Petrol Loses Its Crown as Alternative Fuels Overtake It in India’s Record August Auto Sales
Alternative fuels reached nearly 42% of passenger-vehicle sales, while petrol fell to about 41% as India’s auto retail market posted a record August.
- On Sept 7, the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations reported that alternative-fuel passenger vehicle sales outpaced petrol cars for the first time in August, with total auto retail sales rising 17.5 per cent year-on-year to 2.4 million vehicles.
- Consumer uncertainty regarding the government-mandated E20 petrol blend, which contains 20 per cent ethanol, prompted buyers to favor compressed natural gas, hybrid, and electric models due to fuel economy concerns.
- Petrol's previous market lead of nearly 11 percentage points has been erased, according to FADA, while the government dismissed backlash as "wild claims" and asked people not to "fall for the rage bait."
- Rural markets outperformed urban areas across all vehicle categories in August, helping total retail sales reach record levels, even as overall auto retail sales declined 6.48 per cent from July due to seasonal monsoon lulls.
- Dealers now anticipate a more intensive demand evaluation in the coming months, from September through November, following the spillover of Onam-led buying, according to FADA President Sai Giridhar.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Auto Retail Records “biggest-ever” August as Alternative Fuels Overtake Petrol for First Time: FADA
Get latest articles and stories on Business at LatestLY. Indian automobile retail recorded its biggest-ever August as alternative fuels overtook petrol in the passenger vehicle segment for the first time in history, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA). Business News | Auto Retail Records “biggest-ever” August as Alternative Fuels Overtake Petrol for First Time: FADA.
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaPetrol loses its crown as alternative fuels overtake it in India’s record August auto sales
August 2026 marked a historic milestone in India's auto retail market, exceeding all previous records. In a significant shift, alternative fuel vehicles eclipsed petrol sales in the passenger vehicle category. Rural markets had a remarkable performance, outshining urban areas across vehicle segments, while tractor sales held steady amid monsoon effects. Auto dealers anticipate a more intensive demand evaluation in the coming months, from Septemb…
Auto retail sales hit record 24.23 lakh units in Aug; alternative-fuel PVs overtake petrol: FADA - OrissaPOST
New Delhi: Automobile retail sales in India grew 17.51 per cent to a record 24,23,201 units in August, riding on continued momentum of GST 2.0 despite a seasonal monsoon lull and the delayed onset of the festive calendar, FADA said Monday. In August last year, total automobile retail sales in India stood at 20,62,038 units, […]
Alternative technologies accounted for about 42% of car sales in India, slightly above gasoline.
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