World Environment Day Special: 9.1 Million EVs Sold In India In The Past 10 Years

Today – June 5, 2026 – is World Environment Day, which comes 45 days after World Earth Day (April 22) and 95 days before World EV Day (September 9). All these three days unite companies, individuals, policy makers and thought leaders. They are days which see activations and announcements that help continue to propel the zero-emission movement worldwide. In fact, these three days should be a focus on every day of the year, and anywhere you are. And in a time of rapid and adverse climate change, it's the last call for a healthier planet – it's the only one we have.

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has stated: “The planet doesn’t argue. It doesn’t negotiate. It sends signals — rising seas, raging wildfires, heatwaves, melting glaciers. We said 1.5 degrees Celsius was the limit. We are crossing it. For decades, the world has heard the climate story — warnings, targets, distant deadlines. Too often, the response has been clouded by noise: delay, distraction, denial.”

“But listen closer now. Beneath the noise, another signal is rising. Solar panels stretch across rooftops. Wind turbines line the horizon. Cities are being redesigned for people. Forests are being replanted. Positive tipping points are taking root in every corner of the planet. World Environment Day 2026 focuses on climate change — on the urgent signals the Earth is sending and the signals we choose to send back. UNEP’s global campaign calls on all of us to step in, to move further, to steer a world already in motion. The question is no longer if change comes, but how we guide it and how fast it happens.”

World Environment Day 2026 is also reason to take a close look at how the EV industry is faring in India, which is one of the fastest-growing automotive markets globally and doing its bit in the drive towards a healthier planet.

OVER 9 MILLION ELECTRIC VEHICLES SOLD IN INDIA BETWEEN CY2017 AND MID-2026

EV share in India Auto Inc’s sales grew from 0.35% in CY2017 to 9.33% in the first 5 months of CY2026

A deep dive into India Auto Inc’s overall automobile sales and share of EVs over a 10-year period from CY2017, when the EV industry was a fledgling one, reveals that the zero-emission vehicle penetration level has risen from a minuscule 0.35% of the 24.29 million vehicles sold in CY2017 to 9.33% in the first five months of CY2026 (see decadal data table above).

Cumulative sales in the first five years (CY2017 to CY2021) at 853,896 units were just 0.73% of the 115 million vehicles (11,54,01,551) sold in the country. CY2020 and CY2021, which were Covid-impacted years, were also a sales dampener for the overall industry, EVs included.

The green shoots of EV growth sprouted strongly in CY2022 when retail sales crossed the one-million-units milestone for the first time. The 1.05 million units were a handsome 210% YoY increase (CY2021: 341,167 units) and saw the EV penetration level hit 2 percent. Since then, it’s been a strong drive for the domestic EV industry led by the volume electric 2-wheeler industry and the e-3-wheeler which, at over 60% penetration level, continues to command the highest level of transition from ICE to EVs.

India EV Inc grew rapidly between CY2023 and CY2025 and bids fair to achieve even better numbers in CY2026. While CY2023 saw the 1.5 million sales mark being surpassed with an EV penetration level of 6%, CY2024 did even better to hit the 2 million milestone with 28% YoY growth and an EV share of nearly 7.5 percent. CY2025 delivered 16% growth with 2.35 million EVs being delivered to customers and an EV penetration level of 8.65 percent. This year promises to be even better for EV makers, what with the three-month-old West Asia crisis having already resulted in four price hikes for petrol and diesel, and two for CNG. Between January 1 and June 4, 2026, 1.28 million EVs have been retailed marking strong 40% growth and an EV penetration level of 9.33% versus the 13.79 million vehicles (across all powertrains) sold in India.

Electric Two-Wheelers

CY2017: 1,516 units – 0.008% share of 18.81 million 2Ws

CY2026 YTD: 801,277 units – 8% share of 9.79 million 2Ws

Share of 9.16 million EVs sold in India: 56%

From 1,516 units a decade ago and a 0.008% share of India 2W Inc’s sales of 18.81 million motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, the electric 2W segment has blossomed into the volume growth driver of the EV industry.

