Electric vehicle (EV) bookings in Tamil Nadu surged to a record in March, as concerns over petrol and diesel supply and rising fuel costs pushed more buyers toward electric options.
RTO registration data shows 27,412 EVs were booked and brought into use in March 2026. Around one-fifth were four-wheelers, while the rest were two-wheelers.
The jump is sharp compared with March 2025, when 14,239 EVs were registered. In 2026, EV registrations rose from 18,331 in January and 17,873 in February to 27,412 in March.
In contrast, petrol and diesel vehicle bookings declined over the same period—from 2,40,623 in January to 2,18,396 in February and 2,01,754 in March—amid fuel supply anxiety linked to tensions in West Asia.
Auto industry representatives said most EV buyers are from urban areas such as Chennai and Coimbatore. Many, including women, are choosing EVs for short trips to transport hubs and for school drop-offs, while summer-season promotional offers have also boosted bookings.
