EV Market In India At Inflection Point; Growth Imminent Across Categories

The third largest automobile market saw a staggering 2,142,565 units of electric vehicles sold between September 2024 and August 2025, according to data from Vahan Dashboard (excluding Telangana).

The electric vehicle sales in India witnessed mixed sales in August, 2025, according to the same source. Statistics put electric two-wheeler sales at the lead with 104,373 units compared to July’s 103,469 units, followed by four wheelers at 17,387 units from 16,127 units a month earlier and the rest of the pie was goods carriers, buses and three-wheeler cargo carriers.

The dashboard also reported a decline in electric rickshaw sales that dell to 36,962 from 39,782 in July, followed by electric three-wheeler L5 passenger (18,007 from 20,446) and electric carts (6,213 from 6,817).

Nonetheless, the market sentiment about this vehicular segment seems to be strong. Exuding confidence on World EV Day 2025, Deepak Manwani, Head of Operations and Revenue at Yuma Energy, told Motoring Trends, “As India’s automotive sector accelerates towards electrification, the momentum is unmistakable in two- and three-wheelers. What began with fleet use cases is now rapidly entering personal mobility with adoption climbing year-on-year.”

He noted that supportive government policies such as FAME II, the newly launched PM e-DRIVE scheme and state-level EV mandates for EV adoption as well as for charging and swapping infrastructure creation are creating a strong policy tailwind.

There is also an influx of customised financing options for EVs, which is providing further impetus to the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments. Industry projections indicate that by 2030, nearly 35–40 percent of new two-wheelers and over 50 percent of three-wheelers could be electric with more ambitious scenarios targeting up to 80 percent penetration in these categories.

Sharing the same confidence, Som Kapoor, Partner at EY India, noted, “EVs currently make up about five percent of the market and we’re at an inflection point. Growth is inevitable and the consistent share across different vehicle sizes signals strong policy support from the government. EV adoption will continue to expand as part of the overall auto market.”

He shared that post-pandemic, the Indian automobile market has witnessed stabilised growth at around 3–4 percent, rather than in double digits. With the upcoming GST changes, a boost in small cars and overall volume is expected, especially in the second half of this year.

“In terms of EVs, the two-wheelers segment, which already has a growing momentum, will continue in the path. We expect strong growth in segments where vehicles work on closed routes or where assets are monetised daily, such as three-wheelers and commercial vehicles. These areas will see tremendous adoption,” added Kapoor.

Market command

Despite a modest share in the entire automobile market currently, EVs are expected to gobble at least one-third of the pie. Alluding to this, Manwani noted, “By the end of this decade, we expect electric vehicles to command nearly a third of India’s automotive market with two and three-wheelers at the forefront of this shift. Projections indicate that up to 70–80 percent of new scooters, motorcycles and electric-rickshaws could be electric by 2030, while passenger cars and buses steadily build towards 20–25 percent adoption.”

At the global level, where there are outliers like China and the Nordics leading the EV penetration, India is broadly in line with other major markets and the adoption levels are comparable to its global peers, noted Kapoor.

Furthermore, the torch bearer for EV adoption till the end of the decade is expected to be two-wheelers and three-wheelers. “These are the vehicles that define our cities – scooters weaving through traffic, delivery bikes bringing food to our doors and rickshaws ferrying millions on their daily commutes,” said Manwani.  

He added, “They are the lifeblood of urban mobility, and because they run hard and run often, they are also the first to embrace the undeniable economics of going electric. Cars, meanwhile, will follow steadily, starting with city users and early adopters who see EVs as both aspirational and practical for daily city commutes. And then there are our commercial fleets, buses connecting cities, trucks and vans moving goods across states, slowly but surely shifting to electric because the savings are too big to ignore.”

Another boon for the indigenous industry will be collaborations, according to Kapoor. “As Chinese collaboration opens up, we expect to see technology transfers and joint ventures that can accelerate India’s EV ecosystem. These partnerships will be valuable for scaling both manufacturing and innovation,” he contended.

Drawing on the same lines, Omega Seiki Mobility Chairman Uday Narang noted, “Over the past year, India’s EV sector has moved from experimentation to consolidation with stronger players and sustainable models emerging. EV three-wheelers, both passenger and cargo, along with new-age electric trucks, especially in the 1–1.5 tonne category will be the real growth drivers of this market.”

Commenting on current market domination of EVs, Kazam Chief Executive Officer Akshay Shekhar opined, “India's EV narrative is transitioning from initial curiosity to industrial scale. It is not only from the vehicles but also from charging infrastructure and software orchestration. In the next five years, we anticipate chargers to be as pervasive as fuel pumps for three- and two-wheelers with charging equipment closely integrated into fleet operations, home installations and e-commerce logistics.”

Supply and power

Volks Energie Chief Executive Officer Piyush Goyal opined that the world is moving towards largescale adoption of clean mobility and sustainable energy and that companies in India are feeling that effect.

