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TVS Apache Rules 150-200cc Segment, Set for Record Sales of 550,000 in FY2026

Ajit Dalvi — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 12:26:04

TVS Motor Co is witnessing a strong FY2026 and its cumulative 8-month two-wheeler wholesales comprising scooters, motorcycles and mopeds at 2.79 million units (27,92,046) are up 15% YoY (April-November 2024: 24,36,596 units). While TVS scooter sales (1.48 million units) are up 24% YoY and account for a 53% share, motorcycles (969,092 units) are up 11% YoY and have a 35% share. The humble TVS moped has sold 337,213 units and contributed to a 12% share of TVS’ overall two-wheeler sales.

In FY2025, TVS sold 1.20 million motorcycles, down 1.59% YoY (FY2024: 1.22 million units). In the first 8 months of FY2026, the Chennai-based two-wheeler OEM has dispatched (wholesales) 969,092 motorcycles which marks 11% YoY growth (April-November 2024: 876,306 units) and includes best-ever monthly sales of 167,617 units in festive and GST 2.0-driven October 2025.

The last 8 months’ bike sales translate into average monthly sales of 121,365 units. TVS needs to sell another 254,747 bikes between December 2025 and March 2026 if it is to surpass its best-ever motorcycle sales of 12,23,838 units of FY2024.

Apache brand bike sales of 382,431 units have contributed 39% to TVS Motor Co's total motorcycle dispatches of 969,092 million units in the first eight months of FY2025.

APACHE SERIES RIDING TOWARDS RECORD 550,000 SALES IN FY2026
TVS Motor’s motorcycle sales growth in the current fiscal is because of the robust customer demand for the Apache series in the 150-200cc segment wherein it continues to lead the market. The TVS Apache brand comprises four models of the Apache RTR Series – RTR 160, RTR 160 4V, RTR 180 and RTR 200. With total wholesales of 382,431 units between April and November 225, this lot of Apache bikes has clocked 24% YoY growth (April-November 2024: 308,654 units). The Apache is also available in the higher RTR 310 and RR 310 avatars along with the recently launched RTX 300 adventure bike which aims to make premium touring and off-road riding more accessible to Indian riders.

December 2025 will see the Apache brand cross the 400,000-units wholesales mark for the third time in its 20-year innings. It had missed the mark in FY2018 (399,035 units) by just 965 units. Launched in 2005, the Apache first rode past 400,000 units in FY2019 (465,322 units, up 16.61% YoY). Sales were impacted in subsequent fiscals, mainly due to the dampened demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic (see 12-fiscal-year data table above).

In the current fiscal’s first eight months, the Apache has averaged monthly sales of 47,803 units, pumped up by the record October 2025’s 61,619 units. The lowest monthly score in April-November 2025 was the 37,566 units in July. While December 2025 sales could be somewhat muted due to buyers delaying purchase to the new year, demand should again be robust in Q4 FY2026 (January-March 2026). If one adds an estimated cumulative 180,000 units for the next four months, the Apache 150-200cc bikes should go on to hit a new fiscal year high of 525,000 to 550,000 units, which translates into 23% YoY growth at the higher end.

The TVS Apache remains the company’s best-selling motorcycle in FY2026. In the first 8 months of this fiscal, it has a 39% share of TVS’ total motorcycle sales and is ahead of its sibling TVS Raider (294,546 units, down 0.44% YoY, 30% share). In FY2024, the Apache (378,072 units) had lost the title of TVS No. 1 bike to the Raider (478,443 units) but wrested it back in FY2025 (446,218 units).

While the 150-200cc segment has posted strong 23% growth in April-November 2025, the TVS Apache commands a 39% segment share with Bajaj Auto in second place with a 23% share.

TVS APACHE REMAINS BEST-SELLING BRAND IN 150-200cc CATEGORY
The TVS Apache’s robust sales have energised the overall 150-200cc segment which comprises seven motorcycle manufacturers, helping it ride into positive territory. In FY2025, this bike category had sold 1.09 million units, down 9% on FY2024’s 1.21 million units.

Now, after the first eight months of FY2026, the 986,629 units constitute a strong 23% YoY increase (April-November 2024: 802,930 units) as a result of strong double-digit growth from bikes made by TVS, Bajaj Auto, Honda and Hero MotoCorp.

FADA’s outlook for the coming months of FY2026 remains firmly positive, supported by sustained momentum from GST 2.0 tax rationalisation, strong enquiry pipelines, and improving rural economic indicators as 74% of dealers expect growth underscoring broad-based confidence across segments. What augurs well for two-wheeler OEMs is good signs of volume recovery across the rural two-wheeler market, driven by GST 2.0 rate cuts, and sustained OEM-dealer offers along with the ongoing marriage season.

Segment leader TVS Motor Co is well positioned to capture demand in this category with its four Apaches – the RTR 160, RTR 165, RTR 180 and RTR 200 – each catering to a different buyer, thereby widening the target audience. The Apache bikes’ pricing (ex-showroom Mumbai) starts at Rs 101,890 for the RTR 160 2V (down from pre-GST 2.0’s Rs 120,400), rises to Rs 125,590 for the RTR 180 and Rs 141,990 for the top-end RTR 200 4V.

The Apache 150-200cc series bikes have also witnessed strong demand in export markets – the 97,767 units shipped overseas in the past eight months make for a strong 32% YoY increase albeit that calls for a new report. Stay tuned in as we bring you the latest number-crunching news and sales analyses.

ALSO READ: Scooter sales cross 5 million in April-November, EVs help TVS, Hero, Ather grow market share

TVS tops electric 2W sales for seventh time this year in November

Maruti Fronx First Nexa SUV to Drive Past 400,000 Sales

Ajit Dalvi — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 09:43:13

The popular Maruti Fronx compact SUV, launched in April 2023, has surpassed cumulative wholesales of 400,000 units in the domestic market. From launch till end-November 2025, the Fronx has sold a total of 409,817 units. With this, the premium Baleno-based compact SUV becomes the first Nexa-marketed SUV to achieve this sales milestone.

The last 100,000 units have been sold in just eight months, affirming the Fronx’s rapid run in the ultra-competitive compact SUV market which has over 20 models in the fray. This Maruti model, whose compact SUV siblings include the Brezza and the Jimny, clocked 100,000 sales in just 10 months from launch, 150,000 units in 14 months, 200,000 in 17 months, 300,000 in a little over 23 months and now the 400,000 sales milestone has been crossed in 32 months.

With 108,866 units sold in the first eight months of FY2026, the Fronx is well set to surpass its FY2025 total and achieve over 175,000 wholesales in the current fiscal.

As per SIAM’s wholesales data numbers, the Maruti Fronx sold 134,735 units in FY2024, its first full year of sales when it averaged monthly dispatches of 11,228 units. The ‘run rate’ got much better in FY2025 – the 166,216 units were a strong 23% YoY increase and translate into average monthly sales of 13,851 units. The 108,866 units sold between April and November 2025, up 3.54% YoY (April-November 2024: 105,142 units) make for average monthly sales of 13,608 units – the best yet.

Between April and November 2025, the Fronx has sold 108,866 units – that’s 6,220 units more than the Baleno (102,646 units) and 50,125 units more than the Grand Vitara (58,741 units).

FRONX CURRENTLY BEST-SELLING NEXA MODEL. . . AHEAD OF BALENO AND GRAND VITARA

Another interesting data takeaway is that the Fronx is currently the Maruti Nexa channel’s No. 1 model. While it was Nexa’s second highest-selling model in FY2025 as well as FY2024 after the best-selling Nexa model (Baleno), the Fronx is currently ahead of its donor model. The Fronx’s April-November 2025 sales (108,866 units) give it a lead of 6,220 units over the Baleno (102,646 units) in the current fiscal year.

Within the Nexa SUV stable which comprises five models (XL6, Grand Vitara, Fronx, Jimny and Invicto), the Grand Vitara midsize SUV with 355,171 units sold since its September 2022 launch is closest to the Fronx. While the Grand Vitara, which was launched six months before the Fronx, was the first to hit the 200,000 milestone, the younger Nexa sibling pipped it to the 300,000 milestone. Fiscal-year-wise, the Fronx outsold the Grand Vitara by 13,566 units in FY2024, by 42,570 units in FY2025, with the difference now increasing to 50,125 units more in the first eight months of FY2026. The Grand Vitara, to be fair to the midsize SUV, belongs to a segment above.

Notably, the Fronx’s sales performance should be viewed in the contest of the highly competitive compact SUV market that it is part of. This segment includes models like the Tata Punch and Nexon, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue and Exter, Mahindra 3XO, Kia Sonet and Syros, Sokda Kylaq as well as the Toyota Taisor, which is the rebadged Fronx produced by Maruti Suzuki for Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

STYLISH AND PRACTICAL COMPACT SUV WITH PETROL AND CNG POWER

The smart-looking Fronx coupe-crossover has a strong road presence, what with it being based on the snazzy Baleno hatchback and sporting frontal design elements like the upright nose and split headlamp that look similar to the Grand Vitara midsize SUV.

While the 17-inch multi-spoke alloys are unique to Fronx, Baleno-like features include the rising waistline with a prominent hunch over the rear wheels, and the sloping roofline. Dimension-wise too, the Fronx is Baleno-like: length at 3995mm, height at 1550mm and width at 1765mm.

The Maruti Fronx is powered by an efficient 1.2 petrol which produces 90hp and 113 Nm torque, and a 1.0 turbo-petrol. The Boosterjet turbo-petrol engine, which develops 100hp and 147Nm, is paired to either a five-speed manual or a six-speed torque converter automatic.

Three months after the launch of the petrol-engined Fronx, Maruti Suzuki launched the CNG avatar of the Fronx, which has given a boost to sales. The Fronx CNG, with 77.5hp and 98.5 Nm, is claimed to deliver fuel efficiency of 28.51 km/kg.

The Fronx is sold in five trims – Sigma, Delta, Delta+, Zeta and Alpha – and 14 variants with nine manual and four auto transmission options. Pricing starts at Rs 685,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) for the base Sigma variant and goes upwards to the top-end Alpha Turbo AT variant, which costs Rs 11.98 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi).

In tandem with its strong domestic market sales, the Fronx is also powering Maruti Suzuki’s aggressive export growth story along with sibling Jimny in the current fiscal but that calls for another sales analysis.

River Mobility Clocks Best-Ever Monthly Sales in November: 1,801 Indie E-Scooters

Ajit Dalvi — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:14:50

Even as the legacy OEMs like TVS Motor Co, Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp and Greaves Electric Mobility hold sway over the electric two-wheeler market in India and account for the bulk of sales, some e-2W start-ups including Ather Energy, Ola Electric, Bgauss Auto, Kinetic Green and River Mobility are also regulars in the monthly Top 10 chart.

In November 2025, Bengaluru-based electric scooter start-up River Mobility, which is witnessing growing demand for its sole product – the River Indie – registered its highest-ever monthly retail sales – 1,801 units – a little over two years since launch. In the past 11 months, the River Indie has been part of the Top 10 listing seven times – April, June, July, August, September, October and November. That’s not all.

As the Vahan retail sales data table below depicts, last month’s sales have enabled River Mobility to surpass cumulative sales of 15,000 units. From October 2023 till end-November, the e-2W startup has sold a total of 16,041 River Indies. With 13,434 units sold in the past 11 months, River Mobility should easily surpass calendar-year sales of 15,000-plus Indies for the first time this year.

River Indie sales crossed 1,000 units a month for the first time in June 2025 and have accelerated since then with the highest yet – 1,801 units – coming this November.

The growing sales are also a result of the expanding sales and service network. River Mobility strategically focused on setting up its retail operations initially in southern and western India, both of which are the leading buyers of e-2Ws, before expanding operations to other parts of India. Northern India is the new regional focus and November 14 saw the opening of a new outlet in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The Jaipur store follows River’s recent entry into Delhi, Indore and Patna, strengthening the brand's nationwide expansion. With 37 stores now operational across the country, including in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, and Hubli, River Mobility states that it is on track to scale up to over 100 touchpoints across the country by CY2026 through a mix of company-owned stores and partnerships.

Retail sales of the River Indie have risen after the refreshed model was introduced. Key products highlights include 14-inch alloy wheels, telescopic suspension and twin hydraulic rear suspension.

REFRESHED INDIE DELIVERS NEW SALES CHARGE
The first River Indie rolled out of the company’s modern manufacturing plant in Hoskote, Karnataka, on August 25, 2023. The facility, which has automated assembly lines for battery pack and vehicle assembly, is spread over 120,000 square feet and has a production capacity of 100,000 units per annum.

Somewhat radical looking compared to nearly all the e-scooters sold in India, the River Indie is a head-turner which ticks most of the boxes for a two-wheeled EV. Priced at Rs 146,399 (ex-showroom Bengaluru), this single-variant model is available in four colours: Monsoon Blue, Spring Yellow, Storm Grey and Summer Red.

Designed for both urban commutes and short weekend trips, the River Indie scooter, which uses a 4 kWh NMC battery pack, develops peak power of 6.7 kW (9hp) and 26 Nm torque. The 0-40kph sprint takes 3.7 seconds and top speed is 90kph. River Mobility claims the Indie has an IDC range of 163 kilometres on a single charge, with a 0-80% charge taking five hours.

Demand for the Indie in all of CY2024 was tepid, with the highest monthly sales being the 370 units in October 2024. In November 2024, just over a year after production began, River Mobility introduced an updated version featuring a single-speed gearbox with a chain drive, a first in its segment. The upgrade was essentially to enhance durability and reduce ownership costs. The refreshed Indie’s pricing though is higher compared to the original model’s Rs 125,000 at launch.

Other product highlights include lockable storage capacity of 55 litres – 12 litres in the glovebox and a cavernous 43 litres under the seat (biggest for an e-scooter in India), front footpegs and 14-inch wheels to improve manoeuvrability and riding comfort. Like the first model, the updated zero-emission Indie has three riding modes — Eco, Ride, and Rush.

River Indie-based Yamaha EC-06 (left), revealed at EICMA 2025, first product to emerge from the collaboration between Yamaha and River Mobility, which will manufacture the model at its Hoskote plant.

