Quick Highlights:
- Tata Motors remains No.1 with 7,824 EVs sold in January 2026
- MG (4,591 units) and Mahindra (3,311 units) fight it out for second place
- VinFast sells 431 units, overtaking Hyundai to claim 4th position
- EV penetration crosses 5 percent, signalling a mainstream shift in 2026
Electric Car Sales January 2026: VinFast Firmly Secures 4th Spot
January 2026 has turned out to be a defining month for India’s electric vehicle market. While the top three manufacturers continue to dominate as expected, the real action is unfolding just below them. After an entire year of near-static rankings in 2025, the battle for the 4th position has finally produced a clear winner, and in my view, it is the most interesting EV story of the month.
Tata Motors Continues to Lead Despite Intensifying Competition
Tata Motors once again topped the EV sales chart by retailing 7,824 units in January 2026. Although its overall market share has seen a marginal dip due to increasing competition, Tata’s breadth of offerings continues to be unmatched. Models like the Tiago.ev, Punch.ev, and the newly refreshed Harrier EV ensure strong volume across price bands. The company’s early bet on electrification, combined with the rapid expansion of its EV-only T-Point dealerships in Tier-2 cities, is clearly still paying off.
MG and Mahindra Tighten the Race for Second Place
The gap between second and third place is shrinking faster than ever.
MG Motor, with 4,591 units, retained the second position. Its Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) strategy continues to attract cost-conscious EV buyers, and the Windsor EV remains MG’s strongest volume contributor.
Close behind is Mahindra, which posted 3,311 units. With the XEV 9e and BE 6 now in full-scale production, Mahindra seems to be successfully converting its traditional ICE customer base into EV adopters. Personally, this transition is one of the most encouraging signs for long-term EV growth in India.
The VinFast Factor: A New Disruptor Emerges
The standout performer of January 2026 is undoubtedly VinFast Auto India. The Vietnamese automaker sold 431 units, officially leapfrogging Hyundai’s 326 units to claim the 4th spot in the EV rankings. Achieving this within six months of entering the Indian market is no small feat.
VinFast’s strategy is clear and effective: localized assembly at its Thoothukudi plant, coupled with an aggressive 75-showroom rollout, has helped it position the VF 6 and VF 7 as premium, tech-forward SUVs without luxury-brand pricing. In the ₹25–40 lakh segment, VinFast is already forcing established players to rethink value propositions.
Electric Car Sales January 2026
| Rank | Brank | Jan 2026 |
| 1 | Tata | 7,824 |
| 2 | MG Motor | 4,591 |
| 3 | Mahindra | 3,311 |
| 4 | VinFast | 431 |
| 5 | Hyundai | 326 |
What Lies Ahead in Q1 2026
February and March are expected to further shake up the EV leaderboard. The upcoming launch of the VinFast Limo Green, a 7-seater electric MPV, and the much-anticipated entry of the Maruti Suzuki e Vitara could redraw competitive lines yet again. With EV penetration now exceeding 5 percent of total passenger vehicle sales, 2026 genuinely feels like the year electric mobility moves from curiosity to default consideration.
Expert Take
Seeing a newcomer like VinFast outsell Hyundai in the EV space reinforces a key trend I strongly believe in: Indian buyers are increasingly brand-agnostic when it comes to electric vehicles. Technology, range, charging confidence, and pricing matter far more than legacy badges, and January 2026 is solid proof of that shift.
