Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. is set to unveil India's first commercially available flex-fuel car, capable of operating on pure ethanol, on June 5, 2026. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari confirmed the launch, which is anticipated to be a flex-fuel version of Maruti Suzuki's popular WagonR hatchback.
The introduction of this vehicle coincides with World Environment Day and follows the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' recent inclusion of E100 (pure ethanol) under automobile testing and certification norms, paving the way for such vehicles.
Pioneering Flex-Fuel Technology in India
This launch marks a significant milestone as Maruti Suzuki becomes the first automaker to introduce a flex-fuel vehicle in India before the corresponding E100 fuel is widely available commercially. While several flex-fuel concepts were showcased at the Bharat Mobility Expo 2025, none have reached commercial production until now.
Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, acknowledged the company's readiness. "We have the technology, whether it is for ethanol blending increase or for flex-fuel vehicles. We have the technology and we'll support the government whenever the need arises," Bharti stated during a recent earnings call.
Challenges and Future Outlook
Despite the technological readiness, Bharti cautioned that flex-fuel vehicles are unlikely to achieve significant sales volumes in the immediate future. Key factors include the limited availability of such models, the need for a nationwide network of ethanol dispensing pumps, and achieving price parity between ethanol and petrol.
"We need more models. We need parity between ethanol and petrol price. So all those factors will take some time for flex-fuels to develop. So it is like a futuristic plan. The volumes will be minimal at this stage. It will grow, say, 5 years to 10 years from now, it will become a meaningful volume, nothing immediately," Bharti explained.
Industry estimates suggest that modifying vehicles for higher ethanol blends could initially increase costs by approximately ₹40,000-50,000 per vehicle, though this may vary by model and manufacturer. The government, meanwhile, is actively exploring proposals to increase the mandatory ethanol blending level in petrol beyond the current E20 benchmark, with discussions underway to gradually raise it to E21, E22, and potentially E25, which would affect all existing vehicles on the road.