Maruti Suzuki Launches India’s First Flex-Fuel Passenger Car

Speaking at the launch, Puri described the development as much more than the introduction of a new automobile model.

India took a significant step towards cleaner and more self-reliant transportation as Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri launched the country's first flex-fuel passenger vehicle developed by Maruti Suzuki in New Delhi. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also attended the launch event. The newly introduced vehicle can run on a wide range of ethanol-petrol blends, from E20 to E100, offering consumers greater flexibility while supporting India's push towards alternative fuels.

Speaking at the launch, Puri described the development as much more than the introduction of a new automobile model. He said the arrival of flex-fuel technology in the passenger vehicle segment signals a new phase in India's energy transition. With nearly 37 lakh passenger vehicles representing the aspirations of middle-class families, wider adoption of flex-fuel vehicles could significantly expand the impact of ethanol-based mobility across the country.

Ethanol Programme Delivers Economic and Environmental Gains

The Minister highlighted India's rapid progress in ethanol blending, which has risen from less than 1.5 percent in 2013-14 to 20 percent in 2025-26, achieving the national target five years ahead of schedule. Ethanol procurement has increased from around 38 crore litres to more than 1,040 crore litres during the same period, while production capacity has expanded almost five times to nearly 2,000 crore litres.

According to Puri, the ethanol programme has helped reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions, save foreign exchange and create new income opportunities for farmers. India now produces ethanol from multiple sources, including broken grains, agricultural waste, bamboo and seaweed, creating a diversified and resilient supply chain.

The Minister said that if half of all new two-wheeler and four-wheeler sales eventually become flex-fuel compliant, the country could generate additional demand for more than 311 crore litres of ethanol annually. Such a shift could provide farmers with an estimated ₹12,403 crore in additional income while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 66.4 lakh metric tonnes.

Government Plans Nationwide Flex-Fuel Ecosystem

Puri outlined a roadmap for expanding flex-fuel adoption across India. Under the proposed plan, E85 fuel has been identified as the standard fuel for flex-fuel vehicles. The government intends to establish 50 to 100 E85-ready fuel stations in the Delhi-NCR and Mumbai-Pune-Nagpur corridors during the initial phase.

The network is expected to expand to around 500 retail outlets by December 2026 and nearly 5,000 outlets across major cities by the end of 2027. Authorities are also working on supportive measures, including pricing incentives, road tax concessions, consumer awareness campaigns, dedicated vehicle identifiers and the development of storage and dispensing infrastructure.

The Minister noted that India's energy strategy rests on three pillars—availability, affordability and sustainability. He pointed out that the country maintained uninterrupted fuel supplies even during recent global disruptions and energy market uncertainties. Referring to recent flex-fuel motorcycle launches and the latest passenger vehicle launch, Puri said India is entering a new era of cleaner transportation powered by domestic innovation, farmer participation and consumer adoption. He urged automobile manufacturers and fuel retailers to accelerate efforts that will make flex-fuel mobility accessible across the country.