New Delhi, Sep 5 (TIWN) India's auto sector retail off-take might gather steam by October, as festive season along with restoration of supply chains augment demand, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations' (FADA) newly elected President Vinkesh Gulati told IANS.

However, Gulati pointed out that sales acceleration will depend upon the pandemic's future impact and restoration of the entire supply chain.  Gulati was elected as FADA President on Saturday.  In his first interaction as the FADA President, Gulati said: "September sales might not be as good as that of last month or as the upcoming months, considering half the month (September) will be an inauspicious time to buy new things," he told IANS.  "Therefore, customers will plan to delay their purchase and these delayed purchase will reflect in October sales when the country enters into the festive season in northern India (Navratra and Diwali)."  He predicted that August and September wholesale or dispatches might witness better growth figures considering every dealer is preparing for the festive season, and working on their respective inventory build-up, which is a norm al & regular practice by dealers," he said.  "There are several OEM's who were until recently facing shortage of some of their prominent models, which OEM's in association with their respective dealer partner are trying to sort in this period (August and September) before they enter the festive season."  According to Gulati, demand 'green shoots' have become visible in the last few month, since the end of 'Lockdown'.