Bajaj Auto Ltd has witnessed a 68% growth in sales of its compressed natural gas (CNG) motorcycle, the Freedom 125, during the month of October 2024 so far compared to September, according to a Business Standard. report which cited VAHAN data.

The 8,310 units recorded is the highest sales amount that the Freedom (which is India’s first CNG-powered production motorcycle) has seen after its launch in July this year, according to the report.

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Bajaj also plans to increase its bulk shipments to 30,000 units in the third quarter of this fiscal and up to 40,000 units in the fourth quarter, the report said.

This is especially true for the base model which is priced at ₹95,055 (average ex-showroom) compared to the top-of-the-range model which costs ₹ 1,10,055, according to Bikewale numbers.

The report added that the model accounted for 1.3% of all two-wheelers registered in Delhi in September, while nationally its share was 0.6%. Its major markets currently include Delhi, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana.

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The market share of the Freedom 125 would mirror that of electric two-wheelers, the report quoted Rakesh Sharma, vice-chairman of Bajaj Auto, as saying. The Freedom, however, has one major advantage over electric vehicles. Its small two-liter fuel tank offers relief from range anxiety in case a CNG fueling station is not available nearby.

At present, there are over 4,650 CNG stations spread across over 365 cities in India, the report said.

The report also cites analysts at brokerage firm Anand Rathi who expect sales of the bike to reach 2,40,000 in the financial year 2024-25, or 6% of all domestic two-wheeler sales.

Although the Freedom has no direct competitor at the moment, TVS had earlier announced that it will enter the segment, but nothing has been seen so far.

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