CARS24 recently released its DriveTime Quarterly Report for Q2 2024. 

According to this report, 78 percent of Indian car buyers are now prioritising safety features like airbags, ABS, EBD and ESC over mileage even with high fuel pricing. Other features in demand are manual transmissions which saw 80 percent of buyers opting for it and premium features such as sunroofs, GPS-integrated systems and rearview cameras have become standard expectations for car buyers. Leather interiors, alloy wheels, ambient lighting, turbocharged engines and technologies like 360-degree cameras are among the most sought-after features. Value-added services are also on the rise with consumers spending an average of INR 10,000 on extended warranties and tech upgrades.

Overall, the report states that in the period from April to June approximately 48.5 percent of all car buyers were salaried professionals celebrating career milestones. Corporate employees are choosing to invest in personal vehicles for their daily commutes and lifestyle upgrades. This shift is driven by a rise in disposable incomes, attractive financing options and a desire for enhanced personal mobility. The majority of these purchases were made by employees in metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. However, the pre-owned car popularity extends beyond metro cities with explosive growth seen in non-metro markets. 

The report highlights an increased urban and non-metro demand and changing consumer preferences with a focus on safety and advanced features. Financing options are making car ownership more accessible with a notable rise in women buyers.

Other key trends mentioned in the report were as follows:

Non-Metro areas such as Agra, Coimbatore, Vadodara and Nagpur, each saw a 25 percent growth in pre-owned car sales courtesy of economic growth and rising disposable incomes in the cities. The most popular pre-owned models include Grand i10, Swift, Baleno, Kwid and Honda City. Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune also saw a surge in pre-loved car sales.

Over the last five years, the share of SUVs has increased from 10 percent to almost 20 percent reflecting a shift in consumer preferences. In the used car market, the proliferation of body type is — Hatchbacks - 60 percent, Sedans - 21 percent and SUVs - 19 percent.

Unique trends like gifting pre-owned cars also surged on Akshaya Tritiya, Mother's Day and Father's Day in this quarter. 

In terms of finance, the average age of buyers using loans dropped from mid 40s to early 30s. Women secured 10 percent higher loan amounts in comparison to men. A total of INR 3.28 billion in loans were issued out of which 30 percent of loans were zero down-payment.

Cars worth INR 15 billion were sold to Cars24 in the quarter. People are looking to upgrade to newer models more frequently driven by the desire for enhanced features, better fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs. These have now created shorter ownership cycle of 4-6 years as compared to the earlier cycle of 8-10 years.

Commenting on the report Gajendra Jangid, Co-founder, CARS24 said, “This quarter has been nothing short of extraordinary. With so many services coming in, we’re seeing incredible diversity in our customers' car preferences and buying patterns. It’s been exciting to evolve alongside our customers and witness how the future of car ownership in India is taking shape.”

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Maruti Suzuki India has been awarded a 5-star Bharat NCAP safety rating for its e Vitara, marking a moment for the company's electric vehicle strategy.

The e Vitara is built on Suzuki’s Heartect-e platform designed for electric vehicles to deliver strength, structural rigidity and advanced high voltage protection. The ‘Made-in-India, Made-for-the-World’ e Vitara is designed and tested for temperature conditions across the world, ensuring performance from as high as 60deg Celsius to as low as -30deg Celsius. The model is offered with 49 kWh and 61 kWh battery options.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, said, “Congratulations to Maruti Suzuki for achieving 5-star Bharat NCAP in both adult and child occupant protection for their e Vitara. I am especially glad that Maruti Suzuki has shown real leadership in providing 7 airbags as a standard across all variants of the e Vitara.”

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 5-star Bharat NCAP rating for e Vitara, our first Battery Electric Vehicle, is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Maruti Suzuki. Using the Bharat NCAP 5-star rating, we will export the e Vitara to more than 100 countries of the world. Bharat NCAP’s globally benchmarked stringent vehicle test protocols have been a catalyst in empowering customers to make informed decisions. I thank the Minister Gadkari, the officials in his Ministry and test agencies for their rigorous efforts and commitment in shaping India’s journey towards safe mobility.”

The e VITARA’s body structure uses more than 60 percent ultra-high tensile and high-tensile strength steel. Its battery protection system incorporates a structural design with an energy-absorbing battery pack mounting structure.

Key safety features include 7 standard airbags (including the Driver's knee airbag), Level 2 ADAS (Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control), Hill Hold Control, ABS with EBD and Brake Assist, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a 360-degree Surround View Camera.

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Mahindra has marked a major milestone in its nationwide electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure expansion with the inauguration of its first dealership-based ultrafast charger – a 180 kW Charge_IN station.

This is the first of many such installations planned across Mahindra dealerships, forming a key pillar of the company’s commitment to building India’s ultrafast charging network.

This initiative scales up Mahindra’s Charge_IN ecosystem, complementing the 250 highway fast-charging stations already announced. The new 180 kW ultrafast chargers will enable EV users to charge quickly and conveniently at strategically located dealerships across the country, with 24x7 on-ground support.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has reported wholesales of 66,840 units in November 2025, up 9.1 percent YoY as against 61,252 units last year.

This includes domestic sales of 50,340 units, up 4 percent YoY and exports of 16,500 units, up 27 percent YoY.

Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “Supported by GST 2.0 reforms, we continue to carry forward sales momentum with a year-on-year growth in our monthly domestic sales in November 2025. Further, our commitment to bolstering India’s role as a global manufacturing hub is further solidified with 26.9% year-on-year growth in monthly exports.”

He further added that the all-new Hyundai Venue SUV, the company's first software-defined vehicle in India, has received more than 32,000 bookings within a month of its launch. The new Venue features ccNC infotainment powered by Nvidia.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced its wholesales for November 2025, reporting total sales of 33,752 units, up 28 percent YoY.

This includes 30,085 units sold in the domestic market and 3,667 units exported.

Varinder Wadhwa, Vice-President, Sales–Service–Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Following a positive festive season supported by the government’s progressive GST reforms, we continue to witness a strong momentum, with a growth of 19 percent. The recent introduction of the Urban Cruiser Hyryder Aero Edition and Fortuner Leader Edition has also continued to help us reinforce this growth trajectory, receiving recognition across the country. The innovative initiatives such as the Drum Tao and the launch of the toyota experiential museum (tem) in Bangalore, have been highly appreciated, further strengthening customer engagement and brand connect.”

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