India’s electric vehicle market reached an all-time monthly high in September 2026, with EV retail across major vehicle categories touching about 3.34 lakh units and overall penetration rising to roughly 13 per cent, according to data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).
FADA’s September vehicle retail data was collated from 1,468 of 1,469 RTOs. Overall vehicle retail stood at 25,36,920 units during the month, up 31.82 per cent year-on-year and 4.69 per cent month-on-month.
Electric two-wheelers accounted for the largest share of EV volumes, followed by three-wheelers and passenger vehicles. Across the four EV categories covered by FADA, retail stood at 3,33,634 units, comprising 2,07,314 electric two-wheelers, 86,024 electric three-wheelers, 36,108 electric passenger vehicles and 4,188 electric commercial vehicles.
Electric Two-Wheelers Drive Volumes
Electric two-wheeler penetration increased to 11.58 per cent in September from 8.17 per cent a year earlier. EV two-wheeler registrations reached 2,07,314 units, compared with 1,09,882 units in September 2025, representing an 88.67 per cent year-on-year increase. Retail was also 13.16 per cent higher than the 1,83,204 units registered in August.
The broader two-wheeler market expanded 33.08 per cent year-on-year to 17,90,188 units and 4.41 per cent sequentially. Electric models consequently accounted for more than six out of every 10 EVs registered during September.
Three-Wheelers Lead EV Penetration
Three-wheelers remained India's most electrified vehicle category. EV penetration increased to 64.90 per cent in September, compared with 56.65 per cent a year earlier.
Electric three-wheeler registrations reached 86,024 units, up 40.03 per cent year-on-year and 7.74 per cent month-on-month. Total three-wheeler retail stood at 1,32,570 units, an increase of 22.25 per cent year-on-year and the highest September retail recorded for the segment.
Electric Passenger Vehicles Nearly Double
Electric passenger vehicle retail almost doubled from a year earlier, rising 94.56 per cent to 36,108 units from 18,559 units in September 2025. Registrations were also 17.63 per cent higher than the 30,696 units recorded in August.
EV penetration in passenger vehicles increased to 8.45 per cent from 5.74 per cent a year earlier.
Total passenger vehicle retail reached 4,27,213 units, up 32.10 per cent year-on-year and 6.17 per cent month-on-month. September marked the segment's highest-ever retail performance for the month.
The shift in passenger vehicles extended beyond battery EVs. Hybrids accounted for 9.44 per cent of passenger vehicle registrations, up from 7.30 per cent in September 2025, while CNG accounted for 23.11 per cent compared with 22.02 per cent a year earlier. Together, alternative powertrains comprising CNG, hybrids and EVs accounted for about 41 per cent of passenger vehicle retail, almost at par with petrol's 41.27 per cent share.
Commercial EV Penetration Rises To 4.04%
Electric commercial vehicle retail reached 4,188 units in September, up 158.2 per cent from 1,622 units a year earlier. However, registrations declined 10.93 per cent from 4,702 units in August.
EV penetration in commercial vehicles increased to 4.04 per cent from 2.16 per cent in September 2025, although it declined from 5.18 per cent in August.
The broader commercial vehicle market crossed one lakh units in September for the first time, reaching 1,03,557 units. Retail increased 37.62 per cent year-on-year and 14.09 per cent month-on-month.
The September numbers show differing stages of electrification across India's vehicle market. Three-wheelers continue to lead in penetration, two-wheelers account for the bulk of EV volumes, passenger EVs are expanding rapidly from a smaller base, while commercial vehicle electrification remains at an earlier stage.
FADA has cautioned that the strong year-on-year growth in the wider automobile market partly reflects a low September 2025 base, when purchases were deferred ahead of the GST 2.0 implementation on 22 September 2025.