India commanded 57% of global electric three-wheeler sales in 2024, according to a progress report on zero-emission vehicles released during COP30 in Belém, Brazil. The report, prepared by the Accelerating to Zero Coalition with the International Council on Clean Transportation serving as secretariat, also identified India as the world’s second-largest electric two-wheeler market with a 6% sales share in 2024.
Government initiatives including the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid & Electric Vehicles (FAME) and PM E-Drive programs have lowered upfront costs of electric two- and three-wheelers, achieving price parity with conventional internal combustion engine models. The transition has involved collaboration between government and private sector, particularly in last-mile delivery operations where companies are adopting electric vehicles for cost savings.
The PM E-Drive Scheme aims to accelerate adoption by incentivizing the sale of 2.5 million electric two-wheelers and 320,000 three-wheelers, supported by $315 million in subsidies for vehicles and charging infrastructure. Private companies have responded to this policy environment, with Zomato committing to a 100% electric delivery fleet by 2030 and launching an electric rental bike pilot in Delhi NCR.
“Two-wheelers accounted for more than three-quarters of all motor vehicles sold in India last year. In fact, two- and three-wheelers together made up nearly 80% of total vehicle sales. India is rightly targeting the electrification of its largest vehicle segment – and the results are beginning to show. However, the Government of India, through the PM e-DRIVE scheme, is now going a step further by launching a dedicated programme to accelerate the electrification of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. These vehicles represent only about 3% of the total vehicle stock but contribute nearly 44% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions. This shift in focus is both timely and welcome,” said Amit Bhatt, India Managing Director, ICCT.
Global electric vehicle adoption continued to grow in 2024, with EVs accounting for 18% of global light-duty vehicle sales, up from 14% in 2023. Global charging infrastructure crossed 5 million public charging points, doubling since 2022. India maintained a 23% year-on-year rise in light-duty EV sales between 2023 and 2024, with a 2.9% EV sales share in the first half of 2025.
“This year’s edition of the COP Progress Update shows that despite political uncertainty in some established markets, the ZEV transition is accelerating at an unprecedented rate in emerging markets,” said Tim Dallmann, International Partnerships Program director at the ICCT. “Countries like India, Chile, and Vietnam are showing to the world that this transition is beneficial to the economy, while also supporting broader climate goals.”
The report highlighted policy approaches in Europe and India as effective models for charging network expansion, with Europe relying on deployment targets and India using targeted incentives. France, Spain, and Croatia expanded purchase incentives, while the United Kingdom and Canada refined their zero-emission vehicle mandates.
The Accelerating to Zero Coalition was launched at COP27 and serves as a platform for signatories of the Zero Emission Vehicles Declaration to coordinate activities toward ensuring all new car and van sales are zero emission by 2040 globally and by 2035 in leading markets.