New Delhi, 11 June 2026 – According to JATO data, India’s two-wheeler market recorded steady growth in May 2026, with approximately 1.84 million registrations being recorded compared to 1.71 million units in May 2025. The increase reflected continued demand recovery in the segment supported by commuter usage and improving rural traction.
Month-on-month, the market witnessed a 6.6% decline, with registrations easing from 1.97 million units in April compared to 1.84 million units in May. This mirrors a typical seasonal softening, while underlying demand remains stable across both urban and rural markets.
Commenting on the May data, Ravi Bhatia, President, JATO Dynamics India – Global Automotive Intelligence, said, “India’s two-wheeler market continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience. The 7.3% YoY growth in May 2026 reflects structural demand recovery and that the rural market is expanding at nearly 20% YoY.
Hero MotoCorp retained its leadership position in May with a 28.5% market share, supported by volumes of over 517 K units. There is increasing competition from Honda with 24.8% market share and 9.3% YoY growth. As a strong challenger, TVS strengthened its position with a 19.59% market share and double-digit growth of ~11%.
On a model level, May 2026 registrations were led by Hero Splendor Plus with ~323K units, maintaining its position as the top-selling two-wheeler. Honda’s Activa followed at ~206K units, highlighting strong demand in the scooter segment. TVS Jupiter (~119K) and Bajaj Pulsar (~113K) also featured prominently.
Motorcycles continued to dominate the two-wheeler market with a 59.4% market share, while scooters accounted for 30.2% of total registrations, reflecting a continued urban and convenience-driven demand. Electric scooters contributed 8.8%, indicating growing EV adoption within the category.
From a geographic perspective, Delhi emerged as the single largest two-wheeler market in May registering ~46.2K units followed by Bengaluru (~41.7K) and Hyderabad (~33.0K), indicating strong demand across major metro markets. Other key cities Chennai (~27.9K) and Pune (~26.9K) also recorded healthy volumes.
At the state level, JATO data showed that two-wheeler registrations in May 2026 were led by Uttar Pradesh (~314K units), followed by Maharashtra (~182K) and Tamil Nadu (~142K), highlighting strong demand across both northern and southern regions.
Rural regions contributed ~485.8K units, recording the fastest growth at +19.65% YoY, indicating rising traction in non-metro areas. Meanwhile, metro cities added ~232.6K units (+6.07% YoY), reflecting steady but moderate growth compared to rural expansion.
“With inventory levels stable at 37–40 days and commuter demand holding firm, the market outlook remains constructive,” Bhatia concluded. “The next 12 months will separate the OEMs who have genuinely built rural distribution depth and EV credibility from those who have not.”
Overall, May 2026 JATO insights indicated that the two-wheeler market in India is expected to remain stable with gradual growth momentum, supported by improving rural demand, steady urban consumption, and increasing affordability. While seasonal fluctuations may lead to short-term variations, the overall outlook remains positive.
Data source: JATO vehicle registration data as of 1 June 2026, YoY comparison with May 2025. Telangana excluded.
For full rankings, detailed analysis or media enquiries please contact Laura Cameron, laura.cameron@jato.com
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