Maruti Suzuki on Thursday launched what it described as India's first flex-fuel passenger car, positioning the technology as a key pillar in the country's efforts to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions and strengthen energy security.
Speaking at the launch event, Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi said the introduction of the flex-fuel Wagon R marked more than the debut of a new vehicle and represented "a new chapter in India's energy journey."
The company unveiled the vehicle in the presence of Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, both of whom have championed the use of alternative fuels and domestic energy sources.
Highlighting India's dependence on imported crude oil, Takeuchi said the country needed energy solutions that were "cleaner, affordable, scalable, and based on India's own strengths."
"India has two national objectives: First, reduce dependence on imported crude oil. Second, reduce carbon emissions. Flex-fuel meets both. It is truly Atmanirbhar and clean," he said.
Takeuchi credited Gadkari for consistently pushing the automobile industry towards biofuels and alternative energy solutions.
"When nobody believed in biofuels, you guided the industry that the produce of Indian farmers can replace foreign oil," he said, addressing the minister.
The Maruti Suzuki chief said flex-fuel technology could generate benefits well beyond the automobile sector by supporting farmers, ethanol producers and rural communities while linking agriculture with clean mobility.
"It connects mobility with agriculture, technology with farmers, and clean energy with Atmanirbhar Bharat," he said.
At the same time, he acknowledged that widespread adoption of flex-fuel vehicles would require coordinated efforts across the ecosystem, including fuel availability, vehicle launches, customer awareness and competitive pricing.
"An entire ecosystem needs to be developed – from fuel availability to more model launches, from customer awareness to fuel and vehicle pricing," Takeuchi said.
"In the absence of an ecosystem, it is the responsibility of the market leader to take the first step and encourage others."
"Today, Maruti Suzuki is taking the first big step with the launch of India's first flex-fuel car."
The company said the launch forms part of its broader multi-pathway strategy aimed at reducing emissions through a mix of technologies, including electric vehicles, strong hybrids, compressed natural gas (CNG), compressed biogas (CBG) and hydrogen.
Takeuchi described compressed biogas as a particularly promising route towards achieving net-zero emissions, noting that Maruti Suzuki has already announced nine CBG plants, of which two are operational.
"And today, with Wagon R Flex-fuel, we add another flower in our bouquet," he said.
"For Maruti Suzuki, this is a commitment to cleaner mobility, lower oil import dependence, and Atmanirbhar Bharat."
The launch comes as India continues to expand ethanol blending in petrol and promote alternative fuels as part of its strategy to improve energy security and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Source Name : Economic Times