Following Bajaj Auto's launch of the world’s first CNG motorcycle, its closest rival, TVS Motor Company, plans to be the first CNG scooter manufacturer worldwide.
Autocar Professional exclusively learns that TVS Motor Company has been working on various alternate fuel technologies over the years and has already developed a CNG option. It is now just pulling that powertrain alternative off the shelf and planning to add it to its Jupiter scooter.
Sources say work on the project codenamed U740 – a 125 cc CNG scooter—has begun. Production of the model could be as early as September, or October of this year, if all goes well.
the start of production of the model could be as early as September, October of this year If all goes well, the scooter may be launched as early as the last quarter of 2024 but not later than the first half of 2025.
People in the know say the company has a modest target of selling about 1,000 units of its gas-based scooters monthly. The intention is to offer prospective buyers multiple cleaner alternatives and reduce the company's Co2 footprint.
In an email response, TVS Motor Company’s spokesperson said, “All the technology options (CNG, EV, multi-fuels etc.) are very exciting, and we are interested. But as outlined in the previous investor call, our plan this year is to launch another electric vehicle, an ICE vehicle and an E3W vehicle. We are working towards that. We have already launched several variants of the TVS iQube this year. At the core of any choice that we make on the technology is whether it will make for happy and proud TVS owners.”
The South Indian two-wheeler major is known for its robust R&D setup and effort to develop innovative solutions for the market. The company has the most diverse product portfolio in the country, ranging from mopeds, scooters, and motorcycles to an electric bike it makes for BMW and big bikes under the Norton Motorcycle brand.
TVS Motor is the third largest two-wheeler maker in the country, with a market share of 18% and sales of 3.15 million units. It is also the second largest scooter maker in India, with one in four scooters sold in the country coming from TVS. It sells about 1 million motorcycles and half a million motorcycles annually.
Bajaj Auto’s Freedom 125 model has a 2 kg CNG kit and a 2 ltr petrol tank. The company claimed mileage of 102km/kg for CNG and 65km/ltr for petrol, so the bike can run for 330km on a single fill. It will cost the rider about Rs 1 per kilometre.