EV, CNG Car Waiting Periods Rise Ahead of India’s 2026 Festive Season

Excerpt:
Demand for electric and CNG vehicles is pushing delivery timelines higher ahead of India’s festive season, with some EVs facing waits of up to four months and the TVS iQube extending to as much as five months.

EV and CNG Vehicle Waiting Periods Increase Before Festive Demand Peaks

Indian car and two-wheeler buyers could face longer delivery timelines this festive season as demand rises for specific electric, CNG and petrol-powered models.

While dealerships are carrying roughly a month of overall vehicle inventory, the available stock does not always match what customers are looking for. Shortages of particular models, powertrains, battery configurations and variants are resulting in waiting periods of several months for some popular vehicles.

The situation comes as India's major festive buying period is still getting underway, with several important festivals and vehicle-buying occasions approaching.

Popular EVs Face Longer Delivery Queues

Electric vehicles are among the models seeing a notable increase in waiting periods.

According to an August channel check by YES Securities, waiting periods for some high-demand electric cars have increased to around three to four months. That represents a significant rise from approximately one month reported around five months earlier.

The increase indicates that demand for certain EV models is outpacing the availability of specific variants and configurations.

For customers hoping to take delivery of an electric car during the festive season, booking ahead could therefore become increasingly important.

TVS iQube Buyers Face Up to Five-Month Wait

The supply-demand imbalance is also visible in India's electric two-wheeler market.

The TVS iQube is reportedly facing a waiting period of around four to five months in some cases. This makes it one of the longer delivery queues among the products highlighted in the latest market assessment.

The longer wait comes as electric scooters continue to gain popularity in India's two-wheeler market, particularly among customers looking for lower running costs and urban mobility solutions.

Maruti Suzuki Brezza Waits Around Two Months

The newly updated Maruti Suzuki Brezza is also experiencing a delivery wait, with the average period reported at around two months.

A major factor behind the demand is the popularity of its alternative powertrains. More than 70% of Brezza bookings are reportedly for its turbo-petrol and CNG versions, according to the August channel check.

This highlights how inventory levels at dealerships can remain relatively healthy overall while specific variants continue to face shortages.

Dealerships Have Inventory, But Not Always the Right Inventory

Passenger-vehicle dealerships currently have approximately four weeks of inventory, while two-wheeler retailers are carrying around four to five weeks of stock.

However, headline inventory numbers do not necessarily mean every model and variant is immediately available.

Customers may find a particular vehicle in stock but have to wait for a different colour, battery pack, engine, transmission or fuel configuration. This mismatch between available stock and customer preference is contributing to longer waiting periods.

Festive Demand Could Put More Pressure on Deliveries

The timing of the supply mismatch is significant because India's festive vehicle-buying season is still ahead.

Sales during Onam in Kerala reportedly increased by more than 20% year-on-year, indicating strong consumer demand at the beginning of the festive period.

The market will then move into other major buying occasions, including Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Dhanteras and Diwali.

If demand remains strong through these periods, popular models could see their waiting periods increase further unless manufacturers and dealers are able to align production and inventory with customer preferences.

What Buyers Should Expect

Customers planning to purchase an EV, CNG car or electric scooter during the festive season should consider checking the availability of their preferred variant before making a booking.

The current market situation suggests that there can be a significant difference between a vehicle's advertised availability and the actual delivery timeline for a specific configuration.

Buyers looking for immediate delivery may need to consider alternative variants, colours or models, while those seeking a particular specification could have to accept a longer waiting period.

EV Demand Remains a Key Market Trend

The growing waiting periods for selected electric vehicles underline the changing nature of India's automobile market.

As EV adoption increases and more consumers consider electric cars and scooters, manufacturers will need to balance rising demand with battery, component and production capacity.

The coming festive months could provide another important test for India's EV and passenger-vehicle supply chain. Strong sales combined with limited availability of popular variants could keep delivery queues elevated even when overall dealership inventory remains relatively comfortable.

Source: Market/channel-check information reported by YES Securities and industry reporting.