Riding out the Covid-19 crisis: Auto shows pick-up signs in rural India

Maruti Suzuki India, the country's largest carmaker, on Wednesday reported a 53.8 per cent year-on-year decline in domestic passenger vehicle sales to 51,274 units in June due to Covid-19 crisis

Even as headline numbers show car sales have halved from the same time last year, signs of recovery in rural India have come as a glimmer of hope for the financially stressed auto industry.

“After partial sales recovery in May, pent-up demand supported a steeper recovery of retail in June,” said Shailesh Chandra, president, passenger vehicles business unit, Tata Motors.

Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker, on Wednesday reported a 53.8 per cent year-on-year decline in domestic passenger vehicle sales to 51,274 units in June due to Covid-19 related disruptions.

“The sales performance during June and the entire first quarter of this