Business2 min read

Navratri puts the brakes on auto sales, not EVs

By · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Navratri's Hindu festival of lights saw a strong performance in electric vehicle (EV) sales, with EV sales increasing by 26.78% year-on-year and accounting for around 10.5% of total vehicle sales during Navratri. Electric two-wheeler sales also saw a 33.41% increase, with electric passenger vehicle sales growing by 25.97% and electric commercial vehicle sales nearly doubling to 1,288 units. Despite a modest year-on-year growth in vehicle retail sales, the industry remains cautiously optimistic about the upcoming Dhanteras-to-Diwali buying period, citing improving affordability and rising consumer demand.

Key points

  • Navratri's festival of lights had a mixed impact on India's auto market, with a decline i…: Navratri's festival of lights had a mixed impact on India's auto market, with a decline in overall vehicle sales but a strong performance in electric vehicle (EV) sales.
  • The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) reported that EV sales increased…: The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) reported that EV sales increased by 26.78% year-on-year, accounting for around 10.5% of total vehicle sales during Navratri.
  • Electric two-wheeler sales also saw a 33.41% increase, with electric passenger vehicle sa…: Electric two-wheeler sales also saw a 33.41% increase, with electric passenger vehicle sales growing by 25.97% and electric commercial vehicle sales nearly doubling to 1,288 units.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

The decline, however, masked a stronger performance against Navratri 2024, the last comparable festive period before last year's goods and services tax (GST) rate cuts spurred a wave of pent-up demand.

Retail sales were up 26.76% from 8.86 lakh units during Navratri 2024, with electric vehicle (EV) sales emerging as a key growth driver.

Also Read: Navratri shoppers splurge on clothes, appliances as gadgets get pricier

Passenger vehicle retail sales fell 21.91% year-on-year to 1.83 lakh units, while two-wheeler sales declined 2.79% to 8.34 lakh units. Three-wheeler sales dropped 7.51% to 45,735 units.

Commercial vehicle sales, however, rose 1.12% to 35,618 units.

FADA president Sai Giridhar had told The Economic Times earlier that the modest year-on-year growth in vehicle retail sales reflected an unusually high base last year, when the GST rate cuts triggered a surge in pent-up demand.

Navratri also lasted 11 days in 2025, compared with 10 days this year, according to FADA's statement.

EV retail sales rose 26.78% year-on-year to 1.17 lakh units, accounting for around 10.5% of total vehicle sales during Navratri, up from about 7.7% a year earlier, FADA said.

Electric two-wheeler sales increased 33.41% to 75,758 units, while electric passenger vehicle sales grew 25.97% to 12,305 units. Electric commercial vehicle sales nearly doubled to 1,288 units.

Giridhar said the industry remained cautiously optimistic ahead of the Dhanteras-to-Diwali buying period, citing improving affordability and rising consumer demand.

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Original source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

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