Overview

Cars24, in partnership with Team BHP, released the Gears of Growth 2025 report, which analyses used‑car transaction patterns across India. The study draws on internal transaction data covering more than 33 million users as of December 2025 and segments the market into three regional clusters distinguished by the age of vehicles when they change hands.

Regional Age Profiles

  • Southern India (Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad) exhibits the youngest inventory, with a concentration of cars model year 2019 or newer. A three‑ to four‑year‑old vehicle is now considered mainstream rather than premium.
  • Western India (Maharashtra, Gujarat – including Mumbai, Pune, Ahmedabad) shows a balanced distribution across model years 2017 to 2021, meaning buyers encounter roughly equal odds of purchasing a two‑year‑old or a five‑year‑old car.
  • North and Central India (Delhi‑NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow) retains the oldest stock, with a higher share of 2017‑to‑2019 and pre‑2017 vehicles. Buyers in this region commonly see six‑ to eight‑year‑old cars on the shelf.

State‑Level Demand Shifts (2025)

  • Tamil Nadu: national demand share rises from 6.1% to 6.5%.
  • Karnataka: climbs from 10.0% to 10.4%.
  • Maharashtra: remains the largest single market at 15.1% of national demand.
  • Gujarat: records the strongest state‑level gain, moving from 8.7% to 10.2%.
  • Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for 11.7% of national demand.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Adoption

The report notes that Karnataka and Maharashtra together account for 68% of all used‑EV purchases nationally, underscoring that regions adopting newer automotive technology also maintain younger used‑car inventories.

Implications for Buyers and Sellers

  • Buyers: Geographic location now dictates inventory age. A buyer in Chennai will encounter a younger stock mix weighted toward 2019‑plus models, whereas a buyer in Lucknow will more likely find six‑ to eight‑year‑old cars, even on the same platform.
  • Sellers: The same vehicle is perceived differently across regions. A 2020 model is considered mid‑life stock in the South but appears relatively fresh in the North, where older cars dominate.
  • Strategic Timing: Aligning sale timing with the regional “clock” rather than the national average can optimise pricing and turnover.

Data Source Disclaimer

All figures are sourced from the Cars24 × Team BHP Gears of Growth 2025 report, based on Cars24’s internal transaction database of over 33 million users as of December 2025. The press release is distributed under an arrangement with Newsvoir; PTI assumes no editorial responsibility.