CNG conversion of existing petrol cars, is a growing trend in India. Though CNG doesn’t offer significantly higher fuel efficiency, the cheap cost of the compressed natural gas reduces the per-kilometer running cost of the vehicle. Hence it comes in as no surprise that volume players like Maruti Suzuki, Chevrolet and Hyundai are looking forward to or have already launched CNG versions of their popular models.
With the launch of the Bharat Stage IV Alto K10 already over, Maruti Suzuki is now turning its attention towards the launch of the CNG variants of five vehicles from its current product portfolio. Later this week, Maruti is set to roll out CNG versions of the BSIII Alto small car, Estilo and Wagon R tallboys, the Eeco MPV and the SX-4 executive sedan.
The launch of these vehicles was confirmed by MSI Chief General Manager (Marketing) Shashank Srivastava when he told the media, “The CNG models will be very important in our portfolio. We are the first company to come out with factory-fitted CNG cars and we will have the first mover’s advantage in the market. The company has decided to launch all the five versions on a single day in the second week of August because there is no particular segment for CNG cars, unlike other models, which can be specified into different strata. It is the launch of a technology, not the cars. It is the concept of factory-fitted CNG models.”
We are expecting these CNG variants to cost Rs.30,000 to 50,000 more as compared to its equivalent petrol variant. The cars will go on sale by the end of August 2010. Watch this space as we bring you more info…