Maruti Suzuki India Limited on Thursday launched India's first flex-fuel car, the Wagon R, at an event in New Delhi attended by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri. The launch came on the eve of World Environment Day.
The flex-fuel Wagon R can operate on any blend of ethanol and petrol ranging from E20 to E100, giving customers flexibility to choose based on availability and cost. Maruti Suzuki introduced the technology in the Wagon R, a model that has previously pioneered alternate fuel vehicles in India including CNG and LPG variants.
Flex-fuel vehicles are expected to contribute to a reduction in crude oil imports while creating additional demand for ethanol, which can boost farmer incomes. The vehicles are also designed to lower carbon emissions and support India's energy security goals.
Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, said flex-fuel vehicles can create strong and sustainable demand for ethanol, benefiting farmers, industry, and the environment. He expressed confidence the initiative will encourage other manufacturers to launch flex-fuel models and oil companies to enhance ethanol distribution infrastructure.
Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said flex-fuel vehicles reduce crude oil import dependence, save foreign exchange, lower emissions, and create opportunities for rural prosperity.
Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said the company is introducing BEVs, hybrids, CNG, CBG, and ethanol flex-fuel vehicles to meet India's goals of reducing oil imports and carbon emissions. Once flex-fuel technology reaches mainstream adoption, it has the potential to cut oil imports, carbon emissions, and local air pollution while enhancing domestic value addition and farmer incomes, he added.
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