RIVER INDIE EMPOWERS YAMAHA EC-O6, WINS TWO RED DOT DESIGN AWARDS

Last month at EICMA 2025 in Milan, Yamaha Motor Co took the covers off two new electric scooters for the India market – the EC-O6 and the Aerox E, the electric avatar of the Yamaha Aerox already on sale in India.

River Mobility, in which Yamaha invested in January 2024 as a strategic move to have a footprint in India’s fast-growing e-2W market, has a strong connect with the Yamaha EC-06 which is based on the same platform as the River Indie albeit with some key differences. The EC-06 essentially is a joint development project between Yamaha’s engineering teams in Japan, the US, and Europe, and the River Mobility team in Bengaluru. This Yamaha EV will roll out of River’s manufacturing plant in Hoskote, Karnataka which has ample manufacturing capacity. While Yamaha retains product ownership, River has been entrusted with full execution responsibilities — from R&D and battery integration to engineering and manufacturing.

Meanwhile, another form of global recognition has come the River Indie’s way recently. Last month, the conceptualised-and-designed-in-India Indie won the prestigious Red Dot Product Design Award 2025. The product had already won the Red Dot Design Concept Award 2024, making it the only Indian two-wheeler brand to bag both Concept and Product Design awards.

ALSO READ: EV sales in India surpass 2 million units for the first time in a year

India’s Electric Car and SUV Makers Set for Record Sales of 175,000 Units in CY2025

Ajit Dalvi — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 09:31:18

Having already charged past 2 million annual sales for the first time in the 11^th month itself, India’s electric vehicle industry is on a roll this year. Importantly, for this vehicle segment, all four sub-segments – 2- and 3-wheelers, passenger and commercial vehicles – have already achieved their highest-ever annual sales and will go on to further improve their score in December.

The electric passenger vehicle (e-PV) industry, which comprises zero-emission hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs and MPVs, has delivered a record 160,740 units between January and November 2025. This marks handsome 78% YoY growth (January-November 2024: 90,445 units) and translates into an additional 61,046 e-PVs with December retail sales yet to be counted.

Between January and November, the e-PV industry has already sold an additional 61,046 e-PVs over CY2024 sales (99,694 units) with December retail sales yet to be counted.

Cumulative e-PV industry sales in the first 11 months of CY2025 at 160,628 units have raced past entire CY2024 sales of 99,694 units. Given the current sales momentum driven by a flurry of new products over the past 10 months, expect this zero-emission vehicle segment to register record retail sales of around 175,000-180,000 units this calendar year, setting a new benchmark for the e-PV industry in India.

Let’s take a quick look at how the major players as well as the luxury e-PV OEMs have fared over the past 11 months and their performance versus their CY2024 sales. A clue to the robust growth of this segment is the fact that barring the three new players – Vinfast, Tesla and Maruti Suzuki – nine of the 14 e-PV OEMs have already registered their highest annual sales in the first 11 months of CY2025.

Market leader Tata Motors, with 63,046 electric cars and SUVs and 10% YoY growth, has surpassed its CY2024 total of 61,747 units. This gives the maker of the electric Nexon, Punch, Harrier, Curvv, Tiago and Tigor a current market share of 39% as compared to 62% in CY2024. The launch of the Harrier EV has revived demand and the company has registered monthly retail sales of 6,000-plus e-PVs for five months running. Tata Motors’ markedly lower YoY market share is due to the advance of its two key rivals – JSW MG Motor India and Mahindra & Mahindra which have grabbed a good slice of the e-PV market this year with their new products.

JSW MG Motor India is the aggressive No. 2, hard on the heels of the market leader. From a 20% share in CY2024, the company’s share has jumped to nearly 30% – the 47,574 units in the past 11 months are a handsome 165% YoY increase and mainly attributed to the launch of the Windsor EV which has consistently been the best-selling e-PV for months, energised by the BaaS option. This year has also seen the company, which also sells the ZS EV and Comet EV, expand its portfolio with the M9 MPV and Cyberster roadster.

New products have also powered growth for Mahindra & Mahindra. The launch of its first two electric origin SUVs – BE 6 and XEV 9e – early this year have helped the company achieve sales 30,191 units from January to November. This constitutes 347% YoY growth over the low year-ago base of 6,757 XUV400s and gives M&M a current market share of 19%, which is a near-three-fold increase over the 7% share it had a year ago. The company, which has just launched the new XEV 9S three-row, born-electric SUV had sold 7,153 units in CY2024, is expected to sell a record 34,000 units in this calendar year.

Hyundai Motor India takes fourth rank in the 17-OEM listing with 6,435 units, up 621% YoY (January-November 2024: 893 Ioniq 5s) which gives it a 4% share of the e-PV market. Following the launch of the Creta Electric in January 2025, combined sales of the Creta Electric and Ioniq 5 had risen from 775 units in February to 905 units in March but since then demand has tapered for the zero-emission avatar of India’s best-selling midsize SUV which accounts for the bulk of the monthly deliveries.

BYD India, the local arm of China’s and the world’s largest e-PV OEM, is at No. 5 position with 5,122 units, having doubled its year-ago sales of 2,561 units with the Sealion 7 SUV being a recent growth accelerator. BYD’s Indian arm, which sells the all-electric Atto 3 SUV, Seal sedan, eMax 7 MPV and the Sealion 7 SUV, is set to increase the price of the Sealion 7 from January. BYD India has a current market share of 3% which is the same as in CY2024.

Luxury e-PV market leader BMW India has registered record sales of 2,837 units in the first 11 months of this year. The company, whose portfolio includes the i7, iX, i5, i4, iX1 Long Wheelbase, and Mini Countryman E, has clocked robust 164% YoY growth and is ranked sixth amongst the 17 OEMs.

Kia India, ranked 10^th in CY2024 with 415 units, has risen smartly up the ranks to be the No. 7 e-PV OEM in the year to date. Cumulative January-November sales this year at 2,398 units are up 620% YoY and give it a market share of 1.5% versus 0.41% in CY2024. The growth driver has been the made-in-India Carens Clavis MPV which has drawn local buyers, far more than the expensive and imported EV6 and EV9.

Mercedes-Benz India with 1,087 units (up 28% YoY) sold in the past 11 months has also hit a new calendar year high with December sales yet to be factored in. The company’s strong BEV portfolio includes the EQS 580 sedan, EQS 580 SUV and 450 SUV, along with the EQA 250+, EQB SUV, Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV and G580 with EQ technology.

Vietnamese EV manufacturer Vinfast with 429 units of the locally assembled VF6 and VF7 e-SUVs is ranked No. 10 in just three months after kicking off sales. The company, which has partnered with the State Bank of India and ICICI Bank for EV customer financing, has opened 24 dealerships in major Indian cities with plans to add another 11 by the end of this year. Recognising the potential of the growing market for electric MPVs and the demand for the Kia Carens Clavis EV and the BYD eMax 7, Vinfast India has confirmed plans to launch its third premium EV – the seven-seater Limo Green electric MPV – in February 2026.

The market response to the other recent and far more well-known OEM – Tesla – has been far more subdued. Tesla India has sold a total of 157 units of the Model Y SUV, comprising 69 units in September, 40 in October and 48 in November. The Model Y is imported into India as a CBU product.

The eight luxury e-PV makers between them have sold 4,558 units in the past 11 months, which marks 77% YoY growth (January-November 2024: 2,570 units. Total luxury e-PV sales in CY2024 were 2,869 units.

While CY2025 will set a new sales benchmark for the e-PV industry, CY2026 promises to be even better. Maruti Suzuki India, which has unveiled its first electric vehicle – the e-Vitara – is set to open bookings soon and will launch the zero-emission SUV in early 2026. Considering the e-Vitara was unveiled on January 17, 2025 at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo, it could be expected that the official launch just might happen a year after that event.

Tata EV Share Rises to 42% in November, Vinfast Moves up to Seventh Amongst 17 E-PV OEMs

Ajit Dalvi — Tue, 02 Dec 2025 10:00:11

After the heady month of October 2025, which registered the highest-ever passenger vehicle retail sales of 550,000-plus units including a record 19,000 electric SUVs, MPVs, cars and sedans, November retail sales numbers are a lot more sedate. As per new electric vehicle registration and delivery data on the Vahan portal (December 2, 7am), a total of 14,739 units were sold last month, up 61% YoY (November 2024: 9,172 e-PVs).

November sales of 14,739 e-PVs are the fifth highest monthly sales in the current calendar year.

November was the second full month of sales after GST 2.0 kicked in on September 22, 2025, facilitating intensive price cuts enabled by the rationalisation of GST from 28% to 18% as also the withdrawal of the compensation cess. The 5% GST on EVs remains untouched, which essentially means that the once-substantial price gap between ICE PVs and EVs, particularly entry level models, has reduced sharply. November was also the third month of sales for the two new EV makers – Vinfast India and Tesla – who have joined the existing 14 players in the e-PV market, as has Maruti Suzuki India which is set to announce the prices of its first EV – the e-Vitara – today (December 2). While the Vietnamese EV maker has already hit the headlines, Tesla is yet to see strong sales traction. Let’s take a closer look the OEM-wise performance in November and their month-on-month growth or decline, along with their current market share.

TATA MOTORS SELLS OVER 6,000 UNITS FOR FIFTH MONTH IN A ROW

While six OEMs commanded 93% of November’s 388,624 passenger vehicle sales comprising both ICE and EVs, the e-PV market is led by three players – Tata Motors, JSW MG Motor India and Mahindra & Mahindra. These three OEMs, with combined retail sales of 12,737 units, accounted for 86% of the total e-PV sales of 14,739 units last month. On the cumulative 11-month scale, they have 88% of the market with 140,850 units from the total 160,628 e-PVs bought between January and November.
Electric PV market leader Tata Motors delivered 6,121 cars and SUVs last month, up 38% YoY (November 2024: 4,447 units), which sees its monthly share increase to 42% from the 40% it had in October and September 2025. While the recently launched Harrier EV has helped revive demand for the company, the Punch, Nexon and Curvv EVs continue to have their fair share of buyers. Tata Motors, whose EV portfolio also includes the Tiago and Tigor, has been impacted mainly by two OEMs – JSW MG Motor India and Mahindra & Mahindra, both of whom have launched new EVs in the past year.

JSW MG Motor India sold 3,676 e-PVs, which marks a 10% YoY increase (November 2024: 3,347 units) and a 25% e-PV market share. November makes for the company’s second lowest monthly sales after February 2025 (3,489 units) while the highest was July (5,350 units). Last month also saw the company register cumulative EV sales of 100,000 units, with the game-changing Windsor EV being the growth accelerator. The company, which has made inroads into Tata Motors’ market share with the Windsor EV and its BaaS option, has expanded its portfolio with the M9 MPV, which marks its foray into the premium EV segment, along with the Cyberster electric roadster priced at Rs 72.49 lakh. Both models are retailed through the new MG Select network. JSW MG Motor also sells the ZS EV and Comet EV.

Mahindra & Mahindra, which reclaimed its No. 2 PV OEM status in November after being upstaged by Tata Motors in September and October, registered retail sales of 2,940 e-SUVs last month. This constitutes 404% YoY growth on a low year-ago base (November 2024: 583 XUV400s). The company, which is seeing strong demand for the two new electric origin SUVs – BE 6 and XEV 9e – launched the XEV 9S on November 27 at Rs 19.95 lakh up to Rs 29.45 lakh (ex-showroom) for the top-end variant. The XEV 9S is Mahindra’s first three-row, born-electric SUV based on the modular INGLO skateboard platform and slots above the stylish XEV 9e and the radical BE 6 SUVs, both of which are two-row EVs. With battery options spanning 59 kWh, 70 kWh, and 79 kWh, the XEV 9S introduces technology and comfort features that the company typically associates with vehicles positioned much higher in the market. In November, M&M had a 20% e-PV market share and takes its 11-month total to 31,191 e-SUVs.

Kia India, which was ranked eighth a year ago, has risen four ranks to become the No. 4 e-PV OEM in November 2025 with 463 units, a 526 % YoY increase on a low base (November 2024: 74 EVs). This gives Kia a 3% e-PV market share, which puts it ahead of both BYD India and Hyundai Motor India. This rise can be attributed to growing demand for the mass-market Carens Clavis EV MPV. Kia’s EV portfolio also contains the EV6 and EV9, which are imported as CBUs into the country and, as a result, are far more expensive than the mass-market Carens Clavis EV-MPV.

BYD India, the local arm of China’s and the world’s largest electric PV manufacturer has slipped to fifth rank on the e-PV OEM sales table, with retail sales of 418 units last month, up 14% YoY (November 2024: 367 units). BYD’s Indian arm, which sells the all-electric Atto 3 SUV, Seal sedan, eMax 7 MPV and the Sealion 7 SUV, is set to increase the price of the Sealion 7 from January. However, it has announced that bookings made before December 31 will get the current ex-showroom pricing of Rs 48.90 lakh for the Premium variant and Rs 54.90 lakh for the Performance variant. Following its launch at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in January, the Sealion 7 has sold over 2,000 units in India, indicating strong market acceptance in the premium EV segment.

Hyundai Motor India sold 372 e-SUVs last month, up 1671% YoY (November 2024: 21 Ioniq 5s) which gives it a 2.52% share of the e-PV market. Following the launch of the Creta Electric in January 2025, monthly sales had risen from 775 units in February to 905 units in March but since then demand has tapered for the zero-emission avatar of India’s best-selling midsize SUV.

November’s e-PV market newsmaker is Vinfast India, which is now the new No. 7 e-PV OEM. The Indian arm of the Vietnamese EV manufacturer, which markets the locally assembled VF6 and VF7 e-SUVs, delivered 288 units to customers last month, as per Vahan statistics and up 113% MoM (October 2025: 135 units). This sees the Vietnamese EV maker move up to seventh place from eighth in October amongst the 17 e-PV OEMs in India. What’s more, Vinfast India has outsold the luxury EV market leader BMW India (267 units) in November. The company, which has partnered with the State Bank of India and ICICI Bank for EV customer financing, has opened 24 dealerships in major Indian cities with plans to add another 11 by the end of this year. Recognising the potential of the growing market for electric MPVs and the demand for the Kia Carens Clavis EV and the BYD eMax 7, Vinfast India has confirmed plans to launch its third premium EV – the seven-seater Limo Green electric MPV – in February 2026.

Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki India makes its appearance for the first time in the EV section of the Vahan statistics. The portal has listed 14 units to the company, which could mean that the company has sold 14 units of the soon-to-be-launched e-Vitara midsize SUV to its dealers.

LUXURY CARMAKERS SELL 417 EVs IN NOVEMBER

Combined sales of the eight luxury EV manufacturers at 417 units in November 2025 are up 66% YoY (November 2024: 251 units). This gives them a 3% share of the overall e-PV market for last month.

BMW India, the luxury EV market leader, sold 267 units in November which gives it a 64% share of luxury e-PV sales. However, rank-wise, BMW India is now the No. 8 with Vinfast India moving up the ladder. In the first 11 months of CY2025, BMW India has sold 2,837 e-PVs.

Mercedes-Benz India, the No. 2 luxury e-PV OEM, has registered retails of 69 zero-emission vehicles in November 2025 for a 17% luxury e-PV market share but down 36% YoY (November 2024: 107 units). For the January-November 2025 period, the German carmaker has sold a total of 1,087 e-PVs, up 28% YoY (January-November 2024: 851 units).

Tesla India, which has received over 600 bookings for the Model Y, delivered 48 units of the e-SUV to customers in Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, and Gurugram last month and is currently ranked No. 3 amongst the luxury OEMs. Over the past three months, the American EV maker has sold 157 units of the Model Y which is imported into India as a CBU product.

Meanwhile, Volvo Auto India delivered 28 EVs last month, down 13% YoY (November 2024: 32 units).

Cumulative e-PV industry sales in the first 11 months of CY2025 at 160,628 units have raced past entire CY2024 sales of 99,694 units. Given the current sales momentum and the launch of the much-awaited Maruti e-Vitara in December 2025, expect this zero-emission vehicle segment to register record retail sales of around 175,000-180,000 units this calendar year, setting a new benchmark for the e-PV industry in India.

ALSO READ: Annual EV sales in India surpass 2 million units for the first time

SUV and Car Makers Sell 388,000 Units in November, Mahindra Regains No. 2 Position From Tata

Ajit Dalvi — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:44:41

After a record-breaking festive month of October 2025, when the passenger vehicle (PV) industry delivered a record 565,326 units, November 2025 retail sales at an estimated 388,624 units are a more sobering market reality. Nevertheless, they are the third highest monthly sales in the current calendar year, with January 2025 (473,520 units) being the second highest.

While PV market leader Maruti Suzuki remains head and shoulders above the rest of the competition with 155,317 units, 19% YoY growth and a 40% market share, the latest retail sales data on the Vahan portal (December 1, 2025) reveals that Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has regained the No. 2 podium position it had lost to Tata Motors in September and October. In November 2025, M&M delivered a total of 54,005 SUVs, including 2,767 electric SUVs to its customers. This marks a 20% YoY increase (November 2024: 45,000 SUVs) and gives it a lead of 2,333 vehicles over Tata Motors. In November 2025, M&M had an overall PV market share of 14% to Tata Motors’ 13 percent. M&M, which currently has a 11-model portfolio, led by the Scorpio, has seen sales accelerate with surging demand for the Thar Roxx and more recently the new three-door Thar.

Tata Motors, which has sold 51,672 cars and SUVs including 6,083 EVs last month, posted 22% YoY growth (November 2024: 42,234 units). The manufacturer of the Nexon, Punch, Harrier, Curvv, Safari, Altroz, Tiago and Tigor, had outsold M&M in September (41,641 PVs to M&M’s 39,961 SUVs) and October (75,686 PVs to M&M’s 71,057 SUVs).

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor India, which has dropped to fourth rank, has delivered 49,295 PVs last month, up 9% YoY, for a 13% market share The company’s 10-model car and SUV portfolio is led by the Creta midsize SUV, followed by the Venue, Exter and Aura sedan.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, with retail sales of 27,660 units, has registered 27% YoY growth, which gives it a 7% market share for November. The company, whose leading model is the Innova Hycross / Crysta, has seen surging demand for the Hyryder midsize SUV which outsold the popular MPV for the first time in October on the wholesales front.

Kia India, which is witnessing a good run in the PV market, has retailed 23,675 units in November 2025, up 24% YoY (November 2024: 19,113 units) for a 6% market share. The Sonet compact SUV remains the No. 1 product the company, followed by the Carens MPV recently bolstered by the Carens Clavis and Clavis EV, and the Seltos midsize SUV.

While Maruti Suzuki had a 40% PV market share, M&M with 54,005 SUVs delivered in November regained the No. 2 spot it lost to Tata Motors in September and October.

TOP 6 OEMs HEADED FOR RECORD SALES IN CY2025

These Top 6 PV OEMs – Maruti Suzuki India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hyundai Motor India, Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Kia India – with their combined sales of an estimated 361,624 units, account for 93% of the total PV sales last month. This is the same ratio for their PV wholesales last year.

In CY2024, total passenger vehicle wholesales were 4.27 million units (42,74,793 units), up 4% YoY. Of this, these top six PV OEMs accounted for 3.99 million units (39,96,671 units) or a 93% share, leaving the balance 7% to be fought over by the 10 other car and SUV manufacturers.

Eleven months into the year, each of these six PV manufacturers is well set to achieve new highs in both wholesales and retails. What has added strong tailwinds to their growth is the reduced GST, which has helped slash prices of most cars, SUVs and even MPVs and brought pent-up consumer demand to the fore.

ALSO READ: Utility Vehicle Industry Poised for Record Sales of 2.8 Million Units in CY2025

TVS Tops E-2W Sales for Seventh Time This Year in November, Hero Vida Races Past Ola

Ajit Dalvi — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 09:40:32

Maintaining the lead over arch rival it displayed in the first half of November 2025, TVS Motor Co has regained the electric two-wheeler crown it had lost to Bajaj Auto in October. As per Vahan retail sales statistics, TVS sold 30,309 units in November, which constitutes 4,783 additional e-scooters than Bajaj Auto (25,526 Chetaks). TVS’ lead in the first fortnight of November was 1,627 units, which means its sales momentum was stronger in the second half of last month.

The Indian e-2W industry delivered a total of 116,849 zero-emission scooters, motorcycles and mopeds last month, down 3% YoY (November 2024: 119,996 units), which is 27,776 fewer units than the record 144,625 electric 2Ws sold in the festive month of October. Nevertheless, November 2025 retails are still the second highest monthly sales in the calendar year to date, and take cumulative 11-month calendar year sales to 1.18 million units, up 10% YoY (January-November 2024: 1.07 million units).

November 2025 retail sales of 116,849 e-2Ws are the second highest monthly sales in the year to date.

TVS Motor Co’s 30,309 e-scooter sales in November, up 11% YoY, are its second-best monthly sales this year after March (30,772 units) and the third time that its monthly sales have crossed the 30,000-units mark since it entered the market with the iQube in January 2020. October 2024 (30,240 units) is the second highest monthly score. November sales give TVS a 26% e-2W market share for November 2025. With this performance, TVS has topped e-2W sales for the seventh time this year – it had a straight run at the top right from April to September, lost the crown in October and has now regained it in November.

What would have given a fillip to sales last month is the phased rollout of the new Orbiter e-scooter. Priced at Rs 99,900 (ex-showroom Bengaluru), inclusive of PM E-Drive Scheme subsidies, Orbiter sales have commenced in Karnataka and the company is now expanding into Maharashtra. This pricing places the Orbiter — which has a 3.1 kWh battery pack — on par with the base iQube variant that features a smaller 2.2 kWh battery pack. The Orbiter, which has a top speed of 68kph, is designed for urban commuting and has an IDC range of 158 km per charge.

TVS is also aiming for a first-mover advantage for e-2Ws in rural India. Speaking in an earnings call after the Q2 FY2026 results, KN Radhakrishnan, CEO, TVS Motor Co said: “I'm very sure GST reform is going to help rural (India) and (road) connectivity. I believe that for mobility needs in India, which has a lot of self-employed people, the two-wheeler is the best mobility solution. And rural is the most important driver. I'm very confident that rural will start growing in line with urban.”

Bajaj Auto, whose monthly retail sales crossed the 30,000-units mark for the first time in October 2025 (31,392 units) and helped it top the market, has registered retail sales of 25,526 units in November, down 3% YoY (November 2024: 26,419 units). This gives the Chetak manufacturer a share of 22% and helps it surpass the 250,000 units cumulative sales milestone for the first time in a calendar year. The company, which currently sells the Chetak and Yulu e-scooters is readying the launch of a brand-new model early in CY2026, which could mean potential Chetak buyers would be awaiting that model. Bajaj Auto continues to expand its Chetak network which now stands at 390 exclusive stores and 4,000 points of sale in 800 cities.

Ather Energy, which has made the No. 3 position its very own and clocked its highest monthly sales of 28,405 units in October, has sold 20,323 e-scooters in November, a robust 57% YoY growth (November 2024: 12,963 units). This puts it 9,986 e-2Ws behind TVS and 5,203 units behind Bajaj Auto. The e-2W start-up, which is fast reducing the sales gap with the two legacy OEMs, continues to witness surging demand for its Rizta family scooter, far more than that for the 450X or 450S models. The company has reported strong sales traction for the high-range (160km) options on the 450S and Rizta S, which has helped expand sales and market share. What’s more, the Battery as a Service (BaaS) option has enabled a reduction of the upfront price of the Rizta S to Rs 76,000, making the premium family scooter far more affordable.

The standout news of November has been Hero MotoCorp’s Vida brand rising to No. 4 position, ahead of Ola Electric. As per Vahan data, the company has delivered a total of 12,199 Vida e-scooters last month, up 66% YoY (November 2024: 7,352 units). This is 3,799 units more than Ola Electric (8,400 units), which gives Hero Vida a 10% market share – 3% more than Ola’s 7% in November 2025. The world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer continues to be an EV newsmaker as a result of the robust demand for its new Vida VX2 model. Though October 2025 (16,014 units) remains its highest monthly sales yet, November marks five consecutive months of 10,000-plus e-scooter sales for Hero MotoCorp and its Vida e-2W brand.

Ola Electric, with retail sales of 8,400 units in November, down sharply by 71% YoY (November 2024: 29,322 units), slips to No. 5 in the e-2W OEM market and gives it a market share of 7% for last month. As per Vahan statistics, this is the lowest monthly retail sales for Ola in the current year to date after February 2025 (8,673 units).

The company, which manufactures and sells both e-scooters and e-motorcycles, had opened CY2025 with 24,411 units in January, which remains its highest monthly sales in the year to date. Ola’s cumulative 11-month retail sales (190,088 units) from January to end-November 2025 at 190,088 units are far fewer than TVS (272,874 units) or Bajaj Auto (250,366 units) and just 6,925 e-2Ws more than Ather Energy (183,163 units) in the same period. Clearly, Ola Electric will have to come up with an aggressive sales and product strategy if it is to regain the vigour and shine it had displayed not very long ago as the e-2W market leader.

Greaves Electric Mobility (GEM), the EV arm of Greaves Cotton which markets the Ampere brand of e-scooters, remains the firm No. 6 on the OEM ranking list with retails of 5,763 units and a 5% market share. This is GEM’s second highest monthly score this year after October (7,632 units). GEM and Ampere Vehicles, which are witnessing a revival of demand driven by new products like the Nexus, Magnus Neo and the Grand, recently surpassed cumulative retail sales of 250,000 units.

Bgauss Auto, a Mumbai-based startup spawned by electrical solutions major RR Kabel, is ranked seventh amongst the Top 10 e-2W OEMs. Bgauss sold 2,566 units of its e-2Ws comprising the RUV 350 and Max C12 in November.

Bengaluru-based River Mobility, now rebranded River EV, which has a single product – the River Indie – is now a regular fixture in the Top 10 e-2W listing. The company sold a record 1,797 units in November, which gives it No. 8 position. This is the fifth straight month that sales have surpassed the 1,500-units mark. The company, which recently bagged the Red Dot Product Design Award 2025, rolled out the Indie Gen 3 in September and is fast expanding its sales network. Plans are to grow its dealer footprint from the existing 35-odd showrooms to 80 across India by March with a focus on Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat.

Kinetic Green, which sells the E-Zulu, Zing, and the E-Luna, is ranked ninth in the Top 10 listing with 1,340 units, up 22% YoY. The company had hit its highest monthly sales in August (1,514 units). Kinetic plans to up the ante with the launch of a new premium family scooter in CY2026, the first of three models to be launched over the next 18 months. Given that it has a strong manufacturing infrastructure and a 400-strong network of exclusive e-2W dealers across the country, the company is looking to aggressively expand this business operation.

Pur Energy or Pure EV, with 1,071 units, wraps up the Top 10 e-2W OEM listing, narrowly edging out electric bikemaker Revolt Motors (1,046 units).

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EV sales in India cross 2 million units in first 11 months of CY202

EV Sales Cross the 2 million Mark for the First Time

Ajit Dalvi — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:51:46

As accurately predicted earlier this month, official retail data reveals that India EV Inc has indeed registered and surpassed the two million sales mark number.

At the end of October 2025, the industry needed to deliver 151,444 EVs across all four EV segments to cross the 2 million-units mark. That came through in the last week of this month. Between January 1 and November 25, as per the data on the government of India’s Vahan portal which tracks new vehicle registrations across the country, India EV Inc has delivered a total of 2.02 million (20,26,118) zero-emission vehicles to buyers. With this stellar performance, the domestic EV industry has scaled a new high for annual sales, charging past CY2024’s 1.95 million units (see data table below).

The growth accelerator this year came in the festive month of October, which had both Dussehra and Diwali in it. Record monthly retails of 235,987 units (up 7% YoY), helped reduce the gap to the 2 million mark. October was the second month after March 2025 (205,289 units), when sales crossed 200,000 EVs this year.

Each of the four sub-segments of the EV industry have already registered their best-ever annual sales and will go on to further improve their numbers in December 2025.

