PANAJI
Goa has witnessed a sharp decline in overall vehicle registrations in 2025 so far, with figures showing less than half the total recorded in 2024. Ironically, even electric vehicle (EV) registrations have dipped massively despite the government’s sustained push for greener mobility -- except for one segment that appears to be defying the trend.
The Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways data has revealed that 84,311 vehicles were registered across categories in 2024. In contrast, only 38,989 registrations have been recorded in the first six months of 2025 (also including the first four days of July) -- a significant shortfall.
Interestingly, while registrations across fuel categories of petrol, diesel, hybrids and electric have dropped, it is the Pure Electric Vehicles (EVs) that have seen a surprising mid-year surge.
Petrol vehicles, the most dominant category, fell from 52,955 in 2024 to 24,169 so far this year. Diesel vehicles saw a dip from 5,330 to 2,505 during the same period. Petrol hybrids slipped from 3,186 to 1,222, while diesel hybrids declined marginally from 51 to 20 during the same period last and this year.
Even the broader electric vehicle segment (Battery Operated Vehicles or BOVs), which includes multiple sub-categories, shrank from 9,026 registrations in 2024 to just 1,493 in 2025 so far.
However, Pure EVs — battery-only powered vehicles — bucked the overall slump. While only 2,462 were registered in the entire calendar year of 2024, the number has already touched 3,270 in the first half of 2025 -- a 32.8 percent increase.
Transport department officials attributed the overall slump to a mix of factors including high interest rates on auto loans, cautious buyer sentiment and a conscious shift among some consumers to reduce their carbon footprint.
“The jump in Pure EVs is encouraging. We are seeing growing interest, particularly among the youth and urban commuters, who are more open to adopting electric mobility,” an official said.
With six more months to go in the year, the authorities will be closely watching whether overall vehicle demand picks up post-monsoon and during the festive season.
