Auto dealers' body expects array of launches ahead of festival season

Auto dealers' body FADA said it expects automakers to launch higher number of models this festive season compared to the last two years when Covid-19 pandemic overshadowed the festive cheer.

Federation of Automobile Dealers' Association (FADA) president Vinkesh Gulati had termed 2021 festive season as the "worst" in a decade in terms of business of its retail partners.

In an interaction with PTI, Gulati said this time the demand is "too good", except for the non-electric two-wheeler segment which remains the "biggest stress" on the industry owing to a host of factors.

"If I compare with the last two years, you will find at least double the model launch during the festive season. Moreover, we are seeing a lot of electric vehicles being launched also. So you will find a lot of launches (ahead of the festive season)," Gulati told PTI.

However, most of the new vehicle launches are expected to be in the compact SUV or SUV segment, he said and emphasised that "90 per cent of the launches