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Ad volumes for auto sector witnessed 36% growth during festive season in 2020: BARC
New Delhi: Every product category has been hit in 2020 by the pandemic and lockdowns. The sales for most of these product, categories got impacted as people were restricted to their homes and were reluctant in spending money even after the lockdowns were over.
Initially, the advertising volumes of many such categories was also hit but soon it started reviving as marketing heads realised that it is not the time to stop but to be even more aggressive if they wanted to make the best out of this year.
Automobile is one such category that was affected. Most brands did not make a sale of a single unit in the lockdown period (excluding exports). However, once the lockdown was lifted, the brands started opening up their showrooms and retail experience centers and started inviting customers to come and sample their product.
Initially, the response of audiences was slow but digital marketing came to the rescue as many of these brands created a virtual experience of their product and created enough content around it for the customer to research and find information that he/she was looking for.
The auto sector is back to advertising as the economy picks up steam and people step up the purchase of vehicles.#BARCIndia #WhatIndiaWatches #AutoSector #AdVolumes #Vehicles #Economy #Advertising pic.twitter.com/bMHWHvICZG
— BARCIndia (@BARCIndia) December 4, 2020
Slowly, the customers also started returning to the retail centers. And, if we go by the festive season reports, the sales for several of two-wheeler and four-wheeler brands have increased. These reports have induced a lot of positivity in the industry and a lot of it has also come from the massive advertising campaigns taken by the brands across national and regional channels.
Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) has released a report comparing the ad volumes and share of the automobile industry for 2019 and 2020 between 1 Oct and 27 Nov (festive season).
Four Wheeler category tops the auto sector with a 2 fold increase in Ad volumes.#BARCIndia #WhatIndiaWatches #AutoSector #AdVolumes #Vehicles #Cars #FourWheeler #Economy #Advertising pic.twitter.com/vbD218ASQ1
— BARCIndia (@BARCIndia) December 4, 2020
The report states that the ad volumes for the automobile sector have grown by 36 per cent in 2020. In 2019, the total advertising done during this period was around 9.3 million seconds which grew to 12.6 million seconds in 2020.
Also, the ad volumes for four-wheelers have increased by two times. In 2019, there were approximately 2.39 million seconds of advertising while in 2020, there have been more than 5.86 million seconds of advertising. The ad volume share has also increased from 26 per cent to 46 per cent in the last year.
It will be interesting to see if the industry can carry forward this momentum and continue selling the products.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
