NEW DELHI: The Indian automobile industry has kicked off the New Year 2026 on an exceptionally strong note, with most leading car manufacturers reporting impressive wholesale deliveries to dealerships in January. This robust performance signals that consumer demand remains healthy and resilient, setting a positive tone for the year ahead.
Passenger Vehicle Giants Showcase Impressive Growth
Mahindra & Mahindra led the charge with a remarkable 25% growth in domestic sales, dispatching 63,510 units compared to 50,659 units in January 2025. The company's momentum is bolstered by the overwhelming response to its new launches, the XUV7XO and XEV 9S, which opened for bookings in mid-January. These models have already garnered an astounding 93,689 bookings, translating to a booking value of approximately Rs. 20,500 crore.
Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO of the Automotive Division at M&M, expressed optimism, stating, "Building on the strong momentum of last year's performance, we began the year on a strong note in January."
Tata Motors and Hyundai Post Strong Numbers
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles recorded a significant 46% growth, selling 70,222 units in January against 48,076 units in the same month last year. This solidifies Tata's position as the second-largest player in the domestic passenger vehicle market, trailing only behind Maruti Suzuki. The company's popular Nexon SUV, recently upgraded, achieved wholesales exceeding 23,000 units, with cumulative sales since launch surpassing the 10 lakh-unit milestone. Additionally, the Punch mini-SUV posted its best-ever monthly sales with 19,000 units dispatched.
Hyundai India reported domestic sales of 59,107 units, marking a 9.5% growth. Including exports, the company's total sales reached 73,137 units, representing an 11.5% increase and registering its highest-ever monthly sales figure. Tarun Garg, the newly-appointed MD & CEO of Hyundai India, highlighted this achievement as a testament to the brand's strong market presence.
Two-Wheeler Segment Equally Robust
The two-wheeler market mirrored the positive trend, with companies like TVS Motor and Royal Enfield reporting healthy dealer dispatches. TVS Motor recorded monthly sales of 5.1 lakh units, a 29% growth compared to 4 lakh units in January 2025. Within this, two-wheeler sales stood at 4.9 lakh units, reflecting a 28% increase. Motorcycle sales grew by 26%, from 1.7 lakh to 2.2 lakh units, while scooter sales saw a 30% rise, from 1.7 lakh to 2.2 lakh units.
Other Key Players Contribute to Positive Momentum
Toyota Kirloskar reported a 17% growth in domestic volumes, selling 30,630 units against 26,178 units in January 2025. Including exports, the company sold 33,880 units, marking a 15% increase. Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice President of Sales, Service, and Used Car Business at Toyota Kirloskar, noted, "The year 2026 started on a positive and encouraging note."
Kia India, which recently launched the next-generation version of the Seltos premium SUV, sold 27,603 units, achieving a 10% growth over the previous year. Atul Sood, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Kia India, emphasized, "This performance reinforces our focus on offering well-differentiated, future-ready products across segments."
JSW MG reported a 9% growth, selling 4,843 wholesale units in January. The company is gearing up for the launch of the Majestor luxury SUV, which is expected to further boost its market presence.
Maruti Suzuki's Numbers Awaited
It is noteworthy that Maruti Suzuki, the market leader in car sales, did not report its monthly numbers on the first day of the month, possibly due to the weekly Sunday holiday. The company is expected to announce its sales figures on Monday, which will provide a more comprehensive view of the industry's performance.
Overall, the strong start to 2026 across both passenger vehicles and two-wheelers underscores the vitality of India's auto sector, driven by new model launches, robust consumer demand, and strategic expansions by key players.
