Honda Maruti Toyota: India’s car industry is seeing a fundamental transformation. While electric cars are increasing very fast, hybrid vehicles too are becoming an increasingly popular option among consumers. Sales of hybrid vehicles have increased more than two-fold in the past three months alone. Let us have a look at how various companies fared and what is behind the growth.
Strong Growth in Hybrid Sales
During the first quarter of the 2026 financial year, 26,460 hybrid vehicles were sold in India. This represents a growth of 118% over the corresponding period of last year when sales were 12,111 units. Hybrid cars are now increasingly preferred by people because of improved mileage and reduced fuel expenses.
Toyota Dominates the Hybrid Market
Toyota is clearly leading this space. Between April and June 2025, the company sold 21,249 hybrid cars, double its sales of 10,745 units in the same period last year. That’s a 100% growth in just one year. The strong hybrid demand is mainly because of models like the Innova Hycross, which remains a top pick in this segment.
Maruti Suzuki’s Strong Hybrid Push
Maruti Suzuki also jumped big on hybrid sales. The company sold 4,745 hybrids in Q1 FY2026, as opposed to 1,307 units in the previous year. That is a good 263% rise in just one year. Maruti now accounts for an 18% market share in hybrid cars. Its cars such as Grand Vitara and Invicto are equipped with Toyota’s hybrid technology, and a new Delta+ variant of Grand Vitara has also been introduced to entice more customers.
Honda’s Hybrid Presence
Although Honda has just one powerful hybrid model—the City Hybrid—it registered remarkable growth. In Q1 FY2026, Honda sold 226 units, up from 59 last year. That’s a 283% rise, demonstrating rising interest among buyers despite few choices.
Why Hybrid Cars Are Gaining Popularity
Hybrid cars are gaining buyers’ interest primarily because of great mileage and reduced operating expense. For instance, Maruti Grand Vitara boasts a full tank range of 1200 km, and that makes it a very convenient choice for long road trips without having to worry about repetitive refilling. When fuel prices are on the rise, this is a significant boon for hybrid cars.