The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) has released the automotive retail sales data for November, which saw a total of 3,208,719 vehicles sold across categories, marking a 11.2 percent growth over November 2023.

This saw two-wheelers clocking its best-ever performance for the month at 2,615,953 units, up 15.8 percent YoY, three-wheeler at 108,337 units, up 4.2 percent YoY, passenger vehicles sales at 321,943 units, down 13.7 percent YoY, tractors sales at 80,519 units, up 29.8 percent YoY and commercial vehicles sales at 81,967 units, down 6 percent YoY.

C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA, stated, “While November was initially expected to build on its prior momentum, particularly due to the marriage season, dealer feedback suggests that this segment underperformed overall expectations. Although rural markets offered some support, primarily in the two-wheeler category, marriage-related sales remained subdued. The late occurrence of Deepawali at the end of October also caused a spillover of festive registrations into November, affecting the month’s sales trajectory.”

He shared that while November sales in certain segments were at record high, the marriage season’s contribution fell short of expectations, offering only limited relief from rural India.

The passenger vehicles sales in particular faced notable headwinds, on the back of weak market sentiment, limited product variety and insufficient new launches, compounded by the shift of festive demand into October.

“Although rural interest was present, it failed to significantly improve sentiment.

Inventory levels have reduced by about 10 days, but to remain high at around 65-68 days. FADA continues to urge OEMs to further rationalise inventory so that the industry can enter the new year on a healthier footing, reducing the need for additional discounts,” stated Vigneshwar.

On the CV sales he explained that the segment also struggled due to restricted product choices, older model issues, limited financier support, and the absence of major festivals in November following a strong October.

“External elements such as elections, a slowdown in coal and cement industries, and weak market sentiment also weighed heavily on this category,” he said.

Going forward he expects that with the prospects of a bumper Kharif harvest is likely to temper food inflation and the broader macroeconomic environment appears will improve, potentially aiding consumer sentiment in the months ahead.

“However, the immediate December outlook derived from dealer feedback is mixed. Category-wise Expectations:

Two-wheelers: Dealers suggest that while some buyers remain hesitant—either awaiting new-year models or influenced by subdued post-festive sentiment—others could be drawn by potential year-end discounts and stable rural demand. Although momentum may not be robust, incremental schemes and easing inflation could lend mild support, placing two-wheeler on a cautiously positive footing.

Passenger vehicles: In the passenger vehicles segment, heavy discounting and improved product availability are expected to help offset weak consumer sentiment and a general year-end lull. While some customers are deferring purchases for new-year models, overall interest could pick up due to aggressive offers and end of year promotions. This sets a tone of cautious optimism, with a moderate chance of improved sales compared to November.

Commercial vehicles: The commercial vehicles category faces a more challenging environment. Factors such as subdued infrastructure activity and customers holding back for newer model-year vehicles continue to dampen demand.

“Nonetheless, selective OEM schemes and year-end offers may provide a limited lift. On balance, while the CV segment’s expectations are not uniformly positive, there is some hope that targeted incentives and stable financing conditions could prevent a sharper decline. In sum, while the near-term outlook for December is not overwhelmingly strong across segments, it leans towards stability with pockets of potential growth, underlining a sentiment that remains overall remains cautiously optimistic.

Representational image: David McBee/Pexels

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Nissan Motor India, a leading manufacturer of passenger vehicles, has achieved a significant milestone, exporting its 1.2 millionth vehicle from India. This accomplishment, the company said, reinforces its ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ philosophy and highlights India's importance as a strategic export hub for Nissan’s AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe and Oceania) region.

The 1.2 millionth vehicle was a new Nissan Magnite B-SUV destined for the GCC region, and was flagged off by Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, at the Kamarajar Port in Ennore, Tamil Nadu.

Since beginning export operations, Nissan Motor India has shipped a diverse range of models, including the Nissan Magnite, Nissan Sunny, Nissan Kicks and Nissan Micra, to markets across Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

The introduction of the new Nissan Magnite expanded the company's global export footprint to over 65 countries in both Left-Hand Drive (LHD) and Right-Hand Drive (RHD) markets.

“We are proud to celebrate yet another historic milestone of exporting 1.2 million Nissan vehicles from India. This achievement reflects the collective dedication of our teams and the trust of customers across the world in our Made-in-India cars. The Nissan Magnite continues to be a global success story, representing our focus on design, quality, and innovation that transcends borders,” said Vatsa.

The new Nissan Magnite has received a 5-star Global NCAP rating for Adult Occupant Protection and 3 stars for Child Occupant Protection. The company is also preparing for the upcoming launch of its new global C-SUV, the Nissan Tekton, which will be introduced in India next year and also exported to select international markets.

