Vehicle retail registrations during Navratri 2026, from 11 to 20 October, totalled 11,23,086 units, according to provisional data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) reported by Autocar Professional on 21 October. That is 26.76% above the 2024 festival and 6.52% below 2025. Spectate Media has not seen the FADA release.
Why the two comparisons differ
The 2026 window ran 10 days, while Navratri 2025 ran 11 days, and FADA president Sai Giridhar said GST 2.0 concentrated demand into that window. He called 2024 a better benchmark for underlying momentum. Spectate Media's calculation from the reported figures puts the 2026 daily pace at about 1.12 lakh units against about 1.09 lakh in 2025, roughly 2.8% higher. Auto Punditz notes that this is not a calendar-adjusted comparison. The data are retail registrations from 1,468 of 1,469 RTOs, and exclude some Telangana segments.
By segment
Two-wheelers were 8,34,075 units, up 32.41% on 2024 and down 2.79% on 2025. Passenger vehicles were 1,82,728, up 10.39% on 2024 but down 21.91% on 2025. Commercial vehicles were 35,618, up 16.47% on 2024 and 1.12% on 2025. Three-wheelers were 45,735, tractors 22,690, and construction equipment 2,240, the only category below 2024, at 16.45% lower.
Electric vehicles
EV registrations were 1,17,437 units, up 26.78% on 2025, lifting EV share of retail to about 10.46% from 7.71%. Electric two-wheelers were 75,758 units, up 33.41%, and electric passenger vehicles were 12,305, up 25.97%.
Key numbers
- Total retail, Navratri 2026: 11,23,086 units (10 days, 11 to 20 October)
- Against 2024: Up 26.76% (Underlying benchmark, per FADA)
- Against 2025: Down 6.52% (One extra day last year)
- EV share of retail: 10.46% (From 7.71% a year earlier)
What boards and CFOs should note
Three points stand out. First, the festive year-on-year picture depends on the baseline chosen. Second, passenger vehicles are the weak spot against 2025. Third, EVs gained share even as total retail dipped.
Source: Autocar Professional, 21 October 2026. This is a summary of a news report, published as general information. It is not legal, tax or investment advice.
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