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By Piyush P. Yadav

September 2026 is the month India’s two biggest volume carmakers pass on higher input costs to buyers, and for the first time in a while the electric line-ups are not being spared. Tata Motors has confirmed a revision of up to Rs 25,000 across its internal-combustion and electric range, and Hyundai Motor India has raised prices by up to 1 per cent across its portfolio, its third increase this calendar year. For EV shoppers who had been watching the Nexon EV, Punch EV, Curvv EV or Creta Electric, that changes the arithmetic on ex-showroom price, on-road cost and, in a few cases, the value of the run-out discounts still on the table. Here is what has actually changed, model by model, and how to think about timing a purchase.

What Tata Motors has announced

Tata Motors became the second manufacturer after Hyundai to announce an upward revision effective September 2026. The company has said the increase will be up to Rs 25,000, that it applies across both its ICE and EV line-ups, and that the exact figure will vary by model and variant. The models named are the Tiago, Tigor, Punch, Nexon, Curvv, Sierra, Harrier and Safari. All of those except the Altroz and Safari have an electric sibling on sale today, with the Safari EV still to come as part of the company’s plan we covered in Tata’s FY30 roadmap and the Avinya premium EV brand.

Tata’s stated reasons are rising input costs and sustained inflationary pressure. The company added that it continues to absorb a significant share of those increases and is passing on only part of the impact. Tata has not published a model-wise table, which means the only way to know the exact new number for a specific variant is a dealer quote dated on or after September 1.

The timing matters because Tata is coming off a record month. As we reported in our August 2026 electric car sales analysis, Tata took a record 44 per cent share of India’s electric passenger vehicle market. A price rise into that momentum is a sign of confidence, and of the fact that the company’s cost base, particularly on battery cells and imported motor components, has not eased.

What Hyundai has announced

Hyundai Motor India announced its increase first, on August 29, citing rising input and commodity costs, higher operating expenses and geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty. The hike is up to 1 per cent across the entire passenger vehicle portfolio and applies from September 2026. Hyundai had already raised prices in January and June, so this is the third revision of 2026.

Because Hyundai’s hike is a percentage, the rupee impact is largest on its most expensive cars, and the Creta Electric is one of the priciest models in the range. The published before-and-after figures for the electric Creta are below.

Creta Electric: old vs new prices

Model Price before hike (ex-showroom) Price from September 2026 Approximate increase
Hyundai Creta Electric Rs 18.02 lakh to Rs 23.67 lakh Rs 18.20 lakh to Rs 23.91 lakh Rs 18,000 to Rs 24,000
Hyundai Creta (petrol/diesel), for comparison Rs 10.90 lakh to Rs 19.95 lakh Rs 11.01 lakh to Rs 20.15 lakh Rs 11,000 to Rs 20,000

In other words, a top-spec Creta Electric buyer pays roughly Rs 24,000 more from this month, which is close to the ceiling of Tata’s flat Rs 25,000 cap. Hyundai’s percentage approach hits its EV harder than its cheaper hatchbacks, where the increase is in the hundreds of rupees.

Tata EVs: where prices stand in September 2026

Tata has not given per-model numbers, so the table below lists the starting ex-showroom prices as displayed on listing sites in September 2026, alongside the maximum possible increase under the announced cap. Treat the last column as an upper bound, not a confirmed figure.

Model Starting ex-showroom price (Sept 2026 listings) Maximum possible increase Worst-case new starting price
Tata Tiago EV Rs 5.84 lakh Rs 25,000 Rs 6.09 lakh
Tata Punch EV Rs 8.16 lakh Rs 25,000 Rs 8.41 lakh
Tata Nexon EV Rs 12.49 lakh Rs 25,000 Rs 12.74 lakh
Tata Tigor EV Rs 12.49 lakh Rs 25,000 Rs 12.74 lakh
Tata Curvv EV Rs 17.19 lakh (top variant Rs 19.69 lakh) Rs 25,000 Rs 17.44 lakh
Tata Sierra EV Rs 18.79 lakh at launch (see our Sierra EV review) Rs 25,000 Rs 19.04 lakh

Two things stand out. First, on a Tiago EV a Rs 25,000 increase is more than 4 per cent of the car’s price, whereas on a Curvv EV it is under 1.5 per cent. If Tata applies the flat cap uniformly, its cheapest EVs are hit hardest in proportional terms. Second, because the company has said the number varies by variant, it is entirely possible that entry trims see a smaller increase than fully loaded ones. Ask for the September price sheet before assuming the worst case.

