Nine districts recorded a contraction in two-wheeler sales amid severe rainfall deficits ranging from 25% to 50% below normal
Pune : Two-wheeler sales in the most parched districts of the state declined by 16% to 41% in Oct compared to the corresponding month last year, according to Vahan database. Nine districts recorded a contraction in two-wheeler sales amid severe rainfall deficits ranging from 25% to 50% below normal. Jalna recorded the steepest decline at 41.4%, with sales falling from 6,195 units in Oct 2025 to 3,628 units in Oct 2026. Dharashiv followed with a 38.4% decline, while Hingoli and Latur recorded drops of 33.6% and 33.5%, respectively. The decline was also significant in Solapur, where sales fell 16.2% from 8,050 units to 6,746 units. Similarly, Nandurbar recorded a 24.2% drop, followed by Ahilyanagar at 23.5%, Beed at 22.9%, and Amravati at 22.5%. Nandurbar received just 49.6% of its normal rainfall, while Solapur received 50.8%. Latur recorded 51.4% and Amravati saw 56.2% of its normal precipitation.
Because of inadequate and uneven rainfall, “The yield was much lower than expected.
I wanted to buy a new two-wheeler for my son, but have decided to defer it until my financial position improves,” said Nitin Ujade, a farmer from Latur. Further, farmers have auxiliary income from allied activities, which helps sustain the demand,” said Sachin Mahajan, Maharashtra state president of FADA. The losses have affected my household income, and we are now prioritising essential expenses. This contraction in sales comes against the backdrop of severely deficient monsoon rainfall in these areas. “There are families who have members working in urban areas.
People are increasingly choosing two-wheelers due to their high utility in rural landscapes,” Mahajan added. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news. This has changed; now, every individual wants their own motorcycle. Mahajan also highlighted that highly lucrative vehicle financing options are helping convert enquiries into final sales. He expressed confidence that the Diwali festive window would bring a robust rebound in sales. Download the TOI App.
“Earlier, many rural families relied on a vehicle-sharing system where two to three members used a single two-wheeler. Today, the price of an entry-level motorcycle is nearly equal to that of an expensive smartphone.
Recent data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) shows that overall two-wheeler sales in Maharashtra declined by 17% in Oct to 2.7 lakh units, as demand was heavily concentrated during Navratri and Dussehra. Dealers noted that while high sales volumes were compressed into the 11 days of Navratri and Dussehra, they still observed a steady baseline traction in sales. At the national level, two-wheeler retail sales fell 28.35% year-on-year to 23.21 lakh units during the month, largely due to a high comparison base from last year.
Even though we need a two-wheeler for travelling to the taluka town for farm-related work, we have decided to postpone the purchase until there is greater clarity on rabi crop,” said Rajendra Dhotre, a farmer from Beed. “We are still uncertain about how the rabi season will progress, particularly whether there will be sufficient water for the next crop. After the losses during the kharif season, we cannot take another financial risk. This was driven by stable disposable incomes despite the drought, particularly in Marathwada and Vidarbha regions.