Monday, November 21, 2011
By Pranjal Gera
Maruti Suzuki to add five more CNG powered vehicles to its line up
Considering the fact that fuel prices; particularly petrol, are currently at all time high and don’t see any major downward revision in near future, Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) is getting prepared to introduce more CNG powered vehicles in its array. The largest passenger carmaker in India, at present has five vehicles made available with Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) options namely small car Alto, hatchback Wagon R and Estilo along with sedan SX4 and Eeco-the Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV).
Mr. R C Bhargawa, the Chairman at MSI said in its Sustainability Report 2010-11 that the existing five models with eco-friendly fuel options are responded very well by MSI’s customers, in terms of sales, in the areas where the CNG is accessible. The company intends to bring in more CNG run vehicles, he added.
MSI Chairman refused to share any more details, such as the names of vehicles that will sport this fuel alternate.
Mr. Bhargawa further added that in order to encourage such initiatives by the auto sector and to make it a success, the government should establish sufficient CNG re-filling stations for the convenience of the car-buyer.
Moving further in the direction to create alternate fuel options, MSI is working on electric vehicles as well as hybrid cars in order to provide a cost effective solution to Indian customers.
The firm has tried out a model of hybrid sedan SX4 and electric vehicle Eeco on their testing grounds, along with hybrid cars SX4 being used during the Commonwealth Games held in Delhi, as said by Mr. Shinzo Nakanishi, the Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at MSI. As per him, the fuel economy provided by hybrid vehicle SX4 is about 25 percent more than the usual petrol cars.
