On the exports front, Bajaj is under pressure in Bangladesh and Africa. On the domestic front, it could ride improvement in rural demand and new launches but it also has to cope with competitive intensity and a high base. The management projects 7-8 per cent volume growth in domestic 2W in financial year 2025 (FY25) with moderation in H2FY25 due to a high base Y-o-Y.
The reduction in natural gas prices would mean lower raw material cost for compressed natural gas (CNG) and natural gas piped to households (PNG).
CNG prices in Mumbai may have to be hiked by about Rs 16 per kg and piped cooking gas by Rs 10 after government decided to divert some of its cheaper domestic gas to Gujarat.
Bajaj Auto reported steady results in Q1FY25, with revenue surging 16 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), operating profit registering a growth of 24 per cent Y-o-Y, and margins swelling 20.2 per cent. The profitability was aided by 50 basis points (bps) on the accrual of PLI benefits. The domestic prospects for two-wheelers are healthy, though the response to the newly launched CNG motorcycle is a key monitorable.
The other four models introduced with the alternative fuel option are compact cars Estilo and WagonR, multi-purpose vehicle Eeco and mid-sized sedan SX4.
On February 27, 2009, the first CNG filling station was formally handed over to Hemant Karkare's wife Kavita.
The stock of the country's largest passenger vehicle maker, Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), has been hitting successive all-time highs over the past three trading sessions. The rally in the scrip has helped it notch over a 21 per cent gain since the start of February, outperforming the National Stock Exchange Nifty Auto Index. The gains for the leader of small passenger cars have been more recent, as the company still trails the Nifty Auto over one- and two-year periods.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated significantly on Monday, with areas like Dwarka, Mundka and Najafgarh recording an AQI of 500, the worst this season. The city's overall AQI reached 491, triggering the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV restrictions in Delhi-NCR. Doctors warned of health risks, urging people to wear N95 masks and avoid outdoor activities. The Supreme Court questioned the Delhi government on its anti-pollution measures and warned against scaling down preventive measures without its permission. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi accused the BJP-led central government of political maneuvering while neglecting stubble burning in states it governs. Meanwhile, the city enforced stricter pollution control measures, including a ban on truck entry and suspension of construction activities. Air purifier sales surged, reflecting the public's concern over the severe air pollution.
The BJP has released a video of Arvind Kejriwal's previous residence, calling it a "Sheeshmahal" and accusing him of corruption. The AAP has countered, accusing the BJP of running a "smear campaign" to distract from Delhi's worsening law and order situation. The controversy comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
Delhi government has also decide to cut VAT on the hiked component of petrol.
After rolling out five compressed natural gas models last year, India's largest passenger car maker, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, is mulling a CNG platform for all its makes.
State-run GAIL India Ltd has mooted a multi-billion-dollar CNG corridor in the country to save up to Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion) in oil bill and cut carbon emissions from automobiles.
Days after a Rs 3 per litre rise in petrol prices, it is the turn of compressed natural gas. Indraprastha Gas (IGL), monopoly marketer of CNG in and around this metropolis, is looking at raising the price by up to six or seven per cent (Rs 2 per kg) sometime next week, due to higher cost on account of a weakening rupee.
In a dual fuel engine, CNG will replace approximately 50 per cent of diesel, and the operating expenses will thus be reduced by about 30 per cent.
Volkswagen is possibly planning an entry level Vento CNG for the metros.
Leading carmaker Hyundai Motor India Ltd on Monday announced plans to roll out a CNG version of its bread-and-butter hatchback Santro by this year-end or early 2008.
'The pollution has increased. We are facing breathing problems and irritation in the eyes'
The country's second-biggest bike maker Bajaj Auto today said it will launch CNG
An AQI of 400 or higher is deemed 'severe' and it can have an adverse effect on both healthy individuals and people who already have medical conditions.
Auto majors report positive sales figs for November.
