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Time of India
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
ICE cars steal sales show so far this year, EVs in very slow lane
The electric dream is alive, with glitzy EV launches and a loud government push, but India's bumper-to-bumper traffic remains largely fossil-fuelled. Nine out of 10 cars sold in the first half of 2025 run on internal combustion engines (ICEs). While the government has set an ambitious target for electric vehicles to make up 30% of all passenger vehicle sales by 2030, carmakers are hedging their bets, underscoring the wide gap between policy ambitions and market reality. Maruti Suzuki , India's largest carmaker, sold 87% ICE vehicles - those run on petrol, diesel and CNG - in the January-June period, with hybrid and mild hybrid EVs making up the remaining 13%, data collated by market researcher Jato Dynamics showed. The ICE share of Mahindra & Mahindra, which currently sells three EV models in the country and has several more lined up, was 93% during the period while Kia posted near 100% ICE sales. Clearly, the electric transition remains aspirational for most players, as consumers stay anchored to familiar, affordable technologies and remain reluctant to make the switch. "This is the nature of transition-it's gradual, uncertain, and complex," said a senior official of a Delhi-based car company who requested not to be identified. By 2030, however, electric and hybrid vehicles will account for at least 30-40% of the market - a big leap from the current under 10%, he added. Even Tata Motors, the market leader in electric cars, sold 88% ICE vehicles in the first half. A spokesperson said the firm's multi-powertrain strategy spanning petrol, diesel, CNG, and electric is "about giving consumers the power of choice while preparing for future shifts." Only two manufacturers bucked the trend. Toyota, with a diversified approach, saw 55% of sales come from combustion engines, balanced by 29% hybrids and 16% mild hybrids. JSW MG Motor went all-in on electric, targeting urban buyers willing to pay premium prices. As a result, 81% of its sales came from battery electric vehicles (BEVs). The government is playing its part, continuing to offer FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) subsidies and pushing stricter emission norms. Yet, according to Ravi Bhatia , president of Jato Dynamics, price sensitivity and "charging anxiety" among consumers keep EVs largely confined to metro corridors. India's automotive landscape is not just vast, but deeply varied. Urban buyers prioritise convenience, while rural customers focus on affordability and durability. Some regions are seeing growing EV infrastructure, while others still struggle with basic electrification. That's why carmakers aren't putting all their eggs in one basket, Bhatia explained. CNG is gaining popularity in urban and semi-urban areas for its lower running costs. Diesel has lost its popularity but continues to dominate high-mileage segments such as SUVs. Petrol remains the most widely accessible fuel. Meanwhile, EVs are making quiet but steady inroads as infrastructure begins to improve. India's auto market could reach 7.5 million units by 2030, with electric and hybrid vehicles expected to capture a 30-40% share. Tata Motors has committed ₹33,000-35,000 crore toward its passenger and EV businesses from FY26 to FY30 to drive product-led growth, including seven all-new nameplates and 23 model updates across ICE, CNG and electric segments. As BS7 emission norms loom and global supply chains shift toward electrification, manufacturers are carefully balancing immediate consumer demand with long-term regulatory pressures. The question is no longer if the transition will happen, but which companies will survive the journey, industry executives said.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
ICE cars steal sales show so far this year, EVs in very slow lane
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Renewables Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The electric dream is alive, with glitzy EV launches and a loud government push, but India's bumper-to-bumper traffic remains largely fossil-fuelled. Nine out of 10 cars sold in the first half of 2025 run on internal combustion engines (ICEs).While the government has set an ambitious target for electric vehicles to make up 30% of all passenger vehicle sales by 2030, carmakers are hedging their bets, underscoring the wide gap between policy ambitions and market reality. Maruti Suzuki , India's largest carmaker, sold 87% ICE vehicles - those run on petrol, diesel and CNG - in the January-June period, with hybrid and mild hybrid EVs making up the remaining 13%, data collated by market researcher Jato Dynamics ICE share of Mahindra & Mahindra, which currently sells three EV models in the country and has several more lined up, was 93% during the period while Kia posted near 100% ICE the electric transition remains aspirational for most players, as consumers stay anchored to familiar, affordable technologies and remain reluctant to make the switch."This is the nature of transition-it's gradual, uncertain, and complex," said a senior official of a Delhi-based car company who requested not to be identified. By 2030, however, electric and hybrid vehicles will account for at least 30-40% of the market - a big leap from the current under 10%, he Tata Motors , the market leader in electric cars, sold 88% ICE vehicles in the first half. A spokesperson said the firm's multi-powertrain strategy spanning petrol, diesel, CNG, and electric is "about giving consumers the power of choice while preparing for future shifts."Only two manufacturers bucked the trend. Toyota, with a diversified approach, saw 55% of sales come from combustion engines, balanced by 29% hybrids and 16% mild hybrids. JSW MG Motor went all-in on electric, targeting urban buyers willing to pay premium prices. As a result, 81% of its sales came from battery electric vehicles (BEVs).The government is playing its part, continuing to offer FAME II (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) subsidies and pushing stricter emission according to Ravi Bhatia, president of Jato Dynamics, price sensitivity and "charging anxiety" among consumers keep EVs largely confined to