New Delhi: Retail vehicle sales this Navratri increased by 57% to 539,227 units from 342,459 units during the Covid-hit 2021–22, according to a statement released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on Monday. This is a significant boost for the automotive industry and a sign of recovery.

Overall sales were 16% higher than the pre-pandemic 2019 season and 27% higher than Navratri 2020. During the Navratri season, which ran from September 26 to October 5, sales of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, commercial vehicles, passenger cars, and tractors all increased by corresponding margins of 52%, 115%, 48%, 70%, and 58%.

“Navratri retails clearly shows that customers were back in showrooms with all guns blazing after a gap of three years. In fact, the two-wheeler category, which was continuously showing weakness when compared to pre-Covid months, also registered single-digit growth,” said Manish Raj Singhania, president, FADA.

In the two-wheeler space, the sales numbers increased from 242,213 in Navratri 2021 to 369,020 units in Navratri 2022. The current year’s numbers are 20 per cent higher than 2020 and four per cent higher than 2019. “When compared to Navratri 2019 (the pre-Covid season), all categories showed positive momentum with two-wheelers, three wheelers, commercial vehicles, passenger vehicles and tractors growing by four per cent, 31 per cent, 37 per cent, 59 per cent and 90 per cent respectively,” Singhania said.

Sales of three-wheelers increased from 9,203 during the Navratri season of 2021 to 19,809 during that of 2022. Sales of three-wheelers increased by double in this year compared to 2020. There was a 31% increase from Navratri 2019 levels.

According to Singhania, the upward trend is most likely to last through Deepawali. During the holiday season, passenger vehicle sales increased from 64,850 units last year to 110,521 this year. Sales of commercial cars increased from 15,135 in 2016 to 22,437 in 2017. Tractor sales also increased (17,440 units in Navratri 2022 from 11,062 units in 2021).

“We now hope that this trend continues till Deepawali, so that apart from PV Dealers who will see a decade high during this festive season, the two wheeler dealers also have a good season and hence helps them liquidate their stock which they have built in anticipation of a good festive,” he added.

According to data issued by FADA last week, retail vehicle sales increased by 11% in September compared to the same month last year, prompting celebrations for the sector. However, due to sales being 4% lower than in September 2019, which shows that rural demand hasn’t yet increased, the sector was unable to surpass pre-Covid levels for the month.