Mahindra & Mahindra has launched the Supro CNG Duo at a starting price of Rs 6.32 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), marking the company’s first Dual-Fuel vehicle in the Small Commercial Vehicle Segment.
The car which runs on both petrol and CNG, with direct-in-CNG start, enables the vehicle to be turned on while in CNG mode.
Launching the Supro CNG Duo in Delhi, Baneswar Banerjee, VP and national sales head at the automotive business at Mahindra & Mahindra says the CNG segment in the sub-2 tonne space has been the fastest growing segment.
"The CNG market (in the sub-2 tonne segment) has grown 4 times in the last four years. Last year, approximately 5000 units per month of CNG were sold in the sub-2 tonne space, and it is expected to grow at a fast pace going ahead due to lower fuel costs and the expansion of CNG network across the country. At Mahindra, we are trying to create disruptive products with the least cost of operation, we are sure that Supro CNG will deliver higher earnings and profits to our customers," added Banerjee.
In a sub-two tonne market of 16,000 to 17,000 units a month, CNG comprises 30% of units sold which equals to 5000 units a month. With the introduction of CNG - M&M sees its monthly Supro volumes double. The company is planning to bring in a CNG version in the 1.5 to 2 tonne capacity small commercial vehicles.
Since its launch in 2016, Mahindra & Mahindra has sold over 1.75 lakh units of the Supro small commercial vehicles. The new Supro CNG duo delivers fuel efficiency of 23.35 km per kilogramme, with a range of 325 kilometers, (the CNG plus petrol) helping the user to operate inter-city peacefully, claimed the company.
Veejay Nakra, President - Automotive Division, M&M, said, “The Supro CNG Duo marks the company’s entry into the dual-fuel segment, in order to offer remarkably low operating costs to its owners and operators. It is engineered to deliver on the tough demands of the logistics, supply chains, and e-commerce companies while offering value proposition to customers.”
The company has over 850 commercial vehicle touch points to ensure faster turnaround time for its prospective buyers in case the vehicle stalls. The vehicle has been launched at the same introductory price as the outgoing Supro mono CNG.
R. Velusamy, President, Automotive Technology and Product Development, M&M, said, “We have integrated several industry-first features in the new Supro CNG Duo – these include direct-start CNG, Intelligent CNG leak detection for maximum safety and the best-in-class payload capacity of 750 kg. What’s more, in combination with the largest CNG tank capacity of 75 litres and superior mileage, the new Supro CNG Duo has made range anxiety irrelevant.”
Banerjee added that they are going to be fully utilising the capacity in the small commercial vehicle space in FY24, and added that Mahindra will look at continued outperformance in the space. Banerjee further said that they are working on an electric vehicle version of SCV, and they are yet to finalise when they will enter the space. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers Association has forecasted the small commercial vehicle market to grow by 6% in FY24.