India’s electric car retail sales rose 76.47% year on year to a record 37,049 units in October 2026, according to FADA data reported by Autocar India. That lifted the EV share of passenger-vehicle sales to 7.3%, up from 3.5% in October 2025 but down from 8.5% in September because overall car sales fell 14% year on year. Tata led with 14,669 units, followed by Mahindra with 8,538 and MG with 5,939.
Key takeaways
- Electric car retail reached 37,049 units in October 2026, up 76.47% from 20,995 units a year earlier.
- EVs made up 7.3% of car sales, compared with 3.5% in October 2025 and 8.5% in September 2026.
- Tata Motors led with 14,669 units, followed by Mahindra (8,538) and MG (5,939).
- VinFast retailed 2,571 units, up from a very small base a year earlier, and Tesla recorded 291 units.
- The share fell from September mainly because overall car sales dipped about 14% year on year, not because EV volumes collapsed.
- These are FADA retail registrations, which are a different measure from the dispatch figures used in best-seller charts.
How fast did EV retail grow in October 2026?
According to Autocar India, electric car retail sales jumped 76.47% to 37,049 units in October 2026, against 20,995 units in October 2025. ETAuto adds that the figure was a record and 2.61% higher than September’s volume. Those retail numbers come from FADA, the dealers’ federation, and they count cars registered to customers. The year-on-year jump also took place while the wider car market was weaker, which makes the EV result stand out even more.
Which brands led electric car sales?
Tata Motors stayed in front with 14,669 units, up 77.6% year on year. Mahindra retailed 8,538 units, up 85.7% from 4,599 a year earlier, and MG added 5,939 units, up 10.8%. Between them, the top three accounted for 29,146 of the 37,049 electric cars sold. Below them, newer entrants are growing quickly. The table shows the full October 2026 ranking from the FADA data.
| Rank | Brand | October 2026 EV retail | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tata | 14,669 | +77.6% |
| 2 | Mahindra | 8,538 | +85.7% |
| 3 | MG | 5,939 | +10.8% |
| 4 | VinFast | 2,571 | +1,710.6% |
| 5 | Kia | 1,395 | +85.3% |
| 6 | Maruti Suzuki | 1,200 | n/a |
| 7 | Hyundai | 760 | +42.3% |
| 8 | BYD | 737 | +4.1% |
| 9 | BMW | 462 | +26.6% |
| 10 | Tesla | 291 | +627.5% |
| 11 | Toyota | 190 | n/a |
| 12 | Mercedes-Benz | 62 | -48.8% |
| 13 | Citroën | 60 | +11.1% |
| 14 | Volvo | 37 | +60.9% |
VinFast’s 1,710% growth looks dramatic, but it reflects how small the brand’s base was in October 2025. Maruti Suzuki’s 1,200 units show that a mass-market brand has become a visible EV seller, even though the table has no year-ago comparison for it. The two figures say more about how the market is shifting than about the size of any single brand.
What share of the market are EVs?
EVs accounted for 7.3% of passenger-vehicle retail in October 2026. That compares with 3.5% in October 2025, so the share more than doubled in a year. It was, however, below September 2026’s 8.5%. Autocar India notes that this happened as car sales dipped 14% year on year, so a smaller total market changes the percentage even when EV volumes hold up. FADA separately reported overall passenger-vehicle retail of 507,768 units, down 14.23%, as Autocar Professional covered.
Why can EV share fall while EV sales grow?
Market share is a ratio of EV sales to all car sales. If petrol, diesel and CNG cars recover faster than EVs in a given month, the EV percentage can slip even though electric volumes rise. The reverse can also happen, which is why one month’s share should not be treated as a trend on its own.
October’s numbers are a good example. EV volume rose 2.61% from September, yet the share fell from 8.5% to 7.3%, so the shift came from the overall market and not from weaker EV demand. Reading volume and share side by side gives the fairer picture.
What does Tesla’s small volume tell us?
Tesla retailed 291 cars in October 2026, ranking tenth. That is up 627.5% year on year, but the base was tiny, and the volume is still a very small slice of India’s electric car market. Tata, Mahindra and MG together outsold it by roughly 100 to 1. Tesla is therefore a notable arrival rather than a volume driver so far. Our separate guide on the Tesla Model Y in India covers its pricing and availability.
FAQ
How many electric cars were sold in India in October 2026?
FADA data shows 37,049 electric cars were retailed in October 2026. That is a record month and 76.47% higher than the 20,995 units sold in October 2025.
What share of car sales are electric in India?
EVs made up 7.3% of passenger-vehicle retail in October 2026. That is up from 3.5% a year earlier but down from 8.5% in September 2026.
Which brand sells the most electric cars in India?
Tata Motors, with 14,669 units in October 2026. Mahindra was second with 8,538 units and MG third with 5,939 units.
Why did EV share fall from September to October?
Overall car sales dropped about 14% year on year, which reduced the total that EV volumes are measured against. EV volume itself rose about 2.6% from September, so the share fall does not point to a demand collapse.
How many Teslas were sold in India in October 2026?
Tesla retailed 291 cars, according to FADA data reported by Autocar India. That placed it tenth among electric car brands.
