In an unexpected twist, India's automobile brands are outranking Tesla and BYD in EV efficiency
Indian automakers Tata Motors and Mahindra have claimed the top two spots in a global electric vehicle efficiency ranking, beating out household names like Tesla and BYD. According to the International Council on Clean Transportation's 2025 report, which evaluated 22 of the world's largest EV manufacturers, Tata Motors led the field with an average energy consumption of just 106 watt-hours per kilometer, followed by Mahindra at 113 Wh/km. Tesla and BYD came in third and fourth respectively, while the overall industry average held nearly flat year on year at 131 Wh/km.
The results arrive at a significant moment for India's auto industry. EVs currently account for less than 5% of new passenger vehicle sales in the country, well below the global average of 25%, but the Indian government has set an ambitious target of electrifying 30% by 2030, a goal framed around cutting emissions, reducing oil imports, and expanding domestic manufacturing. India is the world's fourth-largest petroleum consumer, and officials are already shaping the third phase of tightened standards for automakers covering 2027 to 2032.
Efficiency gains alone, however, will not be enough to drive mass adoption. The ICCT ranking also revealed that Tata Motors ranked last among the evaluated manufacturers for charging speed and sixth from the bottom for driving range, two factors that weigh heavily on consumer decisions and will need to improve significantly if India is to meet its electrification ambitions.