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🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Alternative-Fuel Car Sales Outpace Petrol Models in India for First Time, Dealers Say

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Context piece
  • Sales of CNG, hybrid and electric passenger vehicles surpassed petrol-powered cars in India in August for the first time, according to FADA.
  • Alternative-fuel models represented nearly 42% of passenger-vehicle sales, compared with about 41% for petrol vehicles.
  • Dealers attributed the shift to lower running costs and consumer uncertainty over India’s E20 petrol transition.

Alternative-fuel passenger vehicles outsold petrol cars in India in August for the first time, according to the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations, or FADA.

Models powered by compressed natural gas, hybrids and electricity accounted for nearly 42% of passenger-vehicle sales. Petrol cars represented about 41%, FADA said. “A little over a year ago petrol led this contest by nearly 11 percentage points; that lead has now been erased,” the dealers’ body said.

A little over a year ago petrol led this contest by nearly 11 percentage points; that lead has now been erased.

· Federation of Automobile Dealers AssociationsFADA described the change in the balance between petrol and alternative-fuel vehicle sales.

FADA attributed the shift to lower running costs for alternative-fuel vehicles and uncertainty among consumers over the move to E20 petrol. The blend contains 20% ethanol and is intended to reduce India’s reliance on imported crude.

Wild claims

· India’s governmentThe government used the phrase to dismiss criticism of the E20 petrol transition.

The transition from E10 to E20 has drawn criticism, particularly from owners of older vehicles who worry that the higher ethanol content could reduce fuel economy and affect engine performance. The mandate took effect in 2025 and has become a major political flashpoint between motorists and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

The government has dismissed the backlash as “wild claims” and urged people not to “fall for the rage bait.” Overall automobile retail sales rose 17.5% year on year in August to 2.4 million vehicles, driven by stronger demand for two-wheelers and passenger vehicles, FADA said.

Fall for the rage bait.

· India’s governmentThe government urged people not to be swayed by criticism of the fuel mandate.
About this summary

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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