Passenger vehicle sales for May zoom by 26% YoY

Ahmedabad: Passenger vehicle retail sales in Gujarat continued to witness strong momentum in May 2026, driven by rising consumer demand, healthy booking pipelines and continued traction for electric vehicles and new launches. According to data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), passenger vehicle sales in the state rose by 25.8% year-on-year in May 2026 to 32,018 units, compared to 25,450 in the same month last year.Overall vehicle retails in Gujarat grew 18.16% year-on-year in May, aided by demand across two-wheelers, three-wheelers, commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles. However, the passenger vehicle category stood out on the back of strong consumer sentiment, expanding model choices and sustained preference for utility vehicles.Industry observers said Gujarat mirrors several national trends, particularly in semi-urban and emerging markets where first-time buyers and demand for upgrades are supporting sales. Dealers also pointed to improved availability of newer models and growing consumer interest in EVs as key growth drivers.Pranav Shah, chairperson, FADA Gujarat, said the improvement in passenger vehicle sales reflects growing consumer optimism and stronger market momentum. “Customer sentiment has improved significantly over the past few months and that optimism is now translating into actual retail conversions. The market has seen strong traction due to multiple factors including new model launches, attractive finance schemes and discounts rolled out by both manufacturers and dealers. These factors have collectively helped improve overall demand in the passenger vehicles segment,” Shah said.He added that rural markets are currently outperforming urban centres in terms of demand growth.“Rural demand has remained comparatively better, and is driving a large part of the growth momentum, while urban demand is more measured. At the same time, EVs continue to see very strong interest from buyers and demand is growing at a faster pace, supported by increasing awareness, improved product availability and a wider range of options,” he said.FADA noted that passenger vehicles nationally remained the “clear standout” during May, driven by a Bharat-led recovery pattern, where rural demand outpaced urban markets. The demand for entry-level cars has also revived, which is a key driver alongside SUVs, CNG vehicles and EVs.“Passenger vehicle sales are expected to remain steady in June despite the typical seasonal slowdown before the festive build-up begins. The association added that healthy booking pipelines, especially in the EV segment, and continued product launches are likely to support retail momentum,” according to FADA.