Though most vehicular visitors in India is two- and three-wheeled, it’s nonetheless thrilling to see the numbers of four-wheeled private autos going electrical on India’s roads. India is an financial drive to be reckoned with, though the promise of Chindia within the ’90s has not come to cross. Prime Minister Modi is on document as stating that the Indian financial system will quickly to be the third largest on the earth behind US/China and forward of Japan (introduced in a speech to a pupil physique, reported on Indian information outlet SBS).
Auto Punditz has simply launched the 2022 figures and they’re encouraging.
“Highlights
- 2022 registered the highest-ever BEV gross sales of 48,262 items, with 229% quantity progress over 2021
- October 2022 was the very best gross sales month with 5,113 items offered
- Tata Motors instructions 86% of the Indian BEV market share, adopted by MG with 9%
- Tata Nexon EV (29,149) is the best-selling product, adopted by Tata Tigor EV (11,890)
- Availability of aggressive BEV merchandise and excessive conventional-fuel costs are the key BEV market drivers in 2022 insert internet tackle right here.”
Indian mass market BEV quantity has grown from 1,230 in 2018, to 2,019 in 2019, to 4,774 in 2020, to 14,690 in 2021, and now to 48,262 in 2022. The Indian BEV market is being inspired by the manufacturing of competitively priced merchandise produced primarily by Tata and MG whereas the excessive worth of fossil fuels dampens ICE gross sales.
Graph courtesy of Auto Punditz
“India imports 82% of its oil wants and goals to carry that all the way down to 67% by 2022 by changing it with native hydrocarbon exploration, renewable vitality and indigenous ethanol gas. India was the second high internet crude oil (together with crude oil merchandise) importer of 205.3 Mt in 2019,” Wikipedia writes. “India is the third largest client of crude oil on the earth, after america and China.”
Going electrical won’t solely be good for the setting, but additionally for the financial system, to not point out the well being of the folks.
“India’s total inhabitants, 1.4 billion folks, is uncovered to unhealthy ranges of ambient PM 2.5 — high-quality particulate matter emitted by factories and vehicles, amongst different sources. As of December 8, 2022, authorities knowledge rated greater than sixty cities in India with ‘poor,’ ‘very poor,’ or ‘extreme’ air high quality,” Assume International Well being writes.
Delhi, with a inhabitants of 25 million, “has excessive visitors — it’s leaping and rising in bounds. We now have very, very dense vehicular visitors. There needs to be a shift within the transportation methods in all of our cities. In Delhi and different metro areas with dense vehicular visitors, there’s a specific amount of contamination of gasoline with kerosene. It occurs largely due to the gasoline pricing insurance policies. Individuals want financial incentives to make use of clear gas.”
October 2022 noticed BEV gross sales attain a peak of 5,113. Sadly, This autumn then noticed a fall in gross sales. That is the seasonal norm. 73% of BEVs are SUVs and crossovers. The Tata Tigor is proving to be the most well-liked. In 2022, Tata launched the Tiago EV, the primary BEV hatchback, and BYD launched the E6, the primary BEV MPV.

Graph courtesy of Auro Punditz.
You’ll be able to learn an October 2022 report on the Indian EV marketplace for extra historic perspective.
The Tata Nexon EV with twin battery pack possibility is the best-selling BEV in India, adopted by the Tata Tigor EV. Tata BEV merchandise are regionally produced utilizing imported battery cells. The Nexon EV Max had a high-water gross sales mark in June, 3,070 vehicles. Tata additionally offered nearly 30,000 throughout its Nexon lineup, to take 60% of BEV market share. The Tigor is proving good worth for cash and has elevated its gross sales 500%.
MG has about 10% of the BEV market. After a refresh, the entire knock-down MG ZS EV’s common gross sales settled round 361 items per 30 days in 2022.
MG’s ZS EV market share decreased throughout 2022 because of the market growth of Tata EV merchandise, however the quantity of product offered doubled.

Graph courtesy of Auto Punditz.
Though different producers promote BEVs in India, the numbers are minuscule. Mahindra has the eVerito, Hyundai sells just a few Konas, Kia has launched the EV6 as a premium automobile, and BMW imports the iX SUV and the Mini SE.
Authorities subsidies for regionally produced BEVs and excessive tariffs on imported BEVs create headwinds for the uptake of battery electrical autos in India. This has stopped the importing of cheaper EVs from China and dissuaded Tesla from testing the market.
To date, it appears to be working for Tata, however we actually want Mahindra to get some wind in its sails and begin producing inexpensive EVs in quantity.
As Indian customers wake to the promise of unpolluted air, quiet cities, and the BEV expertise, we’re prone to see an explosion in BEV gross sales. Hopefully they are going to comply with the identical trajectory as Australia. We had been at round 2% simply 12 months in the past (India is at present at 1.3%), and in January 2023 we’re heading for six%. Hopefully India will comply with the identical trajectory as Australia.