Based on the sales data from last fiscal, where a total of 45,29,913 cars were sold in India, a striking 18.5% were CNG-powered. Having analyzed market trends, it’s clear that Maruti Suzuki leads this segment, having sold most of those CNG cars.
Stricter emission norms are fundamentally reshaping the market. They are making modern diesel engines more sophisticated, which, in my experience analyzing auto trends, ends up driving up both initial costs and long-term upkeep, making them more difficult to maintain.
This reality is reducing their relevance among buyers of smaller cars, who prioritize affordability. Consequently, we’re seeing a clear shift driving up the popularity of CNG engines. Today’s customers are seeking models with low fuel costs and good value for money, and CNG technology is answering that demand perfectly.
The Strategy Behind a CNG Juggernaut
The raw data for last fiscal tells a powerful story. In India, CNG vehicle sales grew by a robust 22%, as per data from Autopunditz, translating to a substantial 8,38,546 CNG cars sold in the country. From my time tracking automotive trends, a growth figure like this in a single year signals more than a trend—it’s a full-scale market pivot. Naturally, Maruti Suzuki was the top player in this segment, but it’s the wide margin of their leadership that’s most telling. They didn’t just participate; they are leading it decisively.
This dominance isn’t accidental. Look at their product strategy: Maruti Suzuki offers the widest line-up of CNG cars in India, a massive portfolio comprising 13 distinct models. When a company offers choices from the affordable S-Presso and Alto to the popular Wagon R, Swift, and Dzire, all the way to family-friendly options like the Ertiga and the premium Grand Vitara—all with CNG engines—they’re not just selling cars.
They’re providing a practical, cost-effective fuel solution for virtually every type of buyer, from first-time owners to large families. This comprehensive approach, covering the Celerio, Eeco, Baleno, Fronx, Vitara Brezza, and XL6, effectively blankets the market, making CNG a viable, mainstream choice.
| Rank | CNG Model | Sales in FY2025 |
| 1 | Maruti Ertiga | 1,29,920 |
| 2 | Maruti Wagon R | 1,02,128 |
| 3 | Maruti Dzire | 89,015 |
| 4 | Tata Punch | 71,113 |
| 5 | Maruti Vitara Brezza | 70,928 |
| 6 | Maruti Eeco | 59,520 |
| 7 | Hyundai Aura | 49,464 |
| 8 | Maruti Fronx | 42,051 |
| 9 | Tata Nexon | 34,712 |
| 10 | Maruti Baleno | 24,220 |
| 11 | Maruti Grand Vitara | 24,037 |
| 12 | Maruti XL6 | 19,879 |
| 13 | Hyundai Exter | 18,528 |
| 14 | Maruti Swift | 18,054 |
| 15 | Tata Tiago | 15,775 |
| 16 | Hyundai Grand i10 | 11,275 |
| 17 | Toyota Rumion | 11,137 |
| 18 | Tata Altroz | 10,831 |
| 19 | Tata Tigor | 7,029 |
| 20 | Toyota Glanza | 6,612 |
| 21 | Maruti Alto | 6,210 |
| 22 | Toyota Urban Cruiser Taisor | 5,380 |
| 23 | Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder | 4,960 |
| 24 | Maruti Celerio | 4,193 |
| 25 | Maruti S-Presso | 1,575 |
| Total | 8,38,546 | |
A Lead That Feels Like a Monopoly
The sales figures speak for themselves, and they paint a picture of overwhelming dominance. The Maruti Ertiga was the undisputed champion, cementing its place as the country’s best-selling CNG car in FY2025 by registering a staggering 1,29,920 units. But Maruti Suzuki’s success wasn’t a one-hit wonder.
The company recorded strong demand across its lineup, with models like the ever-popular Wagon R, the dependable Dzire, the robust Vitara Brezza, and the versatile Eeco all performing exceptionally well in the CNG segment. In total, they sold a monumental 5,91,730 CNG cars, which is a number so large it means they enjoyed a market share of 70.6% in this space. From my years of analyzing market data, a share that high isn’t just leading; it’s defining the entire category.
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Looking at the competition only emphasizes this point. The second-most popular brand was Tata Motors, a strong player in its own right. This company offers a CNG engine in five models, including the Tiago, Tigor, Punch, Altroz, and Nexon, and they are even considering launching a CNG option in the Sierra in the future.
They sold 1,39,460 CNG cars and had a market share of 16.6%, with their best-selling CNG model, the Punch, recording 71,113 units. While Tata’s growth and strategy are impressive, the sheer scale of Maruti’s numbers—where their lead car alone sold nearly as many units as Tata’s entire CNG portfolio—shows a gap that is more about market ownership than simple competition.
The Competitive Landscape
Looking at the broader field, Hyundai ranked third in the CNG segment last year, achieving a total sale of 79,267 units for a market share of 9.5%. The company offers three models—the Exter, Grand i10, and Aura—with the Aura being its most popular model in FY2025, having sold 49,464 units. Meanwhile, the story at Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) is fascinating due to its strategic alliance with Maruti Suzuki.
This partnership gives TKM four CNG cars in its line-up: the Glanza, Urban Cruiser Taisor, Rumion, and Urban Cruiser Hyryder. Notably, the Rumion, which is a rebadged version of Maruti Suzuki’s Ertiga, was its highest-selling CNG model in FY2025, having registered 11,137 units. In all, TKM sold a total of 28,089 CNG cars in FY2025 and held a market share of 3.3% in the segment, which further illustrates how Maruti Suzuki’s technology and platforms are powering growth even for its allies.
