During the Akshay Tritiya festival, a traditionally auspicious time for vehicle purchases, Pune, Maharashtra, India, saw a notable decline in new vehicle registrations. Official data from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) indicates that total registrations fell from 8,298 in 2025 to 7,579 in 2026. While two-wheelers showed a slight increase from 4,719 to 4,992, other segments such as motor cars and autorickshaws experienced significant drops. Motor car registrations fell from 2,593 to 1,973, and autorickshaw registrations plummeted from 307 to just 71. The most concerning trend was observed in electric vehicle (EV) registrations, which dropped dramatically from 893 to 306. Electric two-wheelers decreased from 678 to 228, and electric cars fell from 203 to 78. Factors such as changing buyer preferences, economic conditions, and the high upfront costs of EVs, along with inadequate charging infrastructure, are believed to have influenced this decline. Deputy regional transport officer Swapnil Bhosale noted the importance of addressing these challenges to foster a smoother transition to electric mobility.