Nippon India Nifty Auto Index Fund Direct Growth Review 2026: NAV, Returns, Portfolio & Should You Invest?

Nippon India Nifty Auto Index Fund Direct Growth Plan has a NAV of ₹11.4905 as of 15 Sep 2026 and manages ₹50 Cr. Its 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns are 2.96%, 0% and 0%, and the fund sits in the High Risk category.

Our view is that this is a concentrated auto-sector index fund whose recent return trend is modest rather than strong, while the category exposure makes it more suited to investors who can tolerate sharp swings. The portfolio is dominated by a small set of auto and ancillaries names, so the outcome will likely remain tied closely to the sector cycle.

Quick facts

Particular	Details
NAV	₹11.4905 as of 15 Sep 2026
AUM	₹50 Cr
Expense Ratio	0.35%
Launch Date	04 Dec 2024
Min SIP	₹100
Risk Category	High Risk
Benchmark	Nifty 50
Fund Category	Index Funds
Exit Load	No exit load
Fund Managers	Jitendra Tolani

The fund is managed by Jitendra Tolani.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Performance

Period	Fund return	Benchmark return
1M	-8.32%	-4.81%
3M	0.03%	-3.63%
1Y	2.96%	-8.27%
3Y	Data not available	Data not available
5Y	Data not available	Data not available

The recent pattern is uneven. Over 1 month, the fund declined more than the benchmark, which tells us the underlying auto basket has still been vulnerable to short bursts of pressure. Yet the 3-month figure turned marginally positive even as the benchmark stayed negative, so the fund has shown some resilience in the latest quarter.

On a 1-year view, the fund is positive while the benchmark is negative, which is a meaningful relative edge. That said, the overall gain remains modest at 2.96%, so this is not a high-momentum return profile. The return pattern suggests the fund has been able to hold up better than the benchmark over the past year, but not in a smooth way.

There is no meaningful 3-year or 5-year return history to judge a longer compounding trend, because the fund is still relatively new. That matters for investors who want evidence of consistency across a full cycle. For now, our view is that the fund’s appeal lies more in its sector-specific exposure and benchmark-beating recent stretch than in a long track record.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Should you BUY or HOLD Nippon India Nifty Auto Index?

A fund's past returns alone don't tell you whether you should buy it today or continue holding it.

The right decision depends on factors such as your current allocation, purchase price, risk profile, investment horizon and the role this fund plays in your overall portfolio.

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Peer comparison

Fund	1Y return	3Y return	5Y return
Nippon India Nifty Auto Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	2.96%	Data not available	Data not available
ICICI Pru NASDAQ 100 Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	32.61%	29.92%	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.23%	Data not available	Data not available
Aditya Birla SL Nifty India Defence Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.22%	Data not available	Data not available
Motilal Oswal Nifty Capital Market Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	26.18%	Data not available	Data not available
Tata Nifty Capital Markets Index Fund Direct Growth Plan	25.91%	Data not available	Data not available

The current fund’s 1-year return is well below the stronger 1-year figures shown by the peer set, even though it has stayed ahead of the benchmark over the same period. That makes its recent showing more muted than the fast-moving themes represented by the comparison set.

For 3-year and 5-year returns, the comparison is limited because the current fund does not yet have a meaningful long record, while several peers also have missing long-horizon figures. The clearest contrast is that the available peer data shows much stronger recent 1-year outcomes elsewhere, whereas this fund’s short history remains modest and benchmark-linked. This assessment is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Portfolio: where your money goes

Holding	Sector	Weight
Mahindra & Mahindra Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	22.78%
Maruti Suzuki India Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	13.74%
Bajaj Auto Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	10.45%
Eicher Motors Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	8.52%
TVS Motor Company Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	7.93%
Samvardhana Motherson International Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	5.85%
Hero Motocorp Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	5.5%
Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	5.02%
Bharat Forge Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	4.36%
Ashok Leyland Limited	Automobile & Ancillaries	3.91%

The top 10 holdings account for approximately 88.06% of the portfolio.

To see all holdings, visit the Nippon India Nifty Auto Index Fund Direct Growth Plan page

Mahindra & Mahindra Limited is the largest holding at 22.78%, so it is likely to have greater influence on the fund than any other single position. The next few holdings also carry meaningful weights, but the drop from the first holding to the tenth is still noticeable, with Ashok Leyland Limited at 3.91%.

That spread suggests a portfolio that is concentrated in a handful of large auto names rather than evenly distributed across many positions. Because the top 10 holdings already account for 88.06% of the portfolio and the fund discloses 15 holdings in total, the visible structure appears fairly tight, with a longer tail making up a smaller part of the scheme. That concentration may amplify both gains and setbacks when the auto sector moves strongly.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Who should invest

This fund suits investors who can handle High Risk exposure and who are comfortable with a narrow sector theme rather than a diversified equity basket. The 1-year return has been positive, but the shorter 1-month figure has been weak and the benchmark comparison shows that outcomes can diverge sharply from month to month.

It may fit a medium- to long-term view if the investor wants auto-sector participation and accepts that the fund can be more volatile than broad-market equity exposure. The trade-off is simple: you get focused sector exposure and the chance to benefit when the auto cycle is supportive, but you also accept that returns can be uneven and the portfolio is concentrated in a few names.

Tax and exit load

Holding period	Tax rate	Description
Units held less than 1 year	20%	Short-term capital gains tax
Units held more than 1 year	12.5%	Long-term capital gains tax

No exit load applies.

Source data date: as of 15 Sep 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is the current NAV of Nippon India Nifty Auto Index Fund Direct Growth Plan?
The current NAV is ₹11.4905 as of 15 Sep 2026.

What are the fund’s 1-year, 3-year and 5-year returns?
The fund’s 1-year return is 2.96%, while the 3-year and 5-year returns are Data not available.

How has the fund done versus the benchmark?
Over 1 year, the fund has returned 2.96% compared with the benchmark’s -8.27%. Over 1 month, the fund fell 8.32% versus the benchmark’s -4.81%.

Is the fund riskier than a broad-market equity fund?
It carries a High Risk label and is concentrated in automobile and ancillaries stocks. That makes it more sensitive to sector swings than a broad diversified equity fund.

What is the exit load on this fund?
No exit load applies.

Who manages the fund?
The fund is managed by Jitendra Tolani.

Bottom line

This fund’s recent pattern is mixed rather than steady: the 1-year return is positive and ahead of the benchmark, but the 1-month figure is weaker, which tells us the path has not been smooth. Against peers, the available 1-year returns are much stronger elsewhere, so the fund looks more restrained on recent performance than several other themed funds. Its High Risk profile and heavy concentration in automobile names make it best suited to investors who want focused sector exposure and can tolerate uneven moves.

Published on 16 September 2026 at 8:02 AM IST

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RIA disclosure

Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing. This review is prepared by Uniapps Investment Adviser Pvt. Ltd. (earlier known as Uniapps Global Research Pvt. Ltd.) under SEBI Registered Investment Adviser registration INA000017639 for general informational purposes and is not personalized investment advice.