Electric Car Sales Surge 76% in October as EV Share Doubles

India's electric passenger vehicle sector registered robust momentum in October 2026, with retail registrations expanding 76.47% year-on-year to reach 37,049 units. According to retail data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, volumes rose from 20,995 units recorded in October 2025. Electric cars accounted for 7.3% of total passenger vehicle registrations across the nation, more than doubling their 3.5% penetration rate from a year earlier. The strong performance came despite a 14.23% decline in the broader passenger vehicle retail market, which fell to 5,07,768 units. On a sequential monthly basis, electric car registrations climbed 2.61% over September 2026, when 36,108 units were delivered.

Manufacturer Performance and Brand Market Share

Tata Passenger Electric Mobility maintained its market leadership, securing 14,669 registrations to represent approximately 39.6% of the electric passenger vehicle segment. The domestic manufacturer expanded its retail sales by 77.61% compared to October 2025, according to published FADA dealer figures. Mahindra & Mahindra claimed the second position with 8,538 units, delivering an 85.65% annual surge to capture roughly 23% market share. JSW MG Motor India followed in third place with 5,939 units, registering annual growth of 10.80% alongside a 13.30% sequential rise over September. Emerging market entrants also marked significant milestones, with VinFast Auto India registering 2,571 units as its local distribution network scaled up. In January 2023, Tata Passenger Electric Mobility acquired the Sanand facility in Gujarat, unlocking an annual production capacity of 300,000 units per annum that is scalable to 420,000 units per annum, according to Tata Motors.

Mid-Tier Players and Luxury Segment Sales

Kia India and Maruti Suzuki India also surpassed the 1,000-unit threshold during the festival sales period. Kia posted 1,395 retail registrations with an 85.26% annual increase, while Maruti Suzuki recorded 1,200 electric vehicle deliveries. Among other prominent participants, Hyundai Motor India registered 760 units, BYD India delivered 737 units, and BMW India logged 462 units. Tesla India Motors & Energy recorded 291 units, reflecting a 627.50% year-on-year expansion compared to the prior-year period. Combined registrations from the top three manufacturers accounted for approximately 78.7% of all electric passenger cars sold during the month.

Ecosystem Growth Across Commercial and Two-Wheeler Segments

Beyond passenger vehicles, India's broader electric vehicle ecosystem registered an all-time monthly high of 3,54,625 units across all categories. Total electrified vehicle deliveries jumped 44.88% year-on-year, lifting national electric vehicle penetration to roughly 11.5% from 6% a year ago. FADA President Sai Giridhar called the period a record-setting month across electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars, and commercial fleets. The association attributed sustained consumer demand to improving vehicle driving ranges, narrowing price differences with conventional vehicles, and elevated fuel costs. FADA President Sai Giridhar stated that demand for electric vehicles ran ahead of supply in October 2026, making availability rather than demand the binding constraint for EV sales.