India’s Mobility Sector Ends 2025 on High

India’s mobility sector closed 2025 on a robust note, driven by rising truck rentals, record vehicle sales, and strong freight activity, according to the latest Shriram Mobility Bulletin. December witnessed particularly high demand for goods carriers, with rentals for 18-tonne payload trucks surging across major trunk routes. The Delhi-Mumbai round-trip saw a 12% year-on-year increase, while Delhi-Kolkata rentals rose 9%, and Mumbai-Chennai and Kolkata-Guwahati corridors reported double-digit growth.

Demand for BS-VI-compliant trucks remained especially strong in the National Capital Region due to the implementation of GRAP restrictions, which limit the movement of older vehicles. However, adverse weather conditions, including fog and snowfall in upper Himalayan regions, temporarily disrupted logistics activity toward the end of the month.

The calendar year 2025 marked a landmark period for the Indian automobile industry. Passenger vehicle sales grew 10% year-on-year, aided by GST cuts and cumulative reductions in interest rates. Two-wheeler sales approached the two-crore mark—the highest recorded in a single year. Sales of three-wheeler goods carriers, maxi cabs, and buses also touched record levels, demonstrating broad-based demand across commercial vehicle segments.

Sudarshan Holla, Joint Managing Director and COO of Commercial Vehicles at Shriram Finance, noted, “The demand for trucks remained high in December, pushing up rentals across major trunk routes.”

Infrastructure and logistics indicators also highlighted elevated activity levels. FASTag toll collections increased 9.4% month-on-month in December, while transaction volumes rose 9.3%, reflecting sustained freight and passenger movement. Fuel consumption maintained steady growth, with petrol demand up 6.7% year-on-year and diesel up 5%.

E-way bill data further confirmed ongoing momentum in domestic trade. Intra-state e-way bill generation rose 31% year-on-year, while inter-state transactions grew 24%, despite seasonal moderation.

Overall, strong freight demand, supportive policy measures, and infrastructure-led growth enabled India’s mobility sector to end 2025 on a high note. While challenges remain—such as weather disruptions and rising vehicle prices—the performance across trucks, passenger vehicles, and two-wheelers signals resilience and optimism for the sector heading into 2026.