Car sales dip for second consecutive month

WITH UNSOLD VEHICLE stock piling up at dealerships, passenger vehicle (PV) manufacturers scaled back fresh dispatches in June — marking the second straight month of decline after eight consecutive months of growth.

- SWARAJ BAGGONKAR

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), dispatches from manufacturers to dealers fell 7.4% y-o-y in June to 312,849 units. Despite the slowdown, this figure remained higher than the retail total of 297,722 units for the month, indicating continued inventory buildup.

Just a week earlier, dealers reported a rise in inventory levels — from 53 days to 55 days —prompting many to ramp up discounts in a bid to clear stock.