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Time of India
08-08-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Gujarat passenger vehicle sales dip 4.8% YoY in July
Ahmedabad: Passenger vehicle sales in Gujarat fell by 4.8% year-on-year in July 2025, down to 29,269 units from 30,744 in July 2024, according to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (Fada). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The decline in car sales contributed significantly to the marginal 0.42% drop in overall vehicle retail across the state. Dealers point to multiple demand-side and supply-side challenges as reasons behind the slowdown. Weak buyer sentiment, affordability concerns, and ongoing strain in the entry-level car segment weighed heavily on volumes. At the same time, supply constraints are proving to be a growing concern, particularly in the SUV category, where several popular new models are facing limited availability and prolonged waiting periods. Fada Gujarat state chairperson Pranav Shah said, "Dealers are struggling with supply issues, especially for some newly launched models which are not easily available in certain brands. In the SUV segment, waiting periods are also high in certain cases which is impacting retail numbers." "While the marginal dip in July was also linked to calendar shifts, such as the Rathyatra festival moving from July last year to June this year, the underlying market sentiment remains cautious. Little degrowth in two-wheeler and car sales was expected in July. If we consider that effect, July was overall a good month for the auto industry," Shah added. "It appears that market saturation set in this year, especially when compared to the strong sales seen over the past two years. The current volatility, both economic and geopolitical, is making buyers cautious, and this hesitation is more visible in urban centres where demand has clearly slowed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I believe many potential buyers are holding off in anticipation of new, affordable entry-level electric cars. That said, we are seeing a marginal uptick in rural sales, which is a positive sign," said a senior RTO officer. "Volatility in the stock market significantly impacted investor confidence, and that is directly reflecting in cautious consumer spending. Despite positive factors like a good monsoon and strong overall earnings, the broader geopolitical scenario and developments like US tariff actions are creating uncertainty. These elements are weighing on retail investor sentiment, which in turn is slowing down big-ticket purchases like cars," said Jigar Vyas, CEO of a car dealership based in Ahmedabad. Despite the subdued July performance, the industry remains optimistic about a revival in August, as a strong festive line-up — Rakshabandhan, Janmashtami, Independence Day and Ganesh Chaturthi — coincides with positive rural indicators.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Rath yatra vehicle sales dip 2.2% in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad: Unlike last year's euphoric surge in total vehicle sales, this rath yatra brought only a modest uptick in vehicle deliveries, with auto dealers across Ahmedabad reporting slightly lower sales compared to last year. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to estimates by the Federation of Automobile Dealers' Association (Fada) Gujarat, around 6,550 two- and four-wheeler deliveries took place on Friday, marking a marginal 2.2% decline compared to last year. Vehicle deliveries this year are expected to include approximately 5,500 two-wheelers and 1,050 passenger vehicles. While two-wheeler sales remained stable and on par with last year's rath yatra numbers, the passenger car segment saw a further dip. Deliveries of passenger vehicles were down 12.5% compared to 2024, when 1,200 units were retailed on the festive day. "The stock availability is good and dealer inventory levels are high. Many dealers could also accept spot bookings on select models. However, demand has slowed. In Ahmedabad, various factors including the monsoon onset and stock market volatility have kept buyers cautious. Sales momentum is low, and overall sentiment remains subdued, but the numbers are good and we expect the market to recover in the coming months," said Pranav Shah, chairman, Fada Gujarat. Automobile industry stakeholders attributed the flat trend to a mix of economic and seasonal factors. Even though the sentiment is low, dealerships saw a good recovery from the slow period, with some witnessing good demand over the past 10 days across segments. Jigar Vyas, CEO of a car dealership in the city, said, "Demand is steady for all the segments including entry-level cars, SUVs, utility vehicles as well as premium cars. