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Navratri 2026 EV Sales: FADA Data Shows 27% Jump to 10.5% Share

FADA's Navratri 2026 retail data shows 1,17,437 EVs sold in India — up 26.78% — with EV share at 10.5%. Segment numbers, base-effect caveats and a Diwali buying guide.

Reporting by Firoz Khan
Published
Read Time 10 min read
Electric scooters decorated for Diwali inside an Indian EV showroom

Navratri 2026 EV Sales: FADA Data Shows 27% Jump to 10.5% Share

India's electric vehicle story just had its most convincing festive season yet. Provisional retail data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) on 21 October 2026 shows that 1,17,437 electric vehicles were retailed across the country during the ten days of Navratri (11–20 October) — a 26.78% jump over the same festival last year. EVs now account for close to 10.5% of every vehicle sold during the festive window, up from about 7.7% a year ago.

FADA president Sai Giridhar called electrification "the real stand-out" of the season and said India's EV shift has become self-sustaining. Here is what the numbers actually say — including the caveat behind the headline dip in overall auto sales.

TL;DR — the five numbers that matter

  • 1,17,437 EVs retailed during Navratri 2026 (10 days), up 26.78% from 92,628 in Navratri 2025.
  • EV share hit ~10.5% of all festive vehicle sales, up from ~7.7% last year.
  • Electric two-wheelers led: 75,758 units (+33.41%), lifting their segment share to 9.08% from 6.62%.
  • Electric cars grew 25.97% to 12,305 units; their share of passenger-vehicle registrations rose from 4.17% to 6.73%.
  • Overall vehicle sales fell 6.52% — but that is optical: this year's Navratri ran 10 days versus 11 last year, and 2025 had the GST 2.0 buying rush. Against the truly comparable Navratri 2024, total sales are up 26.76%.

Segment by segment: who won the festive race

  • Electric two-wheelers — 75,758 units, +33.41% YoY: the volume engine of India's EV story. Compared with Navratri 2024 (40,450 units), sales are up 87.29% in two years. The segment's electric share of all two-wheelers rose from 6.62% to 9.08%. This continues a record run — September 2026 saw an all-time high of 2,07,314 electric two-wheelers with an 11.6% segment share, meaning more than one in nine two-wheelers retailed is now electric. (See our breakdown of FADA's September 2026 EV sales record.)
  • Electric three-wheelers — 28,086 units, +10.51% YoY: steady growth, up 39.32% against 2024. Note this figure is provisional: registration data for three-wheelers from Telangana was unavailable.
  • Electric passenger vehicles — 12,305 units, +25.97% YoY: against 2024's 3,252 units, sales are up 278.38% in two years. On a daily-average basis (10 days versus 11 last year), electric-car registrations actually grew 38.6% — from 888 to 1,231 units a day. September's monthly high was 36,108 units with an 8.5% penetration.
  • Electric commercial vehicles — 1,288 units, +96.04% YoY: the fastest-growing segment by percentage, nearly doubling from 657 units — and up 341% against 2024. Fleet electrification, backed by PM E-DRIVE support for e-trucks and e-buses, is clearly accelerating.

Why total sales fell while EVs surged: the base-effect trap

Read the headlines carefully: overall vehicle retail fell 6.52% to 11,23,086 units. But FADA is explicit that this dip is "largely optical", and the data backs it up.

  • The calendar math: Navratri 2025 ran 11 days (22 September–2 October); Navratri 2026 ran 10 days (11–20 October). One extra selling day inflates last year's base.
  • The GST 2.0 effect: last year's festival began on the very day revised GST rates took effect (22 September 2025), pulling a wave of pent-up demand into one window. Buyers had held back purchases from mid-August to 21 September waiting for the new rates, then rushed dealerships.
  • The honest comparison: against Navratri 2024 — also a 10-day period — total vehicle retail is up 26.76% (from 8,85,998 units), and EV sales are up 83.06% (from 64,153). On that like-for-like basis, both the market and electrification are growing strongly.
  • Data coverage: the figures come from 1,468 of India's 1,469 RTOs, compiled with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Three-wheeler, commercial-vehicle and tractor data for Telangana was not available.

What is driving the festive EV surge

FADA attributes the growth to a combination that goes well beyond subsidies:

  • Maturing running-cost economics: with petrol prices elevated and concerns around ethanol-blended fuel, the per-kilometre cost advantage of EVs keeps widening. Our EV vs petrol running-cost analysis shows the breakeven maths for 2026 buyers.
  • Wider model choice and financing: established makers are targeting the mass-market family scooter segment rather than just premium performance scooters, with battery-as-a-service options and easy financing pulling in first-time buyers.
  • Policy continuity: PM E-DRIVE — extended to March 2028 — plus progressive state schemes continue to support buyers. Electric two-wheelers get ₹2,500 per kWh (capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle); see how much subsidy you get and how to claim it.
  • Market consolidation: in September, TVS, Bajaj and Ather together held 65% of the electric two-wheeler market (up from 58% a year earlier), while Ola Electric's share slipped to 6.5%. Buyers are voting for distribution reach and after-sales networks.
  • "No longer a subsidy story": Giridhar's words — "This is no longer a subsidy-led story; it is a demand-led one." Festive demand, economics, choice and policy together are turning the EV "from an alternative into a default consideration".

