Truck rental rates across major trunk routes remained broadly stable to marginally positive on a month-on-month basis,

India’s mobility and logistics sector witnessed a turbulent yet structurally resilient May 2026.Truck rentals remained wobbly during the month, weighed down by multiple price increases coupled with demand slackness, which prevented fleet operators from passing on the full impact of rising fuel prices, Shriram Mobility Bulletin.Truck rental rates across major trunk routes remained broadly stable to marginally positive on a month-on-month basis, with the Bengaluru–Mumbai–Bengaluru route recording a 2.1 per cent MoM uptick. Most other routes held steady or unchanged.“Chakka Jam disruptions in NCR and repeated fuel price hikes created significant strain, but weak demand limited the ability to pass on costs fully. While OEMs welcome the government’s support for replacing older BS-IV vehicles with cleaner alternatives in Delhi-NCR, fleet operators remain uncertain about the continued usage of BS-IV trucks that still meet pollution norms post November 1,” Sudarshan Holla, Joint Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer — Commercial Vehicles, Shriram Finance, said.Automotive fuel consumption showed seasonal strength in May. Petrol consumption rose by 6 per cent m-o-m, driven largely by vacation travellers taking to the roads during the peak summer season, diesel consumption grew by 5 per cent m-o-m, the builetin said.The electric vehicle (EV) sales continued to accelerate with electric cars leading the charge with a strong 157 per cent year-on-year growth in retail sales during May 2026. Electric three-wheelers climbed 87 per cent y-o-y, while electric two-wheelers surged 78 per cent y-o-y.The traditional automotive sector maintained a broadly positive trajectory on a y-o-y basis. Retail sales of goods carriers rose 10 per cent y-o-y, while passenger motor cars posted a 24 per cent y-o-y increase. Three-wheeler goods carriers recorded a robust 25 per cent y-o-y gain, and the two-wheeler market grew 7 per cent y-o-y.Agricultural tractors posted healthy growth of 13 per cent y-o-y, supported by the onset of the kharif sowing season, the bulletin said.Published on June 4, 2026