By T. Murrali
India’s automotive industry closed the year on a high, with strong performances across passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and two- and three-wheelers, reflecting steady demand, improving sentiment and a growing focus on exports, SUVs and electric mobility.
Passenger Vehicles
Maruti Suzuki India Limited delivered a landmark performance on the exports front, shipping 3.95 lakh vehicles in calendar year 2025 — its highest ever in a single year. This marked a 21% growth over 2024 and positioned the company as India’s largest passenger vehicle exporter for the fifth consecutive year. Exports spanned 18 models to over 100 countries, with 2025 also seeing the start of exports of Suzuki’s first battery electric vehicle, the e-VITARA. Since its flag-off in August, more than 13,000 units have already been shipped to 29 global markets, largely across Europe.
Tata Motors reported another record-breaking year in passenger vehicles, registering its fifth consecutive year of all-time-high annual sales. Q3 FY26 wholesales stood at 1.71 lakh units, up sharply from last year, while calendar year 2025 sales reached 5.87 lakh units. Electric vehicles played a key role, with EV volumes touching an all-time high of 81,125 units. SUVs remained the growth engine, with models like Nexon, Punch and Tiago delivering strong volumes. December saw 22% year-on-year growth, alongside improved channel health as dealer inventory dropped to around 18 days. The company also highlighted robust growth in CNG vehicles and a sharp 50% year-on-year rise in EV adoption, supported by longer range, lifetime battery warranty and price parity with ICE vehicles.
Kia India ended calendar year 2025 with wholesales of 2.80 lakh units, marking a healthy 15% growth over the previous year. December turned out to be the brand’s best-ever month, with sales of 18,659 units, more than doubling year-on-year. Strong demand for models such as Sonet, Seltos and Carens, along with steady traction for premium offerings like Carnival Limousine and EV6, supported overall performance. Kia said its growth was driven by focused product actions, trim optimisation, and improving consumer sentiment, and remains confident of sustaining momentum into 2026.
JSW MG Motor India also posted a solid year, recording 19% growth in CY 2025 with total sales of 70,554 units. December wholesales stood at 6,500 units. The brand crossed a significant milestone of over 100,000 EVs sold cumulatively, with the MG Windsor continuing as India’s best-selling electric car. Its luxury retail channel, MG SELECT, saw strong traction driven by models like the M9 Presidential Limousine and Cyberster, while the launch of the new MG Hector and an industry-first assured buy-back program further strengthened customer confidence.
Commercial Vehicles
In the commercial vehicle space, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles delivered double-digit growth in Q3 FY26, with wholesales of 1.15 lakh units, supported by a rebound in construction and mining activity and sustained demand from logistics and core sectors. December sales rose to 42,508 units, with medium and heavy commercial vehicles showing strong traction. The company said the momentum driven by GST 2.0 and infrastructure spending is expected to continue into the next quarter.
Ashok Leyland reported a robust December, with domestic sales rising 26% year-on-year to nearly 19,900 units. Growth was led by the M&HCV segment, particularly buses, which saw sharp expansion. Including exports, total December sales climbed 27%, while cumulative sales for the year also showed healthy double-digit growth, underscoring steady demand across segments.
Force Motors Limited closed December with strong momentum as well, registering a 49% rise in domestic wholesales to 2,952 units. Q3 volumes grew 47% year-on-year, driven by renewed traction in the tour and travel segment, steady school mobility demand, and strong acceptance of the Urbania and Traveller platforms.
2/3-wheelers
In the two- and three-wheeler segment, TVS Motor Company delivered its highest-ever quarterly sales in Q3 FY26, crossing 15.44 lakh units. December sales surged 50% year-on-year to 4.81 lakh units, led by strong growth in motorcycles, scooters and electric vehicles. EV sales jumped 77% in December, while three-wheeler volumes more than doubled. Exports also remained a strong pillar, growing 40 percent during the month.
Overall, the December sales performance and calendar-year results highlight an industry that is growing on multiple fronts — from exports and infrastructure-led commercial vehicle demand to SUVs, EVs and premiumisation in passenger vehicles — setting a confident tone as the sector steps into the new year.
