Maruti Bets on 9 Lakh CNG Sales in FY27: The Petrol-EV Gap Widens
Maruti Suzuki is targeting around 9 lakh CNG vehicle sales in FY27, a near 30 per cent jump over the 7 lakh it clocked in FY26. Q1 CNG volumes hit 2.2 lakh units, up 58 per cent year-on-year, with demand now spilling from small cars into SUVs like the Brezza.
What was announced
Maruti Suzuki India told PTI it is targeting sales of around 9 lakh CNG vehicles in FY27, a nearly 30 per cent increase over FY26, when the company sold over 7 lakh CNG cars. Senior Executive Officer (Marketing and Sales) Partho Banerjee said Q1 FY27 CNG volumes touched 2.2 lakh units across models, a 58 per cent jump over the same quarter last year, and expects the momentum to hold through the fiscal.
CNG is Maruti's real bridge fuel, not electrification, and the FY27 target confirms where the volume buyer is actually heading.
The company attributes the acceleration to two factors. First, rising petrol prices in the wake of the West Asia conflict have pushed cost-conscious buyers back to CNG. Second, CNG demand is no longer confined to entry hatchbacks; SUV buyers, particularly Brezza customers, are increasingly opting for the factory-fitted CNG powertrain. Maruti currently offers CNG across 14 models, spanning Alto K10, S-Presso, Celerio, WagonR, Swift, Dzire, Ertiga, XL6, Brezza, Grand Vitara, Fronx, Eeco, Super Carry and Tour.
Industry context: CNG's share of Maruti's total domestic passenger vehicle sales has climbed from roughly 22 per cent in FY24 to a projected 33-plus per cent in FY27 at the current run rate. Rivals Tata Motors and Hyundai also offer CNG on the Tiago, Tigor, Punch, Exter and Aura, but none match Maruti's model spread or dealer-network reach for CNG servicing.
The Car Jury verdict
The CNG surge is not a fluke, it is Maruti reading the room. With petrol prices unsettled after the West Asia conflict and EV charging still patchy outside metros, a Brezza CNG or Swift CNG delivers running costs closer to Rs 3 per km without the range anxiety. Motor Inc of Motor Inc notes that between the Brezza's petrol and CNG forms, "it's the car that's generally more chill, the Brezza," and the CNG variant amplifies that low-stress ownership case.
Our stance: if you drive over 1,200 km a month in a CNG-networked city, the Brezza CNG or Swift CNG is the smarter buy today than either a diesel-less rival or a sub-Rs 15 lakh EV. The e-Vitara is still a WAIT. CNG is Maruti's real bridge fuel, not electrification.
