The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in partnership with the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB), convened a roundtable conference titled ‘Gas se Gati, Bharat ki Pragati’ at the India Habitat Centre, focusing on the role of gas-based fuels in promoting cleaner mobility across India.

Held under SIAM’s ‘Gas Mobility’ initiative, the event brought together government officials, industry leaders and technical experts to discuss the development of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as alternative fuels for urban and long-distance transport.

In his opening address, Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, “Globally, India is the largest user of gas fuels in mobility. We began with CNG cars and now have the largest gas-based bus and three-wheeler fleet. The launch of the world’s first CNG two-wheeler last year marked another key milestone.”

Dr Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, highlighted the role of the auto industry in achieving carbon neutrality by 2047. He noted that the government’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme supports gas-powered vehicles and localisation of their components.

Additional Secretary from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Sudeep Jain, emphasised the potential of CBG from agricultural waste, stating that converting 10 percent of oil imports to CBG could significantly impact rural development, pollution control and energy self-sufficiency.

Maruti Suzuki’s Rahul Bharti acknowledged the government’s role in expanding CNG infrastructure, with nearly 10,000 stations targeted by 2025. He cited improvements in CNG fuel efficiency and job creation, adding that CBG and LNG also offer promising solutions for the transport sector.

The Commission for Air Quality Management’s Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee called gas-based transport a necessity, not a choice, especially for pollution control in Delhi-NCR. He pointed to efforts such as phasing out older vehicles and reducing stubble burning.

Dr Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson, PNGRB, said India’s energy transition in transport is well underway and gas fuels are an effective transitional option, supported by existing infrastructure.

The thematic session, chaired by Ved Prakash Mishra of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, reiterated gas’s relevance until full electrification is achieved. Academic and policy experts, including IIT Kanpur’s Prof Mukesh Sharma and MNRE’s Dr Gaurav Mishra, shared data on emissions reduction and the role of bioenergy.

Presentations covered city gas expansion, vehicle technology innovations, and infrastructure challenges, featuring speakers from Bajaj Auto, Mahanagar Gas and the Association of CGD Entities.

A panel discussion on CBG and LNG adoption, moderated by ICF’s Gurpreet Singh Chugh, included input from NITI Aayog, GAIL Gas, Indraprastha Gas, VE Commercial Vehicles and Tata Motors. Speakers discussed scalability, infrastructure needs, and the role of gas in supporting India’s net-zero goals by 2070.

The event concluded with remarks by Ashish Chutani, Chairman, SIAM Gas-Based Mobility Group and Head – Government & Policy Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India.

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Pune-headquartered electric vehicle manufacturer EKA Mobility has signed an MoU with Kerchanshe Trading, a diversified business group in Ethiopia, to establish distribution, assembly and aftersales operations for EKA vehicles across East Africa.

The agreement was signed in Dubai by Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder and Chairman of EKA Mobility and Dr. Israel Dejene, CEO and Chairman of Kerchanshe Trading.

EKA Mobility brings expertise in electric buses, small commercial vehicles and three-wheelers. Kerchanshe Trading PLC, which works across agriculture, construction and automotive sectors, has experience in industrial operations and vehicle assembly.

The collaboration includes plans to establish a local CKD assembly plant for EKA vehicles in Ethiopia, launch distribution and service operations across Ethiopia and surrounding markets and introduce a range of electric mobility products tailored for the region.

Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Founder & Chairman, EKA Mobility, said, “Our partnership with Kerchanshe Group is a proud milestone in EKA’s journey to democratise sustainable mobility across global markets. Ethiopia, with its growing industrial base and focus on clean energy, is the ideal hub for our East African operations. Together, we aim to create not just vehicles, but a cleaner, more inclusive future for mobility in East Africa.”

Israel Degefa, CEO and President, Kerchanshe Group, added, “With this collaboration, we are laying the groundwork for a new era of electric mobility in East Africa. By combining EKA’s innovative electric vehicle technology with our local expertise in assembly and distribution, we are creating a robust ecosystem that supports green mobility, industrial growth, and job creation.”

The partnership aims to position Ethiopia as a central hub for vehicle manufacturing and clean transport in the region.

