Maruti Suzuki May Bring Back Diesel Cars In 2021 After BS6 Emission Norms Come Into Effect
Maruti Suzuki had planned to discontinue the diesel offerings in its vehicle lineup. It seems like the company might be backtracking on the decision. The company might see a refreshed lineup of diesel vehicles but not before 2021 if recent reports are to be believed.
Remember how Maruti Suzuki had planned to discontinue the diesel offerings in its vehicle lineup? It seems like the company might be backtracking on the decision. The company¡¯s portfolio might see a refreshed lineup of diesel vehicles but not before 2021, if recent reports are to be believed.
The company¡¯s resolve might have changed as its rivals continue to come up with vehicles in the diesel segment. A new ET report cites people connected to the matter, mentioning that Maruti Suzuki realises it will be losing on a major chunk of the Indian automobile market if it decides to opt out of the diesel segment altogether.
Maruti Suzuki¡¯s earlier decision to discontinue diesel vehicles came in line with the upcoming BS-VI emission norms, due to be in effect starting April next year. At the time, Maruti Suzuki had declared that a BS-VI compliant diesel engine for entry-level vehicles to be non-viable and hence had opted to stop producing diesel cars altogether.
Maruti Suzuki Ciaz Diesel. (Representative Image: Maruti Suzuki)
For now, the company will be following on this plan. Starting April 1, 2020, Maruti Suzuki will not be selling any diesel cars in the country. It does, however, plan to re-enter the market in 2021 with compliant diesel engines. As per the report, the company has already started to build on this target and is working on a 1.5-litre diesel engine meeting BS-VI standards.
As for the vehicles which will support the updated diesel engine, Maruti Suzuki might start its trial with the Ciaz. Eventually the new engine is expected to find its way to the Ertiga, S Cross, Vitara Brezza as well as its seven-seater version.
Interestingly, Maruti Suzuki will also have to come up with its own production plant to produce the said diesel engines. Until now, the company uses Fiat¡¯s 1.3-litre multijet plant to procure its prevalent diesel engines. Since the Fiat is not upgrading these engines to the new emission standards, Maruti Suzuki will be on its own in this endeavour post the BS-VI implementation.
