GOING DOWNWARD: Vehicle Registrations in Nagaland. Source: https://vahan.parivahan.gov.in/vahan4dashboard/ (Last Accessed on August 17)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 17
Vehicle registrations in Nagaland have declined drastically in the first 7 months of 2020 reflecting the adverse impact of COVID-19 in the automobile sector.
According to the vehicle registration database maintained by the Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), 8,855 new vehicles were registered from January-July this year, a decline by over 50% when compared with 2019.
In the same period last year, 19, 190 vehicles were registered in the state, as per the data on VAHAN Dashboard, an online data repository of all vehicles registration and other related issues in the country developed the National Informatic Centre (NIC).
This comes as a double whammy as registrations were on a declining trend last year on the back of slower economic growth in India.
There was not much difference in total registrations between 2019 and 2020 in the first 3 months till March; however, the imposition of strict national lockdown measures since March 25 saw registrations falling drastically from April.
For instance, it decreased from 2,639 in March to 957 in April, which further slid down by over four-fold to 208 in May.
In June, registration picked up slightly to 258 as gradual easing began. However, surges in COVID-19 cases in July had an inverse impact and registrations fell to measly 10 in July. Compared with the same month last year, registration was down by whopping 99.69% in July as a result of the disruptions.
On Year-Over-Year (YOY) basis, the registration of vehicles declined by 53.84% in the first 7 months when compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Downturn trend
While COVID-19 impact has been most felt across the board, the volumes of vehicles registration in Nagaland was on a downward trend since 2019.
Annual data on the VAHAN Dashboard informed that after showing an upward trend from 2016 to 2018, the registration decreased 33,657 in 2018 to 29,141 in 2019 indicating a fall by 13.42% or by 4426 in absolute terms.
This is also in alignment with overall national trend, which witnessed a 5.52% decline in vehicle registration from 2.27 crore in 2018 to 2.14 crore in 2019. In the first 7 months, there were only 0.89 crore vehicle registrations in India.
While revenue collection by way of alteration of motor vehicle, change of address in RC, fresh or renewal permit etc was constantly increasing over the years bucking the trend in other areas, this might also see a decline in 2020 due to the pandemic.
From Rs 71.79 crore in 2016, it increased to Rs 89.12 crore in 2017; Rs 110.82 crore in 2018 to Rs 118.48 in 2019. However, the collection till August 17 in Nagaland was Rs 51.97 crore (or 43.18% of last year).
Type of Registrations
Out of 8,855 registrations in 2020, a total of 4424 were classified as ‘Transport’ vehicles while 4,432 were designated as Non-Transport (NT).
In the transport category, the maximum registrations were Goods Carriers at 3,579. The vehicle class included 208 Bus, 16 Omni Bus and 17 Ambulance. In NT category, Motor Car at 2,411 and Motorcycle or Scooter at 2,016 had the biggest share.
Heavy Goods Vehicle at 3201, Light Motor Vehicle at 2,416, and Two Wheeler (NT) at 2017 form the bulk in terms of category of vehicles.
Most preferred ‘Maker’
According to the VAHAN Dashboard, the most preferred original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or ‘Maker’ in Nagaland on the basis of registrations this year till July was Tata Motors Ltd with 2172; followed by another familiar name, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd at 1,388. The two entities shared over 40% (3560) of total registration between them.
Other makers witnessing ‘high’ volume of registrations were Ashok Leyland Ltd (730) and Mahindra & Mahindra Limited (707).
In two/three wheelers segment, TVS Motor Company Ltd led the pack, followed respectively by Hero Motocorp Ltd, Bajaj Auto Ltd, Honda Motorcycle And Scooter India (P) Ltd, India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd and Royal-Enfield.
However, registrations were significantly down across the board.
Overall, the total registrations as on August 17 stood at 3, 39,419 vehicles. It must be noted here that out of 9 Regional Transport Offices in Nagaland, 8 are indicated as ‘Vahan4 Running Office’ as per the dashboard.
Bucking the trend: Isuzu
Strictly analyzing on the basis of registration, one original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or ‘Maker’ seems to buck the downward trend in Nagaland.
The Isuzu Motors India Pvt Ltd, which called itself “one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers with a dominant presence in commercial vehicle, utility vehicle and diesel engine segments.” It ‘adventure utility vehicle’ is popular with customers.
According to the VAHAN Dashboard, in 2020, there were 64 vehicle registrations under the company, an over 100% increase over overall total registered of 30 last year, in just 7 and half months.
As per the Dashboard, Isuzu is gaining popularity among the citizen of the hilly state in last three years after the vehicle made its first entry in 2018 with 3 registrations.
Despite a decrease in overall vehicles registration in Nagaland in 2019, Isuzu’s registration jumped from 3 in 2018 to 30.
In 2020, the huge decrease in overall volume of registration has not dampened the penchant for the vehicles logging 64 entries so far.
In India, 3,950 were registered under Isuzu Motors India Pvt Ltd in 2019 but it decreased to 1,885 as of August 17, when the data was last accessed.
