INDIA’S EV RETAIL ROSE 77% YOY DOMINATED BY SUVS
India’s electric passenger vehicle (EV) retail market grew 77% year-on-year in CY25, but the sharp growth was driven overwhelmingly by SUV-led portfolios, underlining how body style rather than fuel type alone is shaping EV adoption in the country. According to FADA retail data, total electric passenger vehicle sales rose to 1.77 lakh units in CY25, up from about 99.8 lakh units in CY24. The bulk of incremental volumes came from manufacturers with a strong presence in the SUV segment, while the others lost ground or saw muted growth.
At the top of the table, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles retained its leadership position with retail sales of 70,004 units, up 13.3% YoY. While Tata remains the largest EV seller by volume, its growth seems relatively modest as rivals scaled up more aggressively. The biggest contributors to incremental growth were JSW MG Motor India and Mahindra & Mahindra. MG Motor with its popular EVs like the Windsor posted retail sales of 51,387 units, more than doubling volumes with a 135.6% YoY rise, while Mahindra clocked 33,513 units, up a sharp 369% YoY, thanks to new launches like the BE6 and the XEV 9E. The SUV-led trend is even more visible among newer mass-market entrants.
Hyundai Motor India recorded EV retail of 6,726 units thanks to the Creta EV, translating into a 636% YoY jump, while Kia India posted 2,730 units, up 558% YoY. Chinese EV maker BYD India also reported steady growth, with retail sales rising 88.3% YoY to 5,402 units, supported by its premium electric SUV offerings. In contrast, players without refreshed or competitive EV portfolios struggled. Stellantis Automobiles India that sells EVs under the Citroen brand, saw retail volumes fall 54.8% YoY.
In the luxury segment, BMW India recorded 3,195 units, up 160% YoY Mercedes-Benz India posted a more modest 22.4% growth to 1,168 units. On the other hand, Volvo Auto India reported a 13.6% decline.
Industry executives say that SUVs are now becoming the entry point for electric mobility in India similar to what was seen earlier in the internal combustion engine (ICE) market. Hatchbacks and sedans now remain marginal contributors to overall volumes. Despite the strong headline growth, the market remains highly concentrated, with the top three manufacturers accounting for around 88 percent of EV retail.
In 2026, the Indian EV segment will see new entries like the Maruti eVitara, Toyota Urban Cruiser EV, Tata Sierra EV and also luxury offerings like the Mercedes CLA EV and the BMW i5 LWB among others.
India EV Retail | CY25 Snapshot
Total EV retail (CY25): 1,76,817 units
Total EV retail (CY24): 99,875 units
YoY growth: 77%
Top EV sellers (CY25):
Tata Motors PV: 70,004 (+13% YoY)
MG Motor India: 51,387 (+136% YoY)
Mahindra & Mahindra: 33,513 (+369% YoY)
Fastest growers (YoY):
Hyundai Motor India: +636% (6,726 units)
Kia India: +558% (2,730 units)
Premium EVs:
BMW India: 3,195 (+160% YoY)
Mercedes-Benz India: 1,168 (+22% YoY)
Lagging players:
Stellantis India: 871 (–55% YoY)
Volvo Auto India: 389 (–14% YoY)
Market structure:
Top 3 OEMs’ share: ~88% of total EV retail
TABLE
2026-01-10T16:32:12Z