Southern states lead EV shift with double-digit penetration

Chennai: Southern states are pulling ahead in India's electric mobility shift, outpacing other regions in both adoption and momentum. The region leads the country in the penetration of both electric two-wheelers (E2Ws) and electric passenger vehicles, which include battery-powered cars and SUVs.Electric two-wheeler penetration in the South climbed to 14% in April, up sharply from 10% a year earlier and well above the national average of 8%.The recent surge in penetration across both electric two-wheelers and cars reflects expectations of rising fuel costs, which have strengthened the value proposition of lower running costs for battery-powered vehicles. Improved supply from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has also ensured better availability, according to analysts at Equirus Securities. Within the southern region, Kerala (17%) and Karnataka (16%) lead in E2W penetration, while Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh (AP) have recorded levels of 12% and 10%, respectively.The Western and Central regions have also seen steady gains, with average E2W penetration rising to 9% from 6% a year ago. Maharashtra leads the region at 11%, followed by Rajasthan at 9%, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh at 7% each, and Gujarat at 6%. In comparison, the Northern and Eastern regions continue to lag, with average penetration at around 5% (barring exceptions such as Odisha and Delhi), up only marginally from 4% in the North and 3% in the East a year ago. Legacy OEMs continue to dominate the E2W market. TVS Motor Company retains its leadership position with around 25% market share in April 2026, supported by strong demand for the iQube and a gradual scale-up of its newly launched Orbiter. The company has also expanded its portfolio with the iQube S 4.7 kWh variant, offering an IDC-certified range of 175km. Bajaj Auto held the second position with a 22% market share. The southern region is also leading in electric car adoption, with penetration reaching a high single-digit 8%—well above the national average of 6%—and marginally ahead of the West and Central regions, which are tracking at around 7%. In contrast, adoption remains more muted elsewhere, with electric car penetration in the North and East hovering at about 4%. Only two states—Delhi (13%) and Andhra Pradesh (10%)—have reached double-digit penetration in this segment. Among passenger vehicle OEMs, Tata Motors remains the market leader with a 37% share, followed by Mahindra & Mahindra at 23% and JSW MG Motor India at 21%.
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