In a surprising twist to India's FY2025 car market trends, Tata Motors has reported higher sales of CNG vehicles than the combined total of its diesel and electric vehicle (EV) sales.
The company sold an impressive 1,39,460 CNG cars, beating the combined 1,33,776 units of diesel (72,333) and EV (61,443) models sold in the same fiscal year.
Tata Surpasses Mahindra, Retains Third Spot
Tata Motors ended the fiscal year on a strong note, solidifying its position as the third-largest car manufacturer in India, trailing behind Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai. With total domestic sales touching 5,53,591 units, Tata edged past Mahindra by a margin of just over 2,000 units. Mahindra’s total stood at 5,51,487 units.
CNG Emerges as a Strong Performer
The biggest takeaway, however, is the rapid rise of CNG cars in Tata’s lineup. CNG cars now account for over 25% of the company’s total domestic sales, meaning 1 in every 4 Tata vehicles sold runs on CNG. This shift reflects the growing consumer preference for cleaner and more affordable fuel options amid rising fuel prices and urban pollution concerns.
Fuel-wise Sales Breakdown – FY2025
- Petrol cars: 2,80,355 units sold
- CNG cars: 1,39,460 units sold
- Diesel cars: 72,333 units sold
- Electric vehicles (EVs): 61,443 units sold
Tata Punch Leads the CNG Pack
Tata Punch led the company’s CNG segment in FY25 with 71,113 units sold, while the Nexon and Tiago followed with 34,712 and 15,775 units, respectively.
The Altroz CNG also made a significant mark with 10,831 units sold.
Interestingly, the Tigor CNG outperformed both its petrol (4,660 units) and electric (4,820 units) counterparts, achieving sales of 7,029 units.
Tata's Multi-Fuel Strategy
The Tata Nexon stands out as the only car in the Indian market available in all four fuel options petrol, diesel, CNG, and electric. The Punch, Tiago, and Tigor are available in petrol, electric, and CNG versions. Meanwhile, the Altroz is offered in petrol, diesel, and CNG variants, and Tata is reportedly working on launching an electric version of the Altroz soon
Model-wise Fuel Sales – FY2025
✅ Nexon
- Petrol: 90,516 units
- Diesel: 23,882 units
- CNG: 34,712 units
- Electric: 13,978 units
✅ Punch
- Petrol: 1,07,493 units
- Diesel: –
- CNG: 71,113 units
- Electric: 17,966 units
✅ Tiago
- Petrol: 36,302 units
- Diesel: –
- CNG: 15,775 units
- Electric: –
✅ Altroz
- Petrol: 21,539 unit
- Diesel: 2,817 units
- CNG: 10,831 units
- Electric: –
✅ Tigor
- Petrol: 4,660 units
- Diesel: –
- CNG: 7,029 units
- Electric: 4,820 units
✅ Curvv
- Petrol: 19,845 units
- Diesel: 6,640 units
- CNG: 7,534 units
- Electric: –
✅ Harrier
- Petrol: 18,959 units
- Diesel: –
- CNG: –
- Electric: –
✅ Safari
- Petrol: 20,035 units
- Diesel: –
- CNG: –
- Electric: –
What's Missing? No Hybrids Yet
While Tata is expanding rapidly across all major fuel types, the company is yet to enter the hybrid vehicle segment. Hybrid cars have become a strong selling point for rivals like Maruti Suzuki, Toyota, and Honda. Tata’s current focus appears to be on expanding its CNG and EV lineup.
Final Thoughts
Tata’s strong CNG performance showcases a changing tide in Indian automotive preferences. With rising fuel costs and environmental concerns, CNG is emerging as a middle-ground solution cleaner than petrol/diesel and more affordable than EVs for the average consumer.
It will be interesting to see how Tata leverages this momentum and whether hybrid options join its portfolio in the future.