Patna vehicle bookings have risen ahead of Dhanteras, but shortages of popular cars and two-wheelers are forcing some customers to wait beyond the festive buying period for delivery. Showrooms are also reporting stronger interest in electric scooters, as buyers weigh lower running costs against upfront prices.
A two-wheeler dealership on Exhibition Road has received nearly 200 bookings for the festive period, including around 70 to 75 scooters, with the remaining bookings for motorcycles. Dealers expect the number to increase further because Dhanteras is still a few days away.
Ajay Kumar, a sales manager at the dealership, said enquiries were slightly lower than last year, but bookings had already reached close to the previous year’s level at the same stage. The earlier festive season recorded stronger enquiries, partly because a GST reduction had lowered vehicle prices by nearly 12%, he said.
“Last year, the final number of bookings was higher, but there is still time this year. Compared with last year, enquiries and footfall are slightly lower,” Kumar said.
Electric scooters have emerged as a prominent part of this year’s demand. Anuj Tiwari, manager of an automobile showroom in Patliputra, said customers were making more enquiries about electric vehicles because of their lower operating costs compared with petrol vehicles. The dealership’s electric scooters are priced at approximately Rs 1.26 lakh to Rs 1.80 lakh on the road, depending on the model and variant.
The demand is also being seen in the four-wheeler market, where supply constraints are affecting delivery schedules. Santosh Singh, general manager at an automobile showroom in Jaganpura, said bookings had increased significantly, while popular models remained in short supply.
“Customers who booked their vehicles earlier have benefited, while those booking now may have to wait for delivery and get their vehicles after Dhanteras,” Singh said. Some models are attracting particularly strong demand, but supplies have not been sufficient to meet all bookings, he said.
The Jaganpura showroom has recorded around 500 bookings, approximately 30% higher than last year, according to Singh. The figures indicate that festive demand remains strong in parts of Patna despite lower reported footfall and enquiries at some outlets. For customers, the immediate issue is whether a booking made before Dhanteras can be matched with available inventory and delivered within the festive window.
