

CAFE and the comeback car: Hybrids prep for the fast lane, leaving EVs behind
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Hybrid cars may roar past their electric cousins in the coming years after trailing them in the green transition so far, mirroring a pattern set in the US, Europe and South Korea. The debut of new fleet-wide emission norms next year could prompt more carmakers to roll out hybrids to stay compliant, an internal Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) document said, signalling a structural shift in energy mix in the world's fastest-growing automobile market.
Mint reviewed a copy of the policy note. While electric vehicles (EVs) that made up 4% of passenger vehicle sales in 2025 will rise to 11% by FY32, hybrids which held a mere 2.5% will shoot up to 17%, the Union power ministry's Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) wrote in a January policy document. At the same time, the share of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles which had 70% share at the end of 2025 will fall to 35%.
The BEE projections suggest many carmakers will turn to hybrids to comply with tough corporate average fuel efficiency norms (CAFE-3) rules. The predicted shift to hybrids comes at a time the Centre continues to push long-term electrification. CAFE-3 norms debuting in April 2027 are stringent fleet-wide emission standards, aiming to reduce average carbon dioxide emissions to roughly 71.5 g/km by 2032.
To meet these targets, automakers must significantly increase their production of electric and hybrid vehicles, as the norms penalize high-consumption fleets while awarding "super credits" for cleaner powertrains. According to Saket Mehra, partner at Grant Thornton, automakers are expected to follow a dual strategy as they look to increase efficiency of their portfolio which may result in a spike for hybrid vehicles. "Hybrid
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