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now SUV is certainly the flavour of the season, including compact and mid-segment. MPVs are also picking up well." "For the automobile industry, the inventory pile-up is a major issue over the past few months due to muted demand. However, the rath yatra muhurat did help bring this down substantially for various dealers, which will give them ease in terms of overhead costs as inventory holding cost and interest rates would be lesser," Vyas further explained. Despite the slowdown, rath yatra remains a key muhurat for vehicle purchases, with dealerships continuing to roll out festive offers. Estimates by dealers suggest discounts on cars range from Rs 20,000 to Rs 1 lakh, depending on the make and model, while two-wheeler dealers are offering festive schemes worth Rs 5,000-Rs 10,000. Ahmedabad traditionally contributes to nearly 50% of all rath yatra day vehicle sales across Gujarat, making the festival a crucial benchmark for retail trends in the automotive market. However, with demand dipping slightly this year, dealers hope for improved momentum in the coming months.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
CR's 15-car local train plan remains stalled in Mumbai
Mumbai: Seven years after Central Railway (CR) proposed a Rs 900-crore plan to convert all 12-car rakes to 15-car ones on its fast corridor, the project remains largely unimplemented—even as overcrowding and fatal accidents persist on the Thane–Kalyan–Karjat/Kasara stretch. The push for longer trains gained urgency in 2015 when the Railway Board directed both CR and Western Railway (WR) to draft action plans after viral videos showed passengers falling off packed trains. Also, CR's argument—that 15-car rakes would reduce speeds from 100 kmph to 90 kmph—slowed progress. Today, CR operates just 22 15-car services, all confined to the CSMT–Kalyan fast corridor. In contrast, WR runs over 210 such services, including on its slow lines. Commuters say the absence of longer trains on CR's Main line, particularly beyond Kalyan, exacerbates peak-hour chaos. "You can't expect people to squeeze into 12-car trains forever," said Pranav Shah, a regular commuter from Ambernath. "If WR can run 15-car trains even on slow lines, what's stopping CR from doing the same? It's high time the infrastructure caught up." WR has steadily expanded its 15-car network, running 97 trains on fast lines and 114 on slow lines (Andheri–Virar). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo CR faces infrastructural hurdles. "We understand that AC and automatic door closure are long-term goals," said commuter Sneha Raje, who boards from Titwala. "But in the medium term, CR must expand infrastructure to allow more 15-car trains, especially beyond Kalyan. That alone will make a massive difference in crowding and safety." A 12-car train carries 3,504 passengers, while a 15-car rake fits 4,380—a 25% reduction in overcrowding per rake, according to a senior CR official, who admitted the progress was sluggish. CR's blueprint included platform extensions beyond Kalyan, signal adjustments, overhead equipment modifications, and new stabling lines at Ambernath and Badlapur. Yet, stations like Titwala, Asangaon, Ambernath, and Badlapur still lack platform extensions. Officials now argue that new Bombardier rakes eliminate speed concerns, and minor infrastructure tweaks could resolve remaining issues. But with no visible progress on the Kalyan–Karjat/Kasara route, commuters continue to endure dangerous overcrowding. "We're not asking for miracles," said Mahesh Jadhav, who travels daily from Badlapur. "Just run more 15-car trains and make the stations ready for them. It's a basic, urgent need—not a luxury."
