Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Nov 6: Two-wheeler retail sales in India stood at 23,21,419 units in October 2026, registering a 28.35 per cent decline compared to 32,39,949 units recorded during the same month last year. However, sales improved on a month-on-month basis, rising 29.67 per cent from September's 17,90,188 units, according to the latest data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).

FADA described October 2026 as the second-best October on record for the two-wheeler industry. The sharp year-on-year decline was largely attributed to differences in the festive calendar. Last year, both Navratri and Diwali fell in October, while the GST 2.0 rate cuts introduced on September 22, 2025, had encouraged many buyers to advance their purchases. This year, Navratri was celebrated in October, while Dhanteras and Diwali shifted to November.

Two-wheelers accounted for nearly 73 per cent of all vehicle registrations during October. The decline was more pronounced in rural markets, where registrations dropped 33.97 per cent year-on-year, compared to a 20.77 per cent decline in urban areas. Rural buyers continued to account for the larger share of the market at 52.9 per cent.

The Navratri sales figures offered a relatively balanced picture, with two-wheeler registrations during the festival period in 2026 standing at 8,40,696 units, a marginal decline of 2.02 per cent from 8,58,027 units recorded during the corresponding period last year. For the April-October period of FY2027, cumulative retail sales increased 7.81 per cent to 1,33,79,362 units.

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India emerged as the leading two-wheeler manufacturer in October with 6,37,630 registrations and a market share of 27.47 per cent. Hero MotoCorp followed with 5,98,433 units, accounting for 25.78 per cent of the market. Hero recorded a 40.56 per cent year-on-year decline, while Honda registered a 25.06 per cent drop.

TVS Motor retained the third position, while Bajaj Auto recorded a sharper decline of 37.46 per cent. Royal Enfield and Suzuki were relatively less affected, registering declines of around 20 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.

Electric two-wheelers accounted for 9.65 per cent of total registrations in October, compared to 4.66 per cent in the corresponding month last year. However, their share was lower than September's 11.58 per cent, as petrol-powered two-wheeler registrations recovered more strongly. Among electric vehicle manufacturers, Ather Energy recorded 31,833 registrations, while Ola Electric registered 12,098 units.

November is expected to offer a clearer picture of festive demand, with Dhanteras and Diwali falling during the month this year. Dealers remain cautiously optimistic, although rural cash flows, financing costs and the possibility of a post-festive slowdown continue to be areas of concern.