Kia Overtakes Maruti Suzuki in India EV Sales as Market Hits Record High
Retail sales of electric passenger vehicles in India reached a record 35,995 units in September 2026, marking a 94 percent year-on-year increase and the fourth consecutive month of sales exceeding 30,000 units. The industry's H1 FY2027 performance now totals 190,946 units, an 88 percent growth compared to the same period last year, positioning the sector to potentially surpass the full-year FY2026 total of 220,917 units.
According to Autocar India, for Indian EV Industry, First-half FY2027 electric passenger vehicle sales in India reached 190,946 units, placing the sector within 29,971 units of its entire FY2026 total of 220,917 units.
Competitive Shifts in the EV Market
Tata Motors maintained its market leadership with 14,769 units sold, capturing a 41.03 percent market share. The company's performance was driven by the Nexon EV, alongside contributions from the Tiago EV and Punch EV. Mahindra & Mahindra secured the second position with 7,779 units, representing a 96 percent year-on-year growth and a 21.61 percent market share. JSW MG Motor India followed in third place with 5,242 units, though its market share declined to 14.56 percent amid heightened competition.
A notable development in the rankings saw Kia India move into fifth place, surpassing Maruti Suzuki. Kia recorded 1,263 units, a 111 percent increase from the previous year, bolstered by the August launch of the Syros EV. Maruti Suzuki, which entered the segment with the e Vitara, recorded 1,103 units, placing it sixth. The company has faced limited domestic availability as production was prioritized for exports, though it expects to scale domestic output with a new manufacturing line at its Hansalpur plant in Gujarat.
Luxury Segment Performance
Luxury electric vehicle sales also achieved a monthly record of 975 units, a 60 percent increase from September 2025. BMW remained the segment leader with 502 units, accounting for over half of the luxury EV market. Tesla recorded its highest-ever monthly sales in India with 291 units, moving ahead of Mercedes-Benz to claim the second position in the luxury segment for the first time. Mercedes-Benz reported 125 units, a 9 percent decline compared to the previous year. The growth in the luxury segment was supported by new model introductions, including the locally produced BMW i5 Long Wheelbase.
According to Autocar India, tata Motors expanded its Battery-as-a-Service model to the Nexon EV, Curvv EV, Sierra EV and Harrier EV in September 2026, while Mahindra extended its BaaS program to the XEV 9S and XEV 9e.
According to Autocar India, tesla recorded 291 luxury EV units in September 2026 to capture a 29.84% segment share and overtake Mercedes-Benz, which fell to 125 units and a 12.82% share. According to Autocar India, for VinFast India, VinFast recorded 2,963 electric passenger vehicle sales in September 2026, achieving an 8.23% market share to retain fourth place in India.