India's electric passenger vehicle market recorded its strongest month yet in May 2026, with retail sales rising 80 percent year on year to 26,221 units, according to Vahan registration data. The figure surpassed the previous monthly record of 25,250 units set in April 2026, making May the fourth month this year to cross the 20,000-unit mark.
The strong result came amid four petrol and diesel price hikes and two CNG price revisions during the month. Vahan data also showed a sharp increase in deliveries during the second half of May, which accounted for 61 percent of the month's total EV sales. Tata Motors remained the market leader and crossed the 10,000-unit mark for the first time, while Mahindra & Mahindra recorded its highest-ever monthly EV sales and outsold JSW MG Motor India for the third consecutive month.
Tata Motors
10,231 units
Tata Motors remained India's highest-selling EV maker in May 2026, with retail sales of 10,231 units, up 102 percent over May 2025. The result marks the first time Tata has crossed the 10,000-unit monthly sales milestone in the EV segment.
The updated Tiago EV was launched towards the end of May, joining the recently refreshed Punch EV, while the Nexon EV continues to be the brand's volume driver. Tata's EV portfolio also includes the Curvv EV, Harrier EV and Tigor EV.
Mahindra
6,133 units
Mahindra retailed 6,133 EVs in May 2026, up 96 percent compared to the same month last year. This is the first time the company has crossed the 6,000-unit mark in monthly EV sales and represents its highest-ever retail performance. The company's growth continues to be driven by the BE 6, XEV 9e and XEV 9S electric SUVs.
JSW MG Motor India
4,936 units
JSW MG Motor India sold 4,936 EVs in May, up 7 percent year on year. Its EV market share declined to 19 percent from 31 percent in May 2025, despite the increase in volumes. The Windsor EV continues to be MG's best-selling model, supported by the Comet EV, ZS EV, Cyberster and M9.
Maruti Suzuki
1,577 units
Maruti Suzuki recorded its highest monthly EV sales since entering the segment, retailing 1,577 units of the e Vitara in May. The result follows the brand's first 1,000-plus month in April and was enough to secure fourth position in the EV rankings with a 6 percent EV market share. Production constraints are understood to have limited domestic allocations, with a significant share of output earmarked for exports.
VinFast
1,224 units
VinFast retailed 1,224 EVs in May, making it the fifth best-selling EV brand in the country. The Vietnamese manufacturer currently sells the VF6, VF7 and VF MPV7 in India and holds a 5 percent share of the EV market. May sales were slightly lower than the 1,288 units recorded in April.
Separately, VinFast recently filed a design patent in India for the second-generation VF8 SUV. The patented design closely matches the model unveiled in Vietnam, although the company has not confirmed whether the VF8 will be launched in the Indian market.
BYD
683 units
BYD posted its highest monthly sales in India with 683 EVs, up 28 percent compared to May 2025. The company's India portfolio currently comprises the Atto 3, Seal, Sealion 7 and eMax 7.
The Chinese carmaker has also confirmed plans to introduce its first plug-in hybrid model in India. While BYD has not disclosed the model name, the upcoming launch is expected to expand the brand's presence beyond battery-electric vehicles and could be based on either the Atto 2 or Sealion 6.
Hyundai
454 units
Hyundai retailed 454 EVs in May, down 37 percent year on year. The Creta Electric and Ioniq 5 currently make up Hyundai's EV portfolio in India. The company recently updated the Ioniq 5 with a larger 84.0kWh battery pack, revised styling and additional technology features. However, Hyundai continues to face increasing competition in the electric SUV segment, with rivals such as Tata Motors, Mahindra and MG expanding their EV line-ups across multiple price points.
Kia
345 units
Kia retailed 345 EVs in May, up significantly from 41 units recorded in May 2025. The Carens Clavis EV remains the brand's volume driver, alongside the EV6 and EV9.
The company recently introduced a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) scheme for the Carens Clavis EV, reducing its entry price to Rs 12.84 lakh from Rs 17.99 lakh by separating battery ownership from the vehicle purchase. Buyers opting for the scheme pay a battery rental charge of Rs 3.3 per km, potentially making the electric MPV accessible to a wider set of buyers.
Luxury EV sales
Luxury EV brands collectively retailed 616 vehicles in May 2026, up 68 percent from 366 units in the same month last year. BMW and Mercedes-Benz continued to account for the majority of luxury EV sales, while Tesla, Volvo and Porsche contributed to the segment's growth.
BMW
345 units
BMW remained the highest-selling luxury EV brand in India with retail sales of 345 units in May 2026, up 72 percent over the same month last year.
The German carmaker continues to benefit from a broad EV portfolio led by the iX1, which remains one of the most accessible luxury EVs in the country. BMW's electric line-up in India also includes the i4, i5, i7 and iX.
Mercedes-Benz
204 units
Mercedes-Benz sold 204 EVs in May, up 67 percent year on year. The German luxury carmaker has been steadily expanding its EV portfolio in India, with the recently launched CLA Electric joining models such as the G-Class Electric, EQS and EQS SUV as part of its push to grow electric vehicle adoption in the luxury segment.
Tesla
35 units
Tesla retailed 35 EVs in May 2026, with the Model Y continuing to be the brand's only offering in India. The American EV maker recently revised its India line-up with the launch of the Model Y Premium RWD at Rs 50.89 lakh (ex-showroom), while discontinuing the higher-priced Long Range Premium RWD variant. Tesla now offers two versions of the Model Y in India – the five-seat Premium RWD and the six-seat Model Y L Premium AWD.
Volvo
28 units
Volvo retailed 28 EVs in May, down 22 percent from 36 units in the same month last year. The Swedish carmaker recently increased prices across its model range by up to Rs 1 lakh, citing global supply-chain challenges and fluctuations in foreign exchange rates.
Saptarshi Mondal
Suraj Viswanathan
Uday Singh
Ajit Dalvi