Importantly, what augurs well for the overall EV industry is that each of the four vehicle sub-segments – two- and three-wheelers, passenger and commercial vehicles – have already achieved their best-ever annual sales, with four days of November and 31 days of December still to be counted. While e-2Ws, which represent the largest volume segment and have a 57% share of the India EV market, have posted 8% YoY growth with 1.16 million units, the e-3W segment which has the fastest transition to e-mobility has witnessed 10% YoY growth and accounts for a 34% share of EV sales across segments. Meanwhile, surging demand for zero-emission passenger vehicles has seen retail sales in the past 11 months rise handsomely by 74% YoY to 157,441 units, giving the e-PV category an 8% share, up from the 5% it had in January-November 2024. Meanwhile, the e-CV segment with 13,341 units sold in the past 11 months is up 41% YoY.

What is noteworthy is that despite GST 2.0, which helped reduce prices of IC engine vehicles, made them more affordable and also shrunk the gap between them and EVs whose GST remains unchanged, demand for zero-emission mobility remains strong. The EV industry’s stellar market performance proves that this segment has little to fear about sales being eaten into by its fossil-fuelled brethren.

With 35 days of EV sales still to be counted in the ongoing CY2025, expect the industry to achieve total sales in the region of 2.15 million units. Stay plugged into Autocar Professional, as we bring you the latest and accurate sales numbers and analyses of the domestic EV industry.

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Toyota Innova Hycross Sells 160,000 Units Since Launch, Commands 63% of Innova Sales in Current Fiscal

Ajit Dalvi — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 09:38:41

The Toyota Innova Hycross, which was launched on November 25, 2022, turns three years old today. With over 160,000 units sold till end-September 2025, this model has been a key growth accelerator for Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) which has witnessed strong growth in the Indian passenger vehicle market since the past couple of years and is set to scale a new high in FY2026.

Following record PV wholesales of 309,230 units in FY2025, TKM is continuing to see the same rich vein of growth in FY2026. Between April and October 2025, the company, which sells 12 models that straddle the MPV, SUV, hatchback, sedan and pickup segments, clocked wholesales of 206,195 vehicles, up 16% YoY. Of this, utility vehicles (173,472 units, up 18% YoY) account for an 84% share. Model-wise, the biggest contributor is the popular Innova MPV available as the Innova Crysta and the Innova Hycross.

In the first seven months of FY2026, combined sales of the two Innovas at 64,678 units are up 5% YoY (April-October 2024: 61,552 units). This total is 57% of the Innova’s sales of 107,204 units in FY2025, comprising 62,794 Hycross and 44,410 Crysta units.

The Innova MPV (64,678 units) remains the best-selling Toyota vehicle in India and in the current fiscal is ahead of the Hyryder midsize SUV (56,754 units), Glanza hatchback (31,405 units), Fortuner midsize SUV (19,662 units) or the Urban Cruiser Taisor compact SUV (19,092 units).

What has kept the Innova brand’s demand upbeat is the petrol-only Innova Hycross MPV launched in November 2022 to showcase Toyota’s strengths in hybrid vehicle technology. Powered by a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine combined with a fifth-generation self-charging strong hybrid electric system, the Hycross delivers impressive power output of 184hp and 188 Nm of torque. An alternative 2.0-litre petrol engine paired with a direct-shift CVT offers 173hp. Another calling card is its spacious premium interiors and plenty of features. Essentially, the Hycross offers everything buyers with large families want and there’s a new level of luxury too in this people-mover.

In comparison, the Innova Crysta’s 2.4-litre diesel engine produces 150hp and has an ARAI mileage statistic of 15.10kpl, which varies from 9kpl to 13kpl in the real world depending on weather, driving style and road conditions. The Innova Crysta, which is now a diesel-only model, remains a no-nonsense people-mover. TKM has trimmed the number of Crysta variants to five, cognisant of the consumer preference for the much more fuel-efficient Hycross.

Of the 53,589 Innova MPVs sold in the April-September 2025 period, the Hycross accounted for 33,553 units or 63% of total sales versus the Crysta’s 20,036 units and a 37% share.

TRADING PLACES: INNOVA HYCROSS AND CRYSTA

The Toyota Innova brand’s wholesales statistics reveal just how demand has shifted from the Crysta to the Hycross over the past 36 months. Launched in November 2022, the Hycross sold 11,351 units in the last five months of FY2023, accounting for 20% of total Innova wholesales. In FY2024, its first full fiscal of sales, the Hycross overtook the Crysta, selling 52,997 units to the Crysta’s 45,183 units – a difference of 7,814 units. In FY2025, the Hycross outsold the Crysta by 18,384 units – the 62,794 Hycross MPVs made for a 59% share of Innova sales versus the Crysta’s 41% (52,997 units) share.

Now, in the current fiscal’s first-half (April-September 2025), the Hycross has further increased its share of Innova sales. With 33,553 units of the total 53,589 Innovas sold in H1 FY226, the Hycross commands a 63% share versus the Crysta’s 37% share (20,036 units).

While the first 100,000 Hycross MPVs were sold in 24 months since launch, the next 50,000 units have taken nine months, with the 150,000 mark being surpassed in mid-August 2025. At the end of September 2025, total Hycross wholesales were 160,695 units.

What will give a boost to the Innova Hycross’ sales this year and beyond is the vehicle having aced the Bharat NCAP crash test in June with a top 5-star rating for both adult and child occupant protection. The rating applies to both petrol and petrol-hybrid variants, with the Innova Hycross being the first Toyota, the first MPV and the first hybrid vehicle to be tested by BNCAP.

The high-on-safety Hycross, which is equipped with six airbags across all grades, was launched with the Toyota Safety Sense driver assistance suite, which was a first for any Toyota model being sold in India three years ago. The Toyota Safety Sense package comes with advanced safety features designed to help protect drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the road. They include Pre-Collision System, Lane Trace Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Blind Spot Monitor and Automatic High Beam Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, the Innova Hycross is designed to ensure crash safety and structural rigidity and is also equipped with an array of active and passive safety features that make it one of the safest vehicles in the industry.

Innova Hycross’ USP is its hybrid system which enables it to operate in electric mode for about 60% of the time, ensuring better fuel efficiency in the real world.

ENHANCED FUEL EFFICIENCY WITH HYBRID-TECH-ENABLED INNOVA HYCROSS
Hybrid vehicle technology offers the flexibility and ease of use of a traditional IC engine car but with the benefits of electrification. The Hycross’ USP is its hybrid system, which enables the greener of the Innova twins to operate in electric mode for about 60% of the time, ensuring better fuel efficiency in the real world and reduced emissions.

Compared to the mild hybrid variant, the strong hybrid variant shines with its high fuel efficiency of 13.1kpl in the city and 16.1kpl on the highway. The Hycross offers everything buyers with large families want and there’s a new level of luxury too in this people-mover.

Despite the higher price-tag for the seven-variant Hycross range, which starts at Rs 22.18 lakh for the G 7-seater through to Rs 35.45 lakh including the strong hybrids (Rs 29.78 lakh to Rs 35.45 lakh, on-road Delhi), compared to the older sibling Crysta’s Rs 24.26 lakh to Rs 31.40 lakh, on-road Delhi), the Hycross has now become the firm favourite of the Innova customer.

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Top 10 MPVs in April-October ’25: Maruti Ertiga tops but Toyota Innova Hycross and Kia Carens shine

Top 10 MPVs in April-Oct: Maruti Ertiga Tops but Toyota Innova Hycross and Kia Carens Shine

Ajit Dalvi — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 10:55:36

Despite the raft of popular SUVs which are the growth drivers of the utility vehicle market, a clutch of multi-purpose vehicles led by the Maruti Ertiga, Toyota Innova and the Kia Carens continue to draw buyers with their high level of practicality and ability to transport seven people and their luggage in comfort. In fact, each of these three models hit their best-ever monthly sales in October 2025, which itself was a record month for both the utility vehicle (316,785 units, up 19%) and passenger vehicle sales (460,739 units, up 17%) in India.

In India’s humungous utility vehicle market where SUVs rule the road, demand for multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) has been on the upswing for the past two years. In FY2025, MPVs accounted for around 11% of India UV Inc’s record sales of 2.79 million units and even outsold sedans. OEM factory dispatches of MPVs in the first seven months of FY2026 (April-October 2025) indicate that the momentum will likely be maintained in the current fiscal, led by the segment’s consistently top three models – Maruti Ertiga, Toyota Innova Hycross/Crysta and Kia Carens. Let’s take a quick look at the Top 10 MPVs in the current fiscal year to date.

No. 1 – Maruti Ertiga: 113,322 units, 0% YoY growth
India’s No. 1 MPV for the past six fiscals, which is sold with petrol and CNG powertrains, has sold 113,322 units, which makes for flat sales (April-October 2024: 113,846 units). This is 524 fewer Ertigas sold year on year. This is despite the Ertiga hitting a new monthly high of 20,087 units in October.

The popular and city-friendly Ertiga is a sensible MPV for large families, with comfortable seating for seven passengers. While there’s no diesel option, the 1.5-litre mild hybrid petrol engine offered with manual and auto transmission gets the job done. The CNG-powered Ertiga remains a big draw.

No. 2 – Toyota Innova Crysta / Hycross: 64,678 units, up 5%
The Innova MPV – Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s best-selling product – has sold 64,678 units, up 5% YoY (April-October 2024: 61,552 units). This total is 57% of the Innova’s sales of 107,204 units in FY2025, comprising 62,794 Hycross and 44,410 Crysta units. In October, the Innova sold 11,089 units but was outsold for the first time by the Toyota Hyryder midsize SUV (11,555 units) for the first time.

While the Innova Crysta is a diesel-only model which is a dependable and reliable workhorse, customer demand continues to rise rapidly for the front-wheel-drive, petrol-only Innova Hycross which is estimated to account for 63% of the Innova brand’s sales in the first seven months of FY2026. Compared to the mild hybrid variant, the strong hybrid variant shines with its high fuel efficiency of 13.1kpl in the city and 16.1kpl on the highway. The Hycross offers everything buyers with large families want and there’s a new level of luxury too in this people-mover.

No. 3 – Kia Carens / Clavis / Clavis EV: 50,610 units, up 27%
Kia India’s high-on-space and comfort Carens MPV, which is a three-row derivative of the Seltos midsize SUV, has seen handsome demand come its way in the current fiscal. Wholesales of 50,610 units are a strong 27% YoY increase (April-October 2024: 39,959 units). This is due to the

launch of the new Carens Clavis MPV, a more upmarket sibling with more six- and seven-seater options, in May 2025. Two months later, Kia India upped the ante by introducing the mass-market Carens Clavis EV-MPV, the electric avatar of the Carens Clavis. The additional 10,651 units sold YoY makes the Carens the MPV with the strongest growth in the current fiscal thus far.

No. 4 – Maruti XL6: 20,558 units, down 10%
At 20,558 units, sales are down 10% YoY for the six-seater XL6, which is the heavily modified premium avatar of the Maruti Ertiga. It is powered by the same 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine as in the Ertiga and offers the same automatic and manual gearbox options. In FY2025, the XL6 had sold 37,111 units, down 18% YoY.

No. 5 – Renault Triber: 13,847 units, up 13%
A sudden burst of best-ever monthly sales in the past three years of 3,170 units in October 2025 took the petrol-only Renault Triber ahead of the Toyota Rumion. Cumulative seven-month sales of 13,847 units are a 13% YoY increase for the seven-seater Triber which offers MPV versatility for hatchback money. In FY2025, the Triber had sold 19,905 units, down 11% year on year. What has helped improve Triber sales in the past few months is the launch of the refreshed model, which sports design and feature updates, in July.

No. 6 – Toyota Rumion: 10,342 units, down 17%
The Rumion MPV, which is one of the four Maruti-rebadged models in the Toyota India stable, seems to be feeling the heat of the competition in the affordable MPV market. Seven-month wholesales of 10,342 units are down 17% YoY (April-October 2024: 12,464 units).

No. 7 – Maruti Invicto: 1,792 units, up 16%
The Maruti Invicto MPV, which is produced by Toyota Kirloskar Motor for Maruti Suzuki under the global Suzuki-Toyota alliance, has sold 1,792 units in the April-October 2025 period, up 16% on the 1,547 units sold in the year-ago period. In FY2025, the Invicto had sold 4,036 units, down 12% YoY (FY2024: 4,599 units). Retailed from the premium Nexa channel, the Invicto is designed to tap the potential of the Rs 25-plus lakh MPV market albeit the strategy doesn’t seem to have clicked.

No. 8 – Toyota Vellfire: 764 units, up 20%
Proof that even a very high sticker price for an MPV cannot dissuade buyers is the ultra-luxurious Toyota Vellfire. Priced at Rs 1.38 crore (on-road Delhi), the XXL-sized MPV has sold 764 units in April-October 2025, up 20% YoY. In FY2025, the Vellfire had sold 1,155 units. The Vellfire houses a cavernous cabin that’s home to some of the best seats. A sister product to the more luxuriously appointed Lexus LM, the Vellfire is powered by a 193hp, 240Nm, 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol-hybrid powertrain mated to an e-CVT.

No 9 – Kia Carnival: 541 units, NEW MODEL

Launched in October 2024, the Kia Carnival (Limousine) builds on the legacy of its predecessor, the Kia Carnival, while offering enhanced features aimed at redefining passenger comfort. A key highlight is the second-row powered relaxation seats, which provide ventilation, heating, and leg support to ensure a comfortable experience for passengers. The large diesel-engined MPV scores high on comfort and flexibility and goes all out to pamper its occupants to the hilt. Notwithstanding the high sticker price of Rs 75.62 lakh (on-road Delhi), the Carnival has sold 541 units in the first seven months of FY2026 and is believed to be sold out for this year.

No. 10 – Mahindra Marazzo: 254 units, up 123%
The Marazzo, the sole MPV in Mahindra & Mahindra’s raft of SUVs, has registered wholesales of 254 units in the current fiscal, up 123% on a low year-ago base of 114 units. In FY2025, the Marazzo had sold 166 units, down 77% on FY2024’s 718 units.

Honda Puts the Brakes on Activa E and QC1 Production Since August

Ajit Dalvi — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 09:43:13

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI), which entered the electric two-wheeler market in February this year, has not produced any electric two-wheelers between August and October 2025. This revelation comes through a perusal of the industry production numbers provided by apex body SIAM in its monthly updates of the Indian automobile industry (see nine-month production and wholesales data table below).

