April 2026 car retail sales: 12 percent YoY growth, 7 percent MoM decline

In the first month of FY2027 (April 2026), retail sales in India's passenger vehicle (PV) segment were off to a strong start. According to data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), total PV retail sales for the month tallied up to 4,07,335 units, marking a 12.21 percent YoY growth – the highest-ever April sales for the PV market.

1. Rural market sales share increased to 41.2 percent, urban at 58.8 percent
2. CNG and EV market share grew YoY in April 2026

Interestingly, while retail sales recorded a positive YoY change in April 2026, they fell 7.45 percent compared to March 2026’s figures. This can be attributed to the typical surge in fiscal year-end dispatches.

YoY rural sales growth continues to outperform that of urban areas

A notable trend in the data is the persistent YoY outperformance of rural over urban markets. In April 2026, rural demand increased by 20.4 percent YoY – almost triple the 7.11 percent YoY growth registered by urban areas.
Overall retail sales share for urban markets stood at 58.8 percent, while rural areas accounted for 41.2 percent in April 2026. Rural share increased from 38.3 percent in FY2025 to 39.7 percent in FY2026, and all signs point to this uptrend sustaining itself leading into FY2027.

CNG share saw the highest YoY increase in April

Coming to the fuel mix, both petrol and diesel recorded YoY declines in their PV sales shares – petrol slid from 49.03 percent in April 2025 to 45.95 percent in April 2026, and diesel went from 18.85 percent to 17.39 percent in the same timeframe. Hybrids saw a more miniscule downturn: 8.58 percent in April 2025 to 8.27 percent in April 2026.

EVs and CNG cars stood out as the only ones to record YoY growth in sales share. CNG increased from 19.84 percent in April 2025 to 22.62 percent in April 2026, while EV share grew from 3.7 percent to 5.77 percent in that time period.

Interestingly, MoM data shows that petrol, hybrid, and EV shares grew in April, while those of diesel and CNG experienced downturns.

Brand-wise retail sales in April 2026

Maruti Suzuki: 1,58,509 units sold

India’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, recorded nearly 12.5 percent YoY growth in retail sales last month. Maruti Suzuki’s market share also increased slightly – 38.83 percent in April 2025 to 38.91 percent in April 2026. The Dzire and Ertiga remain top sellers for Maruti Suzuki, and the brand has also seen greater demand in the small car segment as of late.

Tata: 57,688 units sold

Slotting into a distant second place is Tata with 57,688 units retailed in April 2026 – a 27.8 percent YoY increase. Market share for Tata also jumped from 12.43 percent in April 2025 to 14.16 percent last month. The recently-launched Punch facelift and Nexon continue to sell in strong quantities, and Tata’s EV models recorded healthy growth too.

Mahindra: 55,236 units sold

Mahindra registered a relatively mild 7.1 percent YoY growth last month, but the SUV maker’s market share dipped – 14.21 percent in April 2025 to 13.56 percent in April 2026. The Scorpio N and Scorpio Classic remain Mahindra’s bestsellers, with strong support from the Thar and XUV 7XO too.

Hyundai: 47,449 units sold

Retaining fourth place is Hyundai, which posted a YoY sales uptick of just under 5 percent in April 2026. Like Mahindra, Hyundai’s market share declined – 12.45 percent in April 2025 to 11.65 percent in April 2026. Hyundai’s persistent top seller is the Creta, with the new Venue also witnessing healthy demand.

Toyota: 27,006 units sold

Toyota’s retail sales grew by almost 5.5 percent YoY in April 2026, but the Japanese carmaker’s market share slipped from 7.05 percent in April 2025 to 6.63 percent last month. The Innova Hycross and Innova Crysta remain bestsellers for Toyota, followed very closely by the Hyryder midsize SUV.

Kia: 25,226 units sold

Hyundai’s sister brand, Kia, recorded a substantial YoY increase of nearly 12.77 percent in April 2026. Unlike Hyundai, Kia marginally grew its market share from 6.16 percent in April 2025 to 6.19 percent last month. The new Seltos has been a hit for Kia, and the Sonet remains a strong seller too.

MG: 6,064 units sold

Retail sales underwent a 14.76 percent YoY uptick for MG last month, and its market share also increased slightly from 1.46 percent in April 2025 to 1.49 percent in April 2026. MG’s sales have increasingly leaned on the Windsor EV in recent years, as well as the Hector.

Honda: 5,346 units sold

Honda experienced YoY sales growth of over 5.71 percent in April 2026, though its market share dipped from 1.39 percent in April 2025 to 1.31 percent last month. Of Honda’s current three-strong model portfolio, the Elevate SUV attracts the most sales. The Japanese carmaker will soon launch the City facelift and ZR-V in India.

Renault: 4,087 units sold

Thanks to the highly-anticipated launch of the new Duster in March, Renault recorded one of the highest YoY sales surges of any carmaker here: 42.4 percent. Renault’s market share also increased from 0.79 percent in April 2025 to 1 percent in April 2026.

Nissan: 3,047 units sold

Nissan launched the Gravite earlier in 2026, which helped the Japanese carmaker achieve a hefty YoY sales uptick of 59.2 percent in April. Its market share grew from 0.53 percent in April 2025 to 0.75 percent in April 2026. Later this year, Nissan is expected to launch its equivalent of the Duster, the Tekton.

Vinfast: 1,232 units sold

Vinfast launched its debut models in India in September 2025, so its YoY performance can’t be judged yet. That said, the Vietnamese EV maker has witnessed healthy demand in India, and recently launched its third offering: the VF MPV 7.