Pune Vehicle Registrations Drop 26% During Dasara Festive Period; EV Sales Rise 5%

Pune recorded a 26% decline in vehicle registrations during the 10-day Navaratri and Dussehra period this year, even as electric vehicle (EV) registrations continued to grow. The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) registered 10,534 vehicles between October 10 and 19, 2026, compared with 14,168 during the corresponding period last year.

The registrations fell by 3,634 vehicles year-on-year. Two-wheelers accounted for 7,046 registrations, while cars and other four-wheelers accounted for 2,595. The RTO also recorded 507 cab registrations during the period.

In contrast, electric vehicle registrations increased by around 5%, rising from 1,566 units last year to 1,638 this year. These included 1,182 electric two-wheelers, 382 electric cars and 44 electric goods vehicles.

Rising living costs and financial pressures have affected vehicle purchases, while the absence of a similar tax incentive this year may also have contributed to the decline. Last year’s festive sales received a boost from a reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates before Dussehra, which helped lower vehicle prices, particularly for cars.

However, transport officials expect the festive buying trend to pick up during Dhanteras and Diwali, when vehicle purchases traditionally peak in Pune. Senior officials said many buyers have already booked vehicles for delivery during next month’s festive period and expect registrations to exceed last year’s figures.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad RTO recorded 4,411 vehicle registrations between October 15 and 19. Of these, 4,035 were non-transport vehicles and 376 were transport vehicles.

For some buyers, the timing of the purchase also matters. Hadapsar resident Prajakta Deshmukh said her family postponed buying a two-wheeler from Dussehra to Dhanteras, which they consider a more auspicious time to make the purchase.

Deshmukh also pointed to the need for better public transport. Her household already owns two two-wheelers, and she believes more reliable public transport options could reduce the need for families to own multiple personal vehicles.

The Pune Metropolitan Region has approximately 82 lakh registered vehicles, with around 1,300 new vehicles added daily. The latest figures indicate a slowdown in festive-period registrations, although the expected Dhanteras and Diwali rush could influence the overall trend.