New Delhi
India’s auto retail industry posted steady growth in November, with overall sales rising 2.14 per cent year-on-year to 33.01 lakh units, according to new figures from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). The industry managed to maintain momentum even after the festive season, helped by price cuts following the GST 2.0 rollout that continued to draw buyers to showrooms.
Passenger vehicles performed well, supported by better availability of popular models and rising demand for compact SUVs. Inventory levels for this segment eased to 44–46 days, compared with 53–55 days in October, signalling improving customer interest. Maruti Suzuki held its leading position with a 39.4 per cent market share, followed by Mahindra at 13.7 per cent and Tata Motors at 13.2 per cent.
However, the two-wheeler segment struggled, with monthly sales dropping 19.16 per cent to 25.46 lakh units. Year-on-year, the decline was 3.10 per cent. FADA President C. S. Vigneshwar said the fall must be seen in context, as festive shopping in October pulled demand forward. He added that delayed crop payments and uneven supply of in-demand models also hurt sales, though customer visits remained strong due to positive sentiment from GST changes and the ongoing marriage season.
Three-wheelers continued to shine, rising 31.58 per cent month-on-month to 1.33 lakh units. The segment also grew 23.67 per cent year-on-year, fuelled largely by higher demand for e-rickshaws and e-carts. Commercial vehicle sales showed a mixed trend, with light and medium categories weakening while heavy commercial vehicles rose 3.28 per cent to 28,659 units.
Analysts said November’s overall performance showed resilience, as solid passenger vehicle and three-wheeler sales helped balance weakness in two-wheelers and parts of the commercial vehicle segment.
