E-Rickshaws Lose Ground as L5 Electric Auto Sales Surge in India

Market Shift in Electric 3W Passenger and Cargo Segments

L5 Overtakes the OG L3 e-Rickshaw: 1.28 Lakh Units vs 93,000 in Q2 FY27

The 3W passenger market has hit a turning point: L5 electric autos have overtaken e-rickshaws as the larger segment.

• In Q2 FY27, L5 passenger sales reached 1,28,010 units, up about 122% from 57,738 units in the same quarter last year and 39.17% higher than the previous quarter.

• Over the same period, e-rickshaw sales fell about 16% YoY to 93,036 units, though they edged up 3.31% QoQ. L5 outsold e-rickshaws by roughly 35,000 units in Q2.

• The combined passenger segment grew about 31% YoY, with L5’s share rising from about 34% to about 58%.

• EV penetration in the L5 category also climbed to 53.78%, from 46.95% in the previous quarter, extending its upward run over recent quarters.

Here is a closer look at the numbers behind the shift.

E-L5 Cargo and E-LCVs Surge | E-Carts Slip

E-carts remain India’s largest electric cargo category, but L5 goods vehicles and e-LCVs are growing far faster.

• In Q2 FY27, e-cart sales stood at 19,728 units, up only about 3% from 19,088 units a year earlier, and down about 12.5% from the previous quarter.

• Electric L5 goods vehicles, by contrast, have grown every quarter, from 6,987 to 15,026 units, up about 115% YoY, including a 27.8% jump over the last quarter.

• E-LCVs rose about 128% YoY, from 4,027 to 9,172 units, despite a dip in Q3 FY26, and gained about 42.67% QoQ.

• EV penetration climbed from 27.52% to 31.36% for the 3W Goods L5 category and from 3.97% to 5.08% for LCVs compared with the previous quarter.

Here is a closer look at the numbers behind the shift.

This article was first published in EVreporter Nov 2026 magazine.

Also read: India’s Electric Vehicle Sales Trend | October 2026