Indian passenger vehicle buyers made a clear shift away from pure-petrol cars in August 2026, as CNG, hybrid and electric vehicles together took a slightly larger share of the market.
Alternative powertrains overtake petrol
- Alternative powertrains reached 42% of total passenger vehicle sales in August 2026. - Petrol-only cars slipped to 41%, down from 46% in August 2025.
CNG leads the non-petrol mix
- CNG cars delivered the biggest contribution, taking 25% market share. - This is up from 21% a year earlier, showing strong buyer acceptance of factory-fitted CNG options.
EV sales and penetration
- Electric car sales rose 52% year-on-year to 30,700 units in August. - EV penetration in the passenger-car market increased to 7.7%, from 5.9% in August 2025.
Brand-wise EV market share
- **Tata Motors strengthened its position, capturing 43% of India’s EV market in August, up from 42% in July and its highest level since December 2025. - MG’s EV share fell to 15% in August, down sharply from 28% a year earlier. - Mahindra’s EV share eased to around 21%, compared with 23%** in July.
Regional trend
- Delhi emerged as India’s largest EV market in August, with EV penetration around 19% of passenger vehicle sales.
For Nepali buyers watching India’s market, the key takeaway is that CNG and EVs are now mainstream choices across the border, and major brands like Tata, MG and Mahindra are rapidly reshaping their line-ups around them.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
