Passenger vehicle retail sales rose 23.25 per cent year-on-year to 4.03 lakh units in May, according to retail data released by FADA, making the segment the fastest-growing major category during the month. Volumes increased from 3.27 lakh units a year earlier, though they declined 6.10 per cent sequentially from April’s 4.29 lakh units amid seasonal softness.
The growth pattern continued to shift toward non-urban markets. Rural passenger vehicle sales expanded 30.35 per cent year-on-year, substantially ahead of urban growth of 18.80 per cent. Rural markets accounted for 40.7 per cent of passenger vehicle retail activity in May compared with 38.3 per cent in FY25, reinforcing the growing role of Bharat markets in overall demand generation.
FADA attributed the increase to a combination of healthy booking pipelines, new product introductions and improving demand for smaller vehicles alongside continued strength in SUVs. The segment also recorded significant movement in fuel mix preferences. Petrol-powered vehicles remained dominant with a 45.76 percent share but continued to decline from 48.15 per cent a year ago. Diesel share dropped further to 16.23 per cent from 19.32 per cent. Meanwhile, CNG penetration increased to 23.34 per cent from 19.93 percent and EV share rose to 6.63 percent from 4.51 per cent. Hybrid vehicles maintained an 8.05 per cent share. Combined alternative fuel penetration crossed 38 per cent during the month.
Inventory build-up emerged as another notable trend. Passenger vehicle inventory increased to 31–33 days at the end of May from 28–30 days in April, moving further away from FADA’s recommended benchmark of 21 days, suggesting dispatch discipline may become increasingly important through the seasonally softer months.
Maruti Suzuki maintained leadership with retail sales of 1.65 lakh units and a market share of 40.97 per cent, up from 37.87 per cent a year ago. Tata Motors strengthened its position with 55,544 units and a 13.8 per cent share, while Mahindra retailed 51,311 units. Hyundai remained fourth with 46,223 units. Kia crossed 24,000 units, while VinFast recorded 1,238 retail registrations during the month.
Dealer sentiment for the segment remains supported by booking pipelines and upcoming launches, although seasonal moderation and inventory levels remain under watch.