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Car sales decline for 4th consecutive month in May
Ahmedabad: The downward trend of passenger car sales in Gujarat continued in May 2025, primarily impacted by rising vehicle prices, restrained consumer sentiment, and the ripple effects of the recent stock market crash. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the latest data from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), four-wheeler registrations fell 4% year-on-year, from 24,847 units in May 2024 to 23,843 last month, marking the fourth consecutive month of slowing sales momentum. From steep price hikes to vanishing discounts, several headwinds are keeping first-time buyers away from showrooms. "The entry-level segment has virtually disappeared. The typical first-time buyer — usually opting for a hatchback or compact — is no longer walking in. Affordability is the key issue. Incomes didn't keep pace with car prices. The cheapest entry-level model at our showroom cost Rs 3.6 lakh (ex-showroom) in 2020; today, it's Rs 4.93 lakh," said Jigar Vyas, CEO of a city-based car dealership. "Frequent price hikes and mandatory safety upgrades like six airbags pushed up entry-level costs further," he added. Even India's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, reported a 5.6% drop in overall domestic passenger vehicle sales in May, with its budget-friendly mini and compact models — including the Alto, WagonR, Swift, and Baleno — falling 12.6%. Dealers say the slump is largely concentrated in the mass segment, while premium and hybrid models continue to attract buyers. Rising demand for pre-owned vehicles is also denting sales of entry-level cars. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "With organised players entering the used-car space, buyers now have access to reliable, well-financed vehicles at lower costs. Many opt for a bigger pre-owned car instead of a new entry-level model at a similar price point," said Pranav Shah, chairperson of the Federation of Automobile Dealers' Associations (FADA) – Gujarat. Dealers further cited tensions between India and Pakistan as another factor behind consumer caution. "Many buyers didn't recover from market losses, and the geopolitical situation made them even more wary. Overall, spending remains very cautious," Shah added. Industry players are now pinning their hopes on Rath Yatra for car purchases. The sluggish sentiment extended to the two-wheeler segment, which grew just 1.8% in May—93,983 units sold versus 92,278 a year ago. Dealers expect rural sales to pick up in the coming months, aided by forecasts of a normal monsoon. (GFX sent to designers) Box: Vehicle Sales Category May-24 May-25 % Change Four-Wheeler 24,847 23,843 -4.0 Two-Wheeler 92,278 93,983 1.8 Source: MoRTH
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Gujarat goes full throttle on CNG cars, petrol loses the lead
The tide is turning on Gujarat's roads — and it's powered by CNG. For the first time in Gujarat's auto history, CNG cars have outsold petrol ones. In FY 2025, sales of CNG and petrol-CNG vehicles touched 1.25 lakh units, beating petrol car sales which stood at 1.18 lakh, according to data by the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH). The shift signals changing consumer priorities — from power to practicality. As fuel prices rise, buyers are looking for smarter, cheaper ways to commute. This is a clear reversal of a long-standing trend in a state where petrol has traditionally been the fuel of choice for most car owners. In FY 2021, petrol car sales at 1.39 lakh units were more than three times those of CNG sales of 40,560 units. Experts attribute the change to rising fuel prices, the growing availability of factory-fitted CNG variants, and the cost advantage of running a car on compressed natural gas . "Diesel vehicles are expensive and, therefore, preferred only by SUV owners largely than other smaller compact cars and sedans. In such cases, CNG variants always are preferred for their better range as well as reliability," said Pranav Shah, chairperson of the Federation of Automobile Dealers' Association (FADA), Gujarat. The CNG boom is largely driven by petrol-CNG variants, which allow buyers the flexibility of running on either fuel while substantially lowering operational costs. "Popular hatchbacks and compact sedans now come with factory-fitted CNG kits, and several manufacturers have ramped up production to meet rising demand," said a car dealer in the city. Dealers say even entry-level SUV buyers are considering CNG options as and when available. Diesel cars, too, held their ground, with sales touching over 73,000 units this year — slightly higher than last year and up nearly double from FY 2021. The sustained interest in diesel stems from the continuing popularity of SUVs and compact SUVs in Gujarat, a trend which was earlier limited to semi-urban and rural areas only. While CNG and diesel car sales are holding fort over the past five years, petrol cars have seen a steady decline — from nearly 1.55 lakh units in FY 2023 to under 1.19 lakh this year. As more buyers prioritise running costs, petrol is no longer the default choice it once was. Electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids are still a small fraction of overall sales but are beginning to show momentum. Sales of strong hybrid vehicles surged to over 6,300 units in FY 2025, up from just 100 last year, driven by new model launches and rising awareness about fuel economy. EV adoption in the state remains modest at around 6,200 units (including both pure EV and BOV), though experts say the segment is likely to pick up pace as charging infrastructure improves and more mass-market models hit the roads.
