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India's Automobile Sector
India's automobile industry is valued at more than ₹22.75 lakh crore and hands the exchequer about 15 percent of its GST. Retail sales set a record in August 2026 - 24,23,201 vehicles registered, 17.51 percent more than a year before - and the month brought a first: CNG, hybrid and electric cars together outsold petrol ones. The 2025-26 year had already been a record in every segment, and a tougher crash-safety regime, Bharat NCAP 2.0, follows in October 2027.
Last updated 9 September 202611 min read
Latest update
Rural buyers led August's record month. FADA's report puts registrations outside the cities 19.79 percent above August 2025, against 15.17 percent growth in urban markets, with the national count up 17.51 percent at 24,23,201 vehicles. Alternative-fuel cars still hold 41.95 percent of passenger-vehicle sales against petrol's 40.85 percent.
- automobile sector
- SIAM
- Shailesh Chandra
- Bharat NCAP
- Piyush Goyal
- Nitin Gadkari
- auto exports
- electric vehicles
- PM E-DRIVE
- FADA retail sales
- rural auto demand
- alternative fuel vehicles
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