SUVs, EVs to dominate new car fest of 2026

Tata Sierra clocked 70000 bookings on Day 1

India’s automobile market is poised for a wave of new product activity next year, with the industry expected to witness an average of one car launch every week. Automakers are gearing up to sustain the strong momentum in consumer demand by rolling out a steady stream of offerings across segments.

The upcoming launches will include a mix of all-new models, facelifts of existing vehicles, new variants, and mid-life upgrades. This aggressive product pipeline reflects manufacturers’ efforts to refresh portfolios, cater to evolving customer preferences, and strengthen their competitive positioning in one of the world’s fastest-growing auto markets.

Industry experts say the robust launch calendar underscores confidence in sustained demand, driven by improving economic sentiment, rising disposable incomes, and increasing appetite for feature-rich and technologically advanced vehicles.

The lineup will continue to be heavily skewed towards sports utility vehicles (SUVs), ranging from compact five-seaters to premium and luxury seven-seater models, reflecting the segment’s sustained popularity among Indian buyers. In contrast, no all-new hatchbacks or sedans are planned for launch during the period, with manufacturers limiting activity in these segments to facelifts and minor updates.

Maruti Suzuki will commence the commercial roll out of the e Vitara to finally mark its long-awaited debut in the electric vehicle segment, which is presently dominated by Tata Motors. This will be followed by facelifts of both Brezza and Baleno. Some other models of the company will have a CNG fuel option.

For Tata Motors, India’s second largest carmaker, the year will see further expansion of its EV lineup with the launch of the Sierra EV planned around the middle of 2026. Launch of Punch facelift and a likely launch of the Altroz EV will complement the pipeline.

Hyundai has had a disappointing FY26 till November with volumes showing a decline of 8% on the year. The manufacturer of Creta and i20 will introduce the facelift versions of the Verna, Exter and the Ioniq 5 in 2026. In November, the Korean brand had launched the all-new Venue.

Mahindra and Mahindra, the country’s fourth largest carmaker, will focus on ramping up production to match demand specially for its EV offerings. While the facelifted XUV 700, which will be rebadged to XUV 7XO, is getting ready for launch in the first week of January, the company is busy working to get its production for the XEV 9s which was launched a few weeks ago. A mild facelift of the Scorpio N is also in the pipeline.

Toyota will follow in the footsteps of Maruti Suzuki tweaking its portfolio in a similar manner. The company will launch its own first EV based on the e-Vitara platform. This will be accompanied during the year with the introduction of the Land Cruiser Prado and the all-new Fortuner.

Hyundai’s group brand Kia is expected to introduce the electric version of the Syros followed by the launch of the long-awaited Sorento SUV.

French car brand Renault will look to reinvent itself in India with the comeback of the Duster scheduled for January 26. The model, which was once a best-selling SUV in India, will pave the way for more launches by the company later in the year including Bigster, the 7-seater version of the Duster. There is also a likelihood of the launch of the electric Kwid.

Renault’s partner Nissan will follow in the French brand’s footsteps to launch its own version of the Duster called Tekton followed by an introduction of a multi-seater vehicle called Gravite which will be based on the Renault’s Triber design.

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Jaguar Land Rover, and other brands from the luxury segment will bring multiple new models such as the GLB, i5 LWB, new Q3, refreshed Defender and some limited editions versions.

After receiving a lukewarm response for the Model Y, which was its debut model in the country, Tesla will likely add at least one new model to its kitty in 2026. Vietnamese brand Vinfast will bring the 7-seater EV Limo Green, which will be its third offering in India.