Respite for pandemic-bruised automakers: Tractor, two-wheeler sales rebound

Pent-up demand, rural focus of these segments aid sales recovery

A quick year-on-year recovery in tractor sales and a month-on-month rebound in two-wheelers are offering much-needed respite to the pandemic-bruised automobile industry.

Pent-up demand, coupled with these segments’ high dependence on rural markets, where the spread of infection is relatively low, have aided recovery. Also, a good harvest, increase in minimum support price for crops and timely arrival of monsoon, besides a slew of government schemes, have also come as a bounty.

After falling to record lows in April, tractor sales recovered in May and rose 20 per cent year-on-year in June. Both, sales and production increased at an 18-month-high rate, according