Scooter and motorcycle sales also accelerated in double digits during the month. Total industry sales of passenger vehicles rose about 28% to 440,000 units in May, according to data from individual carmakers. Car sales had fallen 0.8% in the year-earlier month.
Maruti Suzuki clocked its highest-ever monthly sales of 190,337 units in May. Partho Banerjee, senior executive officer, marketing and sales, said the company achieved growth across segments spanning small cars to SUVs. Sales of Maruti’s Alto and S-Presso small cars more than doubled to 16,275 units last month from 6,776 units in May 2025. Utility vehicle sales went up 44% to 79,267 units.
“CNG vehicles are in demand, with bookings rising by 40% last month,” said Banerjee. “EV bookings too doubled in this period,” he said, adding that demand momentum will continue if the Iran conflict is resolved.
Also Read: Maruti hits all-time monthly sales high; CNG bookings jump 40%, EV demand doubles
Tata Motors, the second-largest carmaker, sold 59,090 units in May, rising 42% from a year earlier. The company recorded its highest-ever EV sales during the month at 10,517 units.At Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), sales rose 11% to 58,021 units. Meanwhile, Toyota grew volumes by 4% at 30,574 units last month. Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO, Automotive Division, M&M, said, “sustained demand across our portfolio continues, (though the company is) constrained by supply chain challenges due to manpower shortages at select suppliers.”
Tarun Garg, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India, said the company continued its strong momentum of the year into May as well, achieving domestic sales of 47,837 units with 9.1% YoY growth and total sales of 61,137 units with 4.1% YoY growth.
Also Read: Auto sales surge in May: Maruti hits record high, Hyundai, Mahindra and Toyota gain momentum
The two-wheeler market witnessed steady demand during the month. While sales at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India went up by 10% to 459,611 units last month, TVS Motor recorded 24% growth at 384,565 units. Midsize motorcycle maker Royal Enfield saw volumes rise 24% to 94,115 units in the month under review.
B Govindarajan, managing director, Eicher Motors and chief executive officer, Royal Enfield, said, “We are carrying our momentum in FY27 with continued growth in Q1, despite the prevailing macro-headwinds.”
In the commercial vehicle segment, market leader Tata Motors recorded 17% sales growth at 32,850 units in May. Chennai-based Ashok Leyland reported a 3% increase at 14,534 units. VECV posted a 9.1% growth at 7,375 units last month.
In the farm equipment sector, demand remained healthy with M&M recording 23% growth to sell 47,845 units last month. Veejay Nakra, president, farm equipment business at M&M, said: “This high growth was driven by timely completion of Rabi harvesting & favourable terms of trade for farmers.”