Pune vehicle registrations fell by nearly 26% during this year’s Navaratra period, even as electric vehicle registrations rose by about 5%, according to data from the Pune Regional Transport Office. The figures cover registrations between October 10 and October 19 this year and compare them with 14,168 registrations reported for the corresponding period last year.
The Pune RTO recorded 10,534 vehicle registrations during the latest Navaratra period, compared with 14,168 registrations last year. Electric vehicle registrations increased to 1,638 units from 1,566 during the comparable period, the data showed.
A senior RTO official said the decline in overall registrations was not considered a concern because vehicle purchases typically rise during Dhanteras and Diwali. “The Dasara period does record new vehicle registrations, but the real surge happens during Dhanteras and Diwali, which fall next month,” the official told the Times of India.
The official said many buyers may have already booked vehicles for delivery during the more significant festive buying period. Another RTO official said vehicle registrations in Pune had generally remained on the higher side and expected registrations during Dhanteras and Diwali to exceed the corresponding figures from last year.
Two-wheelers accounted for the largest share of non-EV registrations, with 7,046 units registered during the period. Cars followed with 2,595 registrations, while cabs recorded 507 registrations. The numbers underline the continued importance of private two-wheelers and cars in Pune’s daily mobility system, even as the city’s public transport limitations remain part of household vehicle-buying decisions.
Within the EV segment, electric two-wheelers dominated with 1,182 registrations. Electric cars accounted for 382 registrations. The RTO also recorded 44 electric goods vehicles during the period.
The latest figures come as Pune’s registered vehicle base continues to expand. The Pune Metropolitan Region has roughly 82 lakh registered vehicles, with around 1,300 new vehicles being registered every day, according to the report.
For some residents, festive timing and transport requirements are closely linked. Prajakta Deshmukh, a Hadapsar resident and bank professional, told the Times of India that she had booked a two-wheeler for delivery on Dhanteras. She said her family had postponed the purchase from Dasara because Dhanteras was considered a more auspicious time to buy new items.
Deshmukh also said her household already had two two-wheelers and that better public transport could have reduced the need for multiple personal vehicles. Her comment points to the wider mobility context behind registration data: vehicle demand is shaped not only by festive purchasing patterns but also by the availability and reliability of alternatives to private transport.
The Pune RTO’s next major indicator will be registrations during Dhanteras and Diwali, when officials expect both overall vehicle purchases and the EV segment to record stronger numbers.
