India’s diesel car market in FY2026 continued to be dominated by SUVs and ladder-frame utility vehicles, reinforcing a clear trend: diesel is now a performance + utility-driven fuel choice rather than a mass-market one. While alternatives like CNG and EVs are growing, diesel still thrives in high-torque, long-distance, and rural-heavy use cases. For the better part of a decade, automotive obituaries have been written for the diesel engine. The industry narrative has been sing
India’s passenger vehicle market is undergoing a structural transformation, with CNG emerging as a dominant alternative fuel. In FY2026, CNG-powered cars crossed the 10 lakh units milestone, accounting for nearly 22% of total PV sales, overtaking diesel for the second consecutive year. Against this backdrop, a model-wise analysis reveals how strongly the segment is driven by a few high-volume nameplates—primarily from Maruti Suzuki, with notable contributions from Tata and Hy
India’s diesel car market in FY2026 continued to be dominated by SUVs and ladder-frame utility vehicles, reinforcing a clear trend: diesel is now a performance + utility-driven fuel choice rather than a mass-market one. While alternatives like CNG and EVs are growing, diesel still thrives in high-torque, long-distance, and rural-heavy use cases. For the better part of a decade, automotive obituaries have been written for the diesel engine. The industry narrative has been sing
India’s passenger vehicle (PV) market in FY2026 reflects a multi-powertrain reality, where no single fuel dominates unchallenged. Total PV sales stood at 46.83 lakh units, and beneath this headline number lies a structural shift shaped by cost of ownership, regulatory pressures, urban usage patterns, and OEM-specific strategies. Market Overview: Petrol Still Leads, Alternatives Gain Ground Petrol remained the dominant fuel choice with 52.6% share (24.61 lakh units). However,
