India has become the number one country in the world for electric three-wheelers (e-3Ws) for the second year in a row. According to the COP30 ZEV report, India held 57% of the global market in 2024 and sold 691,300 electric 3-wheelers. China came second with around 300,000 sales. The report was released at the COP30 Climate Conference in Brazil.
The report says India’s shift to clean mobility has been very fast and very successful. Strong government policies, like the FAME scheme and the PM E-Drive programme, have made electric 3-wheelers almost as affordable as petrol and diesel models. This has encouraged more people and companies to buy electric vehicles, especially for last-mile delivery services.
In 2024, India saw an 18% growth in e-3W sales compared to the previous year. The country missed the 700,000 sales mark by only 8,694 units. However, sales in 2025 are growing even faster. Between January and November 20, 2025, more than 680,000 electric 3-wheelers have already been sold. October 2025 recorded the highest monthly sales ever, with 70,604 units. Experts believe India will cross 740,000–750,000 sales by the end of this year.
The report says India’s success is due to teamwork between the government and private sector. Many delivery companies are choosing electric vehicles because they are cheaper to run. Rental companies are also helping to build a strong EV ecosystem. This has created a cycle where more EVs lead to more investment, which then leads to even more EVs.
Globally, electric vehicle adoption is also increasing despite some policy changes in advanced countries. In 2024, EVs made up 18% of global light-duty vehicle sales. Public charging stations worldwide also crossed 5 million for the first time.
The report highlights that India is focusing on electrifying the vehicle segments that matter most. Two-wheelers and three-wheelers make up nearly 80% of all vehicles sold in the country. The government is also planning to promote electric trucks, which cause a large share of pollution despite being a small part of total vehicle numbers.
Experts say India, along with countries like Chile and Vietnam, is proving that electric mobility can help both the environment and the economy.
