New Delhi, Jan. 8 -- A festive-season jump in petrol and diesel car sales after the government cut goods and services tax (GST) rates briefly pulled down electric vehicle (EV) penetration, leading to concern that cheaper internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles could slow down India's EV transition.

Automakers and dealers, however, say the recent softness reflects short-term volatility rather than a shift in consumer preference, arguing that EV adoption continues to rise as buyers look beyond upfront prices to overall ownership costs.

Data from the Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (Fada) data released on Tuesday showed EV penetration grew for two consecutive months after a dip in October, leading to fears that New Delhi's m...