Dealers hope 50% jump in auto sales at Ujjain fair, but tight OEMs supply hits inventories

Indore: The annual vehicle fair in Ujjain, beginning Sunday, is expected to trigger a rise in automobile enquiries and bookings, even as overlapping fair dates with the ongoing Gwalior trade fair and constrained supplies from manufacturers put pressure on dealer inventories of high-demand models and popular colour variants.Dealers said the Gwalior fair, which continues until Feb 20, already drew significant vehicle allocations from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), leaving limited additional quotas for the Ujjain event. As a result, several showrooms across Indore and nearby districts are witnessing strong customer footfall driven by tax-exemption incentives, but are struggling to secure adequate stock of fast-moving models.
Industry estimates suggest the Ujjain fair could lift monthly automobile sales in the region by at least 40 percent, supported by festival-linked buying sentiment and tax concessions."Enquiries related to lifetime motor vehicle tax exemption at Ujjain fair surged and bookings picked up. We are expecting at least a 50 percent jump in our monthly sales and booked a stall at the fair to pass on the benefit directly to customers," said Praveen Patel, an automobile dealer.Under fair rules, dealers from outside Ujjain must register with the local RTO and obtain a temporary trade certificate to qualify customers for the 50 percent exemption on lifetime motor vehicle tax, a key factor driving demand during the event.However, supply constraints remain a concern. "Our plan was to maintain more than one month's inventory, but that is not happening due to limited dispatches from OEMs amid high nationwide demand," said dealer Aditya Kasliwal, adding that extending the fair beyond March 19 to March 31 could help capture additional festive purchases during Gudi Padwa and Navratri, traditionally considered auspicious for vehicle buying.The Ujjain vehicle fair will run until March 19 and feature 163 stalls dedicated to the automobile segment, including 123 for four-wheelers and 40 for two-wheelers, along with 60 stalls for food and general trade.