The Indian Auto LPG Coalition (IAC), nodal body for the promotion of Auto LPG in India, has issued a statement, asking why special attention is reserved only for electric vehicles while overlooking auto LPG.  

Days ago, the government announced another allocation of INR 1,000 crore for the development and installation of charging infrastructure under the phase II of Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle (FAME) scheme. Sometime in the middle of the year, the government had extended the second phase of FAME by two years until March 2024. 

Suyash Gupta, Director General, Indian Auto LPG Coalition, said, “While we certainly welcome the long-term focus of government to set the ball rolling for a minimally carbon-intensive vehicular fuel policy and of course, the tilt towards electric vehicles would be a part of that vision, it is totally baffling that the government continues to ignore the immediate potential that auto LPG holds out in all respects as compared to electric mobility. Talking of infrastructure, government’s plans to set up 4500 EV charging stations across the country is woefully inadequate since there is a need for at least 4 lakh charging stations, 100-times that target, in order to meet its own target of having 2 million EVs on the roads by 2026. In contrast, auto LPG already has almost 1500 stations for refilling across 600 cities in the country. And that too without almost any government support. Further, India’s import dependence on lithium-ion batteries, without which EVs are an absolute non-starter, is unlikely to ease immediately even with government’s full policy push. With China dominating the world market for the raw material, it becomes even more complicated and unpredictable. On the other hand, thanks to the drive for household consumption of LPG, an extensive infrastructure exists in the country from before. With 2.5 million auto LPG vehicles already running on Indian roads, it makes almost perfect sense to give an instant policy boost to this fuel.” 

Gupta added, “Cost-wise, instead of buying expensive EVs, it becomes far easier for a consumer to get their existing vehicles retrofitted with LPG conversion kits. All that the government needs to do is to ease the Type Approval norms governing the retro-fitment of LPG/CNG conversion kits and bring them in line with the European norms. Currently, the Indian rule to renew Type approvals for auto LPG conversion kits every three years is hugely cost-prohibitive as well as a disincentive and a deterrent from both manufacturer and consumer standpoints. The government must also consider shifting the GST slabs of conversion kits from 28 to 18 percent and of auto LPG from 18 percent to 5 percent with a view to stimulate demand on the ground. In fact, even environmentally speaking, electric vehicles are not really as environmentally friendly as they are being made to be especially in the immediate term. Almost 60% of electricity in the country is still produced by carbon-emitting fossil fuel-based sources. On the other hand, auto LPG has a zero global warming potential with negligible emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter.” (MT)  

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Bajaj Auto, one of the leading two-wheeler manufacturers, has launched the Chetak C25 at INR 91,399, a new model joining its electric scooter range. The C25 is designed for urban mobility, focusing on a lighter frame and manoeuvrability to navigate city traffic. It retains the metal body and mono-body construction characteristic of the Chetak brand.

The e-scooter is powered by a 2.5 kWh battery, providing a claimed range of 113 km and a top speed of 55 kmph. The system supports fast charging, reaching 80 percent capacity in 2.25 hours. Practical features include a 25-litre boot for storage, alongside safety technologies such as hill hold assist, disc brakes and a ‘guide me home’ light function.

The C25 adopts a design language featuring a signature DRL headlamp and a jointless body. It is available in six colours with graphics inspired by street art. The model sits alongside the existing 30 and 35 Series in the Chetak portfolio, aiming to capture demand from first-time electric vehicle buyers and households requiring a secondary scooter for short-distance travel.

Eric Vas, President – Urbanite Business, Bajaj Auto, said, “The Chetak C25 reflects a clear shift in how urban mobility is being used today – shorter trips, tighter streets and a growing need for independent movement. While its form is compact and contemporary, the fundamentals remain unmistakably Chetak: solidity, sturdiness and reliability. The C25 allows us to extend the Chetak portfolio to a younger, more agile use case, while continuing to deliver the trust and confidence that the brand has stood for over generations.”

The introduction of the C25 follows a trend of increasing multi-scooter ownership within Indian households. Bajaj aims to leverage its service network to support the rollout of this model across urban markets.

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Ather Energy has announced the addition of Tamil language support to the dashboard of its Rizta Z electric scooter. The update allows owners to switch the interface to Tamil, with the rollout scheduled as an over-the-air (OTA) update starting in February 2026.

The initiative is part of Ather’s plan to offer a multi-language interface supporting eight regional languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada.

