



Why EV adoption in India is slow and uneven
Mint analysis of vehicle registration data from the Vahan dashboard shows the share of overall EV sales has risen from under 1% until 2020 to 8% in 2025. Adoption accelerated after 2021 amid a stronger policy push.Compare this with the government’s ambitious target of 30% EV penetration by 2030—it’s an unachievable goal.“Realistically, the aim looks extremely difficult to achieve; even with strong growth, crossing the 10–12% threshold by 2030 itself would be challenging under current conditions,” said Rajat Mahajan, partner and auto sector leader at Deloitte.The concern is not just about missing a numerical target.
Slower adoption could dilute India’s decarbonization roadmap, delay investments in domestic EV manufacturing ecosystems, and leave the country more exposed to fossil fuel volatility.A closer look beyond the headline number tells an uneven story.While three-wheelers have shown a sharp adoption rate, with nearly 61% of all three-wheelers sold in India being electric, largely driven by the commercial segment.On the other hand, two-wheelers just accounted for 6% of sales and passenger vehicles barely made up 3%. The low pick up in the four-wheeler segment is mainly due to range fears as the charging network in the country remains sub-par.“All the policy support has been directed towards mass adoption, and this is where India moves in terms of public transportation,” said Saket Mehra, partner at Grant Thornton.
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