally started deliveries in September 2025 with its first dealership in Mumbai and the second facility in Delhi, has till date delivered 114 vehicles, of the estimated 600-plus bookings.
File photo for representational purposes only.
Mahindra & Mahindra Reports INR 36 Billion Net Profit For Q2 FY2026
- By MT Bureau
- November 04, 2025
Mumbai-headquartered business conglomerate Mahindra & Mahindra has announced its financial results for Q2 FY2026 with consolidated Revenue reaching INR 461 billion, marking a 22 percent YoY growth.
The consolidated Profit After Tax (PAT) stood at INR 36 billion, a 16 percent increase YoY. The company stated that, excluding specific one-time impacts, PAT growth was 28 percent YoY.
Mahindra’s Auto business reported sales of 262,000 vehicles, up 13 percent, which includes around 146,000 SUV sales. This translated to a revenue of INR 271 billion, up 25 percent YoY, while net profit came at INR 15 billion, up 8 percent YoY.
On the other hand, the farm sector reported its highest ever Q2 market share at 43 percent with sales of 123,000 units, up 32 percent YoY. The revenue came at INR 102 billion, up 25 percent, while consolidated net profit came at INR 11 billion, up 45 percent YoY.
Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “We are pleased with the strong execution and solid performance delivered across the group in Q2 FY2026. Auto and Farm sustained their leadership with consistent gains in market share and profitability. TechM is progressing well on its transformation journey. MMFSL achieved a 45 percent PAT growth and remains committed to quality growth and digital transformation. Our Growth Gems are steadily advancing towards their ambitious goals, reinforcing our long-term value creation potential.”
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director & CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Strong performance of our Auto and Farm businesses continues in Q2 FY2026 reinforcing our leadership position, with a gain of 390 bps YoY in SUV revenue share, and 100 bps YoY in LCV (< 3.5T) market share. In Tractors, we gained 50 bps YoY to reach 43 percent market share. Our Auto Standalone PBIT margin (excl. e-SUV Contract Mfg.) improved by 80 bps to 10.3 percent and core Tractor PBIT margins improved by 190 bps to 20.6 percent.”
Amarjyoti Barua, Group Chief Financial Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra, “Our solid Q2 consolidated results reflects the strength of our diversified portfolio. We continue to deliver on our strategic priorities. We had strong cash generation in the first half, delivering over INR 100 billion of operating cash flow. We remain committed to sustainable growth and value creation.”

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