Maruti to support CNG-powered cars in its campaign to meet eco-friendly norms.
The nation’s largest carmaker is making efforts to meet the upcoming fuel efficiency norms aimed at curbing the growing air pollution in major cities. The automaker has asked dealerships to bid for licenses to set up their own CNG dispensing stations to keep pace with the company’s plan of selling about 2,00,000 units of CNG passenger vehicles annually by 2022.
The fuel efficiency norms require cars to become 10% or more fuel efficient between 2017 and 2021 and 30% or more fuel efficient from 2022. Maruti has a target of selling 2,00,000 units of CNG vehicles by 2022, which will comprise about 10-12% of its annual sales.
Maruti wants its dealers to bid for licenses to set up fuel retail outlets across the country as there is inadequate infrastructure to distribute CNG. Plans of the company sync with the government as the government is trying to build a huge network of CNG pumps by installing 10,000 of them across the country.
Maruti cars such as the new Ertiga, Swift, and Dzire will also be offered with CNG option along with other CNG models from the line-up. Other carmakers such as Hyundai and Honda are also looking to launch more CNG variants.
The government is making efforts to curb rising air pollution levels and is urging automakers to develop environment-friendly vehicles. The reason for Maruti to increase sales of CNG vehicles is because it would become difficult to meet the stricter fuel efficiency norms in 2022. The current infrastructure will not help them achieve their targets.
Most of the CNG vehicles are used commercially by cab aggregators such as Ola and Uber. CNG is more affordable than petrol and diesel and sales had rocketed after cab services and other public transport vehicles in the national capital region were made to compulsorily operate only CNG vehicles.
Maruti plans to increase the sales of CNG vehicles, which will be followed by hybrid and electric models. Maruti’s parent, Suzuki, and Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp are collaborating to produce full hybrid cars, which are expected to be launched in India by the end of 2021.
Maruti Dzire CNG
– Maruti targets CNG cars to account for 12% of sales by 2022
– The carmaker wants dealers to bid for pumps to keep up with their targets
– New Swift, Dzire and Ertiga CNG variants will be launched
Source – LiveMint.com