Indian Tata and Mahindra surpassed Tesla in the electric vehicle energy efficiency ranking
Kyiv • UNN
Indian automakers Tata Motors and Mahindra topped the global electric vehicle energy efficiency ranking, surpassing Tesla and BYD. The study showed that more compact models with smaller batteries can be a competitive advantage.
Indian automakers Tata Motors and Mahindra have topped the global ranking of electric vehicle energy efficiency, outpacing Tesla and BYD. The study showed that more compact models with smaller batteries can be a competitive advantage due to lower energy consumption and lower cost. This is reported by the American automotive online publication Autoblog, writes UNN.
Details
It is noted that Tesla has set the benchmark for electric vehicle efficiency for years. But a new global ranking has identified an unexpected leader - India. According to the 2025 assessment by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Indian companies Tata Motors and Mahindra have the most energy-efficient battery electric vehicle lineups among 22 major automakers. Meanwhile, Tesla and BYD took third and fourth places, respectively.
Electric vehicles from Indian manufacturers are typically designed as smaller and lighter crossovers, suited to the conditions of India's congested cities, shorter daily commutes, and a price-sensitive market.
This is important because efficiency can be used in two different ways. Tesla has often used it to get more range from a battery. Tata and Mahindra can use it to provide sufficient range with a smaller battery from the start, which helps make EVs lighter and potentially more affordable
Smaller EVs have an advantage
ICCT converts official test cycle data into comparable energy consumption figures and averages the results across each manufacturer's entire EV model lineup. Tata's EV lineup consumed an average of about 106 Wh/km, while Mahindra showed approximately 113 Wh/km. However, this does not necessarily mean that Tata and Mahindra have more advanced EV technology than Tesla. The ranking evaluates the efficiency of companies' entire model portfolio, which is influenced not only by technology characteristics but also by the size of the model lineup and the manufacturer's strategy.
A company focused on smaller cars may have a natural advantage over a manufacturer that sells large SUVs and high-performance models. Tata and Mahindra primarily produce compact electric SUVs, while Tesla and BYD offer a wider selection of models, including larger, heavier, and more powerful vehicles.
At the same time, smaller cars are not always automatically more efficient. Weight, aerodynamics, power electronics, battery management system, and drivetrain tuning still determine how much energy an EV loses. The results indicate that Tata and Mahindra's compact models gain an advantage not only due to their size but also due to sufficiently good optimization for the markets in which they operate.
The ranking does not mean that Tata and Mahindra have surpassed Tesla or BYD in all aspects of EV development. However, it shows that the world's largest brands do not have a monopoly on efficiency, and creating EVs with smaller batteries can be a competitive advantage, not a compromise
Battery packs remain among the most expensive components of an electric vehicle, so every kilowatt-hour a manufacturer can save potentially allows them to reduce both the vehicle's weight and its cost.
For many years, the industry has emphasized larger batteries, greater range, and faster acceleration. EV manufacturers from India are showing that using less energy can be just as important. The next big breakthrough in electric vehicles may not be adding another 100 miles of range, but creating lighter and more efficient cars that need a smaller battery from the start.