India's Passenger Vehicle Market Kicks Off 2026 with Stable Performance
The Indian passenger vehicle market commenced the year 2026 on a notably stable footing in January, signaling consistent demand across various segments even amidst escalating competition. Leading the charge in overall volumes were industry giants Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai, while numerous other manufacturers also reported robust dispatch figures for the month.
Steady Demand Across Vehicle Categories
Consumer interest remained unwavering across multiple categories, including hatchbacks, compact SUVs, and family-oriented models. This broad-based demand underscores the market's resilience and adaptability in the face of evolving consumer preferences and competitive pressures.
Top-Selling Carmakers in January 2026
Here is an in-depth look at the top 10 highest-selling car manufacturers in India for January 2026, highlighting their sales performance, market share, and key contributing models.
Maruti Suzuki India: Maintaining Market Dominance
As anticipated, Maruti Suzuki India retained its premier position in January 2026, achieving sales of 216,043 units and commanding an impressive 42.07% market share. This represented a slight year-on-year increase from the 214,494 units sold in January 2025, with month-on-month volumes surging significantly from 150,123 units in December 2025.
Key models driving Maruti Suzuki's strong January performance included the Dzire, which secured a spot in the overall top-10 sales chart. The company also benefited from sustained demand for other popular models such as the Ertiga, Swift, Brezza, Baleno, and Victoris across various segments.
Hyundai Motor India: Securing Second Place
Hyundai Motor India ranked second in January 2026 with sales of 65,914 units, up from 61,497 units in January 2025. The company captured a market share of 12.84% and posted a year-over-year growth rate of 7.18%.
Among Hyundai's top-selling models last month were the Hyundai Creta, Venue, i20, Grand i10 Nios, and Verna, which collectively helped maintain robust demand across its diverse vehicle lineup.
Tata Motors: Strong Growth in Third Position
Tata Motors followed in third place with sales of 63,558 units in January 2026, reflecting a positive year-on-year increase from 54,885 units in the same month last year. The company achieved a market share of 12.38% and recorded a substantial growth of 15.8% compared to January 2025.
Top-performing models for Tata Motors included the Tata Nexon, Punch, Tiago, Sierra, Altroz, Harrier, and Safari, which played a crucial role in driving demand across its extensive range of vehicles.
Mahindra and Mahindra: Close Competition with Tata
Mahindra and Mahindra followed closely behind Tata Motors in both volumes and market share for January 2026. The company reported retail sales of 63,366 units during the month, translating to a 12.34% share of the passenger vehicle market.
This marked a strong year-on-year increase from 54,916 units sold in January 2025, with Mahindra posting a growth rate of 15.39%. Key contributors to its robust performance were models such as the Mahindra Scorpio, Bolero, XUV 7XO, Thar, and 3XO.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor: Consistent Performance
Toyota Kirloskar Motor reported sales of 35,053 units in January 2026, up from 30,900 units in January 2025. The automaker achieved a year-on-year growth of 13.44% and secured a market share of 6.83% for the month.
Among its highest-selling models were the Toyota Innova HyCross, Fortuner, Urban Cruiser Hyryder, and Glanza, which significantly contributed to its January sales performance.
Kia Motors: Impressive Growth Trajectory
Kia India recorded sales of 29,954 units in January 2026, registering a sharp year-on-year increase from 22,909 units sold in January 2025. The carmaker posted a remarkable growth rate of 30.75% and captured a market share of 5.83% during the month.
Newly launched models such as the Seltos, Sonet, and Carens played a pivotal role in Kia's strong January performance, highlighting the brand's expanding appeal in the Indian market.
Skoda-Volkswagen India: Modest Increase
The Skoda-Volkswagen Group also reported a year-on-year increase, with sales rising to 9,794 units in January 2026 from 9,562 units in the same month last year. This translated into a year-on-year growth of 2.43% and a market share of 1.91%.
Other Notable Manufacturers
MG Motor India posted lower sales of 5,926 units in January 2026, compared with 6,762 units in the same month last year. Honda Cars India also registered a decline, with volumes dropping to 5,848 units from 7,968 units in January 2025. In contrast, Renault India reported an improvement, recording sales of 4,839 units last month against 3,966 units a year earlier.
Market Outlook and Implications
The stable start to 2026 for India's passenger vehicle market indicates a resilient automotive sector capable of navigating competitive challenges. With key players like Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai leading the way, and others showing varied growth patterns, the industry appears poised for continued evolution. The performance across segments suggests that consumer demand remains robust, setting a positive tone for the remainder of the year.
