India’s auto retail market recorded its biggest-ever August in 2026, with total vehicle sales rising 17.51% year-on-year to 24,23,201 units, while alternative fuels such as CNG, hybrids and electric vehicles collectively overtook petrol in passenger vehicle sales for the first time in the country’s history, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).
Alternative fuels accounted for 41.95% of passenger vehicle retail sales in August, compared with 40.85% for petrol, marking the first time the combined share of CNG, hybrid and electric vehicles surpassed petrol.
