Passenger Vehicle Sales Drop Nearly 18 Per Cent In 2020 Calendar Year

- Passenger car sales declined by 12.30% with 14,32,304 units sold
- Two-wheeler sales registered a drop of 23.15% with 14,268,430 units sold
- The CV sector remains one of the worst hit with a nearly 41% decline
The year 2020 was extremely challenging for the automobile sector, and we now have a clear picture of what it looked like as passenger vehicle sales dropped by 17.85 per cent year-on-year. According to the data shared by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), passenger vehicle sales stood at 24,33,464 units between January-December 2020, as against 29,62,115 units sold during the same period in 2019. The near 18 per cent decline has been recorded by the sector for the second consecutive year since PV sales were down in 2019 as well due to a struggling economy and low buying sentiment.
Also Read: Passenger Vehicle Sales Witness 13.59 Per Cent Increment In December 2020
Passenger car sales in 2020 stood at 14,32,304 units, witnessing a decline of 21.30 per cent, as against 18,19,884 units sold in 2019. Meanwhile, utlity vehicle sales dropped by 8.89 per cent with 897,406 units sold last year as opposed to 984,928 units sold the year before. Sales for vans stood at 103,754 units in 2020, declining by 34.04 per cent over 157,303 units sold in 2019.

The scooter segment in the two-wheeler sector witnessed the largest decline of 28 per cent year-on-year
The drop in volumes was even larger in the two-wheeler sector as sales declined by 23.15 per cent with 14,268,430 units sold in 2020. In comparison, 18,566,857 units were sold in 2019. Motorcycles continued to remain the largest contributors to the segment with 94,58,577 units sold in 2020, registering a decline of 21.26 per cent, as opposed to 12,011,692 units sold in 2019. However, sales of scooters witnessed the largest drop of 28 per cent with 42,05,194 units sold as, as opposed to 58,41,184 units. Mopeds contributed 603,242 units to overall two-wheeler volumes in 2020, but sales declined by 15.51 per cent over 2019. Lastly, electric two-wheeler sales stood at 1417 units in 2020, according to SIAM data.
Also Read: Electric Two-Wheelers Sales In India Sees Decline Of 5.46 Per Cent In 2020
The commercial vehicle sector also saw one of its worst years as sales dropped by 40.90 per cent. About 505,189 units were sold through the 2020 calendar year, as against 854,783 units in 2019. Three-wheeler sales declined by 62.12 per cent with 260,412 vehicles sold in last year, as against 687,446 units sold the year before.
Collectively, the auto sector sold a total of 17,467,456 units between January and December 2020, registering a decline of 24.29 per cent as against 23,072,564 units sold in 2019.
Latest News
car&bike Team | May 5, 2026UK-India FTA Impact: CBU Range Rover Prices Slashed By Up To Rs. 75 LakhThese include the Range Rover SV and the Range Rover Sport SV, which are now cheaper by Rs 75 lakh and Rs. 40 lakh, respectively.1 min read
car&bike Team | May 5, 2026FADA: India's Total Vehicle Retail Surges 12.94% To 26.11 Lakh Units In April 2026In April 2026, India's total vehicle retail stood at 26,11,317 units, a growth of 12.94 per cent compared to the same month in FY2026, marking the highest-ever April retail figure in the country's automotive history.1 min read
Bilal Firfiray | May 4, 2026Skoda Epiq Interior Teased In Design Sketches; Premiere On May 19After a couple of years in a concept stage, Epiq will make a global premiere on May 19th, and here’s a teaser of its new cabin theme.1 min read
car&bike Team | May 4, 2026BSA Scrambler 650 Vs Royal Enfield Bear 650: Specifications ComparisonThe new BSA Scrambler 650 goes head-to-head against the Royal Enfield Bear 650, at least on specifications and positioning.4 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | May 4, 2026Tata Curvv EV 55 kWh Prices Slashed With Launch Of SeriesX; Curvv EV 45 kWh DiscontinuedThe 55 kWh battery pack now offered at a lower price point in Accomplished and Empowered trim levels, while the rest of the variants have been shelved.2 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | May 4, 2026Nissan Launches Twin-Cylinder CNG Retrofitment Kit For Gravite At Rs. 82,999Priced at Rs. 82,999, the CNG kit will be available as a dealership-level offering rather than a factory fitment. However, Nissan says customers will get a 3-year / 1,00,000 km third-party warranty on kit components.2 mins read
Jafar Rizvi | May 3, 2026River Indie Gen 3 Long Term Report: 1 Month, 400 km AfterAfter a month and 400 km, the River Indie impresses with its utility-first approach, smooth ride and standout design, despite a few everyday usability compromises.8 mins read
Bilal Firfiray | May 2, 2026Volkswagen Taigun Facelift Review: Still The Driver’s SUV, But Improved!The updated Volkswagen Taigun gets a new 8-speed automatic, a refreshed design, and added features. But does it still deliver the best driving experience in the C-SUV segment?5 mins read
Shams Raza Naqvi | Apr 29, 2026Toyota Innova Hycross Vs Mahindra XEV 9S: Choosing The Right Three Row Family MoverIn a battle of three-row cars the electric Mahindra XEV 9S takes on the Toyota Innova Hycross. Which one ticks more boxes?1 min read
Janak Sorap | Apr 26, 2026BMW F 450 GS First Ride Review: Almost A Proper GS With Big Bike DNANew 420cc twin, premium build, feature-loaded and Easy Ride Clutch — but does it deliver where it truly matters?8 mins read
Seshan Vijayraghvan | Apr 25, 20262026 MG Majestor Review: Bold, Feature-Packed And Off-Road ReadyWe spent time with the MG Majestor to see how much of an improvement it is over the Gloster, and whether it can take on the segment leader – Toyota Fortuner.9 mins read



















































































































