The Bajaj Freedom 125, the world’s first CNG-powered motorcycle, has surpassed 50,000 units in domestic retail sales since its launch on July 5, 2024. This affordable and greener alternative to petrol-powered two-wheelers has seen steady growth, particularly in markets with strong CNG infrastructure.
- Over 50,000 Bajaj Freedom 125s sold in under nine months
- Maharashtra and Gujarat are the top two contributors to its sales
The Bajaj Freedom 125 took eight months and 12 days to hit the 50,000-unit milestone. October (11,076 units) and November (12,159 units) of 2024 were the bike’s best months in terms of sales, together accounting for 46% of its total sales to date.
The Freedom 125 was initially launched in only two states, Maharashtra and Gujarat, which have strong CNG-filling infrastructure. Since then, Bajaj has considerably expanded the bike’s availability across India, including tier-2 and tier-3 towns, where the CNG infra is gradually growing.
The company is banking on the speedy expansion of India’s CNG-fuelling network, currently estimated to be around 7,000 stations and expected to cross 13,000 over the next couple of years before reaching around 17,000 by 2030.
Highest demand for Bajaj Freedom 125 in Maharashtra
Out of the 50,047 Bajaj Freedom 125s sold across India, the highest demand – 9,591 units – came from Maharashtra, which accounted for 19 percent of its sales. Gujarat, with 8,797 units and a 17 percent share, was second.
However, with Maharashtra proposing an additional one percent motor vehicle tax on CNG-powered vehicles for personal use from April 1, 2025, the demand for the Bajaj Freedom 125 might cool down in the state, which is among the leading buyers of two-wheelers and the No. 1 state in electric two-wheeler sales. Nevertheless, value-conscious buyers keen on wallet-friendly commuting should take that hike in their stride in the long term.
How efficient is the Freedom 125?
Bajaj claims that the Freedom 125 lowers operating costs by around 50 percent compared to similar ICE motorcycles, translating into a very wallet-friendly Rs 1 per kilometre (approximately). The CNG tank provides a range of over 200km on just 2kg CNG. Additionally, the bike’s 2-litre petrol tank acts as a range extender, offering over 130km of range in the event of the CNG tank emptying out.
This dual-fuel capability gives the rider a combined range of 330km. As per Autocar India tests, the Freedom 125 delivered 94km/kg mileage in the city and 126km/kg on the highway. Meanwhile, the fuel efficiency when running on petrol was predictably a lot lower – 53.4kpl in the city and 62.37kpl on the highway.
The Bajaj Freedom 125 packs a new, air-cooled 125cc, single-cylinder mill that develops 9.5 hp and 9.7 Nm of torque, mated to a 5-speed gearbox. Bajaj claims the bike’s top speed is 90.5kph while running on CNG, which increases slightly to 93.4kph when switched to petrol power.
Rishaad Mody
Azaman Chothia
Vishal Venugopal
