Auto Sales Jump 26% as Alternative Fuels Near Petrol Share

In July, people in India bought a lot more cars, bikes, trucks and buses than they did a year before.

Vehicle sales went up by about 26 percent compared with last July.

It was the best July ever for almost every kind of vehicle sold in the country.

More buyers are choosing vehicles that do not run only on petrol.

Cars that run on natural gas, hybrids, or electricity now hold about 40.59 percent of the market, very close to petrol's 41.68 percent share.

Electric scooters and bikes are becoming popular, with their share reaching a record 11.24 percent.

In all, 3,27,901 electric vehicles were sold in July, more than in any other month ever.

The sales boom is helped by changes that made vehicles more affordable, easier loans, and good timing with festivals.

People who sell vehicles are feeling very happy about the next few months.

Nearly 88 percent of dealers expect sales to grow in August, September and October.