Bengaluru sees 2.7% dip in private vehicle sales for second consecutive year

Bengaluru has recorded a decline in private vehicle sales for the second straight year, with registrations falling by 2.7% in 2024–25, signalling a continued shift away from post-pandemic consumer behaviour.

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According to data from the Karnataka Transport Department, the city registered just over 6.19 lakh private vehicles between April 2024 and March 2025, compared to 6.37 lakh in the same period last year.

The drop follows a sharp 20% decline in 2023–24, a stark contrast to the boom in 2022–23, when 8.2 lakh private two-wheelers and cars were registered. Of the total vehicles registered this year, two-wheelers accounted for 4.8 lakh and cars for 1.45 lakh—both down from the previous year.

Experts attribute this continued slump to worsening road conditions, mounting traffic congestion, and the decline of ‘revenge buying’ that spurred demand post-COVID. The stress of navigating Bengaluru’s poorly maintained roads and the scarcity of parking are discouraging new buyers.

While this downward trend aligns with sustainable mobility goals, urban planners stress that such change should stem from deliberate policy rather than infrastructural shortcomings. Globally, cities like Singapore have curbed vehicle ownership through strict policies, freezing vehicle growth and promoting robust public transit alternatives.

As of March 31, Bengaluru had 1.08 crore private two-wheelers and cars on its roads. Including all transport and non-transport vehicles, the total fleet stood at nearly 1.24 crore.