Recovery eludes bus sales as schools, public transport remain shut

Sales of heavy duty and light buses reported a steep decline of 95.31 per cent and 82.48 per cent respectively in the first half of the current year over the corresponding period

For a country that has a relatively low car and two-wheeler penetration and a low per capita income compared to several countries of the world, public transport has been nothing short of a lifeline. The Covid-19 outbreak has, however, suddenly shifted priorities. The fear of infection spreading in public transport has seen more people shunning it in favour of personal transportation.

A good indicator of the changing commuter behaviour is the sales number of auto companies. Though to some extent it is attributable to the inventory re-stocking at the dealerships ahead of the festive season and last year’s low base,