The festive rush that usually fuels Pune’s automobile market has lost some of its spark this Dussehra. According to data from the regional transport office (RTO), 8,717 vehicles were registered between September 21 and 29 this year, compared to 9,582 registrations during last year’s festive window from October 1 to 9. The nearly 9 per cent decline is a rare festive slowdown for one of Maharashtra’s busiest auto hubs. The dip was led by two-wheelers and electric scooters, traditionally Pune’s festive favorites. Motorcycle registrations slid from 6,319 last year to 5,438 this year, a drop of 881 units. Autorickshaw and tourist taxi registrations also shrank sharply, from 214 to 69 and 247 to 191, respectively. On the contrary, the number of car registrations rose to 2,554 from 2,354 last year, showcasing strong demand. The electric vehicle market also saw a similar fall. Total EV registrations dipped from 1,025 last year to 814 this year, dragged down by electric motorcycles, which fell from 944 to 679. Yet, electric car registrations doubled, from 58 to 116, underlining the rising interest. RTO officials say revised GST slabs might be one of the reasons for this decline. "People actually prefer to purchase vehicles during this festive time, but the revised GST rates were to be applicable from September 22, which is maybe why people were waiting to buy the vehicles. Even though there is a decline now, I am sure that these numbers will rise during the Diwali season," said Yuvraj Patil, Assistant Regional Transport Officer. With four-wheelers in both categories—ICE and electric—showing resilience, Pune’s auto sector may yet see a rebound before the festive season wraps up.
