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India registered approximately 1.72 lakh electric two-wheelers in August 2026, dropping 16.1% from July's 2.05 lakh units following a temporary subsidy transition window. Despite this month-on-month cooldown, retail sales grew 64% year-on-year compared to August 2025. TVS Motor claimed the top spot with 46,587 units, closely followed by Bajaj Auto with 45,861 units. The standout headline belongs to all-time cumulative volume: TVS crossed 11.27 lakh total electric scooter registrations, officially overtaking Ola Electric's 11.17 lakh units to become India's all-time volume leader for the first time.
August 2026 at a Glance
Total retail sales: ~1.72 lakh units (down 16.1% MoM, up 64% YoY)
Top-selling brand: TVS Motor with 46,587 registrations
All-time sales leader: TVS (11.27 lakh units) moves past Ola (11.17 lakh units)
Market share surprise: Ola Electric's market share inched up to 7.6% (from 6.8% in July) because the broader market shrank faster than its own sales
Subsidy status: PM E-Drive extended to March 31, 2028, offering ₹2,500 per kWh (capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle)
Electric two-wheelers now account for roughly 8% of all two-wheelers sold across India, up from about 6% across 2025. Even during a slower month, electric options are claiming a larger portion of total showroom sales nationwide.
OEM-Wise Sales Breakdown: August 2026
| Rank | OEM | July 2026 Units | August 2026 Units | MoM Change | August Market Share |
| 1 | TVS Motor | 55,823 | 46,587 | -16.5% | 27.1% |
| 2 | Bajaj Auto | 45,860 | 45,861 | 0.0% | 26.7% |
| 3 | Ather Energy | 30,632 | 27,218 | -11.1% | 15.8% |
| 4 | Hero Vida | 22,989 | 17,432 | -24.2% | 10.1% |
| 5 | Ola Electric | 14,226 | 13,132 | -7.7% | 7.6% |
| — | Other OEMs (Greaves/Ampere, River, BGauss, Revolt, etc.) | ~35,470 | ~21,770 | -38.6% | ~12.7% |
| Total | All India Market | 2,05,000 | 1,72,000 | -16.1% | 100% |
Figures reflect retail registrations recorded on the Vahan portal. Market share figures are computed against the 1.72 lakh total August registrations.
TVS stayed on top for August despite a 16.5% drop from July, helped by its iQube lineup crossing one million cumulative customers.
Bajaj held its ground with 45,861 units, finishing just 726 units behind TVS. Bajaj is currently working to expand Chetak monthly production capacity to 60,000 units to meet showroom demand.
Ather Energy held third place with 27,218 units, though delivery wait times continue to be limited by manufacturing capacity. Hero Vida fell 24.2% to 17,432 units despite recently doubling its monthly factory capacity to 30,000 units.
Ola Electric took fifth spot with 13,132 units. While its absolute sales dipped by 7.7%, its overall market share rose slightly from 6.8% to 7.6% as competitors saw larger volume drops.
CY2026 Year-to-Date Leaderboard
| OEM | Jan–Aug 2026 Units | YTD Market Share | Notable Milestone |
| TVS Motor | 3,53,242 (as of Aug 30) | ~26% | Surpassed its entire CY2025 total of 3,15,081 units |
| Bajaj Auto | 3,02,179 (as of Aug 30) | ~22.5% | Crossed 3 lakh units for the year, growing 68% YoY |
| Ather Energy | Undisclosed YTD | — | Maintained third position throughout CY2026 |
| Hero Vida | Undisclosed YTD | — | Maintained fourth position throughout CY2026 |
| Ola Electric | 88,910 (as of Aug 24) | ~7% | Shifted to fifth place in year-to-date volume |
TVS and Bajaj together accounted for more than half of all electric two-wheelers sold in India in August. Total electric two-wheeler registrations across the country crossed 13 lakh units by late August and remain on track to approach 20 lakh units by the end of 2026.
