In a notable development, the automobile market is witnessing a growing demand for compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, even as petrol and diesel retail rates fell on November 4, 2021 after the Central Government cut excise duty by Rs 5 and Rs 10 per litre respectively. During the April-September 2021 period, industry data reveals that a total of 101,412 CNG cars were sold in India, which indicates a robust 97 per cent year-on-year growth as against 51,448 units during the same period in 2020.
From a consumer’s point of view, other than being environment-friendly, a CNG-powered car provides considerable savings when compared to its petrol or diesel counterparts. However, a few challenges still remain as refuelling takes longer due to fewer CNG stations.