CNG & Hybrid sales surge in India as EV growth slows

Between January and August 2024, CNG car sales surged by 46%, while hybrid sales grew by 19%.

CNG and hybrid vehicle sales have been on the rise in India, while EV sales have slowed down, registering single-digit growth.

According to the latest figures by Jato Dynamics, CNG car sales surged by 46% between January and August 2024. During the same period, hybrid sales grew by 19%, while EV sales slowed to 7%. Overall sales rose by 6% to 2.87 million units in the same period.

The surge in CNG sales can be attributed to more and more models being offered with a factory-fitted CNG option. It is also popular among gig workers and small businesses, which prefer CNG for its cost efficiency.

Maruti Suzuki sold 48,000 CNG vehicles in August 2024. The carmaker aims to sell 50,000 CNG cars per month, with the introduction of the Swift CNG. It is targeting 6 lakh units by the end of the fiscal.

Instead of focusing only on EVs, the government has adopted a broader strategy to promote alternative fuels. This has been reflected in the surge in hybrid vehicle sales. EVs are facing increased competition in the market, with multiple fuel technology options now available for consumers.