Electric vehicle demand in India's luxury car market has strengthened over the past year, with customers increasingly moving from considering an EV to actively choosing between available models, according to Jyoti Malhotra.
Speaking to Autocar Professional on the sidelines of the India EV Conclave, Malhotra said the shift in customer sentiment was becoming more evident, although supply constraints linked to geopolitical developments were limiting the industry's ability to meet demand.
"Two years back, people were always saying they were considering an EV and asking whether they should buy one. The narrative has now changed to which one should I buy," he said.
Malhotra attributed the improvement in demand to a combination of factors, including higher fuel prices, the introduction of E20 fuel and increasing customer exposure to electric vehicles. He said existing EV owners were also playing a role in influencing prospective buyers by sharing their ownership experiences.
According to him, customer-led advocacy carries greater weight than communication from manufacturers or media, particularly as electric vehicles remain a relatively new technology compared with internal combustion engine vehicles.