As the data table above reveals, demand for e-mobility on two wheels crossed the 150,000-units mark for the first time in CY2021 (164,195 units) and then jumped 303% the next year to 661,633 units. The million milestone was surpassed two years later in CY2024 (1.21 million units), only to be bettered in CY2025 (1.34 million units) with its share of auto sales doubling to 6 percent. Now, in the current year’s first five months, with 801,277 units sold and 49% YoY growth, the e-2W share of India Auto Inc sales stands at 8.17 percent. What’s more, having already achieved 60% of CY2025’s record sale and currently averaging monthly sales of over 160,000 units, the e-2W industry could even be headed towards 2 million units this year. What will also help is the tailwinds provided by rising prices of petrol and CNG in the wake of the West Asia crude oil crisis. For the latest update of e-2W sales this year, CLICK HERE.

Electric Three-Wheelers

CY2017: 83,338 units – 13.69% share of 608,493 three-wheelers

CY2026 YTD: 354,195 units – 58.82% share of 602,119 three-wheelers

Share of 9.16 million EVs sold in India: 37%

The real success story of the Indian EV industry lies in the three-wheeler segment. This is where the highest level of ICE-to-EV transition is seen. From a near-14% penetration level – 83,338 units from 608,493 units across all powertrains – the e-3W category currently has a 59% penetration level, way higher than the e-2W category.

Across both passenger and cargo transport operations, the incentive to buy an electric three-wheeler remains strong, particularly in view of the lower cost of ownership (compared to IC engine, CNG and LPG options). While there is a high percentage of single owners, particularly for passenger transport, there is growing demand for electric 3W cargo models for last=mile mobility operations in urban India.

As the decadal retail sales data reveals, annual sales crossed the half-a-million mark in CY2023, rose by 19% YoY to 695,265 units in CY2024 and then went on to surpass the 800,000 milestone in CY2025. In CY2026’s first five months and 4 days, the 354,195 units give this segment a 59% penetration level in the 602,119 three-wheelers sold across India. And, the icing on the EV cake is that the Indian electric 3W industry has been the No. 1 global market for three years running, having beaten China first in CY2023. For the latest update of e-3W sales this year, CLICK HERE.

Electric Passenger Vehicles

CY2017: 1,266 units – 0.032% share of 3.87 million cars, SUVs and MPVs

CY2026 YTD: 120,702 units – 4.30% share of 2.80 million passenger vehicles

Share of 9.16 million EVs sold in India: 6%

Considerably smaller volume-wise than the electric 2- and 3-wheeler segments, the electric passenger vehicle (e-PV) segment has come into its own in the past couple of years as a result of a growing number of models, improving charging infrastructure and also the innovative Battery as a Service (BaaS) marketing feature which reduces the upfront cost of an EV. In CY2017, a fledgling e-PV industry with just a few models sold 1,266 units which gave it a less than 1% share of the 3.87 million hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs and MPVs sold that year. A decade later, after the first five months of CY2026, the 120,702 units with 73% YoY growth give the segment a 4.30% penetration level of the 2.80 million PVs sold in the current year to date.

While 153,162 units or 27% of the total 576,168 e-PVs sold in the past 10 years took seven years from CY2017 to CY2023, the CY2024 to mid-CY2026 period delivered sales of 422,306 units or 73% of the decadal retails. While CY2025 saw record sales of 196,090 units, the first five months of CY2026 (120,702 units) have already achieved 62% of last year’s record sales and bid fair to surpass the 300,000 annual sales milestone for the first time. For the latest update of e-3W sales this year, CLICK HERE

Electric Commercial Vehicles

CY2017: 932 units – 0.099% share of 938,998 CVs

CY2026 YTD: 12,017 units – 2% share of 539,319 CVs
Share of 9.16 million EVs sold in India: 0.56%

Lowest in terms of volumes but the highest in sticker price, the electric commercial vehicle segment has registered retail sales of 51,828 units from CY2017 till June 4, 2026. As the decadal data table depicts, annual sales crossed the 10,000 mark for the first time in CY2024, rising to 16,664 in CY025 and are currently placed at 12,017 units in the first five months and 4 days of CY2026.

Zero-emission light goods carriers account for the bulk of sales and reflect the surge in demand coming from last-mile mobility providers, particularly from urban India in the past two years. Demand for electric buses, which are mainly bought by state transport undertakings for inter-city operations and local municipal corporations for city transport, is growing. Meanwhile, heavy goods carriers, typically used for infrastructure operations across the country, are also seeing an uptick in sales.

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