CNG-powered passenger vehicles continued their strong growth in India during FY2026, with total sales crossing the 10 lakh unit mark. Of the total ~47 lakh passenger vehicles sold, the share of CNG models was 10.14 lakh units, translating into 21.7% market share, up from 19.6% in FY20.
This is the second consecutive year that CNG has emerged as the second most preferred fuel type after petrol, overtaking diesel. Over the past three years, CNG’s share has almost doubled due to rising fuel costs, expanding infrastructure and increasing availability of factory-fitted options.
Performance FY 2026 CNG Sales as per OEM
Maruti Suzuki continues to dominate the CNG segment, garnering a massive share of ~70% with total sales of over 7.07 lakh units. The brand’s wide portfolio across hatchbacks, sedans and utility vehicles has played a vital role in maintaining its leadership.
Tata Motors emerged as the second largest player with 1.72 lakh units, mainly driven by the Nexon and Punch CNG variants. Hyundai stood second with 95,000+ units, while Toyota contributed smaller volumes with select rebadged models. With the increasing availability of CNG in over 600 cities, low operating costs and OEM-supported factory kits, buyer confidence in this fuel type has significantly improved.
Top CNG car sales in FY 2026
On a model-wise basis, Maruti Suzuki dominated the top spot. Ertiga emerged as the best-selling CNG car with 1,45,480 units, followed by Dezire at second place with 1,35,330 units. Both models benefit from strong demand across the private and fleet sectors.
Other strong performers from Maruti include the Wagon R (96,381 units) and Brezza (71,329 units), highlighting demand in both the hatchback and SUV segments. Tata’s contribution came from Nexon (69,168 units) and Punch (67,468 units). Tata’s dual-cylinder CNG setup, which uses twin cylinders placed under the boot floor to free up luggage space, has been a key differentiator.
Mix of hatchbacks, SUVs and MPVs in top 20
Further on the list, Maruti Eeco (66,675 units) and Hyundai Aura (62,612 units) continued to see strong demand. Maruti’s lineup remained dominant with models like FrontX (54,805 units), Swift (30,357 units), Baleno (23,228 units) and XL6 (20,962 units). Hyundai’s Exeter (20,423 units) and Tata’s Tiago (19,883 units) also contributed meaningfully to the overall sales.
Among SUVs and MPVs, the Grand Vitara (17,370 units) and Toyota Rumion (15,992 units) were added to the mix, while models like Altroz, Hyder and Glanza continued to generate volumes on a smaller scale. At the bottom, entry-level models like Alto, Celerio and S-Presso continued to play a role in increasing CNG adoption among budget buyers.
What is driving CNG growth?
The growth in demand for CNG is being driven by a combination of factors – lower operating costs compared to petrol and diesel, rapid expansion of fuel infrastructure, and increasing availability of factory-fitted options across all segments. Interestingly, this change is no longer limited to hatchbacks. CNG is now becoming increasingly popular in SUVs and MPVs, indicating widespread acceptance among Indian buyers.
The future of CNG in India looks positive, with more automakers looking to expand their offerings, especially in the SUV segment. Continued infrastructure development and evolving technology solutions are likely to further drive adoption.
