Bajaj Auto has reported unprecedented sales for its CNG-powered Freedom 125 motorcycle, with October registrations reaching over 8,310 units—a 68% increase from September. Industry experts anticipate that the October total could approach 9,000 units, marking the highest monthly sales for the model since its July launch. This surge reflects strong consumer interest, particularly in urban regions like Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, where the bike has captured noticeable market share.
Bajaj Auto is capitalizing on this momentum with plans to scale up production, aiming to dispatch 30,000 units in the third quarter and potentially 40,000 in the fourth quarter of the financial year. Rakesh Sharma, Bajaj Auto’s executive director, noted, “We believe the CNG two-wheeler segment has untapped potential, similar to the rising interest in electric vehicles. We are responding to this interest with a focus on increasing availability and maintaining quality standards.” Sharma further highlighted that the dual-fuel option—a small petrol tank supplementing the CNG system—addresses concerns around limited CNG refueling points, a prevalent issue with all-gasoline models.
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Analysts from Anand Rathi have projected that Freedom 125 CNG sales could reach 240,000 units by the end of the 2024-25 fiscal year, constituting around 6% of India’s total two-wheeler market share. This figure could rise substantially, with projections suggesting a potential 21% market share for Bajaj’s CNG motorcycles by 2026. With over 4,650 CNG refueling stations now available across 365 cities, the infrastructure is positioned to support continued demand growth.
As competitors like TVS signal intentions to enter the CNG bike segment, analysts caution that Bajaj’s lead and the technical challenges of CNG technology may delay similar launches from other companies for another two years.
