Rising domestic demand for premium electric vehicles boosts India’s BEV market, while global sales soar, boosted by China and Europe. Tesla loses share in key markets.
27 May 2025 | 1977 Views | By Darshan Nakhwa
India’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) market posted solid growth in the first quarter of 2025, with sales reaching 31,661 units, a 22% increase from 25,842 units in the same period last year. However, the country’s performance lagged behind the 42% global surge in BEV sales to 2.66 million units, driven ...
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India’s battery electric vehicle (BEV) market posted solid growth in the first quarter of 2025, with sales reaching 31,661 units, a 22% increase from 25,842 units in the same period last year. However, the country’s performance lagged behind the 42% global surge in BEV sales to 2.66 million units, driven by robust demand in markets such as China, Europe, the UK, and the US, according to a report from Strategy&, a consulting business unit of PricewaterhouseCoopers.
India’s BEV growth was particularly robust in March 2025, with monthly sales climbing to 12,163 units—up 24% year-on-year. This was on account of incremental volumes from Mahindra & Mahindra and Hyundai Motor India BEVs.
The rise in BEV sales highlights India's expanding shift toward clean mobility, spurred by government incentives, evolving consumer preferences for premium vehicles, and new product launches by domestic and global automakers.
Currently, India’s electric passenger vehicle market is led by players like Tata Motors, MG Motor India, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Hyundai Motor India. Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle maker, is expected to launch its first EV domestically in September. In the luxury segment, brands like BYD, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz are also expanding their EV offerings in India.
Despite the growth, India’s EV share remains modest—just 2.5% of total passenger vehicle sales in 2024—held back by high prices and limited charging infrastructure. S&P Global expects a shift in the coming years as affordable EVs, better financing options, and expanded charging networks bridge the price gap with conventional vehicles. The Indian government aims for EVs to comprise 30% of all passenger vehicle sales by FY2030.
In Q1 2025, India’s hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) segment recorded a modest 1.5% rise in sales to 93,173 units, while plug-in hybrid (PHEV) volumes remained negligible at 30 units.
Global Sales
Globally, BEV sales momentum was even stronger. China, the world’s largest EV market, reported a 55% jump in BEV sales to 1.64 million units in Q1 2025. PHEV sales rose 37% to 994,000 units, while hybrids increased 18% to 213,000 units—bringing China’s total EV sales to nearly 2.85 million units for the quarter. The BEV and PHEV numbers include commercial vehicles, and hybrid numbers include only passenger cars
The Chinese market continues to be boosted by a series of government measures, including the expansion of the trade-in scheme which offers financial incentives that encourage consumers to upgrade to newer vehicles, Strategy& said. The country ICE sales were down 7% year on year, the tenth successive quarter in which such a decline was registered.
Europe–including the European Union, UK and European Free Trade Association--also witnessed robust growth, with BEV sales climbing to 574,000 units in Q1 2025, a 28% increase from a year earlier. PHEVs grew 6% to 268,000 units, and hybrid sales expanded 20% to 1.22 million units. The total EV volume for Europe stood at 2.06 million units, as per the report.
After three consecutive quarters of year-on-year declines in BEV sales, Q1 2025 experienced a significant revival in Europe, according to the report. Sales of BEVs increased in the top five European markets by 30%, resulting in the highest BEV market share on record for the first quarter of the year (15%). The relatively large BEV markets of the UK and Germany were responsible for much of that growth, up by 43% and 39%, respectively.
Germany’s strong growth can be partly attributed to a sudden fall in sales in the equivalent quarter last year in the wake of the sudden withdrawal of incentives. Despite the overall strong performance, Germany remains in second place for the largest market for BEVs in Europe, following the UK's lead in both the first quarter and full year of 2024, Strategy& said.
In Q1 2025, the United States saw an 18% rise in BEV sales to 301,000 units, even as PHEV sales slipped by 11% to 79,000 units. Hybrid vehicles, however, saw a sharp 47% increase, with 473,000 units sold during the quarter.
Tesla Loses Ground
Tesla, one of the world’s largest EV makers, lost ground in several key markets in Q1 2025. In Europe’s leading markets (Germany, Italy, Spain), Tesla’s Model Y fell to fifth place in sales rankings, with 5,797 units sold, while the Tesla Model 3 dropped to sixth. The top-selling models in Europe were the VW ID.7 (9,515 units), VW ID.4/ID.5 (8,301 units), and Skoda Enyaq (7,515 units).
In China, Tesla’s Model Y ranked third with 81,889 units sold, behind the Geely Geome Xingyuan (89,215 units) and the Wuling Hongguang Mini EV (86,946 units). The Model 3 held sixth place with 52,718 units sold.
In the US, Tesla retained its lead, with the Model Y topping the charts at 64,051 units and the Model 3 following at 52,520 units. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, with 11,607 units sold, rounded out the top three.
As global and domestic markets transition toward electrification and software-centric automotive technologies, industry analysts expect continued momentum in EV sales in the coming quarters, with India’s efforts to build out local supply chains and charging infrastructure playing a key role.