E2W Market Slips Below 2 Lakh

India’s electric two-wheeler market witnessed a sharp month-on-month decline in August, with registrations falling 16.2% to 1.72 lakh units, compared with 2.05 lakh units in July.

The decline marked the second consecutive month of contraction for the segment. However, the picture looks considerably stronger when compared with last year. August 2026 registrations were still 64% higher year-on-year, rising from around 1.05 lakh units in August 2025.

The latest numbers indicate that demand for electric two-wheelers remains strong over the longer term, even as monthly sales fluctuate.

TVS Motor Retains Market Leadership

TVS Motor continued to lead India’s electric two-wheeler market in August.

The company registered 46,587 electric two-wheelers, down around 17% from 55,823 units in July.

Despite the monthly decline, TVS maintained its leadership position, supported by the popularity of its iQube electric scooter.

The company also crossed the 1-million cumulative customer milestone for the iQube during August and introduced a new 2.3 kWh variant aimed at making the model more accessible to mass-market buyers.

Bajaj Auto Strengthens Its Position

Bajaj Auto remained close behind TVS, with its Chetak electric scooter range registering 45,861 units during the month.

The company captured a 22.5% market share, further strengthening its position in India’s electric two-wheeler market.

Bajaj is also increasing Chetak production capacity to around 60,000 units a month as it prepares to meet growing demand.

The company has crossed the three-lakh electric two-wheeler sales milestone in 2026, becoming the second manufacturer after TVS to achieve the feat.

Ola Electric’s Registrations Decline, But Share Improves

Ola Electric recorded 13,132 registrations in August, representing a 7.7% decline from 14,226 units in July.

Interestingly, despite selling fewer scooters, Ola Electric’s market share increased from 6.8% in July to 7.6% in August.

This improvement indicates that the company performed relatively better than several competitors that experienced sharper declines during the month.

Ola is increasingly targeting the mass market, with its new S1Z range starting at ₹79,999.

Ather Remains Ahead of Ola

Ather Energy continued to maintain a substantial lead over Ola Electric.

The company recorded 27,218 registrations in August, down around 11% from 30,632 units in July.

Ather is also expanding into more affordable segments with its new Konark electric scooter, priced at ₹99,999.

However, the company continues to face supply constraints, with demand reportedly exceeding its current production capacity. Its new manufacturing facility is expected to help address this limitation.

Hero MotoCorp Sees Steeper Decline

Hero MotoCorp recorded 17,432 electric two-wheeler registrations in August, a 24% decline compared with 22,989 units in July.

Despite the monthly fall, the company is expanding its EV production capacity. Hero has already doubled its monthly capacity from 15,000 to 30,000 units and plans to increase it further to 45,000 units.

The company has also strengthened its position in the electric mobility ecosystem by increasing its stake in Ather Energy to 32.8%.

Affordability Becomes More Important

The latest market performance comes as government support for electric two-wheelers becomes less generous.

The Centre has reduced the incentive for eligible electric two-wheelers to ₹2,500 per kWh, with the benefit capped at ₹5,000 per vehicle.

With subsidies providing less support, manufacturers are increasingly focusing on affordability.

TVS, Bajaj, Ola Electric and Ather have all introduced or announced products aimed at consumers looking for lower-priced electric scooters.

The strategy reflects a broader shift from premium early adopters towards India’s much larger mass-market commuter segment.

Manufacturers Move Below ₹1 Lakh

The sub-₹1 lakh category is emerging as an important battleground.

Ola’s S1Z starts at ₹79,999, while Ather has introduced the Konark at ₹99,999. Other manufacturers are also developing more affordable models.

The objective is to make electric two-wheelers attractive not just to consumers motivated by technology and environmental benefits, but also to everyday commuters primarily concerned about purchase price, running costs and practical range.

Market Still Growing Strongly Over Last Year

Despite August’s monthly contraction, the electric two-wheeler industry remains significantly larger than it was a year ago.

Registrations increased 64% year-on-year, showing that the underlying transition towards electric mobility continues.

The monthly decline may therefore reflect factors such as seasonal demand, subsidy changes, inventory adjustments and affordability pressures rather than a collapse in consumer interest.

The coming months will reveal whether manufacturers can convert the strong year-on-year growth into sustained monthly expansion.

Ola’s Market Share Recovery Offers Some Relief

For Ola Electric, August provided a mixed result.

The company sold fewer scooters than in July, but its market share improved to 7.6%. This comes at a crucial time as Ola attempts to regain momentum in an increasingly competitive market dominated by established players such as TVS and Bajaj.

Its focus on lower-priced products could help the company reach a wider customer base, while its indigenous battery technology and expanding manufacturing capabilities provide additional areas for growth.

India’s EV Race Is Getting More Competitive

The August figures show how competitive India’s electric two-wheeler market has become.

TVS and Bajaj continue to dominate registrations, while Ather maintains a strong position and Ola attempts to rebuild its market presence. Hero MotoCorp is simultaneously increasing production capacity and investing further in the EV ecosystem.

As subsidies become less generous, the next phase of competition is likely to be determined increasingly by price, range, reliability, distribution, charging convenience and after-sales support.

Summary

India’s electric two-wheeler registrations fell 16.2% month-on-month to 1.72 lakh units in August, although they remained 64% higher than a year earlier. TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto retained the top two positions, while Ather stayed ahead of Ola Electric. Ola’s registrations declined 7.7%, but its market share improved to 7.6%, supported by its growing focus on affordable scooters.