The Tamil release follows the previous introduction of Hindi and Kannada. The company indicates that this move supports the preference for technology interaction in regional languages.

The Rizta series consists of two models, the Rizta S and Rizta Z, which provide ranges of 123 km and 159 km. The vehicle features a 56-litre storage capacity, comprising a 34-litre under-seat compartment and an optional 22-litre front accessory. Safety systems integrated into the scooter include SkidControl, Fall Safe, Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) and Live Location Sharing.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, CBO, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been an important market for Ather from the beginning, both in terms of our manufacturing presence and our growing rider base. As Rizta continues to see strong adoption and has recently crossed the 2 lakh sales milestone, it becomes important for the product to feel familiar and easy to use for riders across regions. Building local language support into the Rizta experience has been a deliberate part of how we think about creating a seamless ownership experience. After the Kannada dashboard rollout, bringing Tamil to the Rizta Z dashboard on the occasion of Pongal felt like a natural next step.”

The company recently reached a sales milestone of 200,000 units for the Rizta. Additionally, a touchscreen upgrade for the Rizta Z was confirmed during Ather Community Day 2025 to further enhance the user interface.

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Montra Electric, the clean mobility division of the Murugappa Group, has opened two new dealerships in the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion includes an electric small commercial vehicle (e-SCV) outlet in Libaspur, North Delhi and an electric three-wheeler (e-3W) facility in Surajpur, Greater Noida.

The Greater Noida dealership, operated by Vigsons Automobiles, will retail the Super Auto and Super Cargo models. This facility is equipped with service infrastructure and technicians to support owner-operators and fleet customers in the passenger and cargo segments. The North Delhi site, operated by Action Volt Wheels, is intended for businesses involved in e-commerce distribution and FMCG logistics, providing workshop and after-sales support for mid-mile operations.

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said, “The transition to electric commercial mobility is an institutional shift, not merely a product change. As adoption expands across India, its success will depend on the strength and reliability of the supporting ecosystem. Building this foundation, anchored in quality, service, and long-term ownership confidence, is essential for clean mobility to scale in a sustainable manner.”

Jalaj Gupta, Managing Director, Montra Electric, added, “Delhi-NCR is one of the most structurally important markets for electric commercial vehicles, where scale is being driven by real operating use-cases rather than experimentation. Our focus is to build a network that is capable of supporting this scale, through dependable retail partners, strong service infrastructure, and consistent customer engagement. The new dealerships in Greater Noida and North Delhi are a step towards ensuring that customers experience electric mobility as a reliable business solution, not just a sustainable alternative.”

The company stated that the NCR is a primary market due to the demand for urban logistics and shared mobility. The new facilities are designed to transition electric vehicles from pilot projects to regular commercial use by focusing on vehicle uptime and service responsiveness.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) participated in the Advantage Maharashtra Expo 2026 to showcase its technology and manufacturing initiatives. The company focused on Flex-fuel Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (FFV SHEV) technology and its ongoing expansion within the state of Maharashtra.

At the Technology Pavilion, the automaker displayed the HyCross FFV SHEV, a vehicle designed to operate on ethanol-blended fuels while utilising a hybrid electric powertrain. This technology is part of Toyota's ‘multi-pathway’ strategy intended to reach carbon neutrality by utilising various energy sources. The expo, organised by the Marathwada Association of Small-Scale Industries and Agriculture (MASSIA) and the Government of Maharashtra, serves as a platform for industry and technology exchange in the Marathwada region.

Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President and Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “Toyota Kirloskar Motor extends its sincere gratitude to the Government of Maharashtra for its continued support toward our greenfield manufacturing project in the state. Our upcoming facility will further enhance TKM’s operational footprint in the state with localization as a key focus while creating expanded opportunities for local development. Participation in the Advantage Maharashtra Expo underscores our ongoing collaborative initiatives across the region, reflecting our commitment to fostering sustainable growth, innovation, and community empowerment in Maharashtra. TKM has consistently focused on building core capabilities and strengthening the educational ecosystem in Maharashtra through its structured skilling & CSR programs. Complementing these efforts, we continue to advance technology initiatives that support cleaner mobility and more efficient powertrain systems.”

Beyond vehicle displays, Toyota Kirloskar Motor held sessions on manufacturing culture and skill development for industry representatives and educational institutions. The company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state government to develop a skilling ecosystem focused on Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

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