Domestic automobile, passenger vehicle sales witness significant decline in June 2025
New Delhi: India’s automobile sector recorded a notable slowdown in June 2025, with domestic sales falling by 3.6% year-on-year to 18,97,445 units, according to the latest data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).
Passenger vehicle sales declined by 6.3% to 2.76 lakh units in the same period. Meanwhile, the production of all automobiles grew only marginally, rising by just 1.2% to 23,64,868 units, The Hindu reported.
Sales of two-wheelers also saw a dip of 3.4%, totaling 15.6 lakh units in June. Notably, manufacturers sold just 85,091 passenger vehicles during the month, which marks a sharp 15.3% drop compared to June 2024.
Cumulatively, automobile sales in the quarter ending June 2025 slumped by 5.1% to 60,74,874 units when compared to the sale quarter last year.
SIAM President Shailesh Chandra commented on the market sentiment, stating, “The performance of the auto industry was relatively flat, though the retail registration for passenger vehicles, two-wheelers and three-wheelers were marginally higher than the previous Q1. Overall sentiments across categories have remained subdued so far, even as the industry continues to navigate supply-side challenges. With the upcoming festival season coupled with the benefits of RBI repo rate cuts, we expect consumer sentiments to improve.”
In May 2025, Maruti Suzuki Chairman R.C. Bhargava underscored the affordability crisis plaguing the Indian car market. He said that the inability of average Indian households to afford even basic cars was not due to changing aspirations, but rather the outcome of stagnant incomes and steep cost escalations.
Entry-level models, traditionally the backbone of the Indian automobile market, have taken a severe hit. Maruti Suzuki’s small car segment, for instance, registered a 9% sales drop in 2024. Regulatory changes introduced since 2020 have added nearly ₹90,000 to the cost of small cars like the Alto and WagonR, making them unaffordable for families with budgets in the ₹5-7 lakh range.
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Rare Kalyani Chalukya-era stepwell discovered in Karnataka’s Gadag district
Gadag: A centuries-old stepwell from the Kalyani Chalukya period is discovered into public in Sudi, a remote village in Karnataka’s Gadag district. The Nagakunda Pushkarani, dating to the 10th-11th century CE, is undergoing extensive restoration under the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage’s ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme.
The stepwell was focal point of community life and craftsmanship under the reign of Akkadevi, sister of Chalukya king Jayasimha II. It shows the dynasty’s mastery of architecture and water management. Its interior walls are carved with the precision of temple façades, setting it apart from most surviving stepwells in southern India, linking it stylistically to examples in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
After centuries of neglect left its sculptures weathered and its waters dry, the site is now being revived by the Deccan Heritage Foundation India in partnership with Heritage Matters, the Gandipet Welfare Society and the Water Literacy Foundation according to a report published by The HIndu. Work includes structural repairs, removal of invasive vegetation, dredging, stone resetting and landscaping, alongside the restoration of an adjacent mantapa with a large Ganesha idol.
Heritage architect B. Sarath Chandra noted, the project is as much about functionality as aesthetics, with water recharge efforts already underway. Funded by Gandipet Welfare Society founder Rajashree Pinnamenni, the restoration is slated for completion by late 2025, followed by a second phase linking the stepwell to the Jodu Kalasadagudi temple through landscaped pathways.
The report mentions that officials say the revival of Nagakunda Pushkarani could not only reintroduce Sudi’s Chalukya heritage to a wider audience but also serve as a model for conserving other lesser-known monuments across Karnataka.
