This story was originally published by PTI News, and republished by The Probe as part of the Shakti Collective.
Speech Video of PM Modi Referring to Annual Vehicle Sales in India Shared on Social Media with False Claim; Details Inside
PM Modi’s speech video at the inaugural ceremony of the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was recently shared on social media, with users claiming he stated that India sells over 2.5 crore cars annually, which exceeds the population of many countries across the world.
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However, an investigation by the PTI Fact Check Desk revealed that PM Modi's speech, delivered in Hindi, was misrepresented to falsely claim he referred only to car sales. In his speech, the Prime Minister referred to the sale of all types of vehicles, not just cars. The claim shared with his speech video in the social media post was false and baseless.
Claim
An X (formerly Twitter) user shared a post on January 17, claiming PM Modi stated that India sells over 2.5 crore cars annually, more than the population of most countries.
The caption of the post that garnered 41.1k views, read: “India sells over 2.5 crore cars annually—more than the population of many countries! A testament to rising aspirations and strong economic growth.”
Here is the link and archive link to the post, and below is a screenshot of the same.
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Investigation
The Desk ran the video through the InVid Tool Search and found a few keyframes. On running one of the keyframes through Google Lens, we found that the same video was shared by several other users with similar claims.
Two such posts can be seen here and here, and their archive versions can be found here and here, respectively.
In the next part of investigation, the Desk conducted a customised keyword search on Google and found the original and extended part of the video, uploaded on the official YouTube channel of ‘Narendra Modi’. “PM Modi's speech at Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025,” read the title of the video.
Here is the link to the video, and below is a screenshot of the same.
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At 4:58 minutes, PM Modi said: “Following the mantra of Make in India, Make for the World, exports are also increasing now. The population of many countries of the world is not as much as the number of vehicles being sold in India every year. Nearly 2.5 crore vehicles being sold in a year shows how the demand is constantly increasing in India. This shows why India is being looked up with so much hope when it comes to the future of mobility.”
In the next part of
investigation, the Desk conducted a customised keyword search which yielded us a PIB report, dated January 17, which carried a transcription of the PM’s speech at Bharat Mobility Global Expo.
A section of the release mentioned: “Today's India is full of aspirations, full of youthful energy. We see these aspirations in India's automotive industry. In the past year, India's auto industry has grown by around 12 percent. Following the mantra of Make in India, Make for the World, exports are also increasing now. The population of many countries of the world is not as much as the number of vehicles being sold in India every year. Nearly 2.5 crore vehicles being sold in a year shows how the demand is constantly increasing in India. This shows why India is being looked up with so much hope when it comes to the future of mobility.”
Here is the link to the PIB release and below is a screenshot of the same:
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We also found a report by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), which highlighted India’s growing vehicle demand trend from 2018-19 to 2023-24. The data showed that the country's automobile domestic sales trend in 2023-24 was 2,38,53,463, which included sales of passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, three wheelers, two wheelers, and quadricycles.
Here is the link to the report and below is a screenshot of the same.
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Seeking further confirmation, the Desk spoke to the National Business Editor & Chief of Economic Bureau at PTI, Ammar Zaidi, who said that PM’s reference was regarding the sale of all types of vehicles, and not just cars.
"PM Modi, in his speech at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, referred to the sale of all types of vehicles and not just cars," said Zaidi.
Subsequently, the Desk concluded that PM Modi’s speech was taken out of context and shared on social media with a false claim.
CLAIM
PM Modi stated that India sells over 2.5 crore cars annually.
FACT
PM Modi’s statement was regarding the overall sale of all types of vehicles annually, and not just cars.
CONCLUSION
Multiple social media users shared a video of PM Modi’s speech at the inauguration of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, claiming he said that India sells over 2.5 crore cars annually. In its investigation, the Desk found that PM’s remark was taken out context, since he spoke about the sale of all kinds of vehicles, and not just cars. The video was shared on social media with a false claim.
This Fact Check story was originally published by PTI News, as part of the Shakti Collective. Except for the headline/excerpt/opening introduction para this story has not been edited by The Probe staff.
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