Between February and October, HMSI’s Narasapura plant in Karnataka has rolled out 11,168 units of the Activa e and QC1. Dispatches to dealers are 5,201 units with the QC1 accounting for the bulk of the wholesales.

Deliveries of HMSI’s two electric scooters – the Activa e and QC1 – had commenced in March 2025. As the cumulative nine-month data reveals, the highest monthly production of the two electric scooters which roll out of the company’s Narasapura plant in Karnataka was in March 2025 (4,570 units). The highest monthly wholesales (vehicle dispatches to dealers) were also in the same month: 2,102 units. Since then, production dropped to 1,800 units in April, a similar 1,200 units in May and June, and to 536 units in July. This takes total production of the Honda e-2Ws to 11,168 units. While cumulative domestic market sales are 5,201 units, two units were exported in February 2025.

Compared to its ICE rivals TVS Motor Co, Bajaj Auto or Hero MotoCorp, which are all having a stellar run of the e-2W market, Honda has found the going tough for its two electric commuter scooters.

First revealed in November 2024, the Activa e and QC1 are the 12th and 13th models respectively in Honda’s target to launch 30 electric models globally by 2030. While the Honda Activa e, which is equivalent to a 110cc internal combustion engine mode, comes with two Honda Mobile Power Pack swappable batteries as its power source and is meant primarily for personal commuting, the Honda QC1 (equipped with a fixed battery) is targeted at gig-worker operations and is more of an affordable urban runabout.

The Activa e, which looks far more stylish than its ICE sibling which is India’s longstanding best-selling scooter, has two variants: standard (Rs 117,428, ex-showroom Delhi) and RoadSync Duo (Rs 152,000). It has a 102km claimed IDC range, does the 0-60kph sprint in 7.3 seconds and goes on to hit a top speed of 80kph.

The Activa e: is sold through Honda Red Wing dealers, with a ‘shop-in-shop’ concept as part of a phased rollout with Concept Stores opening in some cities. There are over 80 Honda Power Pack e: battery-swapping stations in Bengaluru, which was the first market where the Activa e: was launched, and they are being introduced in Delhi and Mumbai as well.

The QC1, Honda’s more budget-friendly EV and essentially an eco-friendly urban runabout, is priced at Rs 90,000 which is lower than the market-leading TVS iQube or the Bajaj Chetak. The QC1 is the most affordable Japanese electric scooter in India, has a claimed top speed of 50kph, does the 0-40kph in 9.7 seconds and delivers a claimed IDC range of 80km.

While the Activa e: is powered by two swappable 1.5 kWh batteries and has to be ‘juiced up’ at a Honda swapping station, the Honda QC1 with a single 1.5 kWh fixed battery can be charged at home.

QC1 accounts for 86% of Honda e-2W sales

Cumulative nine-month wholesales numbers reveal that the QC1, thanks to its user-friendliness when it comes to charging at home, is outselling the Activa e which has to bank on Honda swapping stations to be ‘juiced up’. Furthermore, while the Activa e is currently available in only a couple of cities including Bengaluru, which has the Honda swapping network, the QC1’s availability is more widespread.

Between February and October 2025, HMSI sold a total of 5,201 electric 2Ws. This total comprises 740 units of the Activa e and 4,461 units of the QC1 indicating a strong preference for the QC1, which accounted for 86% of the wholesales.

While swapping the depleted battery packs with two new fresh ones at a Honda swapping station is a smooth affair and takes less than two minutes, there is no provision to charge them at home which is an EV-specific convenience factor e-2W users are now comfortable with. This, probably, reflects in the slow customer demand for the Activa e. Ease of use will, therefore, be reliant on the number of Honda battery swapping stations in each city where the product is on sale.

On the retail sales front, as per Vahan data (as of November 20), a total of 3,045 Honda e-scooters have been delivered to customers. July 2025 (411 units) has been the month with the highest sales.

It is likely that the zero production of the two Honda e-scooters over the past three months is the result of high inventory levels at company dealers. Total production has been 11,168 units compared to dealer dispatches of 5,201 units in India and retail sales of 3,045 units (and two units exported) over the past nine months and 20 days.

What’s clear is that the customer response for Honda’s first e-2Ws in India has been very tepid, and at a time when most of the leading players are having a good run of the market. While the stylish Activa e seems to be a product ahead of its time with sales dependent on how fast Honda expands its swappable battery network, the no-frills QC1 is a rather affordable Japanese EV but it comes with some obvious compromises.

Meanwhile, Suzuki, the other Japanese OEM to have announced its entry into India’s booming e-2W market with the e-Access , the zero-emission avatar of the popular 125cc petrol-engined Access, has manufactured a total of 488 units since May 2025 when production began but is yet to commence sales. Watch this space for the latest sales updates and analyses.

With inputs from Rishaad Mody, Autocar India

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Honda, TVS and Hero Drive Highest-Ever Scooter Sales of 824,003 Units in October

Ajit Dalvi — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 12:03:29

Like the passenger vehicle and utility vehicle segments which registered their highest monthly wholesales in festive October 2025, the two-wheeler segment which comprises motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, too hit a new high . . . mainly due to manufacturers pumping up the volumes to fed a scooter-hungry market.

October saw a total of 2.21 million two-wheelers dispatched from 12 OEM factories to showrooms across India. While motorcycle wholesales (13,35,468 units) were down 4% YoY, scooter dispatches at a record 824,003 units rose 14% YoY to scale a new monthly high. Mopeds, with 51,256 units, were down 2% YoY. October sales come on the back of September 2025’s 733,391 units, up 9% YoY, which means the Indian scooter industry has registered two months in a row of record wholesales.

What has accelerated demand for scooters, as well as for motorcycles and passenger vehicles, is the two-month-old transition to GST 2.0 which has helped slash new vehicle prices and enabled a higher level of affordability, both for urban and rural India. Dealer body FADA has pointed out that rural India has become “the true growth engine — with favourable monsoons, higher farm incomes, and government infrastructure push driving purchasing power.”

Overall two-wheeler demand is rising due to improved rural India sentiment, better liquidity, and the affordability impact of GST rationalisation. Scooter sales are also benefiting from the rapidly growing demand for electric models. Going ahead, dealers foresee steady demand backed by rural liquidity, wedding-related purchases, and spillover from festive bookings, aided by GST benefits and improved sentiment.

Honda, with 362,891 Activas and Dios, accounted for 44% of the record 824,003 scooters sold in October. However, HMSI’s highest monthly scooter sales were in September 2017 (386,456 units) when it had a 56% market share.

SCOOTERS CONTRIBUTE 37% TO RECORD DISPATCHES OF 2.21 MILLION 2Ws IN OCTOBER

In terms of segment share, motorcycles accounted for 60% (down from 64% YoY), scooters for 37% (up from 33% YoY) and mopeds for a little less than 3 percent.

Last month’s factory dispatches to dealers across India were powered by market leader Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) which clocked wholesales of 362,891 units, up 21% YoY with an additional 62,906 units, which gives it a market share of 44 percent. These are entirely comprised of the Honda Activa twins and the Dio scooters, both available in 110cc and 125cc. It is estimated that the two Activa siblings account for nearly 90% of HMSI sales, with the Dio siblings making up the balance 10 percent.

While HMSI’s sales last month (362,891 units) are the highest in the current calendar and fiscal year, they are not the highest monthly sales for the Japanese scooter maker. In September 2017, Honda had clocked wholesales of 386,456 units, when it had a 56% market share of the total 686,478 scooters sold.

TVS Motor Co, with 202,758 scooters sold, registered 8% YoY growth which gives it a 24% share versus 26% a year ago. The company sold 170,769 units of its three ICE scooters – Jupiter, NTorq and Zest – and 31,989 units of its e-scooter, the i-Qube.

Suzuki Motorcycle India, which also sells scooters in the form of the 124cc Access, Avenis and Burgman and has revealed the electric avatar of the Access, is the only other OEM to sell over 100,000 scooters in October. The 101,347 units are down 1% on year-ago sales and gives the company a 12% share versus 14% a year ago.

Hero MotoCorp has increased its scooter market share to 7.49% from 5.79% a year ago as a result of dispatching 61,722 units – an additional 19,921 units. This total comprises 47,250 units of the Destini, Maestro and Pleasure, 453 Xooms and 14,019 Vida e-scooters. While the ICE scooters have posted a 43% YoY increase, the Vida V2 and V2X have clocked 60% YoY growth.

Bajaj Auto, which is in the scooter market because of its Chetak and Yulu electric scooters, dispatched 30,988 units in October 2025, up 14% YoY, albeit with its 4% scooter market share remaining unchanged.

India Yamaha Motor, ranked sixth on the OEM scale with 30,988 units, is down 5% YoY and a resultant drop in its share to 3.76% from 4.52% a year ago.

Ather Energy continues to ride a wave of demand for its Rizta family scooter. The company, which also sells the 450S and 450X e-scooters, registered wholesales of 25,829 units, up 28% YoY for a 3% market share.

Italian scooter maker Piaggio Vehicles, with 3,568 units in October 2025, posted 15% YoY growth.

HMSI remains No. 1 but YoY its market share has fallen to 40% from 45 percent. No. 2 scooter OEM TVS Motor Co, with 23% growth in April-October 2025, sees its share rise to 28% from 24 percent.

HONDA SCOOTER SHARE AT 40% in APRIL-OCTOBER, TVS’ INCREASES TO 28%

Honda’s strong sales of nearly 363,000 scooters in October have helped it both cross the 1.8 million-unit mark for the first seven months of the current fiscal and also increased its April-October 2025 market share to 39.64% from 38.66% in the first-half of FY2026. However, on a YoY basis, with sales down 4%, HMSI remains well below its H1 FY2025 share of 44.65 percent. In FY2025, Honda had sold 28.4 lakh units (up 12%) albeit its scooter market share had slipped to 41.50% from 43.33% in FY2024.

TVS Motor Co, which has the Jupiter, NTorq and Zest in its ICE scooter stable and the iQube and recently launched Orbiter electric scooters, with cumulative sales of 1.28 million units, up 23%, sees its share rise to 28% from 25% a year ago. As compared to HMSI, TVS benefits from its electric scooters. The 179,762 iQubes sold between April-October account for 14% of its scooter sales.

Suzuki Motorcycle India has done well to sell 664,734 scooters in the past seven months, up 9% YoY. This performance helps the two-wheeler arm of the Japanese major increase its scooter market share marginally to 15% from 14% a year ago. While the Access 125 remains its best-selling product, what helps Suzuki is that its two other scooters – Avenis and Burgman Street – are also powered by the same 125cc engine and are benefiting from the consumer upgrade to the 125cc segment.

Hero MotoCorp, the motorcycle market leader, is ranked fourth with 302,963 units, up 35% YoY. This sees its market share increase to 6.48% from 5% a year ago. Hero’s ICE scooter range comprises the 110cc Pleasure and Xoom, 125cc Destini/Destini Prime and the 156cc Xoom 160. These together have sold 226,349 units, up 20% YoY. The company has received a growth accelerator through its e-2W sales, particularly the new V2X. Hero Vida sales of 75,501 units are up 114% YoY

India Yamaha Motor, with 182,699 units, has registered a 6% sales decline which results in its scooter market share reducing marginally to 4.01% from 4.60% a year ago. The 125cc-engined Alpha, Fascino and Ray ZR have together sold 167,259 units, down 7% YoY. The 155cc Aerox scooter, with 12,551 units, has registered 13% growth (April-October 2024: 13,680 Aerox).

Bajaj Auto has sold a total of 155,776 Chetak and Yulu e-scooters in the first seven months of FY2026, down 2% YoY. While its No. 6 OEM ranking remains unchanged, its market share has fallen a tad to 3.42% from 3.75% a year ago. This sales decline can be attributed to the hampered production the company experienced in July and early August, due to reduced supplies of rare earth magnet supplies. However, Bajaj Auto has bounced back since then.

Ather Energy with total wholesales of 135,726 units in April-October, has witnessed a 60% YoY growth. This strong performance sees the EV start-up’s overall scooter market share rise to 3% from 2% a year ago.

ALSO READ: TVS regains e-2W lead in first-half November, Hero Vida outsells Ola Electric
Ather Energy clocks best-ever monthly sales in October: 28,000 unit

TVS iQube Races Past 700,000 Sales, Chases Further Growth Amid Growing Competition

Ajit Dalvi — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 13:54:59

The TVS iQube, TVS Motor Co’s first-ever and flagship electric scooter, has surpassed the 700,000 wholesales milestone in the domestic market. At the end of September 2025, as per SIAM industry data statistics, total factory dispatches (wholesales) from market launch in January 2020 were 718,824 units. TVS has also exported 4,045 iQubes to overseas markets. Total iQube production from FY2020 till September 2025 is 724,561 units.

While the first 100,000 iQube domestic market sales took a little over three years, the run from 100,000 to 200,000 iQubes was achieved in far less time – just 10 months. The 300,000-unit wholesales milestone was surpassed in early April 2024, 52 months or four years and four months after launch. But the real and rapid growth has come after that. The sales run from 300,001 to 700,000 units has taken just 17 months, clearly reflecting the surging demand for the e-scooter.

TVS iQube has taken 69 months from launch in January 2020 to cross the 700,000 milestone. While the first 300,000 units were sold in 52 months, the last 400,000 units sold in just under 18 months.

The iQube was launched in January 2020 as a fine blend between practicality and performance, equipped with full LED lights, connected tech and positioned as a family e-scooter with a wide seat and decent storage space. The zero-emission scooter has taken 69 months or a little less than six years to achieve the 700,000 sales milestone. As the data depicts, demand has grown by leaps and bounds in the past three fiscal years, accelerating rapidly in FY2025 and thereon.

TVS had a cracker of a fiscal in FY2025, which saw the Chennai-based two-wheeler major register record sales of 1.81 million scooters (18,13,103 units, up 25% YoY) comprising the petrol-engined Jupiter, NTorq and Zest and the electric iQube. While this stellar performance gave TVS a 26% market share and helped it contribute strongly to the record 68,53,214 sales for the domestic scooter industry in India in FY2025, the TVS iQube with 272,605 units contributed 15% to TVS scooter sales last fiscal.

