Electric Vehicles Sales Report January 2026: Electric Cars Record 51% Sales Surge with Tata Motors Claiming First Spot

India’s electric passenger vehicle market recorded total sales of 18,053 units in January 2026, up from 11,909 units a year ago. This translates into a healthy 51 percent year-on-year increase, confirming that demand for zero-emission cars and SUVs continues to build momentum across segments and cities.

While volume growth is broad-based, performance remains uneven at the brand level, with some OEMs doubling or even quintupling their numbers and others seeing steep declines as portfolios and pricing get realigned. Nevertheless, the aggregate trend points clearly upward and sets the tone for what could be another record year for EV adoption.

Top Electric Vehicles OEMs in January 2026

The January charts reveal a clear pecking order among electric car and SUV makers. Tata Motors leads the market by a considerable margin, followed by JSW MG Motor India and Mahindra & Mahindra, with newer players and luxury brands filling in the rest of the table.

1. Tata Motors​

Tata Motors continues to anchor India’s e-passenger vehicle market, clocking 7,863 units in January 2026. That is a strong 48 percent jump over the 5,292 units sold in January 2025, reinforcing the brand’s leadership in accessible electric cars and SUVs.

The company’s wide portfolio, established charging ecosystem, and growing acceptance in fleet as well as personal segments are clearly translating into sustained demand. With almost half of the market under its belt, Tata’s performance sets the benchmark for others trying to scale up in the mainstream EV space.

2. JSW MG Motor India​

JSW MG Motor India holds on firmly to second place, with 4,606 units retailed in January 2026. Volumes are marginally higher than the 4,527 units in the same month last year. Despite the small growth percentage, MG’s EV business already operates from a high base, and its stable performance suggests consistent customer pull for its premium and feature-rich products.

3. Mahindra & Mahindra​

Mahindra & Mahindra emerges as one of January’s most dramatic gainers. The company’s EV sales rocketed to 3,589 units, up from just 739 units a year earlier, translating into an eye-catching 386 percent growth.

Such a surge underlines how quickly Mahindra’s new-generation electric SUVs are gaining traction with Indian buyers. Coming from a relatively low base, this momentum positions the brand as one of the fastest-rising players in the mainstream EV arena and sets expectations high for the rest of 2026.

4. Vinfast​

January 2026 also marks the arrival of some eagerly watched global names. VinFast India made its presence felt with 432 units. Although these are early days. Their entry adds more diversity to consumer choice and signals growing confidence in India as a key EV growth market.

5. Hyundai​

Hyundai Motor India posted 326 EV units in January 2026, a slight dip from 331 units in January 2025, equating to a 2 percent decline. The small correction suggests a period of consolidation as the company prepares for a broader EV rollout in the coming quarters.

6. BMW India​

In the luxury space, BMW India turned in one of the more impressive performances. The brand’s EV sales climbed to 312 units in January 2026 from 194 units in January 2025, amounting to 61 percent year-on-year growth and reflecting strong interest in its electric SUVs and sedans.

7. KIA​

Kia India, in contrast, delivered one of the sharpest percentage jumps in the table. Its EV tally climbed to 306 units from just 51 units a year ago, translating into a remarkable 500 percent year-on-year growth as new models and wider availability kick in.

Also Read: Electric Car Sales Report December 2025: Tata Motors Leads The Market Surge While VinFast Steps into the fourth spot for the first time

8. BYD​

BYD India closed January with 224 units, down from 338 units in January 2025, reflecting a 34 percent decline. The drop may partly mirror the brand’s recalibration of its product mix and price positioning in a segment that is getting increasingly crowded.

9. Maruti Suzuki​

Maruti Suzuki India, India’s largest carmaker in the ICE space, has now joined the EV list with 210 units recorded as “new” in January 2026. While the absolute volume is still modest, Maruti’s entry carries strategic weight and could significantly widen EV awareness as the brand’s dedicated products roll out to more cities.

10. Mercedes-Benz​

Mercedes-Benz, however, experienced a reversal, with volumes softening to 69 units from 104 units a year earlier, a 34 percent decline. Rolls-Royce and Porsche remain ultra-niche.

11. Stellantis India

Stellantis India recorded 41 EV units in January 2026, sharply lower than the 274 units achieved in January 2025. The 85 percent year-on-year decline suggests that the brand is in the midst of a transition, possibly winding down older nameplates as it prepares for refreshed offerings aligned with global strategies.

Rolls-Royce retailed 2 EVs versus 4 last January, while Porsche sold a single unit compared to 6 a year ago, translating into drops of 50 percent and 83 percent, respectively.

12. Tesla​

Tesla is one of the second EV brands to enter India in 2025 after VinFast. As a new entrant, Tesla surpasses Volvo with 37 units of Model Y, capturing 8% market share. While the Model Y, imported as the CBU unit, is still struggling to capture the Indian market.

13. Volvo India​

Volvo Auto India, on the other hand, registered 35 units, improving on the 29 units sold a year earlier for a 21 percent gain. For a luxury marque focused on safety and sustainability, this steady uptick shows that a niche but loyal customer base is taking to its electric portfolio.

Luxury league: Audi, Rolls-Royce, and Porsche

For luxury players in the Indian electric market, volumes are naturally small, and monthly swings can look dramatic on paper. Audi and JLR, both strong players in premium ICE segments, do not feature in EV sales in the latest month, even though they posted 19 units and 1 unit, respectively, in January last year.

Their absence from the January 2026 EV tally likely reflects product-cycle timing rather than any lack of intent, with future launches expected to restore their presence in the electric list.

Market Impact

Taken together, January’s 18,053-unit, 51 percent growth performance underlines how firmly electric mobility is taking root in India’s passenger vehicle market. High-volume brands such as Tata, JSW MG Motor India, and Mahindra & Mahindra are driving scale, while challengers from Hyundai, Kia, Maruti, and Vinfast ensure that competition stays intense and innovation-led.

Conclusion

At the same time, luxury and ultra-luxury OEMs are using EVs to sharpen their technology and sustainability credentials, even if their monthly numbers remain comparatively small. As infrastructure gaps narrow and new products arrive across price bands, the January 2026 sales sheet reads less like an exception and more like an early indicator of another landmark year for India’s e-passenger vehicle market.