India’s car buyers shift from petrol as CNG, hybrid, EVs cross 42% sales share: Report

India’s passenger vehicle market is reportedly seeing a notable shift in consumer preference away from petrol, with CNG, hybrid and electric vehicles together accounting for 42% of sales in August 2026.For the first time, the combined share of these cleaner-fuel alternatives surpassed petrol, whose share fell to a record low of 41 per cent in August, compared with 46 per cent a year earlier, according to report by Equirus Securities, cited by ANI. CNG, meanwhile, rose to a record-high 25 per cent, up from 21% in August 2025.The shift came as overall passenger vehicle retail sales grew 16 per cent year-on-year in August, helped by improved affordability following GST rate cuts.Electric vehicles also continued to gain ground. EV sales jumped 52% year-on-year to 30,700 units during the month, taking their penetration to 7.7 per cent, compared with 5.9 per cent a year earlier.