The market came alive during the Navratri festival; showrooms became vibrant, and buyers started receiving car keys. A total of 11.23 lakh vehicles were sold in 10 days, meaning more than one car was sold every second. However, there is a nuance to this rosy picture: sales of motorcycles and scooters increased, as did tractors and trucks, while sales of passenger cars and SUVs sharply declined. This raises questions about market sentiment during the festive season and whether the sales pace will continue until Diwali.
According to data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA), a total of 11,230,860 vehicles were registered during the 10 days of Navratri this year. Meanwhile, approximately 12,014,790 units were sold during the 10 days of Navratri last year. Thus, sales during this year's Navratri were slightly modest compared to last year, showing a decline of 6.52%.
Previously, GST version 2.0 came into effect on September 22, 2025, coinciding with the start of Sharadiya Navratri. Thanks to the GST reforms, there was a significant reduction in vehicle prices, which directly impacted sales. The price reduction attracted a large number of customers to showrooms. This did not happen this time, but people actively purchased vehicles.
Sales pace slowed for passenger cars; two-wheelers dominated
Two-wheeled vehicles were the most in-demand during Navratri. Over these 10 days, 834,075 units of two-wheeled transport were sold, which is 2.79% less than the 858,027 units sold in the same period last year. Regarding electric two-wheelers, 75,758 units were sold during this period, which is 33.41% more than the 56,787 units sold last year, indicating high public interest in purchasing two-wheeled transport this Navratri.
As for passenger cars, only 182,728 units were registered across the country. This is 21.91% less than the 234,004 units registered in the same period last year. Nevertheless, electric vehicle sales increased by approximately 25.97%. Last Navratri, 9,768 electric vehicles were sold, whereas this year the number reached 12,305, indicating growing interest in electric vehicles in the country.
Three-wheeled vehicle sales also showed a slight decrease: 45,735 units were registered this Navratri, which is 7.51% less than the 49,450 units registered last year. On the other hand, commercial vehicle sales amounted to 35,618 units, which is 1.12% more than the 35,224 units sold last year. Tractors also showed a slight increase: 22,690 tractors were registered this Navratri, which is 0.89% more than the 22,489 units sold last year.
FADA Comments
FADA Chairman Sai Giridhar noted that although the sales growth may seem insignificant, last year's base was quite strong. According to him, last year there was a simultaneous surge in demand in the markets for about 30-45 days, which contributed to increased sales. Therefore, despite concerns about a slump this year, the recorded positive growth is a good sign.
He also emphasized that 'the decline in passenger car sales cannot be viewed directly as an indicator of low demand. Last year, the segment benefited the most from GST tax reductions. Furthermore, the calendar for Navratri and Dussehra differed this year from last. Last year, the Navratri festival lasted about 11 days, whereas this year the period was 10 days.'
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