Breaking it down, two-wheelers grew 25.02% to 17 lakh units, thanks to rural prosperity from good monsoons and cash flow. Passenger vehicles rose 26.12% to nearly 4 lakh units, with rural areas outpacing cities at 34.21% versus 21.12%. Commercial vehicles accelerated 28.89% to 1,00,820 units, supported by logistics and infra projects. Three-wheelers and tractors also shone, up 24.39% and 36.35% respectively, while construction equipment lagged slightly.

Looking ahead, dealer confidence is sky-high: over 75% predict sales growth in March. FADA highlights how GST 2.0 has instilled stability, encouraging purchases across segments. Urban and rural buyers alike are responding to attractive financing, festive-like promotions, and economic recovery signals.

This performance isn’t just numbers—it’s a testament to India’s resilient auto ecosystem. Small cars are gaining from village demand, but premium SUVs hold the lion’s share. As infrastructure spending ramps up, expect commercial segments to lead the charge, positioning the industry for sustained expansion.

In the passenger vehicle segment, volumes rose 7.22% to 513,475 units. Urban areas dominated with a 59.2% share, but rural markets stole the spotlight, posting a 14.43% growth compared to a modest 2.75% in cities. This disparity highlights the vital role of rural consumers in sustaining market momentum.

‘Robust cash flows from crop harvests, GST cuts, and festive wedding periods have fortified demand for passenger and commercial vehicles in rural India,’ explained FADA President C S Vigneshwar. Feedback from dealers points to surging interest in premium models, amplified by seasonal events like Pongal.

Two-wheeler sales hit a high note at 1,852,870 units, up 20.82% from last year, with rural buyers making up about 56% of purchases. Commercial vehicle dispatches grew 15.07% to 107,486 units, split between light (65,505 units, +14%) and heavy (34,287 units, +14%) categories.

February’s market sentiment is buoyant, supported by macroeconomic tailwinds and ground-level optimism among dealers. Over 72% expect continued expansion, reflecting confidence in the sector’s steady climb.

Speaking at a Delhi conclave, Chandra painted a vivid picture of data proliferation. Electric vehicles and even legacy ICE models now channel vast personal insights—from dashcam footage to synced smartphone contacts—across sprawling ecosystems. ‘This flood of customer data demands our utmost professional vigilance,’ he warned.

Chandra laid out a blueprint for ethical data practices, starting with unwavering transparency and consent. ‘Tell customers exactly what data you’re harvesting and how you’ll wield it,’ he instructed. Next, classify data meticulously to prioritize sensitivities. Finally, master data lifecycle management: secure long-term storage for essentials while swiftly discarding the rest.

True implementation, he stressed, requires ‘designing systems with privacy by default.’ OEMs must classify data upfront, fortifying architectures against vulnerabilities from day one.

This clarion call arrives as India’s auto market hits record highs. Per SIAM figures, November sales dazzled: passenger vehicles up nearly 20% at 412,405 units; three-wheelers rose 21.3% to 71,999; two-wheelers climbed 21.2% to 1.94 million units compared to the prior year.

With policy tailwinds and buoyant consumer confidence, projections hold for momentum into 2026. Chandra’s principles offer a roadmap, reminding innovators that in the connected auto future, trust is the ultimate currency. Breaches could derail even the fastest growth trajectories.

Hero MotoCorp: Maintains Number One Position
Between April and September 2025, Hero MotoCorp sold a total of 24.14 lakh units. The Hero Splendor was the company’s best-selling bike. Models like the HF Deluxe and Passion Xtec also maintained strong demand in both rural and urban markets. Hero’s bikes have been the bestsellers due to their affordability, reliable engines, and superior mileage.

Honda: Scooters Solidify Position
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) secured the second position. During this period, the company sold 21.84 lakh units. The Honda Activa was the top-selling model for Honda, becoming India’s best-selling scooter. The company also expanded its presence in the motorcycle segment. Models like the Honda Shine 100 and Shine 125 played a significant role in the company’s volume growth.

TVS Motor: Strong Performance in Scooters and Premium Bikes
TVS Motor Company ranked third. The company sold a total of 17.20 lakh units in H1 FY26. The Jupiter scooter and Apache motorcycle were the company’s bestsellers. The Raider 125 and electric scooter iQube EV further strengthened the company’s market hold.

Bajaj Auto: Momentum with Pulsar and Chetak
Bajaj Auto, in fourth place, sold 11.43 lakh units. The Pulsar and the electric scooter Chetak were the best-selling models.

Suzuki and Royal Enfield
Suzuki Motorcycle India, in fifth place, recorded sales of 5.23 lakh units. The Access 125 remains the company’s bestseller, while the Burgman Street has also gained traction.

Royal Enfield secured the 6th position, selling 4.53 lakh units. Bikes such as the Classic 350, Bullet 350, and Hunter 350 have given it a strong position in the premium segment.

Year-on-year, the company experienced a 19% growth, with 323,230 vehicle registrations completed in September. This period was particularly noteworthy for Hero MotoCorp as it surpassed the production of 125 million two-wheelers, making it the first Indian two-wheeler company to achieve this feat.

Motorcycles have always been a core component of Hero’s sales. In September 2025, the company sold 626,217 motorcycles, reflecting a roughly 5% increase from the previous year (597,529 units) and strong growth compared to August 2025 (501,523 units). However, there was a slight decline in Year-to-Date (YTD) sales, with 28,02,266 units sold this year compared to 28,57,090 units last year.

While motorcycle sales saw a minor dip, the scooter segment propelled the company’s growth. Hero dispatched 61,003 scooter units in September 2025, which is a 54% increase from September 2024 (39,521 units). YTD scooter sales also increased by 29%, reaching 2,55,506 units.

Hero’s EV subsidiary, Vida, also performed well in September 2025, registering 12,736 EV units. The EV market share grew from 4.7% last year to 12.2%. The demand for the Vida VX2 model, in particular, exceeded supply in several cities, bolstering the EV portfolio. GST reforms and the onset of the festive season further boosted Hero’s sales. The company launched 12 new or updated products in the last year, leading to increased bookings and dealership visits.

Dealers were hesitant to stock up due to anticipated GST cuts. Customers postponed purchases, and dealers were cautious about increasing their inventory, influenced by the potential for reduced prices after a possible change in tax rates. Currently, small cars and two-wheelers are subject to 28% GST, while larger cars face a 43-50% GST.

In contrast, the two-wheeler segment performed well year-on-year. The Onam, Navratri, and Durga Puja seasons further boosted demand. Experts believe that the potential tax cuts would benefit four-wheelers more, potentially increasing demand by 5-10%.

Hero MotoCorp saw a significant contribution from motorcycles, with sales of 5,01,523 units, up 4.87% from August 2024’s 4,78,215 units. The company’s scooter segment saw sales of 52,204 units, a 52.89% increase from the previous year’s 34,145 units.

Meanwhile, TVS has established a strong presence in the EV market. In August 2025, the company sold a total of 25,138 electric vehicles, exceeding the 24,779 units sold in August of the previous year.

The SUV segment continues to dominate the PV market, accounting for approximately 65-66% of total sales. However, the top four vehicle manufacturers experienced a decline in August deliveries compared to the previous year. Domestic PV dispatches are estimated to be around 3.3 lakh units, about 7% less than the 3.5 lakh units from the previous year.

Maruti Suzuki reported approximately 1.5 lakh pending orders and about 50 days of stock in its dealer network. Sales of mini cars decreased by 36%, while compact cars saw a slight increase. The SUV segment experienced a 14% decline.