Weathering Storms, Winning Battles

THE INDIAN AUTO sector has so far demonstrated the resilience of a Bollywood hero. Auto retail clocked a 9.1 per cent growth in 2024, according to the latest report of the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations of India (FADA). Two-wheelers (2W) zipped ahead with 10.7 per cent growth, while three-wheelers (3W) and passenger vehicles (PV) followed close behind at 10.4 per cent and 5.1 per cent, respectively. Tractor sales pulled a modest 2.5 per cent increase, but commercial vehicles sales (CVS) stalled at 0.07 per cent. It wasn't all smooth roads.

-  -Ashish Sinha

The standard ICE (internal combustion engine) 2Ws faced financing woes and an EV invasion, CVs were caught in the election crossfire, and PVs braved inventory-induced discount wars. Still, 3Ws, PVs, and tractors celebrated record highs, and 2Ws nearly reclaimed their 2018 glory.