GizmoSmart Newsdesk | Weekly EV Industry Roundup

India’s EV market is picking up speed. Record September sales and a strong Navratri have given the industry fresh momentum, with rising petrol prices making electric vehicles more attractive to buyers. But there’s a catch: supply isn’t keeping pace with demand.

Meanwhile, the global EV race is getting more interesting. BYD is showing signs of renewed growth, Tesla is facing pressure in China, and a new Ember analysis suggests India has overtaken the US in electric car sales share. Here’s what matters this week, and what it could mean if you’re planning to buy an EV.

1. Navratri: EV Registrations Up 27% as Petrol Bites

India’s EV retail registrations rose 26.78% to 1,17,437 units during Navratri (11–20 October), compared with 92,628 a year earlier. EVs accounted for around 10.5% of all vehicle retail sales during the period.

Electric two-wheelers led the growth with 75,758 units (+33.41%), followed by three-wheelers at 28,086 (+10.51%) and passenger EVs at 12,305 (+25.97%). Meanwhile, overall passenger vehicle registrations fell by around 22% year on year.

Why it matters: Running costs are becoming a bigger part of the EV buying decision. With petrol at ₹111.21 per litre in Mumbai on 21 October, and prices around ₹116 in parts of South India, switching to electric may look increasingly appealing to buyers who want to reduce their fuel bills.

Sources: BioEnergy Times and AutoPunditz, both reporting FADA’s provisional data; Goodreturns for petrol prices.

2. Supply, Not Demand, Is the Bottleneck

EV demand is growing, but getting a vehicle delivered may be another story. Dealers say supply hasn’t kept pace, with FADA pointing to a shortage of specialised chips. Some buyers are reportedly facing waiting periods of up to eight months.

Hyundai has also reported that demand for the Creta EV has roughly doubled to around 1,000 units a month. Waiting periods are typically four to six weeks, stretching to eight weeks for some variants.

Why it matters: If you’re planning to buy an EV this festive season, don’t focus only on the price or advertised range. Ask the dealer for a realistic delivery date, check availability for your preferred variant, and compare alternatives before paying a booking amount.

Source: Business Standard, 22 October.

3. September Was India’s Biggest EV Month Yet

India recorded a record 3,33,634 EV retail sales in September, up 74% year on year. Electric two-wheelers reached an all-time high of 2,07,314 units, while passenger EV sales rose 94.56% year on year and 17.63% compared with August.

The numbers suggest that EV adoption is reaching beyond early adopters, particularly in the two-wheeler segment. But continued growth will also depend on whether manufacturers can keep up with orders and make charging more convenient for everyday users.

Source: Organiser, reporting FADA data.

4. India Passes the US on Electric Car Share, Not on Volume

According to Ember, India has recorded a higher battery-electric share of car sales than the US every month since April. Of the 56 countries tracked, 49 are now ahead of the US on this measure.

Globally, battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) accounted for 18% of new car sales in the first eight months of 2026, compared with 6% in the US. Tata and Mahindra also accounted for more than 60% of India’s EV sales in the first half of the year.

The important distinction: A higher sales share doesn’t mean India sells more electric cars than the US in absolute numbers. It means battery-electric vehicles make up a larger proportion of the car market under this comparison.

Sources: Ember (14 October) and BusinessToday.

5. Global Snapshot: BYD Growing, Tesla Squeezed in China

The global EV race remains competitive, and the latest figures show different challenges for two major players.

BYD is showing signs of recovery. The company sold 1,323,065 new energy vehicles (NEVs) in Q3, up 18.75% year on year. This marked its first quarterly growth after four consecutive declines. September overseas shipments jumped 153.9% to 179,877, even as sales in China fell 13%.

Tesla is seeing a more mixed picture. It delivered 486,532 vehicles in Q3, around 2% fewer than a year earlier, although the result beat analyst estimates. In China, Tesla’s retail sales are falling while exports from its Shanghai plant have doubled.

There is also a policy change to watch: China will reduce its EV export tax rebate from April 2027, potentially adding costs equivalent to 4% of export value for carmakers. China’s overall NEV retail sales are down 12.8% through September following the halving of the purchase tax exemption on 1 January.

Why it matters: Automakers are navigating more than just competition. Domestic demand, export opportunities, incentives and production costs can all influence pricing and availability. These pressures will be worth watching as manufacturers compete for buyers in India and other international markets.

Sources: SQ Magazine, Motorwatt, CNBC and Electrek.

6. Launch Radar: What’s New in India?

A couple of new electric two-wheeler options are worth a look this week.

• e-SPRINTO G1: Launched on 13 October at ₹89,999 ex-showroom Delhi, with claimed ranges of up to 80, 100 or 130 km depending on the battery variant.
• VLF Strada: Listed from ₹1,19,999 and launched on 12 October. Check the listing.

Before you book: Compare the advertised range with your daily travel needs, and check charging time, warranty, service availability and the on-road price in your city.

Prices are ex-showroom and may vary by city and subsidy eligibility.

7. Policy and Charging Check-In

There are developments to watch on both incentives and charging infrastructure.

The PM E-DRIVE portal says the end date for e-two-wheeler incentives has been extended to 31 March 2028 under an amendment dated 10 August 2026. Separately, as of 28 September, ₹851 crore had been approved for the deployment of 8,147 public chargers through three oil marketing companies and 10 states.

Why it matters: Purchase incentives can affect the upfront cost of an EV, while public charging availability plays a major role in how convenient electric mobility is. If you’re considering a purchase, confirm which incentives currently apply to your vehicle and location rather than relying on general announcements alone.

Sources: PM E-DRIVE portal and PIB India summary.

The Takeaway

India’s EV market is growing quickly, helped by rising fuel costs and stronger buyer interest. But the latest numbers also point to practical challenges: waiting periods, vehicle availability and access to charging.

If you’re planning to buy this festive season, look beyond the headline price. Compare the on-road cost, check the actual delivery timeline, understand the range you’ll get in everyday use, and confirm subsidy eligibility before making a decision.

The momentum is encouraging. The next question is whether supply and infrastructure can keep pace with the growing interest in electric mobility.