Archive · 8 Sep 2026
CNG, Hybrid and Electric Cars Surpass Petrol Sales in India
Indian car buyers are choosing more than just petrol cars.
In August 2026, CNG, hybrid and electric cars together made up 41.95% of car sales.
Petrol cars made up 40.85%.
This means the three alternative types sold slightly more cars together than petrol cars.
It was the first time this happened in India.
One year earlier, petrol cars were ahead by almost 11 percentage points.
The change happened within a single year.
The figures show what buyers selected at dealerships, although the article does not explain the exact reasons for the shift.
CNG, hybrid and electric cars together made up 41.95% of India’s passenger vehicle retail in August 2026.
Petrol-powered cars accounted for 40.85% of passenger vehicle retail during the same month.
This was the first time combined alternative-powertrain sales exceeded petrol car sales in India.
A year earlier, petrol led the combined CNG, hybrid and electric segment by nearly 11 percentage points.
The figures come from FADA’s monthly retail data and reflect dealership purchases ahead of the festive season.
- Who
- Indian passenger-vehicle buyers and car dealerships, with data reported by FADA.
- What
- CNG, hybrid and electric cars together overtook petrol cars in passenger vehicle retail sales.
- When
- August 2026; the comparison also covers the previous year.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- The article presents the sales shift but does not specify the exact reasons behind it.
- Alternative-powertrain share
- 41.95% of passenger vehicle retail in August 2026
- Petrol share
- 40.85% of passenger vehicle retail in August 2026
- Reporting organization
- FADA
- Comparison
- Alternative-powertrain cars exceeded petrol cars for the first time
- Year-on-year change
- Petrol was ahead by nearly 11 percentage points a year earlier
- Vehicle types included
- CNG, hybrid and electric cars