Auto Sales In April 2025: Two-Wheeler Sales Down 16%, Car Sales Up 3.9%
Car sales rose 3.9% year-on-year to 3,48,847 units in April, even as two-wheeler sales fell 16.7% to 14,58,784 units, according to SIAM.
Indians purchased more big cars and surprisingly fewer motorcycles and scooters in April 2025, even as the wider automotive industry transitioned to new emission norms.
Car sales rose 3.9% year-on-year to 3,48,847 units last month, even as two-wheeler sales fell 16.7% to 14,58,784 units, according to data released by industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers on Thursday. The three-wheeler space shrunk marginally.
“The two-wheeler segment de-grew…due to the high base effect of April last year, while it is likely to pick up in coming months,” SIAM's Director General Rajesh Menon told NDTV Profit. "The wedding season, a key driver of two-wheeler sales in rural India, was in April last year. This year, it's during May-June. Hence, the positive outlook."
According to Primus Partners, two-wheeler sales jumped in April last year due to four factors:
Rural disposable income rose after a strong Rabi harvest, prompting dealers to restock at the start of the fiscal.
The wedding season coincided with Akshaya Tritiya, both periods that traditionally boost motorcycle and scooter purchases.
Retail lenders introduced festive loan offers, encouraging customers to advance their two-wheeler purchases.
A more robust stable supply chain allowed OEMs to liquidate back orders from the previous quarter.
"Together these factors pulled demand forward and created an unusually high baseline," Nikhil Dhaka, vice president at Primus Partners, told NDTV Profit. "Consequently, this April’s wholesale figures appear weaker, even though underlying retail sentiment remains firm. The volumes are expected to regain momentum once the monsoon outlook clarifies."
Exports, meanwhile, impressed. They are increasingly becoming a key revenue stream for Indian automakers amid subdued demand at home.
Car exports from India surged nearly 20% year-on-year to 59,395 units in April 2025, while two-wheeler exports increased 14.7% year-on-year to 3,68,201 units.
Meanwhile, two- and three-wheelers completed the transition to the Stage 2 of ‘On-Board Diagnostics’ under the Bharat Stage-VI emission norms. Additionally, all new vehicles will be E-20 compliant from May onwards.
