Retail automobile sales rose 14 per cent in January compared with the same month last year on the back of robust registrations across passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and tractors, dealers’ body the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) said on Monday. Total sales across categories last month rose to 18,26,669 units from 16,08,505 units in January 2022.

FADA president Manish Raj Singhania said the total retail sales in January grew compared with the year-ago period but still remained down 8 per cent compared with the pre-Covid month of January 2020.

“While good enquiry, healthy bookings and improved supplies are helping aid this segment, it is the entry level sub-segment which is still feeling the pinch,” he said.

Passenger vehicle registrations rose to 3,40,220 units last month, an increase of 22 per cent compared with 2,79,050 units in the year-ago period.

Similarly, two-wheeler retails rose to 12,65,069 units from 11,49,351 units in January 2022, an increase of 10 per cent.

Three-wheeler retail sales rose to 65,796 units, up 59 percent from 41,487 units in January last year. Commercial vehicle registrations were at 82,428 units, up 16 per cent from 70,853 units a year ago.

Similarly, tractor sales rose 8 per cent to 73,156 units last month from 67,764 units in January last year. Ontwo-wheeler sales, he said sentiments were improving at a snail’s pace but were better than what it was a year ago.