e-commerce
Snapdeal partners Microsoft for online store
MUMBAI: Snapdeal and Microsoft have inked a partnership to launch the official Microsoft online store on Snapdeal. The brand store on Snapdeal will enable consumers in India to enjoy the global Microsoft store experience, while purchasing a range of Microsoft products.
Merchandise available on the brand store will include the full range of Microsoft products such as phones, tablets, PCs and software.
“We are pleased to be partnering with Microsoft in opening their online store on Snapdeal. This unique, self-contained store built by Snapdeal will allow users seamless accessibility of Microsoft’s unified portfolio of phones, tablets, PCs and Microsoft software, all from the comfort of their homes. We work closely with our partners to enhance our mutual operating environments. With this initiative, we are taking another definitive step towards building India’s most impactful digital ecosystem,” said Snapdeal SVP, electronics and home Tony Navin.
The store has been curated keeping in mind the finer nuances associated with the Microsoft brand. The layout of the store has been customized to offer an integrated Windows customer experience. The store enables Microsoft to manage product selection, promotions and launches as per need/requirement and basis the analytics shared by Snapdeal.
Microsoft India group OEM director Sharlin Thayil added, “Increasingly consumers are going online to shop for a number of things, including mobiles, tablets, laptops and software. We therefore see tremendous opportunity in delivering Microsoft products and services through our online store to these customers. Our latest store on Snapdeal will help us reach more such customers and offer excellent choice, value and service that customers expect from Microsoft stores.”
e-commerce
Indian used car market matures with steady 6-10 per cent monthly sales in 2025
Cars24 report shows Baleno tops charts, Tier-2 cities drive 62 per cent demand and financing hits 52 per cent.
MUMBAI: Buckle up India, the used car market isn’t just cruising anymore; it’s shifting into a smooth, confident overdrive, proving that pre-loved wheels have officially become the nation’s smartest first choice. According to the latest Gears of Growth 2025 report by Cars24 and Team-BHP, every single month chipped in a rock-steady 6-10 per cent of annual volume in 2025. No wild festival spikes, no desperate year-end discounts just consistent, need-driven buying that screams market maturity.
Discovery has gone fully digital, with trust now riding shotgun on video. Pre-delivery inspections were googled by over 1.7 lakh Indians last year, while Youtube reviews turned casual scrollers into confident buyers. Even AI is steering decisions: search volumes for “buy” rocketed 7.2x, “new car” 8.1x, “sell” 2.3x and “challan” a whopping 9x year-on-year, with overall AI queries surging 6.7x.
The old NCR monopoly is history. Maharashtra now leads with 20.1 per cent share (up from 16.4 per cent), Karnataka jumped to 16 per cent (from 10 per cent), Gujarat surged to 13.1 per cent (from 8.7 per cent), Uttar Pradesh climbed to 12.5 per cent, Tamil Nadu to 11.7 per cent and Telangana to 10 per cent. Delhi’s slice shrank dramatically from 13.8 per cent to 5.8 per cent, and Haryana from 10.7 per cent to 5.6 per cent. The centre of gravity has clearly shifted: Tier-2 cities now command 62 per cent of sales versus 38 per cent in metros.
Hatchbacks still steal the show with 52 per cent share, SUVs revved up to 32 per cent (up sharply from previous years), while sedans eased to 16 per cent. Baleno became India’s undisputed used-car king at 15.5 per cent, followed by Grand i10 at 13.2 per cent and Kwid at 11.3 per cent. Nexon, Tiago, Elite i20, City, Swift, Amaze and Creta rounded out the top 10, with compact SUVs and feature-packed rides clearly winning hearts.
Buyers are spending more average selling price settled at Rs 5.47 lakh but not uniformly. Karnataka led at Rs 5.06 lakh thanks to newer models, Tamil Nadu at Rs 5.49 lakh, Maharashtra Rs 5.06 lakh, Gujarat Rs 5.05 lakh and Uttar Pradesh the most value-driven at Rs 4.90 lakh. Petrol ruled with 84.5 per cent share, diesel 9.46 per cent, petrol+CNG 5.96 per cent and EVs/hybrids a tiny 0.08 per cent. Manuals still dominate at 72 per cent, automatics at 28 per cent, with younger buyers, women and metro residents leaning more towards self-shifters.
Silver emerged as the nation’s favourite shade (over 30 per cent), teaming with white to claim 57 per cent of all cars. Financing is now the real hero, 52 per cent of buyers went the EMI route in 2025 (average Rs 11,400 monthly), up dramatically from 23 per cent in 2024, with non-metro markets hitting an impressive 58 per cent penetration. Digital lending handled the heavy lifting, especially for cars above Rs 7 lakh where financing crossed 60 per cent by early 2026.
From AI-powered confidence to feature-packed upgrades and EMI-friendly ownership, 2025 proved one thing loud and clear: India isn’t just buying used cars, it’s choosing smarter, bolder and far more exciting rides than ever before. The future of driving? It’s already on the road, and it’s looking remarkably well-certified.
