- India recorded 413,300 passenger vehicle registrations in February 2026, up 33.8% year-on-year.
- SUVs and compact hatchbacks dominated the market while petrol vehicles remained the leading powertrain.
The India passenger vehicle market February 2026 recorded strong retail momentum with 413,300 units registered during the month, representing a 33.8% year-on-year increase according to JATO Dynamics' latest Retail Market Pulse report. The performance highlights sustained consumer demand in the country's automotive sector despite a sequential slowdown from January’s exceptionally strong retail volume of 520,300 units.
The month-on-month moderation follows typical seasonal trends that often appear after a strong start to the calendar year. Market observers noted that dealer inventory levels remained balanced while overall buyer sentiment continued to stay positive across key segments.
Leading Automakers Maintain Strong Retail Momentum
Maruti Suzuki continued to dominate the Indian passenger vehicle landscape, recording 164,930 registrations during the month. The figure represents a 36.95% increase compared with the same period last year.
Tata Motors secured second position with 60,201 units registered, reflecting an impressive 52.37% year-on-year rise. The company also gained 1.8 percentage points in overall market share during the month.
Mahindra followed closely with 56,517 registrations, while Hyundai recorded 48,671 units. Toyota completed the top five manufacturers with 28,012 registrations, reinforcing the strong presence of established brands across the Indian retail vehicle market.
Competitive Mid-Tier Performance Across Brands
Several other manufacturers also reported notable retail gains. Kia posted a 37.09% year-on-year increase, while Volkswagen Group recorded 19.91% growth, placing sixth and seventh respectively among leading automakers.
However, a few brands experienced mild declines during the month. Honda registrations slipped by 4.86%, Nissan declined by 0.92%, and Jaguar Land Rover recorded a marginal decrease of 1.36% compared with the previous year.
Model Rankings and Segment Trends
Sport utility vehicles and compact hatchbacks continued to dominate India’s passenger vehicle mix. SUVs accounted for 55.4% of total registrations, while compact hatchbacks contributed 25.2% of overall sales.
Tata’s Punch emerged as the top-selling model with 18,594 units registered, followed closely by the Nexon with 17,106 units. Maruti Suzuki’s Baleno secured third place with 15,139 registrations.
The Hyundai Venue also entered the top ten rankings in ninth position with 11,048 units, replacing the Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, which had ranked second in January.
Powertrain and Regional Demand Patterns
Petrol-powered vehicles remained the dominant choice among Indian buyers, accounting for 54% of total passenger vehicle registrations. Diesel vehicles represented 19% of the market, while electric vehicles maintained a stable 4% share.
Urban regions continued to generate the highest retail demand with 249,994 registrations, reflecting a 37.52% year-on-year increase. Metro markets followed with 99,700 units, marking a 22.28% rise compared with the previous year.
Rural markets also recorded strong growth with 65,637 registrations, up 39% year-on-year, although volumes remained below January’s 87,640 units.
Overall, February’s retail performance reinforces steady expansion in India’s automotive demand landscape, supported by strong SUV popularity, stable inventory conditions, and continued consumer interest across urban and rural markets.
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