Should you buy an EV this Diwali? A practical checklist

FADA says it is "cautiously optimistic" heading into the Dhanteras-to-Diwali wave, citing strong affordability and rising aspiration. If you are shopping, here is how to make the festive season work for you — and what to watch out for.

  • Festive offers are real — compare the total, not the gift: dealerships are bundling discounts with freebies (helmets, accessories, even TVs) right now. A ₹4,000 gift is worthless if the on-road price is ₹8,000 above the ex-showroom quote you got in September. Get written on-road quotes from two dealers before deciding.
  • Check your subsidy eligibility first: PM E-DRIVE demand incentives apply at the dealer level, but price caps apply (e-2Ws up to ₹1.5 lakh ex-factory). Confirm the subsidy is reflected in your invoice, not just promised verbally.
  • Do the home-charging maths: an EV's economics assume cheap home charging. Check your home charger installation cost — a 3.3 kW setup versus a 7.4 kW one changes the payback timeline.
  • Beware festive-season fraud: social media is full of "Diwali dhamaka" ads offering electric scooters for implausibly low prices (₹2,000–₹18,000) with advance online payment. Genuine dealers never demand full advance payment to unknown accounts. Buy only from authorised dealerships, insist on RTO registration in your name, and verify the battery warranty in writing.
  • Test the after-sales, not just the scooter: with the market consolidating around TVS, Bajaj, Ather and Hero, service-network depth matters more than a festive discount. Ask the dealer where the nearest authorised service centre is and what the battery replacement process looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many electric vehicles were sold during Navratri 2026?

1,17,437 EVs were retailed in India during the 10-day Navratri period (11–20 October 2026), up 26.78% from 92,628 units in Navratri 2025, according to FADA's provisional data released on 21 October 2026. Electric two-wheelers accounted for the bulk at 75,758 units, followed by electric three-wheelers (28,086), electric passenger vehicles (12,305) and electric commercial vehicles (1,288).

What is the EV share of vehicle sales in India right now?

During the Navratri 2026 festive window, EVs accounted for approximately 10.5% of all vehicle registrations, up from about 7.7% a year earlier. For context, September 2026 — a full month — saw EV penetration of around 13% across categories, with electric two-wheelers at 11.6% and electric passenger vehicles at 8.5%.

Why did overall vehicle sales fall during Navratri 2026 while EV sales grew?

The 6.52% fall in total vehicle retail is a base effect, not weakening demand. Navratri 2025 ran 11 days versus 10 this year, and it coincided with the GST 2.0 rate-cut rollout, which concentrated pent-up demand into one extraordinary window. Compared with the truly comparable Navratri 2024 (also 10 days), total vehicle sales are actually up 26.76% — and EV sales are up 83%.

Which electric two-wheeler brands are selling the most in India?

TVS Motor, Bajaj Auto and Ather Energy together held 65% of the electric two-wheeler market in September 2026 (up from 58% a year earlier). TVS led with over 54,000 units in September, followed by Bajaj at over 48,000. Ola Electric's share continued to slip, falling to 6.5% in September from 7.6% in August.

Is Diwali 2026 a good time to buy an EV in India?

For most buyers, yes — festive discounts are genuine, PM E-DRIVE subsidies remain available through March 2028, and running-cost economics favour EVs more than ever. But do three things: compare written on-road quotes from at least two dealers, confirm the subsidy is itemised in your invoice, and never pay advances to unknown sellers advertising implausibly cheap scooters on social media.

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Sources & References

  • BioEnergy Times — "EV retail sales rise 26.78% during Navratri, share climbs to 10.5%: FADA" — https://bioenergytimes.com/ev-retail-sales-rise-26-78-during-navratri-share-climbs-to-10-5-fada/
  • The Hindu BusinessLine — "Electric car sales rise 26% during Navratri, outperform non-EV vehicles" — https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/electric-car-sales-rise-26-during-navratri-outperform-non-ev-vehicles/article71607975.ece
  • Autocar Professional — "Navratri Auto Retail Sales Rise 26.8% to 11.23 Lakh Units: FADA" — https://www.autocarpro.in/news/navratri-auto-retail-sales-rise-268-percent-to-1123-lakh-units-fada-135375
  • ETAuto — "Festive Auto Sales: Navratri Vehicle Retail Declines 6.5% But EVs Surge 27%" — https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/navratri-vehicle-retail-dips-6-5-on-high-base-evs-buck-trend-with-27-growth-fada/135095932?utmsource=topstory&utm_medium=homepage
  • Millennium Post — "Electric passenger vehicle retail sales nearly doubled, 2-wheeler sales jump 88 pc in Sept" — https://www.millenniumpost.in/business/electric-passenger-vehicle-retail-sales-nearly-doubled-2-wheeler-sales-jump-88-pc-in-sept-678880
  • Financial Express — "TVS, Bajaj and Ather widen lead in E2W market with 65% share" — https://www.financialexpress.com/auto/bike-news/tvs-bajaj-and-ather-widen-lead-in-e2w-market-with-65-share/4349722/

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