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Automotive component supplier Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., has announced a new investment of INR 3.45 billion (USD 42 million) to expand its automotive electronics manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, India. This commitment includes an immediate investment of INR 450 million and an additional INR 3  billion over the next three years to support advanced telematics and next-generation automotive connectivity programmes.

This latest funding brings Harman’s cumulative investments in the Pune plant to INR 5.54 billion (USD 67 million) since its inception in 2014. The expansion is expected to create 300 new jobs in Pune by 2027.

The expansion, inaugurated by CEO Christian Sobottka, adds 71,505 square feet of built-up area, boosting the plant's production capacity by 50 percent. By 2027, the facility is poised to deliver an annual output of 4 million car audio components, 1.4 million infotainment units and 800,000 million Telematics Control Units (TCUs).

The facility will now manufacture the Harman Ready Connect, a pre-developed, all-in-one Telematics Control Unit co-developed with Samsung. This commitment, the company states strengthens the Government of India’s vision to ‘Make in India, for the World’ by positioning the country as a hub for advanced automotive manufacturing.

The Pune plant supplies all major Indian OEMs, including Tata Motors, Maruti Suzuki India and Mahindra & Mahindra, alongside export customers in Europe and North America.

Christian Sobottka, CEO and President of Automotive, Harman, said, “This investment is a clear signal of our commitment to India. Pune is not just adding capacity - it’s building the future of connected cars. From 5G telematics to sustainable manufacturing, India’s talent and innovation strength make it central to Harman’s global automotive growth.”

The Pune facility also remains a leader in the company's sustainability journey. It currently uses on-site solar installations that generate over 317,000 KWh of electricity annually and is progressing toward 100 percent renewable electricity use by 2030.

Krishna Kumar, Managing Director & Automotive Head, Harman India, said: “India is where Harman designs, builds and exports the next generation of in-car experiences. From connected infotainment to immersive audio to telematics and connected safety solutions, our engineers here don’t just serve India - they serve the world. That’s why India sits at the heart of Harman’s global automotive strategy.”

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Toyoda Gosei Co, and Kansai Paint Co, have partnered to develop an in-mould coating technology that can be applied to the mass production of large plastic automotive exterior parts. This marks the first time in Japan that this technology is applicable to large exterior components, which have a high level of difficulty in production.

In-mould coating involves forming and painting large plastic parts inside the mould itself, a process typically restricted to smaller products.

The development uses Toyoda Gosei's proprietary mould technology for large parts and paint material design technology developed through the collaboration. This new process achieves a seamless appearance with a high level of smoothness on the painted surface, allowing for new moulding designs.

Other benefits include:

• Improved Durability: The use of urethane paint makes abrasions less noticeable.
• Environmental Reduction: A drying furnace is no longer necessary, which the company states reduce CO2 emissions during production by approximately 60 percent.

The first large painted products using this technology are scheduled for market launch in spring of 2026. Toyoda Gosei plans to expand this technology to its international production sites as a pillar of its new decorative technologies.

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The Indian Army's Fire & Fury Corps has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbornics Defence & Space (ADSL), part of the JCBL Group, to establish a New Generation Vehicle (NGV) Repair Hub and Warehouse. The facility will be located inside the 14 Corps Zonal Workshop in Leh.

The initiative aims to boost the Army’s logistics readiness by setting up a dedicated OEM warehouse and repair facility for New Generation Vehicles within the Army’s premises.

The ceremony was held at Headquarters 14 Corps, Leh, and was presided over by Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, Corps Commander, 14 Corps. Brig Nipoon Sood, Brig EME, 14 Corps, formally signed the MoU on behalf of the Army.

Under the collaboration, the JCBL Group (ADSL) will provide its expertise in defence manufacturing, support, training, retro-modification and R&D know-how through the NGV Hub framework.

The Group shall also maintain stocking of fast-moving spares for vehicles and equipment supplied to the Indian Army. Additionally, it will supply parts and components of war stores, which it provides to the Ordnance & EME Channels of Indian Army, through its group companies.

The Indian Army plans to expand this presence of industry warehouses to three more forward locations of the 14 Corps Area of Responsibility in the future.

Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, Corps Commander, 14 Corps highlighted that this partnership between Indian Army and Industry would significantly enhance the operational readiness of 14 Corps. He further stressed the need to ensure that Army units fully exploit the presence of Industry Warehouses at these forward locations of Ladakh.

Rishi Aggarwal, Managing Director, JCBL Group, said “The JCBL Group takes pride in being the Industry Partner of the Indian Army. This fresh collaboration with the Fire and Fury Corps of the Northern Command is very special to the Group since it is the most operationally committed formation of the Defence Forces. We compliment Lt Gen Hitesh Bhalla, Corps Commander, 14 Corps for his exceptional vision of incorporating the Industry at Field Formation Level thereby ensuring a significant amelioration of equipment availability and Operational readiness.”

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