What happened
India registered 35,995 electric passenger vehicles in September 2026, up 94% year-on-year from 18,520 in September 2025, the strongest month on record.
Why it matters
Kia India passed Maruti Suzuki for the first time (1,263 to 1,103 EVs) and Tesla sold 291 luxury EVs, 322% up from last year, ahead of Mercedes-Benz.
Remember this
Tata still leads India's EV race, but the challengers just moved.
More context & who is affected
India registered 35,995 electric passenger vehicles in September 2026 — Vahan registrations analyzed by broker Nuvama — up 94% on the 18,520 recorded in September 2025, the strongest single month on record.
Kia India sold 1,263 EVs against Maruti Suzuki's 1,103, its first outright lead in the segment, up 111% on the 598 it shifted a year ago. The Syros EV — ₹13.50–20 lakh, 42 and 51.4 kWh batteries, 526 km claimed range — carries that mass-market push, alongside the Carens Clavis EV and imported EV6 and EV9. No model-level split is published, so the Syros cannot be tied to the full figure. In the luxury tier, Tesla moved 291 units, a 322% jump and its best month yet, roughly double Mercedes-Benz's 125; BMW still leads the category.
Tata Motors remains ahead with 14,769 units and a 41% share. H1 FY2027 has now reached 190,946 units, an 88% increase that leaves just 29,971 units to match FY2026's full-year 220,917. The pattern matters more than Tata's scale: competitive pressure is now arriving inside individual segments, not only at the total-market level.
- September 2026 EV sales
- 35,995 units Record monthly high, +94% YoY from 18,520 units in September 2025LivemintAutocar Professional
- Kia vs Maruti (Sept 2026)
- 1,263 vs 1,103 Kia's first outright segment win over Maruti SuzukiLivemintAutocar Professional
- Tesla luxury EV sales
- 291 units +322% YoY, ahead of Mercedes-Benz's 125 in the luxury segmentLivemintAutocar Professional
- H1 FY2027 EV sales
- 190,946 units +88% YoY, still trailing the FY2026 full-year total by 29,971 unitsAutocar Professional
Where the numbers come from
Numbers come from official Vahan registrations that the broker Nuvama analyzed for Livemint, with Autocar Professional independently confirming the same figures.
General Public
Kia Syros EV now offered at ₹13.50–20 lakh with 42 and 51.4 kWh batteries and up to 526 km range, widening the choice set for first-time EV buyers.
Business Executives
Kia has overtaken Maruti Suzuki for the first time and Tesla has passed Mercedes-Benz, forcing OEMs to rethink their EV playbooks in India.
General Public
September 2026 EV registrations are nearly double the same month last year, signaling the pace at which India is swapping petrol for electric.
Reporting fromLivemint ↗Autocar Professional ↗
Sources & verification2 sources · 4 claims
These are the records behind this briefing. Linked reporting is not the same as independent confirmation.
- LivemintReporting
Kia beats Maruti, Tesla overtakes Mercedes: How September 2026 changed India's EV sales race ↗
Published Oct 5, 2026 · Accessed Oct 5, 2026 - Autocar ProfessionalReporting
Tata, Vinfast, Kia, Toyota, Tesla Clock Best-Ever EV Sales in Record-Setting September ↗
Published Oct 2, 2026 · Accessed Oct 5, 2026
Claims and linked sources
India registered 35,995 EVs in September 2026, up 94% from 18,520 in September 2025.
Kia India sold 1,263 EVs to Maruti Suzuki's 1,103 in September 2026, its first segment lead.
Tesla sold 291 luxury EVs, up 322% YoY, passing Mercedes-Benz's 125 to become India's second-largest luxury EV seller.
Tata Motors led with 14,769 units (41% share); H1 FY2027 EV sales reached 190,946 units, 29,971 short of full-year FY2026.
