The February 2025 truck rental market was sluggish due to decreased demand from the infrastructure sector, according to a monthly bulletin released by Sriram Finance. While some routes like Delhi-Kolkata-Delhi and Bengaluru-Mumbai-Bengaluru saw slight increases in truck rentals, others like Delhi-Hyderabad-Delhi experienced a 1.1% decline. The bulletin also reported a slowdown in vehicle sales across all segments, with buyers delaying purchases until new fiscal-year discounts in March-April. Motor car sales dropped 37%, agricultural trailers and tractors fell 30% and 31%, respectively, and commercial vehicle sales, including goods carriers, three-wheelers, and commercial tractors, also declined. The electric vehicle market continued to see declining sales, with EV 2-wheeler and car sales plummeting 28% and 34%, respectively. The only exception was E-rickshaws, which saw an 11% increase. The sluggish demand was also reflected in fuel consumption patterns, with decreases in petrol and diesel usage, and flat FASTag transaction volumes. Y.S. Chakravarti, Managing Director and CEO of Shriram Finance Ltd., attributes the low demand to the impact of the recent RBI rate cut and notes that manufacturers may move goods to commercial hubs in March, potentially increasing trucking activity.