The discount that matters more than the hike

For Curvv EV shoppers, the price increase is small change next to the run-out benefits Tata has been offering on non-X-series stock. Through August 2026, non-X trims of the Curvv EV carried benefits of up to Rs 3.35 lakh, made up of a Rs 3 lakh cash discount plus a Rs 35,000 scrappage incentive, while existing Tata owners switching to a new Curvv X series got Rs 30,000 in loyalty benefits. The Harrier EV’s Adventure, Fearless+ and Empowered trims carried a Rs 50,000 exchange bonus or a Rs 75,000 scrappage incentive. Those offers were stated as valid until August 31, so whether they continue into September, and on which model-year stock, is a dealer-by-dealer question this week. If a dealer still has model-year 2025 Curvv EV units, a Rs 3 lakh cash benefit comfortably outweighs a Rs 25,000 hike.

The Nexon EV had the lowest benefits in August, and the Tigor EV and Sierra EV had none. Buyers of those three should expect to feel the full price revision without an offsetting discount.

Why input costs are rising for EVs specifically

Both companies cite generic input-cost inflation, but for electric models there are specific pressures. India still imports the rare-earth magnets that go into most EV traction motors, and the September 1 localisation rule for motors has added compliance cost for the supply chain; we explained the mechanics in our piece on India’s rare-earth magnet dependence and the motor localisation deadline. Battery cell prices have fallen globally, but a weaker rupee blunts that benefit for importers. And Hyundai’s mention of geopolitical uncertainty is a reference to the same supply-chain risk.

How the hike changes on-road cost

An ex-showroom increase of Rs 25,000 does not stay at Rs 25,000 on the road. Registration charges, insurance premiums and, in states that have withdrawn EV road-tax waivers, road tax are all calculated as a percentage of the ex-showroom price. In a state that now charges road tax on EVs, a Rs 25,000 ex-showroom increase can become Rs 27,000 to Rs 30,000 on-road. Where waivers still apply, the gap is smaller. Our state-by-state tracker of EV road tax after Karnataka ended its exemption lists which states still waive it.

For a loan-financed purchase the effect is spread over the tenure. On a five-year loan at typical rates, Rs 25,000 of extra principal adds roughly Rs 500 to Rs 550 to the monthly EMI. That is not nothing, but it is well below the monthly fuel saving most EV owners see versus a petrol equivalent, which we quantified in our five-year EV versus petrol cost comparison.

Should you buy now or wait?

  • Buy now if you have found model-year 2025 Curvv EV or Harrier EV stock with the August-style benefits still attached. The discount dwarfs the hike.
  • Buy now if you are in a state that still waives EV road tax and there is any talk of that changing. The tax saving is larger than the price revision.
  • Consider waiting if you want a Nexon EV or Punch EV and the festive season is close. Manufacturers typically announce festive offers in the second half of September and October, and those have historically included EVs.
  • Do not expect a rollback. Both companies have framed this as cost pass-through, and Hyundai has already raised prices twice this year without reversing either.

What other brands are likely to do

The reporting on Tata’s announcement noted that more manufacturers are expected to follow. Mahindra, MG and Maruti Suzuki have not announced September revisions on their EVs as of this writing. Mahindra’s battery-as-a-service pricing, which we broke down in our Mahindra BaaS cost maths explainer, is partly insulated because the per-kilometre battery charge is set separately from the vehicle price. If you are cross-shopping a Creta Electric or Curvv EV against a Mahindra BE 6 or MG Windsor, this month the Tata and Hyundai products have become slightly less competitive on sticker price.

Sources & Further Reading

FAQ

How much have Tata EV prices gone up in September 2026?

Tata Motors has confirmed an increase of up to Rs 25,000 across its ICE and EV range effective September 2026. The exact amount varies by model and variant, and Tata has not published a model-wise list.

What is the new Hyundai Creta Electric price?

The Creta Electric moves from Rs 18.02 lakh to Rs 23.67 lakh ex-showroom to Rs 18.20 lakh to Rs 23.91 lakh after Hyundai’s up to 1 per cent hike, an increase of roughly Rs 18,000 to Rs 24,000 depending on variant.

Are there still discounts on Tata EVs to offset the hike?

Through August 2026, non-X Curvv EV trims carried benefits of up to Rs 3.35 lakh and the Harrier EV had exchange or scrappage bonuses of Rs 50,000 to Rs 75,000. Those were stated as valid until August 31, so check with dealers whether any model-year 2025 stock still carries them in September.

Will Mahindra, MG and Maruti also raise EV prices?

None of them had announced a September revision at the time of writing, though reporting on Tata’s hike said more manufacturers were expected to follow.