Maruti Suzuki will stop petrol cars in 10 years

As emissions and fuel efficiency standards tighten, India’s largest automaker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd expects to have only hybrid (mild and strong), flexible fuel, compressed natural gas (CNG), electric, biofuel-powered vehicles, a senior official said.



As a result, pure petrol cars may not be part of the company’s car portfolio in ten years’ time. The company has already stopped rolling out diesel cars.

Maruti Suzuki is also focused on growing its SUV portfolio and market share in that segment.

“Pure petrol cars may not be in the company’s product range, say 10 years from now, as emissions and fuel efficiency standards become stricter,” Shashank Srivastava, Senior Executive Director, Marketing & Sales told IANS.

He said the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy of Efficiency (CAFA percent) standards could come into effect in 2032.

Unlike exhaust emissions standards, the CAFA% standards apply to a car manufacturer’s entire portfolio. The lower the fuel consumption of a car, the lower the exhaust emissions.

Because there is a limit to achieving higher fuel efficiency with current technology, companies are looking for alternatives.

While electric vehicles are an option, it is not feasible for the entire car segment in India in the short term due to things like charging infrastructure availability, vehicle price and payback period and others.

The other option is to roll out vehicles powered by mixed fuel – ethanol plus gasoline, hybrid, flexible fuel, CNG and the like.

Anyway, Maruti Suzuki is gearing up to unveil its first mid-size gasoline-electric hybrid SUV on July 20. The vehicle will be rolled out in two variants: mild and strong.

The car is produced in the Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd’s factory in Bidadi in Karnataka.

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