“What started as a symbolic initiative five years ago, has turned into a global movement today as the world collectively and rapidly moves towards large-scale adoption of clean mobility and sustainable energy. This adoption reflects not only a technological change and preference but also a shift in the societal expectations from the automotive and renewable industries overall. Consumers today demand cleaner and more resilient energy systems,” he stated.

Moreover, the Central Government’s ambitious plans to make the country an export hub can well be extended to electric vehicles. Alluding to the strategy, Kapoor stated, “Our immediate priority should be strengthening the local market. That said, companies like Maruti are already exporting EV models before bringing them to Indian customers. India has the technological capability and manufacturing infrastructure to grow as an export hub over time. Steady progress will be key.”

While he noted that currently the three main challenges for higher penetration are charging infrastructure, consumer mindset shift towards EVs and high upfront cost of ownership, private charging access is seen as a crucial.

“In India, many homes lack dedicated parking slots, making at-home charging challenging. Until that improves, public charging needs significant expansion. Both private and public infrastructure must evolve to support mass adoption,” noted Kapoor.

Another barrier pointed out was the reliance on imported components. According to Manwani, “India is heavily reliant on imported components for its EVs, especially batteries and advanced electronics, which makes India vulnerable to any kind of supply shocks due to changing geo-political scenarios. The current geo-political uncertainties have caused production disruptions in the last six months. And to overcome this, India needs to have a long-term plan to become self-reliant on cell manufacturing, rare earth magnet production as well as cultivating alternative sources of lithium and other metals essential for sustaining India’s EV ecosystem.”

Motwani also added that cell prices have dropped by as much as 40–50 percent in the last 24 months and this has certainly helped spur new demand in India. This has also meant larger battery packs in vehicles, thereby helping reduce range anxiety and making EVs a viable option in a market where charging infrastructure is still catching up.

For swapping players, this has been a boon as reducing cell and battery price means faster asset deployment due to lower capex spend. This has helped drive large scale transformation in commercial mobility in line with the policy push from various quarters.

Kapoor also noted a need to change the direction of incentives. “So far, incentives have largely supported the supply side. We now need demand-side incentives, which are direct benefits to consumers that make EV adoption more attractive,” he said.

Alluding to the growing demand for EVs, Trontek Chief Executive Officer Samrath Singh Kocchar opined, “India's EV ramp-up is being driven by affordable battery prices, policy incentive and fast two-wheeler electrification but true long-term play will be in battery technology, circularity and systems thinking. Over the next five years, we expect major strides in energy density and fast-charging with battery-swapping and modular solutions gaining momentum in fleet operations.”

Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has successfully completed a landmark journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) with its Eicher Pro X EV.

The expedition, titled #XpertHaiTohPossibleHai, saw the electric commercial vehicle become the first and fastest in its category to traverse the 4,100-kilometre route under fully loaded conditions.

Starting from Lal Chowk, Srinagar, and concluding at the southern tip of India in six days, the journey was independently adjudicated by the India Book of Records, resulting in four new national records. The initiative was designed to address industry concerns regarding range anxiety, charging infrastructure and the operational reliability of electric vehicles (EVs) in the B2B sector.

The journey tested the vehicle across India’s most diverse terrains and climates, including the Himalayas, the Deccan Plateau and coastal ghats. The Eicher Pro X EV travelled through temperatures ranging from -2deg Celsius to 40deg Celsius. The EV relied entirely on public charging stations, coordinated through the MyEicher App. The trip was conducted with the vehicle at full load capacity to simulate authentic logistics operations.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP, SCV - Sales & Marketing, VECV, said, “The K2K milestone is a strong validation of the Eicher Pro X EV’s engineering capability under real-world operating conditions. The initiative not only builds confidence in electric mobility as an economical source of providing logistical solution but also strengthens trust through proof, not promise.”

Eicher collaborated with commercial vehicle influencer Raman Nayak (Behind The Wheels) and a network of regional creators to document the journey. The multi-episode series focused on the practicalities of EV ownership, such as route planning and terrain management, presented in local languages to reach a broader demographic of fleet operators.

Bhagwan K. Bindiganavile, EVP – Strategic Planning, Brand & Communications, VECV, said, “In the commercial vehicle industry, trust is built through proof. Taking a production vehicle on a journey of this scale was a deliberate move to move beyond conventional marketing and demonstrate capability in a real, unfiltered and conclusive manner.”

Bengaluru-headquartered electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has announced that its first family electric scooter, the Rizta, has crossed the 300,000-unit sales milestone within just two years of its April 2024 launch.

The e-scooter has become Ather’s primary volume driver, significantly accelerating the company's growth in both its home markets and new regions.

The Rizta reached 200,000 units in December 2025 and added the most recent 100,000 units in just five months, reflecting a rapid surge in demand for family-focused electric mobility.

