Car Registrations Drop 22% During Navratri Amid Supply Issues
Despite strong deliveries, car registrations fell significantly this Navratri, attributed to last year's high base and ongoing supply constraints.
Car registrations decreased by 22% during Navratri compared to last year.
Maruti Suzuki reported strong demand but faced supply limitations.
Tata Motors and Hyundai saw varied performance, with some brands experiencing a decline in registrations.
Car registrations in India experienced a notable decline of 22% during the Navratri festival this year, a drop attributed to a high comparative base from last year when the festival lasted 11 days and coincided with the rollout of GST 2.0. FADA president Sai Giridhar noted that the current year's figures reflect an optical dip rather than a true downturn in demand, as the previous year's sales were significantly impacted by a halt in transactions during August and September.
The current market dynamics indicate that while overall registrations fell, major manufacturers like Maruti Suzuki reported that their deliveries were nearly on par with last year's figures. Maruti's senior executive officer for sales and marketing, Partho Banerjee, stated that the company could have achieved higher sales if not for supply constraints, with daily bookings reaching up to 12,500 but only being able to fulfill 8,500. The backlog of pending bookings has surged to 2.7 lakh post-Dussehra, highlighting the ongoing supply challenges.
Data from JATO Dynamics revealed that registrations of petrol, diesel, and CNG vehicles dropped by 5.2% to 1.69 lakh units. Maruti led the market with 74,387 registrations, a slight increase of 0.1%. In contrast, Tata Motors saw a significant decline of 16.4%, while Hyundai and Kia also reported decreases. However, Mahindra & Mahindra bucked the trend with a 6.6% increase in registrations.
Despite the overall decline, some manufacturers reported strong demand during the festive season. Tata Motors' chief commercial officer, Amit Kamat, highlighted that over 50,000 vehicles were delivered during Navratri, indicating robust consumer interest. Hyundai also noted a 30% increase in registrations during the festival period, suggesting that certain brands are managing to capture market share despite broader challenges.
Looking ahead, industry experts suggest that the true impact of the current registration figures will become clearer in the coming days as the Vahan portal updates its data. The upcoming Dhanteras and Diwali festivals are expected to drive further sales momentum, with manufacturers optimistic about continued consumer interest in the automotive sector.
