India’s EV market surges 57% in Q1 of 2026: Report

India’s electric passenger vehicle market has surged 57 per cent year‑on‑year during the first quarter of 2026. This has outpaced overall passenger vehicle growth of 13 per cent driven by superior charging infrastructure, competitive pricing and connectivity features, according to a report.

The report from CyberMedia Research (CMR) on Monday, May 18, stated that connected EVs grew 67 per cent year‑on‑year. It added that digital cluster adoption has increased by 55 per cent, with penetration rising from 35 per cent to 48 per cent, IANS reported.

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This major surge in the connected EV segment has established the passenger car as India’s second most important smart device after smartphones, the report highlights.

It further mentioned that advanced driver assistance systems adoption jumped 49 per cent, while Level 2 ADAS is now standard on 91 per cent of equipped vehicles. Regulatory momentum through Bharat NCAP along with plummeting sensor costs have transformed safety to baseline expectation.

Moreover, it has estimated EVs to account for 7–8 per cent of the country’s PV market by the end of this year, while connected vehicles are projected to capture 40–45 per cent of market share.

The report noted that digital cockpits grew 49 per cent, with penetration climbing from 29 per cent to 39 per cent as immersive in-cabin experiences became key purchase drivers.

The passenger vehicle market in the country has continued to remain predominantly value-driven, with 97 per cent of volumes concentrated in the sub-Rs 30 lakh segment, according to IANS.

Amit Sharma, Senior Analyst – Smart Mobility Practice, CMR said the country’s automotive market is “undergoing a fundamental transformation, shaped by the convergence of electrification, connectivity, and premiumisation.”

“The continued growth of EVs and connected vehicles indicates sustained long-term structural momentum,” Sharma added.