metro automotive landscape is not just vast, but deeply varied. Urban buyers prioritise convenience, while rural customers focus on affordability and durability. Some regions are seeing growing EV infrastructure, while others still struggle with basic electrification. That's why carmakers aren't putting all their eggs in one basket, Bhatia is gaining popularity in urban and semi-urban areas for its lower running costs. Diesel has lost its popularity but continues to dominate high-mileage segments such as SUVs. Petrol remains the most widely accessible EVs are making quiet but steady inroads as infrastructure begins to auto market could reach 7.5 million units by 2030, with electric and hybrid vehicles expected to capture a 30-40% Motors has committed ₹33,000-35,000 crore toward its passenger and EV businesses from FY26 to FY30 to drive product-led growth, including seven all-new nameplates and 23 model updates across ICE, CNG and electric BS7 emission norms loom and global supply chains shift toward electrification, manufacturers are carefully balancing immediate consumer demand with long-term regulatory pressures. The question is no longer if the transition will happen, but which companies will survive the journey, industry executives said.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Premium products add to the vibe in Indian homes
There is no stopping the premiumisation wave in India, right from televisions to smartphones to cars, even as overall sales remain sluggish with the long-awaited recovery in the mass-market segment yet to kick in. The contribution of premium refrigerators, washing machines and televisions in the overall sales of these consumer durables has surged by up to five percentage points year-on-year in the January to April period, according to data from researcher NielsenIQ . For instance, 4K televisions of 55-inch screen size and above accounted for 41% of all TV sales in the first four months of 2025, up from 38% a year earlier. Likewise, the share of front-loading washing machines of 8 kg and above capacity rose to 16% from 11% and that of side-by-side refrigerators from 9% to 10% during the same period, NielsenIQ data showed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo In smartphones, according to Counterpoint Research data, the total market fell by 2% year-on-year during January to May this year while the ultra-premium '45,000-plus segment grew 20% and the premium '30,000-plus segment grew 2%. The trend is pushing up the average selling price (ASP) across product categories. For smartphones, "the ASP will cross $300 for the first time this year to about $308 ('26,000-plus) compared to $296 ('25,000) last year," said Prachir Singh, senior research analyst at Counterpoint. Live Events To be sure, the overall electronics and car markets have been under stress this year as low- and middle-income consumers continue to hold back buying entry-to-mid segment products due to low wage growth and inflation in daily lives. As a result, the share of sub-'10 lakh cars in overall passenger vehicle sales has fallen to its lowest ever of 51.4% in the January-May period, according to researcher Jato Dynamics. Sub-'10 lakh cars had accounted for 53.4% of sales in the first 5 months of 2024. Consumers are willing to pay more for features, safety, and technology," said Ravi Bhatia, president of Jato Dynamics. He said increased adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) will accelerate this trend. In electronics, too, NielsenIQ India head of customer success (tech and durables) Anant Jain said the industry has seen a rise in price growth this year, driven by premiumisation across key categories. The car market has seen a marginal fall this calendar year, while electronic sales have declined over 10% due to a decade-low sales of cooling products like refrigerators and air-conditioners this summer. Consumer finance, meanwhile, continues to push higher sales of premium products , industry executives said. Tarun Garg, whole-time director and COO at Hyundai Motor India , said the share of high-end features like ADAS-enabled vehicles in its sales has increased over 5 times to 15% in 2024 from 2.8% in 2023, while "one out of every two cars that we sell now is equipped with a sunroof." Cars priced '10 lakh-plus accounted for 49% of the carmaker's sales in India so far this year, up from 47% in 2024 and 25% in 2020. Marketers are hopeful of a rebound in mass segments in the coming months as inflation has come under control, allowing the central bank to cut interest rates by one percentage point so far this year, and the government has reduced income tax rates for a wide section of taxpayers from this fiscal. Above-normal monsoon rains and lower lending rates augur well for a recovery, experts said.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
From mileage to mayday: Why Indian car buyers are now obsessed with safety stars
In a car market long dominated by affordability, safety is emerging as the best-performing driver. Five-star Bharat NCAP-rated vehicles made up 15% of all passenger vehicle sales in the country in the first four months of 2025 — up from 10% during January-April 2024 — as Indian car buyers increasingly prioritise protection over mileage and upfront cost. Sales of models with top-tier safety ratings rose 12% year-on-year in 2024, when overall car sales increased 4.3%, according to data from automotive research firm Jato Dynamics. 'Safety is now a top purchase driver,' said Ravi Bhatia, president of Jato Dynamics. Carmakers are racing to respond to this behaviour change. Safety features like six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking systems (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and ISOFIX child seat mounts — all considered luxuries till recently — are rapidly becoming standard. Increasingly stricter norms in recent years — the latest government mandate requires six airbags in passenger vehicles by October 2025 — is accelerating the trend. But the main driver is demand. 'Buyers place a high value on safety, often gauging it by the number of airbags offered,' said R. Velusamy, president, automotive technology and product development, Mahindra & Mahindra. Most are looking for two key safety components: advanced features to prevent accidents, and strong crash-test ratings to ensure protection in case of an accident. 