Petrol Cars Lose No.1 Spot in India – CNG, Hybrid & EVs Together Take 42% Share

For the first time, alternative-fuel passenger vehicles collectively outsold petrol-powered cars in a single month. According to FADA's August 2026 retail data, CNG/LPG, hybrids and EVs together accounted for 41.95% of passenger-vehicle registrations, marginally ahead of petrol/ethanol at 40.85%. The crossover is narrow, but symbolically important. CNG/LPG remains by far the largest alternative-fuel category, accounting for 25.28% of passenger-vehicle sales in August, while hybrids accounted for 9.04% and EVs captured 7.63% of the market. Petrol still accounts for more than 40% of the Indian PV market, making it the single largest individual fuel category. The shift is significant because India's transition away from conventional petrol cars is not being driven by EVs alone, but by a combination of CNG, hybrids and electric cars. The overall vehicle demand in August 2026 was exceptionally strong, with FADA reporting 24.23 lakh total vehicle registrations, up 17.5% YoY, while passenger-vehicle retail reached 4,02,398 units, up 16.14% and crossed 4 lakh for the first time.