The Indian Blue Book Report 2023 Underlines Good Uptake In Used Car Sales

The Indian Blue Book Report 2023 Underlines Good Uptake In Used Car Sales

The Indian Blue Book (IBB) report by Car&Bike and Das WeltAuto (the used car division of Volkswagen) has underlined a significant uptake in used car sales in the country. As per the report, the sale of used cars is expected to reach 10.92 million units by FY2027-28 as the supply of good quality cars that were bought post the covid years starts to grow in the market. 

Valued at USD 31.33 billion in FY2022-23 as per the sixth edition of IBB report, the used car market in India is currently witnessing higher demand versus supply in response to the drastic slowdown in new car purchases in the Covid fiscal (FY2020-21).  

Expected to more than double to USD 70.48 billion in FY2027-28 as high-quality passenger vehicles bought in the years after the pandemic, the Indian used car market is in for a good show.

Roughly linked to a phenomenon where the slowdown in purchase of new cars leads to a surge in the demand for used cars, the arrival of passenger vehicles no more than 3.5 to five years of age, the used car market in India is expected to experience good momentum. It is also expected to see some formalisation, according to source, but grow nonetheless on the organised side as well as the unorganised side. The organised side of the used car market in the country is currently an estimated 35 percent. 

As owners of new cars purchased post the pandemic period decide to upgrade, the buyers of used cars are expected to get to choose from high-quality cars, albeit with records and a higher residual value. Budget buyers looking at quality pre-owned cars on the back of being more informed about car technicalities, the present situation points at an increasing availability of cars that are not just well maintained, but are also replete with a good safety kit among other attributes. An example of such an offering is the Volkswagen Taigun, which has managed to retain 80 percent of its residual value after three years unlike the models sold by the German automaker earlier.  

With the make, model and variant turning out to be a big consideration among 71 percent used car buyers, the tendency of buyers to inform themselves well is increasingly witnessed as per the BBI report. Stressing on the fact that majority of buyers are highly budget conscious (63 percent) even as they look for quality cars, the report highlights a pull towards used cars that offer a better safety kit and safety rating. The Volkswagen Taigun for example, is five-star GNCAP rated. 

The sixth edition of the BBI – walking the foot steps of the earlier edition – highlights the fact that 71 percent of the used car buyers also acknowledged overall repairs and servicing costs as a big consideration.

About 45 percent of buyers/intenders prefer local dealers for exploring, followed by auto tech start-ups (26 percent) and OEM backed brands (23 percent). In terms of awareness and preferences of car leasing, 28 percent of buyers were found to be aware of the concept. The indication, as per the report, is that 62 percent of used car buyers would avail of the same in the future.

In the case of used car buyers, warranty and financial assistance topped the list of demands as a service. A majority of them – 56 percent of them – did not prefer an EV used car.

From the vehicle seller’s perspective, 59 percent of them reasoned that they wanted to upgrade to a new vehicle as the reason to do away with their existing set of wheels. Some of them reasoned that it was the sufficiency of having another vehicle. The extra cars bought during Covid-19 period are being sold now, the sixth edition of BBI report highlights. 

What has been aiding the arrival of high-quality cars that were bought during the post pandemic period is being attributed to the fast tracking of auto technology. Automotive tech startups and OEM backed companies are ensuring that the actual Turn Around Time (TAT) to sell a car is down to three days! 

Full payment within 24 hours remains the top priority for sellers followed by vehicle inspection at a location of their choice.

“The pre-owned car market is significantly growing with the potential of it being double by FY2028. The growth primarily comes from the evolving trends and customer preferences while selecting a pre-owned vehicle. A notable shift is the top priority for safety features, a transition similar to the new car industry, enabling a brand like Volkswagen, to be more accessible and in-demand for customers with our 5-star GNCAP rated product portfolio – Taigun and Virtus. The high preference for safety features and standards among customers is positively impacting the residual value of Volkswagen cars, especially the Taigun. We are confident the Das WeltAuto. business, will continue to grow as one of the top certified pre-owned car brands in India for customers,” said Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India.

Ashutosh Pandey, CEO & MD, Mahindra First Choice, averred, “The latest edition of the Indian Blue Book, a collaboration with Das WeltAuto. by Volkswagen, reinforces our confidence in the Indian pre-owned car market's explosive growth potential. The increasing involvement of organized players is bringing stability and trust to this market; achieving consistent profitability and providing superlative customer experience remains the top priorities for organised players.” 

Mahindra First Choice Wheels-backed Indian Blue Book launched the first edition in 2015 to highlight the trends in the used car industry in India. Since then, the annual report has been established as the largest and most intensive primary research conducted in India. Since 2022 Das WeltAuto., the pre-owned car brand of Volkswagen, and Car&Bike, a 100 percent subsidiary of Mahindra First Choice Wheels, have co-curated this research report. 

Maruti Suzuki e Vitara Gets 5-Star Bharat NCAP Safety Rating

Maruti e Vitara

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.

Mahindra Launches First Dealership-Based Ultrafast EV Charger In Anantapur

Mahindra Charger

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.

Hyundai Motor India Wholesales Grow 9.1% In November

Hyundai Creta

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.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Reports 28% Sales Growth In November

Toyota

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.”