Why Did Electric Scooter Sales Drop in August?
The main reason for the month-on-month drop wasn't a sudden loss of buyer interest — it was a temporary policy pause.
Here is how the subsidy timeline unfolded:
April 2025: The central government adjusted the PM E-Drive incentive to ₹2,500 per kWh of battery capacity (capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle), down from ₹5,000 per kWh.
July 31, 2026: The earlier window for the two-wheeler subsidy expired. For the first ten days of August, dealerships waited on formal notification, leading some buyers to pause bookings.
August 11, 2026: The Ministry of Heavy Industries issued an official notification extending PM E-Drive until March 31, 2028, keeping the incentive at ₹2,500 per kWh for scooters priced up to ₹1.5 lakh ex-factory.
That brief gap in early August delayed billing and registration timelines, pushing some deliveries into September.
The Big Shift: How TVS Overtook Ola
The standout shift in August was all-time volume. As of August 24, 2026, TVS reached 11,27,873 cumulative electric scooter registrations, pulling ahead of Ola Electric's 11,17,031 units.
TVS and Ola are the only two manufacturers in India to have crossed the 1-million cumulative unit milestone. Together, they represent roughly 40% of all electric two-wheelers registered in India since 2020.
The contrast between their trajectories tells the story:
Ola Electric built a massive early lead, selling 4,29,187 units in 2024 for a 35% market share. In 2025, its sales dropped to 2,04,542 units (15% share), and through late August 2026, it recorded 88,910 units (around 7% share).
TVS Motor focused on steady expansion through its existing national dealership network, gradually compounding monthly volumes to take the cumulative lead.
Should You Buy an Electric Scooter Now or Wait?
When to Buy Now
You want a sub-₹1.2 lakh commuter: TVS, Bajaj, Ola, and Ather all offer competitive entry models eligible for the ₹5,000 central subsidy.
You're considering fresh mass-market models: Recent launches like the Ather Konarc and Ola S1Z series offer updated features at accessible price points.
You live in a Tier-2 or Tier-3 city: Established dealer networks from TVS and Bajaj offer straightforward access to local service centers and warranty support.
When to Wait
You want festive season deals: Waiting until the upcoming festive period often opens up manufacturer cashback offers, reduced financing rates, and bundled extended warranties.
You have your eye on specific Ather variants: If your preferred model has a long waiting period, waiting a few weeks could mean faster delivery once new plant capacity comes online.
You want to check local Ola service support: Ola began onboarding independent dealer partners in August after years of relying solely on direct company centers. It can pay to verify how service support looks in your specific area before buying.
Evfy's Take: The Changing Market Dynamics
August's numbers highlight a fundamental shift in how people buy electric two-wheelers in India. In the early days, direct-to-consumer apps, software updates, and rapid online bookings drove the market.
Today, buyers treat electric scooters just like traditional petrol commuters. They want to walk into a neighborhood showroom, speak with a local technician, and know exactly where to go if a component needs replacement.
This shift favors legacy manufacturers with extensive retail networks. TVS and Bajaj aren't just selling scooters — they're leaning on decades of service familiarity. Ola's move to sign third-party dealers shows that physical sales and service footprints remain central to winning over mass-market buyers.
Common Misunderstandings About August's Numbers
"A 16% monthly drop means electric scooter demand is fading." Monthly sales fluctuate with policy announcements, but the segment is still up 64% compared to this time last year.
"The central EV subsidy has ended." The PM E-Drive subsidy remains active through March 31, 2028, providing ₹2,500 per kWh (up to ₹5,000) for qualifying electric scooters.
"Ola's market presence dropped across every metric." While Ola's raw volume declined, its market share actually increased from 6.8% in July to 7.6% in August due to sharper drops among other OEMs.
"TVS has always been the top seller overall." Ola held the cumulative all-time volume lead for years until TVS moved ahead in late August 2026.
