Auto registrations have been low in the May 1-9 period due to lockdowns in several states, according to Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations of India (Fada). The association predicted a sluggish May as most states have extended lockdown till month-end.
Lockdown has forced dealerships to be shut down, resulting in zero sales and no new registrations. Given the rising number of COVID-19 cases, walk-ins have dropped 30pc and customers are delaying purchase decisions, noted Fada.
The second COVID-19 wave has engulfed not just urban but rural markets and recovery therefore might take longer than it did with the first wave, said Fada. On a positive note, if monsoons arrive timely and average rain is received, higher farm output is expected which in turn will boost economy and auto demand from rural market — faster than urban markets.
April Registrations
Auto registrations in India in April fell by 28pc compared to the prior month, as restrictions were already in place in many States. Yearly comparison was not done for April owing to near-zero sales reported in April 2020, also due to the pandemic.
Two-wheeler registrations were down 28pc, three-wheelers slipped by 43pc, passenger vehicle registrations dropped 25pc, tractor registrations fell 45pc and commercial vehicle registrations were down by 24pc, compared to March registrations.
Registration in FY2021
Fada data suggests that commercial vehicle sales and three-wheeler sales dipped the most in FY2021 (April 2020 – March 2021). Tractor segment was the only sector to end the year on a positive note. Passenger vehicles registrations fell by 13pc compared to the prior year (2019).
| Auto Segment | FY 2021 | FY 2020 | Pc Change |
| Two-wheeler | 11,533,336 | 16,838,665 | -32% |
| Three-wheeler | 258,174 | 719,594 | -64% |
| Passenger Vehicle | 2,386,316 | 2,773,514 | -13% |
| Tractor | 644,779 | 555,315 | 16% |
| Commercial Vehicle | 448,914 | 881,114 | -49% |