Pune’s Diwali Auto Market Split: EV Registrations Jump 62% Even as Overall Vehicle Sales Drop 16%

November 7, 2026 PuneTV Team 1 Comment

The surge in Pune EV registrations has split the city’s festive vehicle market. While overall new vehicle registrations fell sharply this Diwali season, electric vehicles surged, highlighting a growing shift in buyer preferences toward cleaner and lower-running-cost options.

According to data from the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO), 13,889 new vehicles were registered between October 27 and November 5, 2026. This compared with 16,582 registrations in the corresponding 10-day pre-Diwali window last year (October 9–18, 2025), marking a decline of about 16.2% or roughly 2,693 fewer vehicles . The drop occurred despite the traditional strength of the festive buying period.

The Conventional Vehicle Slowdown vs Pune EV Registrations

The slowdown was most pronounced in the passenger car segment. Car registrations fell nearly 23%, from 4,219 last year to 3,239 this year. Two-wheeler registrations declined by 9.5%, dropping from 10,214 to 9,245 .

Commercial categories also weakened significantly. Autorickshaw registrations plunged from 541 to 109, tourist taxi registrations fell from 617 to 412, and goods carrier registrations eased from 768 to 720 .

Industry observers and officials link the decline to broader economic pressures. Concerns over drought in parts of Maharashtra, rising vehicle prices due to higher steel and aluminium costs, and inflation appear to have tempered discretionary spending on conventional vehicles . The calendar difference in festive dates between the two years may have played a secondary role as well.

The EV Surge: Inside Pune EV Registrations

Electric vehicles bucked the broader trend decisively. EV registrations rose nearly 62%, climbing from 1,490 units in the corresponding period of 2025 to 2,420 units this year . As a result, EVs’ share of total new vehicle registrations nearly doubled, rising from about 9% last year to 17.4% this year. In practical terms, more than one in every six newly registered vehicles in Pune during this window was electric .

Electric two-wheelers drove most of the growth. Their registrations increased from 1,089 to 1,899—a rise of roughly 74%. They now account for about 20.5% of all two-wheeler registrations (up from 10.7%), meaning roughly one in five new two-wheelers registered was electric. Electric two-wheelers also made up nearly 78% of all EV registrations in the period .

Electric cars also advanced, rising from 350 to 429 units (about 23% growth). Their share of total car registrations improved from around 8.3% to 13.2% . Smaller electric categories showed gains too: electric autorickshaws rose from 14 to 22, electric goods carriers from 30 to 42, and electric tourist taxis from 6 to 27 .

Why Buyers Are Choosing Pune EV Registrations

Officials and industry observers link the contrasting trends to a mix of factors. Rising fuel prices and the appeal of lower operating costs have pushed many buyers toward EVs. Growing awareness of pollution reduction and expanding charging infrastructure have also supported the shift .

Swapnil Bhosale, Deputy Regional Transport Officer, Pune RTO, noted that citizens are increasingly prioritising electric mobility to cut fuel expenses and pollution, describing the trend as positive. He stated that the increase in EV registrations indicates buyers are gradually showing greater interest in electric mobility .

Industry voices, including representatives associated with dealer associations, have similarly pointed to improved charging networks and cost sensitivity as key drivers behind stronger EV demand across the state.

A Structural Shift in Pune’s Auto Market

The data underscores a structural change in Pune’s vehicle market. Even as total volumes softened during a traditionally buoyant period, the composition of demand is tilting toward electric options, particularly in the high-volume two-wheeler segment that dominates urban mobility.

Whether this momentum continues beyond the festive window will depend on sustained infrastructure growth, pricing, and overall economic conditions. However, the latest RTO figures make the direction of travel clear: Pune’s roads are gradually turning electric, even when the showrooms are quieter than usual.

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