India’s auto dealers eked out a 6.5% rise in vehicle sales in 2024-25, but that growth masks a deeper stall. Behind the numbers lie ballooning inventories, tight financing, and fragile consumer demand. The new financial year opens not with a roar, but with a warning light.The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations is cautiously optimistic. The caution is justified. March ended the fiscal year on a high, with a 12% month-on-month jump in retail sales. Passenger vehicles climbed 16%, commercial vehicles rose 15%, and two-wheelers gained 11%—a trifecta that looked promising on paper.
.png)
