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Car dealers hold 45 days of stock, highest since November 2025, as discounts rise alongside price hikes
Dealers carried around 45 days of stock at the end of September, the highest since November 2025, according to FADA. Discounts are rising even as carmakers raise prices, squeezing dealer margins ahead of the festive season.
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The numbers
Figures from Moneycontrol
| Passenger vehicles dispatched to dealers in September: | 4.6 lakh |
|---|---|
| Retail sales in September: | 4.27 lakh units |
| Net addition to dealer inventory in September: | 33,000 vehicles |
| Tata Motors Curvv EV discount: | Rs 3.35 lakh |
Why it matters to operators and investors
With dealer stock at 45 days, the highest since November 2025, and September dispatches of 4.6 lakh outrunning retail sales of 4.27 lakh, dealers should push back on OEM allocations and clear aged units before the festive season, rather than add stock and rely on discounts like Rs 3.35 lakh on the Tata Curvv EV to move it.
What to watch next
- FADA's next monthly report: dealer inventory days against the current 45 days
- Gap between wholesale dispatches and retail registrations versus September's 4.6 lakh and 4.27 lakh
- Changes in headline discounts on the Tata Curvv EV and Hyundai Creta
- Manufacturer announcements of production or dispatch cuts, or further price hikes
- Festive-season retail growth commentary from dealers and listed carmakers
The source
First seen