Ola BEATS Bajaj To Take 2nd Place In August 2025 Electric Scooter Sales

August 2025 brought another twist in the electric two-wheeler race. Ola Electric reclaimed the second spot in monthly sales, delivering 16,646 scooters for a 17.4 per cent share of the market. T

he move pushed Ather Energy into third place by a small margin. Bajaj Auto, which normally held the runner-up position, slid down to fifth as it struggled with shortages of rare-earth magnets needed for electric motors.

Supply Problems Hit Bajaj

Bajaj’s Chetak line was the most visible casualty of the rare-earth supply crunch. Sales fell 37 per cent year-on-year to 10,635 units, taking market share down to 11 per cent from 19 per cent a year earlier. The company had to pause deliveries through much of August, resuming only in the final ten days once sourcing issues were resolved.

Management has said that demand for the Chetak remains strong and bookings are being cleared now that production is back on track. Still, the timing of the disruption meant Bajaj lost ground during a busy selling period, allowing rivals to step in.

The rare-earth squeeze has affected the entire industry. Executives from Bajaj, Ather, and TVS have all admitted that production planning is being done week to week with no clear solution in sight. Manufacturers are weighing new sourcing options and experimenting with rare-earth-free motor technology, but results will take time.

Mixed Fortunes Across Brands

Ola’s bounce-back to second place masks a longer-term decline. Its August sales were down 40 per cent compared to last year, and its market share has nearly halved from 31 per cent to 17.4 per cent. The company has faced tougher competition from traditional two-wheeler majors and new technology-focused players entering the segment.

By contrast, Ather Energy is building momentum. Its sales grew 50 per cent year-on-year, and market share climbed from 12 per cent to more than 17 per cent. The Ather Rizta, positioned as a family scooter, has played a key role in this growth along with an expanding retail network. Ather briefly overtook Ola in the first half of August before the final tally shifted back.

TVS Motor retained its lead comfortably with iQube sales of 22,742 units. That translates into a 24 per cent share, up from 20 per cent a year ago. The company’s stable output and distribution strength have helped it withstand the supply chain turbulence better than most.

Industry Grows Despite Headwinds

In total, 95,544 electric two-wheelers were sold in August, slightly higher than the 89,080 units a year earlier. However, volumes dipped below the one lakh mark for the first time since May, a sign of the drag created by supply shortages.

The growth shows that consumer demand remains strong even as the industry grapples with constraints. The challenge now is ensuring supply can match interest. Manufacturers are diversifying their supplier base and exploring alternative technologies, which could shift the structure of the industry over the medium term.

The latest numbers underline how quickly market positions can change in the electric scooter space. Ola’s gain this month was less about surging demand and more about its ability to keep supply flowing while Bajaj stumbled. The episode highlights how resilience and flexibility in operations are as important as consumer interest in deciding who leads the charts.