New Delhi, June 04: Maruti Suzuki India Limited on Thursday unveiled the country’s first flex-fuel passenger vehicle, the WagonR Flex Fuel, marking a major milestone in India’s transition toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation solutions.
The newly launched vehicle is engineered to operate on ethanol-petrol blends ranging from E20 to E100, making it the first mass-market passenger car in India capable of running on 100 per cent ethanol fuel.
The launch comes amid the government’s growing focus on alternative fuels and energy security as India seeks to reduce dependence on imported crude oil and lower vehicular emissions.
WagonR Flex Fuel Supports India’s Biofuel Mission
Maruti Suzuki said the WagonR Flex Fuel has been developed in line with the government’s vision of increasing ethanol adoption in the transport sector.
Flex-fuel vehicles are designed to run on varying blends of petrol and ethanol, offering consumers greater fuel flexibility while supporting environmental sustainability goals.
The company stated that the launch represents an important step toward expanding the use of biofuels and strengthening India’s clean mobility ecosystem.
Nitin Gadkari Pushes Alternative Fuel Adoption
The unveiling ceremony was attended by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting cleaner and alternative fuel technologies.
During the event, Gadkari revealed that the government is also considering the introduction of diesel blended with 15 per cent isobutanol as part of its broader strategy to diversify fuel options and reduce emissions.
He urged automobile manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki and Hero MotoCorp, to explore solutions for converting older vehicles into flex-fuel-compatible models while upgrading them to stricter emission standards such as Euro 6 norms.
According to Gadkari, such initiatives could help reduce air pollution and strengthen the vehicle scrappage programme aimed at phasing out older and more polluting vehicles.
Automobile Industry a Major Growth Engine
Addressing the gathering, Gadkari described the automobile sector as one of the key drivers of India’s economic growth.
He noted that India has emerged as the world’s third-largest automobile market, making a significant contribution to the country’s manufacturing output, employment generation, and GDP growth.
The minister emphasized that cleaner fuels and advanced vehicle technologies would play a crucial role in the future development of the sector.
Maruti Suzuki Expands Clean Mobility Investments
Maruti Suzuki Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi highlighted the company’s broader sustainability roadmap and ongoing investments in green energy solutions.
He said the company is actively investing in compressed biogas (CBG) projects and evaluating emerging technologies, including hydrogen-based mobility solutions.
These efforts form part of Maruti Suzuki’s long-term strategy to support India’s transition toward low-carbon transportation.
Company Leads Green Vehicle Sales
Sharing details of the company’s performance in the green mobility segment, Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer for Marketing and Sales at Maruti Suzuki, said the company accounted for nearly half of all green vehicles sold across the Indian automobile industry during the last financial year.
The company believes that expanding flex-fuel offerings alongside CNG, biogas, and other alternative fuel technologies will help accelerate the adoption of cleaner vehicles across the country.
Key Highlights
- Maruti Suzuki launches India’s first flex-fuel passenger car.
- WagonR Flex Fuel can operate on ethanol blends from E20 to E100.
- First mass-market passenger vehicle in India designed for 100% ethanol use.
- Launch supports India’s biofuel and energy security goals.
- Nitin Gadkari advocates wider adoption of alternative fuels.
- Government considering diesel blended with 15% isobutanol.
- Maruti Suzuki investing in compressed biogas and hydrogen technologies.
- Company contributed nearly 50% of industry green vehicle sales last year.
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