India’s transportation and logistics sector saw strong activity in October 2026, supported by festive-season freight movement and a broad-based rise in vehicle sales ahead of Diwali, according to Shriram Finance’s latest Shriram Mobility Bulletin.
Truck rentals remained higher year-on-year across all major routes tracked by the bulletin, reflecting increased cargo movement and stronger demand for transportation services during the festive season.
The Delhi–Kolkata–Delhi route recorded the highest year-on-year growth in truck rentals at 13%, followed by Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru at 12% and Kolkata–Guwahati–Kolkata at 9%. Rentals across other major routes also registered increases ranging between 4% and 7%.
On a month-on-month basis, truck rentals on the Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru route increased by 2%, while the Delhi–Chennai–Delhi route recorded a growth of 1.4%.
However, truck operators faced operational challenges in the National Capital Region (NCR) following the implementation of restrictions on the entry of BS IV trucks, which reportedly resulted in confusion at border checkpoints.
Vehicle Sales Gain Momentum Ahead of Diwali
The bulletin also highlighted an encouraging performance in vehicle sales during October, with several categories registering significant month-on-month growth.
Two-wheelers emerged as the strongest-performing category, with motorcycle and scooter sales increasing by 29% compared with September. Passenger car sales rose by 17%, while construction equipment sales registered a 25% increase. Earth-moving equipment sales also improved by 7%.
Among commercial vehicle categories, three-wheeler goods vehicle sales and agricultural trailer sales increased by 20% each month-on-month. Commercial tractor sales grew by 15%, while goods carrier sales recorded an 11% increase.
In contrast, maxi cab sales declined by 11%, while bus sales registered a marginal 2% decrease compared with the previous month.
Year-on-year comparisons presented a mixed picture, partly due to the higher base created by strong festive-season sales in October 2025. Three-wheeler goods vehicles recorded the highest growth at 25%, followed by buses at 14%. Agricultural tractor sales increased by 7%, while goods carriers registered a marginal decline.
Electric Vehicle Sales Continue to Expand
Electric vehicle (EV) sales maintained strong year-on-year growth across major segments, indicating continued expansion of India’s electric mobility market.
Electric car sales more than doubled, recording a growth of 115%. Electric three-wheeler sales increased by 93%, while electric two-wheeler sales registered a 62% rise compared with the corresponding period last year.
On a month-on-month basis, electric two-wheeler sales grew by 8%, while electric three-wheeler sales increased by 5%.
The continued expansion of electric vehicle sales reflects growing adoption of alternative mobility solutions across passenger and commercial transportation segments.
Diesel Consumption Rises 20% Amid Higher Freight Activity
The increase in transportation activity was also reflected in fuel consumption figures during October.
Diesel consumption recorded a sharp 20% month-on-month increase, indicating stronger movement of goods and higher utilisation of commercial vehicle fleets during the festive period. Petrol consumption also increased by 4%.
On a year-on-year basis, diesel consumption was higher by 11.7%, while petrol consumption registered a 3.1% increase.
FASTag transactions also showed an improvement compared with September. Transaction volumes increased by 1%, while the total collection value rose by 2.3%. However, on a year-on-year basis, transaction volumes declined by 6%, even as the collection value increased by 9%.
Festive Momentum Expected to Continue
Commenting on the October performance, Sudarshan Holla, Joint Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer – Commercial Vehicles, Shriram Finance, said festive-season dispatches had kept truck rentals very strong during the month.
He expressed confidence that the momentum would continue through the first fortnight of November, supported by sustained festive demand and increased transportation requirements.
Holla also highlighted the operational challenges being faced by truck operators in the NCR region following the implementation of the BS IV vehicle entry restrictions.
He noted that two-wheeler, passenger car and construction equipment sales had recorded robust month-on-month growth and that the momentum could continue with Diwali-related demand.
The October trends underline the close relationship between festive consumption, industrial dispatches and freight transportation activity. Stronger truck rentals across major corridors, rising diesel consumption and improved commercial vehicle sales point towards increased logistics demand, providing positive indications for India’s road freight and transportation ecosystem.