In the current fiscal’s first six months, TVS has registered wholesales of 147,773 iQubes, which marks 20% YoY growth (April-September 2024: 122,927 iQubes) and accounts for 14% of TVS’ scooter sales of 10,80,672 units in April-September 2025, up 27% YoY. The strong performance of the iQube has helped TVS achieve a scooter market share of 29% in H1 FY2026, a marked increase over the 24% in H1 FY2025 and its highest to date. TVS’ scooter portfolio also includes the petrol-engined Jupiter, NTorq and Zest, which sold 932,899 units, up 28% YoY, in the first half of the current fiscal.

While the iQube has a strong fan following, monthly retails for both the Bajaj Chetak and Ather Rizta are on the upswing.

iQUBE RETAIL SALES CROSS 650,000. . . BAJAJ AUTO AND ATHER ALSO SEE STRONG DEMAND

While wholesales statistics are essentially factory dispatches to company dealerships across the country, retail sales constitute the real-world story. As per Vahan retail sales data (which does not include Telangana stats), a total of 653,513 iQubes have been sold in India since January 2020 till end-September 2025. Ola Electric with over 960,000 e-2Ws sold is the only other OEM ahead of TVS. In comparison, Bajaj Auto, which launched its Chetak in the same month (January 2020) as the TVS iQube, has sold over 500,000 units till end-September 2025.

CY2025 will turn out to be the TVS iQube’s best calendar year for retail sales. Nine months into this year, TVS Motor Co had delivered 213,443 units (up 46% YoY) to customers, just 7,340 units shy of CY2024’s 220,813 units which have been surpassed in October.

What has given iQube sales a boost is TVS Motor Co slashing prices by up to Rs 26,000 and also increasing the battery capacity of some variants. The battery capacity of the base variant of the MY2025 iQube, iQube S and iQube ST has been increased by 0.1 kWh and the TVS flagship e-scooter now has a claimed riding range of 145km per charge.

The iQube S and iQube ST come with a fast 950W charger, which means a 0-80% top-up takes just three hours. While the S variant (Rs 140,000) receives a 0.1 kWh bump up to 3.5 kWh, the lower version of the higher-spec ST iQube also gets the same 3.5 kWh battery pack upgrade. The higher ST variant now houses a 5.3 kWh battery, up 0.2kWh, and is priced at Rs 159,000.

TVS has topped the monthly sales charts for six months in a row this year from April to September, losing the crown in October to Bajaj Auto, which is back in action following a couple of tepid months caused by impacted production as a result of inadequate supplies of rare earth magnets. Ather Energy, riding on strong demand for its Rizta family scooter, is also hitting new highs for the past three months.

ALSO READ: TVS eyes new markets for iQube e-scooter in rural India

Kia Carens Crosses 250,000 Units, Carens Clavis and Clavis EV Rev up Demand

Ajit Dalvi — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 10:28:36

The Kia Carens premium MPV, launched in India on February 15, 2022, has driven past the 250,000 sales mark in the domestic market. As per SIAM wholesales data, cumulative sales at the end of September 2015 are 252,613 units. Add 28,566 export units and the combined domestic and export sales of the Carens add up to 281,179 units.

With this, the Carens becomes the third made-in-India Kia utility vehicle to achieve over 250,000 sales, after the Seltos midsize SUV (575,947 units) and the Sonet compact SUV (460,034 units) at the end of the second quarter of FY2026.

The Carens, which is a versatile MPV with a usable third row of seats, has taken 44 months from launch till end-September 2025 to achieve this sales milestone. While the first 100,000 sales took 17 months, the next 100,000 units were sold in 20 months. The 200,000 milestone came up in early February this year, news which Autocar Professional broke and was confirmed by the company with an official press release. Notably, the last 50,000 units have been sold in a little less than eight months, the fresh momentum coming from the recently launched Carens Clavis and its zero-emission avatar, the Carens Clavis EV.

As per the wholesales data table (given below), FY2023 with 70,314 units was the Carens’ best fiscal, accounting for 26% of Kia India’s total sales of 269,229 vehicles. FY2024’s 63,167 units were down 10% YoY and the 64,609 units sold in FY2025 were up just 2% YoY. However, the current fiscal paints a very different and stronger growth story for the Carens brand.

Cumulative six-month wholesales of 41,831 units in first-half FY2026 (April-September 2025) have increased strongly by 25% YoY (H1 FY2025: 33,575 units) with the Carens, Carens Clavis and Clavis EV accounting for 32% of Kia India’s total H1 FY2026 sales of 131,006 units, more than the Seltos but the No. 2 model after the Sonet.

FY2023 with 70,314 units was the Carens’ best fiscal to date. With 41,831 units sold between April-September 2025, FY2026 bids fair to be the best yet for the three model-lineup Carens.

NEW CARENS CLAVIS AND CLAVIS EV PROVIDE THE FIREWORKS IN FIRST-HALF

The strong growth trajectory for the Carens model per se in the first six months of FY2026 can be attributed to the launch of the new Carens Clavis MPV, a more upmarket sibling of the popular Carens with more six- and seven-seater options, in May 2025. Two months later, Kia India upped the ante by introducing the mass-market Carens Clavis EV-MPV, the electric avatar of the Carens Clavis. Kia’s EV portfolio also contains the EV6 and EV9, which are imported as CBUs into the country and, as a result, are far more expensive than the made-in-India Carens Clavis EV.

A handsome market and customer response to both these two new models has given a new charge to the Carens in the competitive MPV market and took it to No. 3 position in the Top 10 MPVs in H1 FY2026, with a fair portion of the credit going to the recently launched zero-emission avatar.

Given that there are two well-entrenched rivals – the Maruti Ertiga and the Toyota Innova Crysta / Innova Hycross – in the ultra-competitive MPV market, this performance is noteworthy. In FY2024, with 63,167 units, the Carens was India’s third best-selling MPV and No. 17 in the Top 20 utility vehicles ranking.

CARENS’ SHARE OF KIA INDIA SALES SINCE ITS LAUNCH: 27%

Kia India has successfully positioned the Carens as a premium six- / seven-seater recreational vehicle with a blend of modern styling and features, and offered with six airbags as standard. The high-on-space and comfort Carens is targeted at large families scouting for a premium, spacious cabin as well as day-to-day practicality, and a choice of multiple powertrains including electric now.

The second MPV which Kia launched in India after the Carnival (which has recently been re-introduced), the Carens with 252,613 units has contributed to 27% of Kia India’s total cumulative sales of 941,819 utility vehicles since February 2022 since the model was launched.

Given the strong 25% YoY growth that the Carens is witnessing in the current fiscal, and having already achieved 65% of its FY2025 wholesales, FY2026 could see the model notch its best-ever fiscal sales. While it will surely surpass the FY2025 total, at the end of September 2025, the Carens was 28,483 units away from its best-ever fiscal total (FY2023: 70,314 units).

ALSO READ: Kia India Clocks Highest EV Sales in October, New Carens Clavis EV Drives Growth

Mahindra BE 6, XEV 9e Production Crosses 40,000, Sales Race Past 36,000 Units Since January

Ajit Dalvi — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 13:11:48

Cumulative production of Mahindra & Mahindra’s two Born Electric SUVs – the Be 6 and XEV 9e – has crossed the 40,000-unit mark at the end of October 2025. Between January and October 2025, the company’s Chakan plant has manufactured 40,001 units of these two zero-emission SUVs including a monthly best of 5,959 units in September. Combined 10-month domestic market wholesales of the Be 6 and XEV 9 are 36,104 units including a monthly best of 4,842 units in October 2025. The company has also exported 263 units of the two e-SUVs till end-October.

The festive month of October was a mega month for M&M both on the production and wholesales fronts: a record 56,367 units rolled out from its SUV factories, up 10% YoY (October 2024: 51,145 SUVs). The 4,916 Be 6 and XEV 9e SUVs produced last month (see data table below) account for a 9% share of the record production in October and constitute 7% of M&M’s highest monthly SUV sales of 71,624 units in October 2025, up 31% YoY.

While the BE 6 and XEV 9e’s 10-month calendar-year sales of 36,104 units in India translate into a 7% share of the 518,321 M&M SUVs sold, their share of the first seven months of FY2026 improves to 8% of the 369,194 SUVs M&M has dispatched to its showrooms across the country.

The 4,916 units produced in October take cumulative 10-month production of the Be 6 and XEV 9e to 40,001 units. Monthly domestic sales of the two e-SUVs hit a new high of 4,842 units.

M&M’s EV retail market share jumps to 19% ahead of XEV 9S launch

For M&M, whose e-SUV portfolio also includes the XUV400, the rollout of the BE 6 and XEV 9e in January this year has dynamically improved its EV retail market performance. Vahan-sourced 10-month retail sales (see data table above) reveals that the company’s market share has risen month on month, and more than doubled year on year.

Total M&M e-SUV sales comprising the Be 6, XEV 9e and XUV400 at 27,035 units are up by a massive 339% YoY albeit on a low year-ago base (October 2024: 6,157 units). This translates into an additional 20,878 e-SUVs sold, with the majority being the two Born Electric SUVs.

As a result of this stellar performance, M&M’s share of India’s overall electric passenger vehicle market, which comprises zero-emission hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs and MPVs, has jumped to 19% from 8% in the January-October 2024 period.

Mahindra & Mahindra’s strong EV market performance comes ahead of the launch of the its newest electric SUV – the XEV 9S – on November 27. Built on the same INGLO skateboard platform which underpins the BE 6 and XEV 9e, the seven-seater XEV 9S will be the company’s first three-row EV in India and could likely come with a 500km range. Little else is known at present about M&M’s third Born Electric SUV at present but suffice it to say, that the company will be putting its shoulder to the EV wheel to reduce the existing sales gap with electric passenger vehicle market leader Tata Motors and the No. 2 OEM, JSW MG Motor India.

ALSO READ: Tata Motors holds onto 40% share of electric car and SUV market in October

Kia India clocks highest EV sales in October, new Carens Clavis EV drives growth

BEV-PHEV Sales in Europe Jump 27% to 2.71 Million Units in January-September

Ajit Dalvi — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 12:54:11

Demand for electric vehicles remains on the upswing in Europe with EVs accounting for more than a quarter of all new car registrations even as governments continue to invest heavily in charging networks and zero-emission mandates. EV sales have accelerated across both large and emerging markets in the first nine months of CY2025.

While battery electric vehicle (BEV) registrations in Europe rose 25.4% year-on-year to nearly 1.8 million units (1,796,688), plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) grew even faster, surging 32% to 918,527 units. As such, fully electric vehicles accounted for 27.3% of the total European new car market of 9.92 million units in the first 9 months of CY2025. However, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) lead the pack, with 3.45 million (3,454,676) sales, almost exceeding the combined total of petrol (2.7 million) and diesel (0.8 million) vehicles. HEVs now hold the largest share of the European market at 34.8% of all new car registrations, compared with a combined 35.2% for petrol and diesel vehicles. Diesel continues its long-term retreat, representing just 8% of sales, while alternative fuels remain niche at 2.6% percent.

Germany and the United Kingdom are leading Europe in total EV sales, with 599,962 and 522,053 units sold, respectively, across battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models. This information and retail sales data of the European new car market is derived from a recent report by TradingPedia, a financial media platform, which analysed EV sales using new car registration data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA).

As the report states, these figures highlight a profound transformation in European motoring. Consumers are increasingly gravitating toward electrified options, with hybrids offering a pragmatic bridge between traditional engines and full electrification. Meanwhile, battery-electric and plug-in electric vehicles are rapidly encroaching on petrol’s territory, signalling that the continent is accelerating toward a future dominated by clean, sustainable mobility.

According to Tradingpedia’s Michael Fisher, “Europe’s EV market is showing striking contrasts: while mature markets like Germany and the UK continue to post high volumes, rapid adoption in Central and Eastern Europe, from Latvia to Poland, is reshaping the continent’s electrification landscape. The surge in PHEVs and HEVs highlights that many consumers are still relying on transitional technologies, reflecting persistent gaps in charging infrastructure that could constrain BEV growth.
Looking forward, sustaining momentum will depend less on incentives alone and more on expanding fast-charging networks, improving battery range, and scaling infrastructure in emerging markets, where policy-driven acceleration has proven that even modest starting points can deliver outsized growth.”

Interestingly, Norway, which boasts the highest EV market share in Europe at over 96%, ranks only eighth in absolute sales, just behind Sweden, showing that dominance in market share does not necessarily equate to the highest absolute volumes.

Germany, with 382,202 BEVs (up 38%) and 217,760 PHEVs (up 64%) in the first nine months of 2025, is witnessing growing demand for hybrid options alongside full electrics. Graphic: Tradingpedia

GERMANY LEADS THE CHARGE IN EUROPE

Germany is leading the charge for EV sales in Europe and saw deliveries of 382,202 BEVs (up 38%) and 217,760 PHEVs (up 64%) in the first nine months of 2025, highlighting the growing popularity of hybrid options alongside full electrics. However, as the report states, “the overall EV share stagnated at 28.4% of all new car registrations. The end of certain subsidies and price cuts from Chinese automakers reshaped demand: PHEVs rose sharply (up 63.9%), suggesting consumers are hedging between affordability and range anxiety.”

The UK followed closely, registering 349,414 BEVs and 172,639 PHEVs, with growth of 29.5% for BEVs and 38.2% for PHEVs, demonstrating strong market demand even as incentives evolve.

Southern Europe is starting to catch up in the EV transition. Spain nearly doubled BEV sales to 72,062 and more than doubled PHEVs to 86,681 units, while Italy also posted strong growth (up 26.6% year-over-year to 61,055 BEVs (up 72.6% to 68,871 PHEVs), driven by rising consumer interest and improving infrastructure. In contrast, France saw an 8.6% drop in total EV registrations, driven by a collapse in plug-in hybrid sales to 72,537 units (down 26.8%), as its new ‘green bonus’ rules excluded many imported EVs. Meanwhile, Belgium also experienced a decline (down 9.8%) despite still-high EV penetration (nearly 43%) – PHEVs fell 47.3% to 29,989 units, highlighting a fragmented market where hybrid adoption is highly sensitive to incentives and policy changes.

