TVS Jupiter: TVS showcases world's first CNG scooter at Bharat Mobility; see first look here

TVS Motor Company has showcased the world’s first compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered scooter, the TVS Jupiter CNG, at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. This marks a significant step as TVS looks to enter the CNG two-wheeler space, following Bajaj Auto’s entry into the market.

In September 2024, Fortune India first reported TVS's plans to launch a CNG two-wheeler, with managing director Sudarshan Venu emphasising the company’s commitment to investing in CNG-powered vehicles alongside its focus on electric vehicles. "There is room for CNG as well," Venu had said, referencing Bajaj’s recent CNG motorcycle launch. "We will invest in that as well," he added, signaling TVS's entry into this segment.

TVS has a history in CNG-powered vehicles, already manufacturing CNG autorickshaws. Meanwhile, Bajaj Auto, which launched the world’s first CNG motorcycle, the Freedom, in July 2024, has sold over 41,550 CNG motorbikes by January 2025, according to Vahan data. Despite the absence of state incentives for CNG vehicles, Bajaj is betting heavily on this segment, with managing director Rajiv Bajaj stating that the Freedom model offers "freedom from range anxiety" and does not rely on subsidies unlike electric vehicles.

The rise of CNG-powered vehicles in India’s major cities is also significant, with Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors reporting a strong market presence of CNG cars. Maruti’s CNG cars now account for one in three of its total sales, while Tata Motors sees 20% of its sales coming from CNG-powered models. If motorcycles achieve similar CNG penetration, it could see a shift of 2.1 lakh units from the annual commuter motorcycle sales of 7 lakh, according to Bajaj.

However, with the growth of CNG vehicles, experts like Crisil’s Hemal Thakkar caution that the increasing number of vehicles at gas stations may pose a logistical challenge, especially as two-wheeler volumes are significantly higher than passenger vehicles. On the other hand, ICRA’s Rohan Kanwar Gupta believes that the current CNG infrastructure will be adequate to meet rising demand, particularly as CNG adoption grows gradually, with metro and Tier-I cities leading the charge.

TVS Motor Company, currently India’s second-largest electric scooter manufacturer after Ola Electric, recorded over 2.2 lakh EV registrations in 2024, underscoring its growing role in the country's evolving transportation landscape.