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Ather Energy, a leading electric two-wheeler manufacturer in India, has announced the Ather Service Carnival, a nationwide service initiative for its customers. The initiative is scheduled from 9^th October to 18^th October.

The carnival includes benefits across all Ather service centres to encourage customers to prepare their scooters for the festive season.

Customers receive a free 15-point vehicle health check-up, which reviews brakes, tyres, suspension and electronics. The company is also offering discounts: 10 percent off on paid labour and brake pads, 15 percent off on painted body parts and 20 percent off on polish services. Ather has over 400 service centres across the country as of 30 September 2025.

The automaker has introduced initiatives to make scooter ownership simple, including Ather Care service plans and Ather ExpressCare. The company also launched Gold Service Centres, which are facilities that provide quicker service at no extra cost to owners.

Ather Energy is also expanding its retail network. Last month, the company exceeded 500 Experience Centres (ECs) nationwide and plans to reach 700 ECs by the end of FY2026.

The company recently produced its 500,000th vehicle from its manufacturing plant. Ather operates two plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, for vehicle assembly and battery production, and is setting up a third facility, Factory 3.0, in Bidkin, Maharashtra.

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Indofast Energy, a provider of battery-swapping solutions, has partnered e-Sprinto, an electric two-wheeler brand, to deploy 20,000 electric two-wheelers across India by 2026.

The collaboration will integrate e-Sprinto’s vehicles with Indofast Energy’s battery-swapping network. This synergy offers delivery partners a two-minute battery swap solution, removing charging downtime. The deployment will focus on quick commerce, e-commerce and food delivery sectors by establishing infrastructure along high-demand corridors.

Anant Badjatya, CEO, Indofast Energy, said, "We are thrilled to partner with e-Sprinto, an OEM that shares our vision for a sustainable and accessible electric future. Having established ourselves as the default choice for fleet operators in battery swapping, this collaboration demonstrates our readiness to transition from B2B to B2C segments, showcasing the strength and scalability of our infrastructure. By integrating e-Sprinto's high-quality vehicles with our network, we are expanding our reach across diverse customer segments and accelerating our ambitious EV deployment targets, further solidifying our leadership in India's electric mobility revolution.”

Atul Gupta, Co-Founder and Director, e-Sprinto, said, "Our collaboration with Indofast Energy is nothing short of a game-changer for e-Sprinto and the broader EV market. Indofast Energy's extensive battery-swapping network perfectly complements our vehicles, offering customers the unparalleled convenience and efficiency. By deploying 20,000 vehicles with Indofast Energy in 2026, we are confident this partnership will make electric mobility the preferred choice for both commercial and personal transportation across India, delivering reliable, sustainable, and economically viable solutions for all."

The alliance is a step in Indofast Energy’s plan to deploy 2,750 swap stations and support 1.5 lakh vehicles by March 2026. The company’s mission is to establish 10,000 swapping points across over 40 Indian cities in the next three years. Indofast Energy has over 1,000 battery-swapping stations in 10 states and 22 cities.

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Montra Electric, the clean transport brand from the Murugappa Group, has launched the updated Super Auto electric passenger three-wheeler.

The vehicle features LED headlamps to increase visibility, and radial tubeless tyres to provide better grip, stability and lower maintenance costs. A re-engineered suspension system also aims to ensure a smoother drive.

The Super Auto now comes with Montra Electric’s in-house developed ‘One Montra Electric’ (1M) connected software platform. This provides drivers with access to vehicle performance data, charging station locations and digital features.

The vehicle offers a range of 160 km per charge and is supported by the company’s 3S (Sales, Service, Spares) network across over 120 markets. Till date, the company has sold over 13,000 units of the Super Auto in India.

Deependra Sharma, CEO (Designate), Montra Electric Last Mile (TI Clean Mobility), said, “Every new product at Montra Electric is created with a clear goal, to make electric mobility more efficient, reliable, and valuable for drivers. The all-new Super Auto reflects our engineering focus on comfort, safety, and durability, while keeping affordability intact, making clean mobility both practical and profitable for drivers and fleet operators.”

The Super Auto is available in White, Blue, and Green, and a Black Edition with decals.

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