Tata, Mahindra lead global EV energy-efficiency rankings: ICCT

Tata Motors and Mahindra have emerged as the world’s most energy-efficient electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation’s (ICCT) Global Automaker Rating 2025.

The report ranks Tata Motors first globally in EV energy efficiency, with an adjusted energy consumption of 106 Wh/km, while Mahindra ranks second globally at 113 Wh/km. These results place both Indian automakers ahead of several established global manufacturers in this category.

ICCT’s annual report compares global automakers in the transition to zero-emission vehicles and categorizes automakers as ‘Leaders,’ ‘Transitioners’ and ‘Laggards’. The report evaluates how the world’s 22 largest automakers are positioned for the transition to EVs. The evaluation is based on ten custom-built metrics. Using these metrics, it tracks how these automakers are transitioning their vehicle fleets to zero tailpipe emissions and decarbonizing their manufacturing processes, based on their performance in 2025 in the largest markets.

Mahindra, one of India’s biggest EV manufacturers, was added to the Global Automaker Rating for the first time this year, noting that the addition provides greater representation of India’s evolving passenger vehicle market and Tata Motors maintained its status in “transitioner” category this year.

India targets 30% EV penetration in new vehicle sales by 2030, yet EVs currently account for only around 4% of new passenger vehicle sales. The report notes that bridging this gap will require a combination of market incentives, industrial policy, and robust fuel-efficiency regulations that encourage manufacturers to accelerate the shift toward cleaner technologies.

The report found that Indian manufacturers are building some of the world’s most energy-efficient EVs, reducing electricity demand per kilometer and supporting India’s goals of lowering oil imports, strengthening energy security, and expanding domestic manufacturing. The report also found that stronger CAFE III norms can help scale this advantage while improving energy security and market competitiveness.

For India, the stakes extend beyond emissions reduction. A successful transition to electric mobility can strengthen energy security, reduce dependence on imported oil, boost domestic manufacturing under the Make in India initiative, and position Indian automakers as global leaders in affordable electric mobility. As policymakers deliberate the final shape of CAFE III, the experience of India’s own automakers demonstrates that the technological foundation for an accelerated transition already exists. The next step is ensuring that regulatory ambition keeps pace.

Amit Bhatt, India Managing Director, ICCT shared, “It is encouraging to see that India’s EV transition is being led by strong home-grown manufacturers. In addition to Tata Motors, Mahindra has now joined the latest Global Automaker Rating, highlighting the growing global relevance of Indian automotive companies. Progressive and ambitious CAFE standards can play a crucial role in accelerating this momentum and help India move closer to its vision of achieving 30% EV sales by 2030.”

Dale Hall, ICCT global program lead, said: “This rating shows that the global auto industry’s electric transition is no longer a distant future. In 2025, EVs accounted for 25% of global new light-duty vehicle sales, and almost all major automakers analysed in our report increased their EV sales share. The key question now is not whether automakers will sell EVs, but how quickly they can supply competitive electric models across different markets and vehicle segments to remain competitive.”