'This growing emphasis on safety is reflected in our sales performance too,' Velusamy said. Five of Mahindra's latest models — the XEV 9e, BE.6, Thar ROXX, XUV 3XO, and XUV 400 — secured five-star ratings under Bharat NCAP (new car assessment programme) in FY25. Carmakers Investing in Safety R&D Bharat NCAP, the indigenous vehicle crash testing and safety rating system launched in 2023, has helped increase safety awareness among car buyers. 'We are communicating to our customers that a few thousand rupees is a very small price to pay for safety of themselves and their loved ones,' said Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs, Maruti Suzuki . The latest model of the Maruti Dzire recently became the first sedan to earn a five-star Bharat NCAP rating. All models of the country's largest carmaker are already equipped with electronic stability program (ESP) and other features like ABS with EBD and hill-hold assist in many of its models ahead of the regulatory requirement. It will also offer six airbags as standard across all variants of models within this year, Bharti said. Consumer perception of automotive safety has started evolving beyond airbags and crash scores. Features such as 360-degree cameras, remote surveillance via connected car apps such as Waylens Secure360, and remote driving alerts are increasingly seen as necessities. Parents especially appreciate speed-limiting drive modes when handing over keys to their teenage or new-to-driving children, carmakers said. This expanding view of safety is helping reshape India's $137-billion automotive industry, which is projected to reach $203 billion by 2030, according to Jato Dynamics. Carmakers like Maruti, Tata Motors , Hyundai, Kia, and Mahindra are investing aggressively in R&D, particularly on safety features and structural integrity. Despite the progress, India's road safety records remain among the deadliest in the world. The country saw 53 accidents per hour in 2023, with nearly 80% of road fatalities attributed to speeding or substandard vehicle safety, according to government data. With the government tightening regulations and customers demanding the latest safety features, 'the industry faces pressure to align with global standards,' Bhatia said.
Time of India
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Star Power! Safety Scores Now Steer Car Sales Growth
In a car market long dominated by affordability, safety is emerging as the best performing driver. Five-star Bharat NCAP-rated vehicles made up 15% of all passenger vehicle sales in the country in the first four months of 2025 — up from 10% during January-April 2024—as Indian car buyers increasingly prioritise protection over mileage and upfront cost. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads In a car market long dominated by affordability, safety is emerging as the best performing Bharat NCAP-rated vehicles made up 15% of all passenger vehicle sales in the country in the first four months of 2025 — up from 10% during January-April 2024—as Indian car buyers increasingly prioritise protection over mileage and upfront of models with top-tier safety ratings rose 12% year-on-year in 2024, when overall car sales increased 4.3%, according to data from automotive research firm Jato Dynamics. 'Safety is now a top purchase driver,' said Ravi Bhatia, president of Jato are racing to respond to this behaviour change. Safety features like six airbags, electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking systems (ABS) with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and ISOFIX child seat mounts—all considered luxuries till recently—are rapidly becoming stricter norms in recent years—the latest government mandate requires six airbags in passenger vehicles by October 2025—is accelerating the trend. But the main driver is demand. 'Buyers place a high value on safety, often gauging it by the number of airbags offered,' said R Velusamy, president, automotive technology and product development, Mahindra & are looking for two key safety components: advanced features to prevent accidents, and strong crash-test ratings to ensure protection in case of an accident. 'This growing emphasis on safety is reflected in our sales performance too,' Velusamy of Mahindra's latest models — the XEV 9e, BE.6, Thar ROXX, XUV 3XO, and XUV 400 — secured five-star ratings under Bharat NCAP (new car assessment programme) in NCAP, the indigenous vehicle crash testing and safety rating system launched in 2023, has helped increase safety awareness among car buyers.'We are communicating to our customers that a few thousand rupees is a very small price to pay for safety of themselves and their loved ones,' said Rahul Bharti, senior executive officer, corporate affairs, Maruti latest model of the Maruti Dzire recently became the first sedan to earn a five-star Bharat NCAP models of the country's largest carmaker are already equipped with electronic stability program (ESP) and other features like ABS with EBD and hill-hold assist in many of its models ahead of the regulatory requirement. It will also offer six airbags as standard across all variants of models within this year, Bharti perception of automotive safety has started evolving beyond airbags and crash scores. Features such as 360-degree cameras, remote surveillance via connected car apps such as Waylens Secure360, and remote driving alerts are increasingly seen as necessities. Parents especially appreciate speed-limiting drive modes when handing over keys to their teenage, or new-to-driving children, carmakers expanding view of safety is helping reshape India's $137-billion automotive industry, which is projected to reach $203 billion by 2030, according to Jato Dynamics. Carmakers like Maruti, Tata Motors, Hyundai, Kia, and Mahindra are investing aggressively in R&D, particularly on safety features and structural the progress, India's road safety records remain among the deadliest in the country saw 53 accidents per hour in 2023, with nearly 80% of road fatalities attributed to speeding or substandard vehicle safety, according to government data. With the government tightening regulations and customers demanding the latest safety features, 'the industry faces pressure to align with global standards', Bhatia said.