Thermax reported 13 per cent Y-o-Y revenue growth with operating profit margin decline in Q1FY25. It took a hit of Rs 70 crore on specific projects. The company enjoys a strong order pipeline across sectors like power, steel, refining and petrochemicals.
The country's largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, on Monday said it has stopped working on LPG models as it will roll out CNG variants of the entire range of its cars from early 2010, the first of which could be its highest selling model Alto.
Curbs under Stage III include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR).
Informing this in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa said trials have been completed on trains and one power car of DMU train has been converted to run on duel fuel mode using CNG and diesel. Earlier, trial run has also been carried out successfully by Northern Railway on engines hauling local trains.
The price of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) may be hiked by up to Rs 2 per kg in the next few days as rupee devaluation has pushed up input cost.
The Ministry recently issued an order saying 'no authorisation from Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board is required for setting up of a CNG station.' PNGRB has been since 2009 issuing licences to entities for city gas distribution networks, essentially for retailing compressed natural gas to automobiles and piped cooking gas (piped natural gas or PNG) to households.
The car gives a mileage of 24 km per kg of CNG.
TVS Motors is exploring LPG and CNG enabled two wheelers. It is also ready to launch electric scooters.
The alternative fuel fever has caught up with Chennai-based TVS Motor Company, synonymous with 'TVS Scooty'. Having entered the electric scooter segment, the company is exploring LPG and CNG two wheelers.
"We will launch the CNG variant of the Palio by early next year," Fiat India President and CEO Rajeev Kapoor told PTI on Wednesday. The car is currently available in both petrol and diesel variants. The company has also planned a slew of car launches in the next 12 months starting with the introduction of '500' next month.
It will be the first company to come out with factory-fitted CNG cars.
The government on Thursday hiked by 62 per cent the price of natural gas that is used to produce electricity, make fertilisers and turned into CNG to use as fuel in automobiles and cooking gas for household kitchens. This is the first increase in rates since April 2019 and comes on back of firming benchmark international prices but does not reflect the spurt in spot or current price of liquefied natural gas (LNG) witnessed during the last couple of weeks. The oil ministry's Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) said the rates paid for gas produced from fields given to state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL) will be $2.90 per million British thermal unit for the six-month period beginning April 1.
This means the already-minuscule sale of retrofitted CNG variants of Aveo, Logan, Accent, Santro, Corolla Altis and Innova is set to take a hit.
Leading automakers Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and Tata Motors reported decline in wholesales in August as the companies curtailed vehicle dispatches amid drop in demand and to cut inventories at dealer level. Market leader Maruti Suzuki India said its total domestic passenger vehicle wholesales were at 143,075 units last month as compared to 156,114 units in the year-ago month, registering a dip of 8 per cent. Sales of mini segment cars, comprising Alto and S-Presso, declined to 10,648 units last month as against 12,209 units a year ago.
Manufacturers of compressed natural gas (CNG) kits are stepping up production to meet the expected surge in demand in the coming months.
Amid indication that prices of compressed natural gas (CNG) may go up in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said if the hike is allowed, it would compound the problem of the common people who are already hit hard by price rise.
French energy giant TotalEnergies SE on Monday said it will make no new financial contribution as part of its investments in Adani group companies till the Indian firm's founder is cleared of bribery charges. The energy giant said it was not aware of the investigation into the alleged corruption. TotalEnergies is one of the biggest foreign investors in billionaire Gautam Adani's business empire and had previously taken stakes in the group's renewable energy venture Adani Green Energy Ltd (AEGL) and city gas unit Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL).
SG Corporate Mobility - the parent company of the Indian two-wheeler brand LML - has taken auto major Bajaj Auto to high court, claiming that it was illegally using its 'Freedom' trademark in newly-launched Bajaj Freedom CNG motorbikes, the company said in a statement on Thursday. SG Corporate Mobility claims that the term 'Freedom' has a deep-rooted association dating back to 2002 when the company had introduced its 'LML Freedom' motorcycle. The trademark 'Freedom,' along with the 'LML' brand, was officially assigned to SG Corporate Mobility in 2021 after being transferred by LML.
