Two-Wheeler Sales Drop In October Due To Festive Timing Shift

India saw a sharp drop in two-wheeler retail sales in October 2026 with total registrations falling to 23,21,419 units compared to 32,39,949 units in October 2025. Data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations shows this 28.35 percent decline happened mainly because the festive calendar shifted. While Navratri fell in October, Dhanteras and Diwali moved to November. Despite the drop, it remained the second-best October on record for the sector. Sales grew by 29.67 percent compared to September 2026.

Market Segments And Fuel Types

Petrol and ethanol models led the market with a 90.30 percent share, while electric two-wheelers took 9.65 percent and CNG or LPG models took 0.05 percent. Urban areas showed stronger demand than rural regions. Rural sales suffered because of deficient rainfall and a weak Kharif crop. For the year-to-date period from April to October 2026, sales reached 1,33,79,362 units, marking a 7.81 percent increase over the previous year.

Brand Performance

Honda led the market with 6,37,630 units and a 27.47 percent share. Hero MotoCorp sales fell to 5,98,433 units, giving it a 25.78 percent share. TVS Motor recorded 4,58,303 units. Together, Honda, Hero, and TVS made up over 72 percent of the market. Bajaj Auto sold 2,09,634 units, Royal Enfield reached 1,23,982 units, Suzuki sold 1,20,931 units, and Yamaha sold 79,001 units.

Electric And Other Brands

In the electric sector, Ather sold 31,833 units, Ola Electric sold 12,098 units, and Greaves Electric reached 10,839 units. River EV recorded 6,817 units. Classic Legends sold 5,934 units, Bgauss reached 5,556 units, and Piaggio sold 4,021 units.

Context

Automobile retail data in India often fluctuates based on the Hindu calendar because festival seasons are traditional periods for major household purchases. When key festivals shift between months, year-on-year monthly comparisons can look distorted even when overall annual growth remains positive.