Uttar Pradesh accounted for 15.1% of total two-wheeler sales across the country in the third quarter of financial year 2025-26 (October to December 2025), according to data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). The state's performance placed it significantly ahead of the second-ranked Maharashtra, which contributed 11.3% of national sales, underscoring the northern belt's reliance on two-wheelers as a primary mode of personal transportation.

Maharashtra ranked second with sales driven by a combination of urban commuter demand and rural connectivity needs across its vast geography. Tamil Nadu followed at 8.0%, reflecting the southern state's strong manufacturing base and a well-established dealer network that supports consistent retail activity. Gujarat contributed 7.4%, while Bihar, despite being among India's lower-income states, matched Karnataka's share at 6.0% each — a figure that points to the two-wheeler segment's reach into markets where affordability and practicality drive purchase decisions more than aspirational buying.

Rajasthan also recorded a 6.0% share, making it one of several states clustered within a narrow band of contributions in the mid-tier range. Madhya Pradesh followed at 5.8%, while West Bengal posted 4.5%. Odisha, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab each contributed shares ranging between 2.9% and 3.3%, reflecting steady but lower volumes from these states. Chhattisgarh accounted for 2.6% of national sales. The remaining states and union territories were grouped under an "Others" category, which collectively held 11.9% of total sales, indicating that two-wheeler demand, while concentrated in larger states, remains meaningfully distributed across smaller markets as well.

At the regional level, the Western Zone led all zones with sales of 19.06 lakh units in the quarter, benefiting from the combined volumes of Maharashtra and Gujarat, two states that together account for nearly one-fifth of national two-wheeler demand. The zone's performance reflects both urban demand in cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Ahmedabad, as well as substantial rural consumption across their hinterlands.

India is the world's largest two-wheeler market by volume, a position it has held for several years. The segment encompasses motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds, and serves as the backbone of personal mobility for a large share of the population, particularly in rural areas, small towns, and cities where road infrastructure and public transport options remain limited. Two-wheelers are also widely used for last-mile delivery and small business operations, adding a commercial dimension to their demand.

SIAM, the apex industry body representing automobile manufacturers in India, publishes state-level retail sales data periodically to provide visibility into regional consumption patterns. These figures represent actual registrations at the consumer level, as distinct from wholesale dispatches from factories to dealerships. The difference is relevant because wholesale data can reflect manufacturer production cycles and dealer inventory build-up rather than final purchases by end-users.

The Q3 FY2025-26 period spans October to December, a window that includes the tail end of the festival season in India, during which two-wheeler sales historically see an uptick. Manufacturers and dealers typically offer financing schemes, exchange offers, and promotional pricing during this period to capitalise on elevated consumer sentiment. The strong performance of states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during this quarter also reflects the growing purchasing power of semi-urban and rural consumers, a demographic that the two-wheeler industry has increasingly targeted through entry-level and mid-range product offerings in recent years.