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Updated On: 30-Oct-2025 11:31 AM
Tata Motors partners with THINK Gas to expand LNG refueling infrastructure across India, promoting cleaner and efficient long-haul trucking for a greener future.
MoU signed on October 30, 2025
Focus on LNG trucks and refueling corridors
THINK Gas to offer reliable fuel and pricing
Tata Motors expands clean fuel portfolio
Target: 33% trucks on LNG by 2030
Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with THINK Gas to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure for commercial vehicles across India. The agreement, announced on October 30, 2025, focuses on strengthening India’s cleaner fuel ecosystem and promoting sustainable freight transportation.
The collaboration will focus on identifying key freight corridors and logistics clusters where LNG refueling stations can be set up. THINK Gas, backed by I-Squared Capital, Osaka Gas, and Sumitomo Corporation, will ensure fuel quality, reliable supply, and preferential pricing for Tata Motors customers.
At present, THINK Gas operates 18 liquefied and compressed natural gas stations, with more under development. The company plans to build corridors that connect industrial hubs, agricultural regions, and logistics centers across India.
LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) is emerging as a cleaner alternative to diesel for long-distance freight movement. It offers:
Up to 30% lower CO₂ emissions than diesel.
Reduced particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions.
The ability to travel 600–1,000 km on a single fill due to its higher energy density than CNG.
Currently, India has about 1,500 LNG-powered trucks, compared to 3 lakh diesel trucks sold annually. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas plans to build 1,000 LNG fuel stations along major highways and industrial routes, with 49 already approved for development by state-run oil companies. The government also aims to power 33% of all trucks with LNG by 2030.
Rajesh Kaul, Vice President and Business Head for Trucks at Tata Motors, said that LNG offers a practical solution for long-haul freight as India transitions toward sustainable logistics. He added that Tata Motors LNG vehicles are designed to deliver high fuel efficiency with lower emissions.
Somil Garg, Senior Vice President at THINK Gas, noted that this partnership will help the company scale its national network strategically and support India’s clean energy transition in the commercial vehicle sector.
India’s LNG trucking market is becoming increasingly competitive.
GreenLine Mobility Solutions (Essar Group) currently operates the largest LNG truck fleet in India and plans to deploy 5,000 LNG trucks by March 2025.
Blue Energy Motors, also associated with Essar, launched India’s first LNG truck in 2022 and has already deployed 500 units across sectors.
Other major players like Volvo and Ashok Leyland are also entering the LNG truck segment.
Adani Total Gas has opened its first LNG station and plans 50 more outlets in the next five years, while Indraprastha Gas targets 100 stations by 2030.
Despite strong interest, the LNG segment faces a few hurdles:
High upfront cost — An LNG truck, including trailer and registration, costs around ₹85 lakh.
Limited refueling infrastructure, mostly confined to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
Financing difficulties — Banks remain cautious, though some NBFCs have started funding LNG vehicles.
Experts believe that government incentives like tax benefits or priority lane access could accelerate adoption.
Tata Motors, part of the $180 billion Tata Group, holds a 42% market share in India’s commercial vehicle segment. The company has been expanding its clean energy portfolio, offering vehicles powered by battery-electric, CNG, LNG, hydrogen internal combustion, and hydrogen fuel cell technologies.
The announcement follows the company’s internal restructuring, and its commercial vehicle division was renamed Tata Motors Limited, effective October 29, 2025, ahead of its listing on the BSE and NSE.
Medium and heavy commercial vehicles consume nearly 40% of India’s diesel, and the transport sector contributes 13.5% of national carbon emissions. Experts estimate that switching even 10% of trucks to LNG by 2032 could save $1.5 billion in oil imports.
With the Tata Motors, THINK Gas partnership, India takes another major step toward cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable freight transportation.
The Tata Motors and THINK Gas partnership marks a big step toward cleaner transportation in India. With plans to build LNG refueling infrastructure across key freight routes, the initiative will support the shift from diesel to sustainable fuel. This move not only reduces emissions but also helps lower oil imports and operating costs, setting a strong foundation for a greener commercial vehicle industry.