Vehicle registrations fell 6.52% year-on-year during this year’s Navratri, according to provisional data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).
Retail sales totalled 11.23 lakh units from October 11 to October 20, against 12.01 lakh units in the same festive period last year (September 22 to October 2, 2025).
Passenger vehicles saw the steepest drop among all categories, with registrations down 21.91% to 1.83 lakh units. Two-wheelers, the biggest segment, fell 2.79% to 8.34 lakh units. Three-wheelers declined 7.51% to 45,735 units, and wheeled construction equipment fell 1.97% to 2,240 units.
Only two segments grew. Commercial vehicles rose 1.12% to 35,618 units, while tractors edged up 0.89% to 22,690 units.
The data was compiled on October 21 from 1,468 of the country’s 1,469 regional transport offices (RTOs). Figures for three-wheelers, commercial vehicles and tractors were not available for Telangana.
Last Year’s Shadow
FADA said the fall reflects a high base. Last year’s Navratri ran for 11 days against 10 this year. It also began on the day the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate cut came into effect, which triggered a buying rush at dealerships.
“The marginal 6.52% dip versus Navratri’25 is largely optical: last year Navratri ran eleven days against ten and coincided with the GST 2.0 roll-out, which pulled a wave of pent-up demand into one extraordinary window,” said FADA President.
Against Navratri 2024 (October 3 to October 12), which Giridhar called the last truly comparable festive period, total retail sales were up 26.76% from 8.86 lakh units. Two-wheelers grew 32.41% and passenger vehicles 10.39% over that period.
EVs Race Ahead
Electric vehicle (EV) retail sales totalled 1,17,437 units, up from 92,628 a year ago. Two-wheeler EVs rose 33.41% to 75,758 units, and three-wheeler EVs grew 10.51% to 28,086 units. Passenger vehicle EVs gained 25.97% to 12,305 units, while commercial vehicle EVs nearly doubled, up 96.04% to 1,288 units.
“The real standout is electrification — EV retails grew 26.78% and now account for close to 10.5% of festive sales, up from about 7.7% a year ago, showing that India’s EV shift has become self-sustaining,” he said.
“As we enter the Dhanteras-to-Diwali wave, we remain cautiously optimistic: affordability is strong, aspiration is rising, and auto retail continues to mirror the enduring momentum of the India Growth Story.”
Carmakers Stay Upbeat
India’s largest passenger vehicle maker, Maruti Suzuki, said its Navratri deliveries were almost the same as last year, with capacity constraints limiting further deliveries.
“Deliveries are almost the same in the Navratri period this year versus last year; we are around 98 per cent of last year,” the company’s Senior Executive Officer for Marketing and Sales, told PTI.
He said retail sales from the start of the Onam period to Dussehra grew around 30% year-on-year. He expects double-digit growth for the entire festival season, which runs till Diwali.
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles said it is seeing higher showroom walk-ins, enquiries, bookings and deliveries amid improved customer sentiment. “The response during Navratri has been particularly encouraging, with over 50,000 vehicles delivered during this festive period, including more than 10,000 on Dussehra alone,” said the company’s chief commercial officer.
Hyundai Motor India MD and CEO said demand remains healthy in both urban and rural markets. Its registrations grew 30% year-on-year between Shradh and Navratri, to nearly 41,000 units. “Considering the pace of bookings, we expect momentum to continue through Dhanteras and Diwali,” he added.
