Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jan 4: While vehicle registrations continued to rise nationally, coastal Karnataka witnessed uneven trends over the past year. India saw 2.62 crore vehicles registered in 2024, which rose by 7.69% to 2.82 crore in 2025. In Karnataka, registrations increased from 18.88 lac in 2024 to 19.09 lac in 2025, marking a 1.15% rise.

Within the Mangaluru and Udupi RTO jurisdictions, registrations showed an upward trend. Mangaluru recorded a 2.44%  increase, while Udupi saw a 3.97% rise. In contrast, registrations fell in Bantwal and Puttur RTO areas.

In Mangaluru, light motor vehicles led registrations. A total of 48,485 vehicles were registered in 2025, of which 12,054 were light motor vehicles.

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Registrations peaked in October with 5,734 vehicles, while June recorded the lowest at 3,280 vehicles. Of these, 25,961 were petrol vehicles, 9,567 petrol-ethanol hybrids, and 4,537 electric vehicles.

Udupi RTO also showed improvement, with 36,433 vehicles registered in 2025, including 24,458 two-wheelers, 8,009 light motor vehicles, 19,265 petrol vehicles, 8,780 petrol-ethanol hybrids, and 2,841 electric vehicles.

Meanwhile, registrations declined in Puttur and Bantwal. Puttur RTO registered 12,283 vehicles in 2025, down 5.15% from 12,950 in 2024, including 7,410 two-wheelers, 3,207 light motor vehicles, 6,329 petrol vehicles, 791 electric vehicles, and six tractors. Bantwal RTO recorded 7,519 registrations, down 6.43% from 8,036 the previous year, with 4,514 two-wheelers and 727 electric vehicles.

Statewide, two-wheelers remain the preferred choice, with 13.42 lac sold in 2025. In coastal districts, Mangaluru led with 30,335, Udupi 24,458, Puttur 7,410, and Bantwal 4,514 two-wheelers sold.

Despite the launch of various electric vehicle models, EV registrations showed limited growth. Nationally, of 2.82 crore vehicles registered in 2025, only 22.70 lac were electric. In Karnataka, of 19.09 lac registrations, just 2.03 lac were electric vehicles.