The Rizta has been instrumental in Ather’s ‘Middle India’ strategy, focusing on states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. In these regions, Ather's market share shot up from 4.1 percent (Q1 FY25) to 17.3 percent (Q4 FY26). In Northern states, including Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, market share grew more than threefold during the same period.

In its home base of Southern India, the Rizta helped Ather retain its leadership position, contributing to a regional market share of 23.5 percent in Q4 FY26.

Interestingly, nearly 70 percent of Rizta owners are families with children, moving away from Ather's traditional enthusiast-only demographic. The e-scooter's success is attributed to its 56-litre total storage, spacious seat and safety features like SkidControl. In FY2026, the Rizta accounted for approximately 76 percent of Ather’s total sales volume.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Since its launch, the Rizta was sharply positioned as a family scooter and has resonated extremely well with the family audiences across the country. The Rizta has helped us gain a leadership position in FY2026 in Southern India. Additionally, the Rizta has played a crucial role in expanding our market share in ‘middle India’ by 4X since its launch in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha. In FY '26 the Rizta constituted about 76 percent of our portfolio and continues to lead our growth.”

Ather has maintained strong customer engagement through its AtherStack software. In September 2025, the company released AtherStack 7 via an over-the-air (OTA) update. This update introduced a touchscreen interface for existing Rizta Z models, pothole alerts & voice commands and advanced safety features including crash alerts, ParkSafe tow-zone detection and LockSafe theft prevention.

This milestone comes as Ather prepares to enter the mass-market segment with its upcoming EL platform and expands production capacity through its Factory 3.0 facility at AURIC, Maharashtra.

Hyroad Energy has entered into an agreement with Toyota Motor North America to deploy 40 hydrogen fuel cell Class 8 trucks in Southern California. The announcement took place at the ACT Expo, where the companies outlined a framework covering vehicles, software, and fuel supply.

As per the understanding, Hyroad will provide the trucks along with maintenance and data services for Toyota’s logistics operations. On the other hand, Toyota will supply the hydrogen fuel via its refuelling infrastructure currently being developed in Ontario, California.

The fuel cell trucks offer a claimed driving range of up to 500 miles (804km) and refuelling time of 15-20 minutes, comparable to diesel vehicles. However, the trucks emit only water vapour. Each Class 8 truck carries approximately 70 kg of hydrogen, equivalent to the capacity of 12 Toyota Mirai sedans.

Hyroad operates as an equipment-agnostic provider, bundling vehicle procurement, maintenance and fleet management software. In August 2025, the company acquired 117 hydrogen trucks and intellectual property assets from the Nikola Corporation bankruptcy auction. It now provides parts and support services for existing Nikola truck owners alongside its own fleet operations.

“Accelerating the hydrogen economy requires collaboration, and Toyota is proud to work with Hyroad to move the heavy-duty sector forward,” stated Toyota in a release.

Dmitry Serov, Founder & CEO, Hyroad Energy, said, “Toyota has done exactly what great allies do — they've brought genuine hydrogen expertise to the table and made thoughtful, strategic decisions. They're not waiting for someone else to build this ecosystem. They're investing in it directly, and that's what makes this meaningful. When fuelling, vehicles, software and operational commitment all come together, hydrogen trucking works."

BYD has claimed the title of the United Kingdom’s leading electric vehicle brand for 2026, surpassing established rivals including Tesla, BMW, KIA and Volkswagen. Official figures show the Chinese automaker has registered 12,754 battery-electric cars since the start of the year. This achievement is particularly notable as BYD has simultaneously become the top choice among private EV buyers, a feat accomplished despite being excluded from the government’s official Electric Car Grant scheme.

The brand’s broader success extends to its plug‑in hybrid lineup, marketed under the DM‑i dual‑mode intelligent system. Combining fully electric and hybrid sales, BYD has delivered 26,396 new energy vehicles in the UK year‑to‑date, capturing a 9.5 percent share of the national market. Three DM‑i models are currently available – SEAL U, SEAL 6 and SEALION 5 – with the ATTO 2 and additional models scheduled to arrive soon. The overall UK EV market has expanded by 22 percent, reflecting rising consumer appetite for sustainable transport.

BYD DOLPHIN SURF

BYD SEAL

Bono Ge, Country Manager, BYD UK, said, “With fuel prices remaining high, more drivers are turning to electric vehicles as a smarter and more economical choice. We are delighted to see the UK EV market grow by 22 percent year-on-year, and even more proud that BYD has become the UK’s leading EV brand in a little over three years. At BYD, we are committed to delivering outstanding value through high-tech electric vehicles that combine innovation, quality and affordability. But our ambition goes beyond building great cars.

“We are also bringing advanced technologies that unlock the full value of electrification, including Vehicle-to-Grid solutions that can help customers optimise energy use and reduce costs. In parallel, BYD has been deploying home and utility-scale energy storage solutions to support a more efficient and affordable energy ecosystem. Looking ahead, we also plan to introduce our breakthrough FLASH Charging, capable of charging a vehicle from 10 percent to 97 percent in just nine minutes.”