Passenger Vehicles Sales Report May 2026: Maruti Suzuki Leads the market, while Tata Motors regains second-spot with 39.3% growth

India’s passenger vehicle market continued to expand in May 2026, with Maruti Suzuki once again holding the top spot in Vahan registration sales of May 2026. The latest snapshot shows a strong year-on-year rise for several mass-market brands, even as month-on-month momentum softened for many OEMs.

The data also underlines a sharper shift in market shares, with Tata, Hyundai, Kia, and Renault posting notable gains, while Mahindra, Toyota, Skoda, Volkswagen, MG, and Honda saw varying degrees of pressure versus April 2026. Overall, the report points to a market that is still growing, but with a more mixed performance across brands. As per the recent reports, about 3,97,301 units were sold in May 2026, compared to 3,20,612 units sold in May 2025.

Passenger Vehicle Sales in May 2026: Market Overview

May 2026 was led by Maruti Suzuki with 1,65,441 registrations, followed by Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai. The total market volume stood at 3,97,301 units, up 23.9% from May 2025, though down 5.4% from April 2026. That split between strong annual growth and softer monthly demand suggests a market that remains healthy, but not uniformly strong across OEMs.

The biggest story is that the significant gaps between leaders and the rest of the field are decreasing slowly. Maruti Suzuki alone controlled 41.6% market share, while Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai formed the next tier with shares in the low teens. Beyond the top four, the industry becomes far more fragmented, with several brands fighting for smaller but strategically important volumes. Let's check out the top 15 passenger vehicle OEM brands' sales report for May 2026 in the Indian automotive market.

Rank 1: Maruti Suzuki

Sold: 1,65,441 units

Maruti Suzuki stayed comfortably on top with 1,65,441 units in May 2026, rising 33.2% year on year and edging up 0.9% from April. Its 41.6% market share also increased by 2.9 percentage points over last year, reinforcing its unmatched scale in the Indian market. For any OEM team, that is the kind of dominant performance that sets the tone for the entire industry.

Rank 2: Tata Motors

Sold: 54,151 units

Tata Motors delivered 54,151 registrations, up 39.3% compared with May 2025, even though volumes dipped 8.4% month on month. The brand’s market share rose to 13.6%, gaining 1.5 percentage points over last year and keeping it firmly in second place. It remains one of the strongest growth stories among major OEMs in this snapshot.

Rank 3: Mahindra & Mahindra

Sold: 51,745 units

Mahindra recorded 51,745 units, a modest 7.8% increase over May 2025, but a steep 14.0% decline from April 2026. Its market share slipped to 13.0%, down 1.9 percentage points year on year, showing that the SUV-heavy portfolio is still powerful but under some short-term pressure. The brand remains a top-tier player, though the momentum clearly cooled in May.

Rank 4: Hyundai

Sold: 46,223 units

Hyundai posted 46,223 registrations, reflecting 12.8% annual growth despite a 6.6% monthly decline. The Korean maker ended May with an 11.6% market share, marginally lower by 1.1 percentage points versus last year. It continues to hold a strong position in the mainstream market, but the numbers suggest it needs a stronger monthly recovery.

Rank 5: Toyota

Sold: 26,415 units

Toyota registered 26,415 units in May 2026, up 6.2% from a year earlier but down 9.1% from April. Its market share slipped to 6.6%, losing 1.1 percentage points year on year, which indicates that the brand’s premium positioning is still working, but not at the same pace as some faster-growing rivals. The decline from April is a reminder of how competitive the market has become.

Rank 6: Kia

Sold: 24,647 units

Kia India continued its steady climb with 24,647 registrations, growing 33.6% over May 2025 despite a 7.1% month-on-month drop. The brand’s 6.2% market share improved by 0.4 percentage points, highlighting healthy consumer demand for its SUV-led portfolio. Kia remains one of the more consistent performers in the mid-volume zone.

Rank 7: Skoda & Volkswagen

Sold: 8,377 units

The combined Skoda and Volkswagen tally stood at 8,377 units, down 10.3% year on year and 11.3% month on month. Market share came in at 2.1%, which was 0.8 percentage points lower than last year. This shows that the group still has brand equity, but it is fighting a difficult volume battle in India’s fast-moving mass market.

Rank 8: MG Motors

Sold: 5,862 units

MG posted 5,862 registrations, down 1.7% from May 2025 and 10.1% from April 2026. Its market share of 1.5% also fell by 0.4 percentage points, showing a period of consolidation rather than expansion. The brand remains visible in the premium SUV and EV conversation, but the monthly trend needs attention.

Rank 9: Honda

Sold: 4,489 units

Honda recorded 4,489 units, slipping 0.9% year on year and 20.5% month on month. With market share at 1.1%, down 0.3 percentage points, the brand is still working to rebuild scale in India. The decline from April is especially sharp and suggests that momentum has weakened considerably.

Rank 10: Renault

Sold: 4,217 units

Renault was one of the stronger surprise performers in the chart, with 4,217 units and a sharp 70.6% jump over May 2025. The brand also improved 0.7% month on month, lifting its market share to 1.1%. This kind of annual growth stands out clearly in a market where many established players are struggling to find traction.

Rank 11: Nissan Motors

Sold: 2,959 units

Nissan delivered 2,959 registrations, jumping 84.4% year on year, though volumes dipped 7.9% from April. Its 0.7% market share was up 0.2 percentage points compared with last year. The annual growth figure is impressive, even if the absolute base remains small.

Rank 12: Vinfast Auto

Sold: 1,238 units

Vinfast appeared twelfth in the list with 1,238 registrations in May 2026, against zero units in May 2025. Month on month, the brand declined 4.0%, ending with a 0.3% market share. The numbers reflect a new entrant still building presence in the Indian market.

Rank 13: BYD

Sold: 686 units

BYD posted 686 units, up 10.5% year on year and 23.8% over April. Its market share remained at 0.2%, indicating gradual but steady progress. As one of the key EV-focused brands in India, BYD’s growth trajectory remains worth tracking closely.

Rank 14: Citroen

Sold: 643 units

Citroen registered 643 units, up 49.2% from a year earlier, although volumes fell 14.4% month on month. The brand held a 0.2% market share, roughly flat year on year. The annual growth rate looks strong, but the monthly decline shows the need for more consistent retail momentum.

Rank 15: Jeep

Sold: 208 units

​Jeep closed the list with 208 registrations, down 30.9% year on year and 20.0% month on month. Its 0.1% market share remained unchanged, reflecting the brand’s limited scale in India’s registration-driven market. The numbers underline how challenging the premium niche has become for volume growth.

Market Outlook

The May 2026 passenger vehicle sales show a clear divide between market leaders and everyone else. Maruti Suzuki continues to dominate outright, while Tata, Mahindra, Hyundai, and Kia remain the most important challengers in the mainstream space. Below them, several brands posted strong annual gains, but monthly volatility suggests the market is still sensitive to product cycles, dispatch timing, and retail momentum.

CarBike 360 Says

May 2026 clearly showed that India’s passenger vehicle market is growing with confidence, even as the monthly pace varied across brands. Maruti Suzuki stayed dominant, while Tata, Kia, and Renault delivered encouraging momentum. With competition intensifying, the next few months will be crucial for every OEM chasing stronger retail traction.