Poland though stands out as a potential turning point in Central Europe. BEV registrations more than doubled (up 106.7%), with plug-in hybrids following closely (up 97%), pushing the country’s EV share to 11%, nearly twice last year’s level. Similarly, the Czech Republic saw its EV market grow 55% overall, with plug-in hybrids in the lead (+78.6%).

IMPRESSIVE GROWTH IN SMALLER, EMERGING MARKETS

Meanwhile, smaller and emerging markets are outpacing their larger counterparts in EV sales, registering the most pronounced relative gains. Latvia (up 141.5%), Lithuania (up 114.1%), and Poland (up 102.1%) more than doubled their EV fleets compared with 2024, illustrating how electrification is surging from a low baseline in Central and Eastern Europe. Across southern Europe and the Nordic fringes, Spain (up 97.8%) and Iceland (up 91.8%) witnessed near-doubling of EV sales, signalling a swift embrace of electric mobility beyond the traditional early-adopter strongholds.

Among the Nordic countries, Norway continued to post strong absolute growth (up 31.5%), although certain segments lagged: plug-in hybrid (down 14.3%) and hybrid (down 66%) registrations fell, even as battery-electric vehicles surged. Sweden (up 15%) and Finland (up 13.9%) showed steady, incremental gains, though hybrids in Finland declined sharply (down 17.5%), reflecting a shift in consumer preference toward full electrics.

Meanwhile, the Netherlands, once a rapidly expanding EV market, is beginning to plateau. Total EV registrations rose 15%, but growth was uneven: battery-electric vehicles increased only slightly (up 3.9%), hybrids fell (down 6%), while plug-in hybrids gained more strongly (up 40.5%), highlighting a maturing market with evolving segment dynamics.

Overall, as the report states, Europe’s largest markets are transitioning from explosive early growth toward a more mature phase, where absolute volumes remain high, but year-on-year percentage increases are more moderate compared with the smaller, emerging markets leading the electrification surge.

LEGACY OEMs TAKE CHARGE WITH VOLKSWAGEN AT THE FOREFRONT

In 2025, Germany is asserting its dominance over Europe’s EV market: Volkswagen is at the forefront with more than 1.08 million units sold between January and September. BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi reinforce the country’s supremacy, all comfortably occupying the Top 10 positions. Skoda’s 620,000 units further highlight the breadth and cohesion of the Volkswagen Group’s portfolio, while French stalwarts Renault, Peugeot, and Citroën collectively contribute over 1.3 million EVs, demonstrating that Western Europe’s legacy automakers remain formidable players in the transition to electrification.

Meanwhile, Asian manufacturers continue to hold significant ground, with Toyota, Hyundai, Kia, and Nissan securing influential positions in the rankings. Yet, perhaps, the most striking narrative is Tesla’s relative underperformance: the brand long synonymous with the EV revolution lands only in 19th place, with 173,694 units. The contrast underscores a fundamental shift in the European market: scale, production networks, and established consumer trust are proving decisive, positioning legacy automakers, rather than EV newcomers, as the true architects of the continent’s electric future.

Lead image: ACEA/X

ALSO READ: Electric car and SUV sales in India cross 144,000 units in first 10 months of CY2025

Indian EV makers sell record 234,000 units in October, charge towards 2 million in CY2025

RURAL BOOST: Hero MotoCorp Crosses 1 Million Sales Mark for the First Time in October 2025

Arunima Pal — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:29:01

October 2025 will be remembered as a watershed moment for India's two-wheeler industry. The sector delivered its strongest-ever monthly performance, with retail sales surging 51.76% year-on-year to reach 31.5 lakh units—an all-time high that underscores the transformative power of policy reform, festive sentiment, and rural economic revival.

The Perfect Storm: GST 2.0, Festivities, and Rural Resurgence

After a subdued first three weeks of September, when the industry held its breath during the GST 2.0 transition, October witnessed what the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) described as a "hurdle-race-style rebound." The convergence of three powerful forces—the government's GST rate cuts for entry-level two-wheelers, the twin festivals of Dussehra and Diwali falling in the same month, and unprecedented rural demand—created conditions for explosive growth.

The GST 2.0 reforms proved transformational, particularly for the mass-market segment. By lowering tax rates on entry-level motorcycles and scooters, the government effectively expanded the addressable market, making two-wheeler ownership accessible to millions of first-time buyers in cost-sensitive rural markets. This affordability boost, arriving precisely during the festive buying season, converted aspiration into action across India's heartland.

Perhaps the most significant development was the emergence of rural India as the industry's primary growth engine. Favorable monsoons, higher farm incomes, and sustained government infrastructure spending pumped purchasing power into rural households. According to FADA data, rural two-wheeler growth nearly doubled urban rates, with rural markets accounting for 61% of total two-wheeler registrations in October—up from 58% in the previous year.

Hero MotoCorp: The Rural Champion Reclaims Dominance

Hero MotoCorp's October performance vindicated its strategic focus on rural markets and entry-level motorcycles. The company sold an astounding 9.95 lakh units—nearly doubling its October 2024 volume of 5.2 lakh units, representing a spectacular 91% year-on-year surge. Including Telangana, the number is higher than 1 million.

More importantly, Hero's market share expanded to 31.58%, up from 27.83% the previous year, marking a decisive reclamation of leadership in a competitive marketplace, thanks to the rural resurgence.

Hero's success can be attributed to several factors. First, its extensive distribution network in rural India—with penetration into remote tier-3 and tier-4 towns—positioned it perfectly to capture the rural boom. Second, its product portfolio, heavily weighted toward affordable commuter motorcycles like the Splendor and HF Deluxe, aligned perfectly with the demand pattern triggered by GST rate cuts. These entry-level models saw significant price reductions, making them even more attractive to rural first-time buyers and replacement purchasers.

The company's September struggles—when it sold just 3.23 lakh units—made October's rebound even more dramatic, suggesting that Hero successfully captured pent-up demand that had accumulated during the GST transition period. Dealers reported record footfalls and improved conversion rates, indicating strong brand pull in target segments.

Honda: Strong Growth, Slight Market Share Erosion

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India posted impressive absolute numbers, selling 8.22 lakh units in October 2025 compared to 4.6 lakh units in October 2024—a robust 79% year-on-year increase. However, the Japanese manufacturer's market share slipped marginally to 26.10% from 26.80%, suggesting it didn't fully capitalize on the rural resurgence despite strong overall growth.

Honda's portfolio, which includes popular models like the Activa scooter and Shine motorcycle, appeals strongly to urban and semi-urban buyers. While these segments grew, the disproportionate acceleration in rural markets—where Hero and TVS have stronger presence—meant Honda grew below the market rate. The company's premium positioning, while advantageous in normal times, may have been a relative disadvantage during a month when affordability-driven entry-level demand dominated.

That said, Honda's performance remains commendable in absolute terms. The company's scooter segment, which includes the best-selling Activa, likely benefited from strong festive demand from women buyers and urban families. Honda's challenge moving forward will be to enhance its rural reach and strengthen its entry-level portfolio to participate more fully in the rural growth story.

TVS Motor: Balanced Portfolio Delivers Gains

TVS Motor Company emerged as another significant winner, selling 5.58 lakh units in October 2025 versus 3.2 lakh units in October 2024—a 74% year-on-year increase. More notably, TVS expanded its market share to 17.72% from 17.04%, demonstrating the effectiveness of its diversified product strategy.

TVS's strength lies in its balanced portfolio spanning entry-level commuters (Sport, Radeon), premium motorcycles (Apache series), scooters (Jupiter, Ntorq), and electric vehicles (iQube). This diversification allowed the company to participate across multiple demand segments. The company's strong presence in both rural markets (through distributors and affordable models) and urban markets (through premium offerings) enabled it to capture growth across geographies.

The GST rate cuts particularly benefited TVS's entry-level and commuter segment, while its electric scooter iQube gained traction in urban markets where environmental consciousness and government incentives drive adoption. TVS's gain in market share, while modest, is significant given the competitive intensity and suggests effective execution across channels.

Bajaj Auto: Premium Play Limits Market Share

Bajaj Auto's October performance tells a different story. While the company posted healthy absolute growth—selling 3.24 lakh units compared to 2 lakh units in October 2024 (62% increase)—it lost market share, dropping from 11.13% to 10.28%. This underperformance relative to the market reflects Bajaj's strategic positioning in the premium motorcycle and export-oriented segments.

Bajaj's domestic portfolio is heavily skewed toward premium motorcycles (Pulsar, Dominar) and three-wheelers rather than entry-level commuter motorcycles. During a month when affordability-driven demand dominated—catalyzed by GST rate cuts on entry-level models—Bajaj's premium positioning became a relative disadvantage. The company's traditional strength in urban and semi-urban markets also meant it missed out on the disproportionate rural surge.

However, Bajaj's Pulsar range continues to hold strong brand equity, and the company remains a formidable player in the 125cc-plus segment. The market share loss should be viewed in context: in a month of exceptional rural and entry-level growth, Bajaj's premium-focused strategy naturally yielded different results.

Royal Enfield: Doubling Down on Niche Appeal

Royal Enfield, the premium motorcycle specialist, delivered spectacular percentage growth—selling 1.45 lakh units compared to 72,000 units in October 2024, representing a stunning 101% year-on-year increase. This doubling of volumes suggests strong demand for the company's lifestyle-oriented motorcycles during the festive season.

However, Royal Enfield's market share dipped slightly from 4.73% to 4.59%, indicating that while the company grew robustly, it expanded below the market rate. This is unsurprising given that Royal Enfield operates in the premium segment (350cc-plus motorcycles) with price points ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹4 lakh—well above the entry-level commuter segment that drove October's growth.

Royal Enfield's strength lies in its brand cult and aspiration value. The festive season saw strong demand from urban professionals, enthusiasts, and upgraders making lifestyle purchases. The company's recent product launches, including the Himalayan 450 and updated Classic 350, likely contributed to the strong uptake.

The Road Ahead: Sustaining Momentum

Looking forward, the industry faces the challenge of sustaining October's extraordinary momentum. FADA's dealer sentiment survey reveals measured optimism: 64% of dealers expect growth in November, though with natural moderation after an all-time-high October. For the next three months, 70% anticipate expansion, supported by marriage season demand, post-harvest cash flows, and new model launches.

The GST 2.0 reforms continue to anchor affordability under the government's "Simpler Tax, Stronger Growth" vision. Strong rural liquidity, improved financing conditions, and stable fuel prices create a supportive ecosystem for sustained growth through year-end and into 2026.

For two-wheeler manufacturers, October 2025's results carry clear strategic lessons. Rural market penetration, entry-level portfolio strength, and affordability remain critical success factors. Hero's dominant performance and TVS's market share gains underscore the importance of these elements. Conversely, Honda's slight erosion and Bajaj's larger loss highlight the challenges of premium positioning during affordability-driven growth phases.

As India's two-wheeler industry enters 2026, it does so with renewed confidence, backed by progressive policy reforms, grassroots economic revival, and an expanding addressable market. October 2025 will stand as the month when rural India reasserted itself as the beating heart of Indian automotive retail—a truly Viksit Bharat moment for the nation's mobility sector.

Kia India Clocks Highest EV Sales in October, New Carens Clavis EV Drives Growth

Ajit Dalvi — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:55:18

Kia India has registered its highest monthly retail sales of electric vehicles since its entry into the India EV market in June 2022 with the EV6 crossover. In October 2025, the Indian arm of the Korean car, SUV and MPV manufacturer delivered 658 EVs in October 2025, the third consecutive month of three-figure sales.

Kia India, which had never sold more than 90 units a month between October 2022 and July 2025 (see retail sales data table below), clocked 100-plus sales for the first time in August 2025 (464 units), followed it up with 528 units in September and has now scaled a new high (October 2025: 658 units). Last month’s retails are a massive 1300% YoY increase on a low base (October 2024: 47 units).

Kia’s strong EV market performance in October, which is a month-on-month increase of 25% (September 2025: 28 units), gives it a 4% share of the overall electric passenger vehicle market which saw sales of 18,036 units last month.

As a result, Kia India, which was ranked No. 9 amongst the e-PV OEMs a year ago, has risen five ranks to become the No. 4 e-PV OEM in October 2025, improving upon its No. 5 position in September 2025 (528 units). That’s not all – the company has driven ahead of both BYD India and Hyundai Motor India.

Retail sales of 658 EVs make October 2025 the best month yet for Kia India which entered the Indian EV market three years ago with the EV6 imported as a CBU and also sells the EV9.

GROWING DEMAND FOR THE CARENS CLAVIS EV

This upward movement for Kia India can be attributed to growing demand for the recently launched mass-market Carens Clavis EV-MPV, the electric avatar of the new Carens Clavis MPV which itself was launched as a more upmarket sibling of the popular Carens with more six- and seven-seater options, in May 2025. Kia’s EV portfolio also contains the EV6 and EV9, which are imported as CBUs into the country and, as a result, are far more expensive than the made-in-India Carens Clavis EV.

The rollout of the Carens Clavis six months ago and the Clavis EV in July has given a boost to Kia India’s wholesales numbers. As per SIAM wholesales data, in the first six months of FY2026, Kia India dispatched a total of 41,831 Carens MPV, up 25% YoY (April-September 2024: 33,575 units). These comprise the Carens, Carens Clavis and the Carens Clavis EV and give the Carens brand a 32% share of the 131,006 Kia factory dispatches to company showrooms across India in first-half FY2026. This strong performance saw the three Carens models take No. 3 position in the Top 10 MPVs in H1 FY2026, with a fair portion of the credit going to the recently launched zero-emission avatar.

The Carens Clavis EV’s high-on-affordability quotient stems from being Kia’s first made-in-India EV and commonality of parts with Hyundai Motor India.

CARENS CLAVIS EV: KIA’S FIRST MADE-IN-INDIA ELECTRIC VEHICLE

The key to the growing consumer demand for the Carens Clavis EV and its affordability quotient is that it is Kia’s first made-in-India EV and benefits from commonality of parts with Hyundai Motor India. The zero-emission MPV, which sports subtle EV-specific tweaks over its IC-engined sibling, is the third EV from Kia India after the updated MY2025 EV6 (Rs 65.69 lakh) and the EV9 (Rs 1.3 crore), both imported as CBUs and resultantly sporting much higher price tags.

