Ahmedabad Used Car Buyers Slowly Warming Up to Automatics: SUVs Lead the Charge

Indian car buyers have shown an overwhelming preference for manual transmission cars for decades. That preference is slowly changing to reflect modern use case scenarios and needs. According to CARS24 data, cars with automatic gearboxes contributed to 14.7% of all used car sales in India in 2024, up from 11.8% in 2022.

In a city like Ahmedabad, the percentage of second hand automatic cars was close to 10%. This article will dive into the transmission preferences of Ahmedabad’s used car buyers and how those preferences are changing over time.

Used Car Transmission Trends in Ahmedabad: Automatics Slowly Rising

The CARS24 Gears of Growth report provides key insights into used car buying trends over the last few years. Armed with these insights, here are some conclusions on secondhand car transmission preferences in Ahmedabad.

Key Takeaways:

• The uptake for used automatic cars in Ahmedabad is lower than the national average but higher than some metro cities
• Popularity of manual transmission cars due to more affordable pricing, lower service and running costs
• Sale of used automatic cars has seen marginal growth versus previous years
• Expect the adoption rate of automatic cars to go up in time, both in new and used car markets 

Do Transmission Types Affect Resale Value In Ahmedabad?

When it comes to resale values, manual transmission cars score better than automatic cars. The demand for used manual cars in Ahmedabad still outnumbers demand for used automatics, making it a buyer’s market. A used automatic car can still pose a few issues for buyers, especially in terms of maintenance costs versus manual cars. That said, more affordable AMT technology is helping shift that trend. 

• Manual transmission cars have better resale value due to simplicity of design and better reliability
• Manual cars see higher demand because of lower purchase costs
• Lower maintenance bills and better fuel efficiency of manual cars lead to better demand, especially for first time car buyers
• Used AMT cars are more affordable to buy than other types of automatics

Correlation Between Fuel Types and Transmission Types

Across the secondhand car market, used petrol manual cars are the most affordable options available. Petrol engines paired with simple, low-cost automatic gearboxes are a good choice for city cars for non-demanding drivers. Diesel engines paired with automatic gearboxes can make for effortless highway travel. There’s usually more demand for petrol automatic cars in highly congested cities. Our data usually reflects a higher preference for diesel automatics in regions where buyers undertake frequent highway journeys.

Petrol:

A big chunk of used petrol cars in Ahmedabad are equipped with manual transmissions. Used automatic petrol cars have shown a marginal increase over the previous year, most likely due to increasing traffic and more affordable AMT technology.  

Diesel: 

There’s been a slight drop in demand for used diesel automatic cars in Ahmedabad. Due to the higher cost of diesel automatics, growth in this segment is lower than the growth seen for automatics paired with petrol engines. This could be due to the market anticipating regulatory changes with respect to 10-year-old diesel cars. Buyers usually opt for older diesel automatics to take advantage of the depreciation on these cars. 

Body Types and Transmission Types: The Correlation

Across car segments, hatchbacks still lead used car sales in Ahmedabad, with over 59% market share, down from over 60% the previous year. SUVs have greatly risen in popularity in the used market in Ahmedabad at the cost of hatchbacks. To some extent, SUVs have also grown at the cost of sedans which only saw marginal growth. That said, used sedans still command a greater market share than used SUVs in Ahmedabad.  

Hatchbacks: 

A majority of used hatchbacks in Ahmedabad were equipped with manual gearboxes. Buyers chose manual hatchbacks for the value for money factor, both in terms of purchase price and ownership costs. AMT hatchbacks are gaining ground in recent years, especially since they are a popular choice of automatic cars for beginner drivers. 

Sedans:

Manual sedans  continue to dominate the used market, and their market share has actually increased over the past year. This drop in sales for pre owned automatic sedans can be attributed to buyers not going for sedans equipped with more expensive CVT or torque converter transmissions.  

SUVs:

The share of used SUVs in Ahmedabad has gone up in 2024. Interestingly, the market for manual SUVs has gone up while the share for automatics in this segment has dropped. This could prove that Ahmedabad is an extremely price sensitive market. That said, the uptake for automatic SUVs is nearly double that of automatic hatchbacks. 

Reasons Behind Used Manual Transmission Vehicles Being More Popular in Ahmedabad

There are a few reasons why pre owned manual cars remain the popular choice in Ahmedabad, similar to transmission preference trends around the country. 

• Used manual cars are cheaper to buy than automatics
• Cars with manual gearboxes return better fuel efficiency, an essential factor that influences buying decisions
• Traffic congestion in cities like Ahmedabad isn’t as bad as in larger metros, meaning fewer buyers are willing to pay the extra cost for added convenience
• Lower uptake of affordable AMT options
• More options in the used market for manuals compared to automatic cars

Why  Automatic Transmission Is A Good Choice?

Automatic transmission cars are easier to drive for new car users, while also being more relaxing for experienced drivers. The driver can focus their whole attention on the road, with no clutch actuation or gear shift to think about. Daily commuters stand to benefit the most from automatic cars. That said, an automatic can also reduce fatigue on long distance journeys. 

The convenience of an automatic does come with downsides though. There is usually a higher purchase price to deal with, as well as lower fuel efficiency and higher ownership costs. AMT cars offer a good compromise, providing the convenience of an automatic and the affordability of a manual, with only a few trade-offs in shift smoothness. Earlier concerns regarding the longevity of AMTs have largely been addressed with subsequent iterations of AMT technology. 

Most Popular Used Cars in Ahmedabad, Transmission Wise:

All five of the top selling secondhand manual cars in Ahmedabad are hatchbacks. On the other hand, only two of the top selling automatic cars in Ahmedabad are hatchbacks. The Maruti Suzuki Swift is the most popular used manual car in Ahmedabad, mirroring trends across the country. The Honda City is the most popular used automatic car in Ahmedabad. 

Manual Cars:

Ahmedabad shows a majority preference for low maintenance hatchbacks. Of the five best selling used hatchbacks in Ahmedabad, four feature AMT technology. AMTs are cost effective, both to buy and run.  

Automatic Cars:

The top five selling automatics in Ahmedabad present a mixed bag, with two sedans, two hatchbacks and a midsize SUV. The Honda City was the most popular automatic, managing a decent margin over the next best. Notably, the Maruti Suzuki Celerio is the only automatic on the list with an AMT, showing that the technology is not fully trusted yet.

Conclusion

Examining the transmission preferences of the used car market in Ahmedabad, we can see that AMT technology has not taken off here at the same rate as other parts of the country. The lack of reliable and affordable automatics in the used market means that sale of automatics in certain segments has actually dropped a little over the last year. Manual cars still dominate the market as they are more affordable to buy and maintain.