Tata assesses CNG and hybrid options to expand powertrain choices for larger SUVs
Tata Motors is exploring new powertrain options for its larger passenger vehicles, considering both CNG and strong-hybrid systems as part of its long-term strategy. The company currently offers CNG technology only in its sub-4-metre models, such as the Tiago, Tigor, Punch and Nexon. However, none of its vehicles above this size – Curvv, Harrier, Safari and the soon-to-arrive Sierra – feature CNG or hybrid technology.
The shift comes as Tata prepares for the upcoming CAFE 3 emission standards scheduled for 2027. With petrol prices staying high and diesel slowly losing favour among policymakers, buyers are increasingly turning to alternative fuels. In FY2025, CNG vehicles registered the fastest growth among powertrains, rising 35 percent. Hybrid and electric vehicles also expanded in double digits.
Tata sold more than 1.2 lakh CNG vehicles in 2024, with volumes expected to approach 1.5 lakh units this year. This momentum has encouraged the company to evaluate extending CNG technology to the over-4-metre SUV segment. The Curvv, which uses the same 1.2-litre turbo-petrol engine as the Nexon, is a likely candidate to adopt Tata’s twin-cylinder CNG configuration. Tata remains the only manufacturer offering a turbo-petrol engine paired with a CNG system.
Hybrid technology is also under study but is being approached more cautiously. Tata sees hybrids as a potential solution not only for emissions compliance but also for improving performance in its larger SUVs. Internal forecasts indicate a future mix dominated by electric and CNG models, with diesel shrinking further and hybrids filling a small but strategic gap.
As the market evolves and regulations tighten, Tata plans to broaden its powertrain lineup to stay competitive in segments where efficiency, performance and compliance will increasingly influence buying decisions.