What also helps it stand out is the fact that the Carens Clavis EV is among the only three all-electric MPVs in India, the other two being the BYD eMax 7 (Rs 26.90 lakh) and the MG M9 (Rs 69.90 lakh). At Rs 17.99 lakh, the Carens Clavis EV is the most affordable of this seven-seater, all-electric trio of MPVs, which clearly is its calling card in a value-conscious, competitive market which is seeing growing demand for comfortable family MPVs. The Kia Carens Clavis EV’s ex-showroom pricing starts at Rs 17.99 lakh for the entry level HTK+ variant, rises to Rs 20.49 lakh for the HTX and goes up to Rs 24.49 lakh for the top-end HTX+ variant.

The Carens Clavis EV, which shares plenty of bits with the Hyundai Creta Electric, features the same powertrain options as the Hyundai Creta Electric. A 42kWh battery with an ARAI-claimed range of 404km, with a single front-mounted motor setup serves as the base powertrain and develops 135 hp, 255 Nm of torque. There’s a larger 51.4kWh battery on offer too, which increases the power output to 171hp and range to 490km.

Having achieved its best-monthly EV sales yet, Kia India has risen four ranks to No. 6 amongst the 14 electric passenger vehicle OEMs in India in August 2025, up from the 10th position it had in August 2024. While it is early days for the Carens Clavis EV, the coming months will reveal whether the latest Kia EV in town maintains its strong growth trajectory.

Fittingly enough, Kia India’s highest monthly EV retail sales of 658 units have come in October 2025, when the company achieved its best-ever monthly wholesales of 29,556 units since entering the Indian market a little over six years ago in August 2019.

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Indian EV makers sell record 234,000 units in October, charge towards 2 million in CY2025

Tata Motors EV Sales Hit Record Levels in October: 9,286 Units, up 73%

Greaves Electric Mobility’s 2W Sales Cross 250,000 Units, New Models Drive Growth

Ajit Dalvi — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 09:45:27

October 2025, with 143,713 units, turned out to be the best-ever month for retail sales of electric two-wheelers in India. Last month also saw Bajaj Auto, Ather Energy, Hero MotoCorp and Greaves Electric Mobility (GEM) achieve their highest monthly sales yet. Last month has also seen GEM’s cumulative retail sales cross the 250,000-units mark in India.

GEM completed its acquisition of the Coimbatore-based EV start-up Ampere Vehicles in November 2019. Retail sales data, sourced from the Vahan portal and encompassing e-2W deliveries of both Greaves Electric Mobility and Ampere Vehicles, puts the figure at 250,520 units at the end of October 2025 (see data table below).

Greaves Electric Mobility has posted strong 60% YoY growth in the first 10 months of CY2025. The 7,635 e-scooters sold in October are its highest monthly sales in the current calendar year.

Greaves Electric Mobility, the EV arm of Greaves Cotton which markets the Ampere brand of e-scooters, sold 7,635 units last month to mark handsome 90% YoY growth (October 2024: 4,015 units) and a 5% e-2W market share for October 2025, which are its highest monthly sales in the year to date. GEM’s cumulative January-October 2025 sales ((including Ampere Vehicles) at 46,109 units are a 60% YoY increase (January-October 2024: 28,818 units) and give it a 4% share of the total 10,63,450 e-2Ws sold by 200-plus OEMs in the past 10 months. It is to be noted that GEM’s best monthly sales were in November 2022 (12,449 units).

As the data table above reveals, GEM’s best year to date was CY2022 with 82,657 units albeit, for two subsequent years, sales fell by 19% (CY2023: 66,944 units) and by 46% (CY2024: 36,148 units), respectively. CY2025 though is witnessing a revival of demand for the e-2W manufacturer. Starting the year with 3,638 units in January, sales have seen sustained growth and hit a new high in October 2025. Cumulative January-October 2025 sales at 46,109 units are a smart 60% YoY increase (January-October 2024: 28,818 units). With still two months to go in this year, GEM is likely to wrap up CY2025 with total retails of around 60,000 units.

The company has three key e-scooter brands – Nexus (EX and ST), Magnus (Neo, EX, Grand) and Reo (80 and Li Plus). The flagship Nexus remains the best-selling product for GEM and Ampere Vehicles. Targeted at families, the Ampere Nexus has been designed and developed in-house at the Ranipet facility in Tamil Nadu. Equipped with a 3 kWh LFP battery and a 7-inch TFT touchscreen cluster, the Nexus has a claimed top speed of 93kph and a certified range of 136km. Sold in two variants, prices start at Rs 119,900 (ex-showroom).

The Magnus Neo, which has an ex-showroom price of Rs 84,999 (inclusive of subsidies), has a 95km range and a max speed of 65kph. The Reo 80, which is the most affordable GEM e-scooter and launched in April 2025 at Rs 59,900, travels 80km on a single charge. On September 18, Ampere Vehicles launched its newest product, the Magnus Grand family scooter priced at Rs 89,999 (ex-showroom).

What is also drawing buyers to GEM products is Ampere’s five-year, 75,000-km battery warranty on the Nexus and Magnus.

EXPANDING THE B2B BUSINESS

Along with sustained efforts to grow the personal electric mobility business, Greaves Electric Mobility is also making moves to expand its B2B fleet operations. In September, the company enhanced its partnership with TriEV, an electric fleet operator focused on last-mile delivery and green mobility solutions. TriEV currently operates over 850 Ampere Magnus SW S e-scooters, which has been developed specifically for B2B needs, across its hubs in Delhi and plans to expand this GEM fleet to over 1,500 units over the next few months.

In March this year, GEM had partnered with Indofast Energy, a 50-50 joint venture between IndianOil and Sun Mobility to enhance last-mile transportation for B2B fleets and ride-sharing services. The Ampere Magnus SW S, powered by Indofast Energy’s battery swapping technology, is designed for gig economy riders covering over 100km daily and aims to minimize downtime with quick battery swaps. Leveraging Indofast Energy’s rapidly growing battery-swapping network, customers can seamlessly replace depleted batteries with fully charged ones, reducing operational costs and enhancing efficiency. The Ampere Magnus SW S, which has 2.4 kW motor, has a payload capacity of 151kg and is equipped with IoT-enabled capabilities for efficient connectivity and improved fleet management solutions for operators.

ALSO READ: October 2025 is best-ever month for Indian electric 2W industry: 143,700 units

Indian EV makers sell record 234,000 units in October, charge towards 2 million in CY2025

Indian EV Makers Sell Record 234,000 Units in October, Charge Towards 2 Million in CY2025

Ajit Dalvi — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 09:49:41

The Indian EV industry, whose GST rate of 5% was left untouched as compared to its fossil-fueled brethren which benefited from a substantial reduction, is on a roll this year. Retail sales this October at a record 234,274 units, up 7% YoY and an additional 14,552 units (October 2024: 219,722 units) have breezed past the previous monthly best of 219,722 EVs exactly a year ago. This new monthly benchmark translates into 7,557 EVs sold on each day of October 2025.

Importantly, what augurs well for the overall EV industry is that all four vehicle segments – two- and three-wheelers, passenger and commercial vehicles – have registered year-on-year growth (see October 2025 retail sales data table below). While e-2Ws, which represent the largest volume segment and have a 61% share of the EV market, posted 3% growth, the e-3W category saw 5% YoY growth and accounted for a 30% share of EV sales across segments. Zero-emission passenger vehicle sales rose strongly by 57% as did e-CVs, by 121% on a low year-ago base.

All four sub-segments of the EV industry registered YoY growth and contributed to October 2025 being the month with the best retail sales yet: 234,274 units.

Electric 2-wheelers: 143,814 units, up 3% YoY

Share of India EV market: 61%

The electric two-wheeler segment, which comprises scooters, motorcycles and also mopeds and accounts for the largest share of EV sales, is driving the charge for India EV Inc. In October, this sub-segment registered its best-ever monthly numbers – 143,814 units. This makes for 3% YoY growth on a large year-ago base (October 2024: 140,225 units). October 2025’s record sales beat the previous monthly best – March 2024 (140,350 units) and October 2024 (140,225 units). These three months are the only ones when India e-2W Inc has surpassed 140,000 retail sales.

What’s more, as a result of seven-figure sales for six months running, cumulative January-October 2025 sales have crossed the million-units mark for the first time in the first 10 months. At 1.06 million units and 11% YoY growth, the electric 2W industry is only 85,950 units away from riding past its best-ever annual sales of 1.14 million units it clocked in CY2024. This milestone will be achieved in November 2025 itself, which means the e-2W industry could well be looking at a new sales high of 1.25 million units in CY2025.

In October, combined sales of the top six OEMs – Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor Co, Ather Energy, Hero MotoCorp, Ola Electric and Greaves Electric Mobility accounted for 89% of the total e-2W sales across India (barring Telangana for which Vahan data is not available), leaving the balance 10% to be fought over by 190 other e-2W players. CLICK TO READ October sales analysis, a month when Bajaj Auto regained the e-2W crown after 6 months, wresting it from TVS Motor Co.

Electric 3-wheelers: 70,604 units, up 5% YoY

Share of India EV market: 30%

The electric three-wheeler segment too is in good nick. In tandem with the electric 2-wheeler industry, which notched its best-ever monthly sales in October 2025, the second largest contributor to India EV Inc too had a good outing last month. The electric 3-wheeler industry hit a new monthly retail sales high of 70,604 units, up 5% YoY (October 2024: 67,173 units) and crossed the 70,000-unit mark for the first time, beating the previous best of 69,125 units in July 2025.

The electric 3W industry, which is the one witnessing the fastest transition from ICE to e-mobility, is well set to register its best-ever annual sales this year. With two months left to go in CY2025, the e-3W industry is well set to achieve its best-ever calendar-year sales. As per retail sales statistics on the Vahan portal, a total of 625,866 units were delivered between January and October, up 10% YoY (January-October 2024: 568,478 units). This translates into 90% of its record full-year CY2024 volume of 691,302 units. E3W makers need to sell 65,437 units more to cross the CY2024 total and if the current growth trajectory is sustained, this segment of the EV industry is likely to surpass the 700,000-unit milestone this month (November 2025). With December to follow, India e-3W Inc could be looking at a new annual retail sales record of 750,000 units and 8.5% YoY growth on a high year-ago base.

This segment is dominated by a select few OEMs – Mahindra Last Mile Mobility (MLMM), Bajaj Auto, YC Electric, TVS Motor Co, Saera Electric Auto, Dilli Electric Auto, Piaggio Vehicles, Mini Metro and Energy EV. However, the real battle is being fought at the podium level between Mahindra Last Mile Mobility, Bajaj Auto, YC Electric and recent entrant TVS Motor. CLICK TO READ the e-3W October sales analysis, a month when Mahindra, Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor have each achieved their highest monthly retail sales.

Electric passenger vehicles: 17,942 unit, up 57% YoY

Share of India EV market: 8%

The next biggest contributor to India EV Inc sales is the electric passenger vehicle segment with an 8% share in October 2025. Even as the overall passenger vehicle market saw record wholesales of over 500,000 units in the festive month of October 2025, retail sales of electric PVs recovered last month after witnessing a month-on-month fall in September (16,354 units). October saw 17,942 zero emission cars, SUVs and MPVs being delivered across India, marking a 57% YoY increase (October 2024: 11,444 units) and 9% MoM growth.

October 2025 marked the second-highest month for e-PV sales after August 2025 and saw both market leader Tata Motors, which maintains its 40% share, and Mahindra & Mahindra register their highest monthly retail sales yet. While No. 2-ranked JSW MG Motor India sold 4,497 units, Kia India, riding on strong demand for the Carens Clavis EV, clocked sales of 655 EVs to go ahead of BYD and Hyundai Motor India.

October was the second month of sales for the two new EV manufacturers in India – Tesla and VinFast – who have joined the existing 14 players in the e-PV market. CLICK TO READ the e-PV October sales analysis.

Electric commercial vehicles: 1,902 units, up 121%

Share of EV industry: 1%

The electric commercial vehicle segment has seen demand jump 121% YoY to 1,902 units (October 2024: 960 e-CVs). The light goods vehicles sub-segment, with 1,497 units and a 79% share of e-CV sales, has registered strong 239% YoY growth on a low year-ago base (October 2024: 441 units), reflective of the growing demand for emission-free last mile mobility in the country, particularly in urban India. Electric passenger bus OEMs, most of whom bank on business from State Transport Undertakings, sold 290 units in October and posted a 28% YoY decline (October 2024: 404 e-buses).

EV makers need to sell another 153,608 units to surpass the 2-million milestone, which should be achieved in November 2025. Expect total CY2025 sales to be in the region of 2.15 million units.

INDIA EV INC TO SOON CHARGE PAST 2 MILLION SALES THIS YEAR

Having missed the 2-million retail sales milestone in in calendar year 2024 by a whisker, India EV Inc is well set to surpass the big 20,00,000 number in CY2025. In the first 10 months of the current calendar year (January-October 2025), as per sales data on the Vahan portal, a total of 18,46,393 EVs has been delivered to customers across segments. This is a YoY increase of 14% and translates into an additional 231,949 units. It also means EV makers will have to sell another 153,607 units to attain the 2-million retail sales milestone for the first time in a calendar year. This is a new retail sales milestone which the EV industry will achieve in November 2025 itself.

What is noteworthy is that the record-breaking October 2025 was the first month after GST 2.0, which helped reduce prices of IC engine vehicles, made them more affordable and also shrunk the gap between them and electric vehicles. Nevertheless, last month’s stellar EV market performance proves that the zero-emission EV industry has little to fear about sales being eaten into by its fossil-fuelled brethren.

After the first 10 months of this year, all four EV segments are set to charge past their CY2024 sales total, and thereby enable India EV Inc to set a new annual retail sales benchmark. With November and December numbers yet to be counted, expect CY2025 to turn in total sales in the region of 2.15 million units. Stay plugged into Autocar Professional, as we bring you the latest and accurate sales numbers and analyses of the domestic EV industry.