India’s Auto Industry Posts Mixed Q1 Performance as Passenger Vehicle Exports Hit Record High
- By MT Bureau
- July 15, 2025
India’s automobile industry delivered a mixed performance in the first quarter of 2025-26, with passenger vehicle exports reaching an all-time high even as domestic sales remained largely flat, according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Monday.
Passenger vehicle sales crossed the one million mark for the second consecutive year in Q1, reaching 1.01 million units, though this represented a 1.4 percent decline compared to the same period last year. The segment’s performance was buoyed by utility vehicles, which now account for 66 percent of passenger vehicle sales and posted 3.8 percent growth, whilst passenger cars declined 11.2 percent.
The standout performer was exports, with passenger vehicles achieving record Q1 exports of 204,000 units, marking a 13.2 percent year-on-year increase. This surge was driven by stable demand across most markets, with particularly strong performance in the Middle East and Latin America, alongside recovery in neighbouring markets such as Sri Lanka and Nepal.
"The performance of the Auto industry was relatively flat, though the retail registration for Passenger Vehicles, Two-Wheelers and Three-Wheelers were marginally higher than the previous Q1," said Shailesh Chandra, President of SIAM.
The two-wheeler segment faced headwinds with wholesale sales declining 6.2 percent to 4.67 million units due to inventory correction across the industry. However, retail registrations increased 5 percent during the quarter, driven by the marriage season and positive demand sentiments. Two-wheeler exports showed robust growth of 23.2 percent to 1.14 million units.
Three-wheelers achieved their highest-ever Q1 sales of 165,000 units, representing marginal growth of 0.1 percent. The segment benefited from increased economic activity supporting urban transportation demand and easier financing options. Exports in this category surged 34.4 percent to 96,000 units.
Commercial vehicles posted a marginal decline of 0.6 percent to 223,000 units, though exports grew strongly by 23.4 percent to around 20,000 units.
Looking ahead to Q2, SIAM expressed cautious optimism despite ongoing challenges. The upcoming festive season is expected to drive demand, particularly for passenger vehicles and two-wheelers, whilst an above-normal monsoon could aid rural income recovery.
"With the upcoming festival season coupled with the benefits of RBI repo rate cuts, we expect consumer sentiments to improve," Chandra added.
The Reserve Bank of India's cumulative repo rate cuts of 100 basis points over the past six months are expected to gradually ease borrowing costs, potentially boosting consumer sentiment and affordability.
However, supply-side challenges persist, particularly the recent export licensing requirement from China on rare earth magnets, which has raised concerns for original equipment manufacturers across all categories.
"Sales of Passenger Vehicles in Q1 of 2025-26 de-grew by (-) 1.4 percent, posting sales of 1.01 million units as compared to Q1 of previous year," said Rajesh Menon, Director General of SIAM.
In June alone, passenger vehicle sales declined 7.4 percent to 312,849 units, whilst two-wheeler sales fell 3.4 percent to 1.56 million units. Three-wheeler sales bucked the trend with 3.8 percent growth to 61,828 units.
The industry's overall domestic sales fell 5.1 percent in Q1 to 60.75 million units, reflecting the challenging operating environment facing India's automotive sector.
Honda Cars India Reports 10,518 Unit Wholesales In October 2025
- By MT Bureau
- November 01, 2025
Honda Cars India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has reported total wholesales of 10,518 units for October 2025.
The company recorded domestic sales of 6,394 units for the month, which marks a 15.3 percent growth as compared to 5,546 units last year.
Honda also exported 4,124 units in October 2025. In comparison, exports in October 2024 stood at 4,534 units. The company noted the strong performance of the Honda Amaze as a key driver of the growth.
Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The festive sales and GST 2.0 announcement fuelled robust demand across our line-up of City, Amaze and Elevate during October. The Amaze being the only car under 10 lakh price segment to offer ADAS safety and smooth CVT performance has been strongly appreciated by consumers registering strong sales growth.”
JSW MG Motor India Reports 9% Decline In October Sales
- By MT Bureau
- November 01, 2025
JSW MG Motor India has reported a decline of 9 percent in it wholesales for October 2025, with sales of 6,397 units, as compared to 7,045 units sold for same period last year.
On the other hand, the company reported a 20 percent YoY increase in wholesales during the August–October 2025 festive period.
The MG SELECT model retained its second position in the luxury electric vehicle (EV) segment, registering an impressive 62 percent MoM growth.
Hyundai Motor India Reports 53,792 Wholesales In October
- By MT Bureau
- November 01, 2025
Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has achieved total monthly sales of 69,894 units in October 2025. The volume includes 53,792 units in domestic sales.
The company stated its performance was driven by the domestic market, and it also bolstered its position as a global manufacturing hub, with exports touching 16,102 units, marking an 11 percent YoY growth.
Furthermore, the Hyundai Creta and Venue SUV duo achieved their second-highest-ever combined monthly sales of 30,119 units.
Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director & Chief Operating Officer, Hyundai Motor India, said, “October 2025 was a month driven by the festivals of Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali, further complimented by the positive impact of GST 2.0 reforms. This provided a significant boost to the Indian automotive industry. At Hyundai Motor India, we witnessed robust market demand and high consumer enthusiasm leading to second highest monthly sales of our formidable SUV duo – the Hyundai Creta and Venue combined, with 30,119 units sold. We expect to accelerate this momentum with the upcoming launch of all-new Hyundai Venue, which is already open for bookings.”
Tata Motors Reports Record Passenger Vehicles And Electric Vehicle Wholesales In October
- By MT Bureau
- November 01, 2025
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has reported wholesales of 61,295 units in total sales in October 2025, marking a 26.6 percent growth compared to 48,423 units sold a year ago. This performance delivered record-breaking monthly wholesales for the second consecutive month, driven by momentum during the festive season.
For October, the company saw sales records across key segments during the month including, 47,000 SUVs, achieving the highest-ever 77 percent share in monthly sales.
EV wholesales hit an all-time high of 9,286 units, surging 73.4 percent YoY. The Nexon SUV recorded 50 percent YoY volume growth due to the popularity of its multi-powertrain offerings.
The Harrier and Safari models achieved a new high, selling 7,000 units.
Overall domestic sales, including EVs, grew by 27 percent to 61,134 units. Monthly bookings also reached an all-time peak. The company achieved a landmark festive milestone, delivering over 100,000 vehicles between Navratri and Diwali, marking a 33 percent YoY growth.
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