Maruti Suzuki launches India's first flex-fuel car, the Wagon R
Maruti Suzuki has launched India's first flex-fuel car, the Wagon R, capable of running on any ethanol-petrol blend from E20 to E100.
- E20 to E100
- E85
What Happened
On June 4, 2026, Maruti Suzuki India Limited launched India's first flex-fuel car, the Wagon R, at an event attended by Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri. The vehicle can run on any blend of ethanol and petrol from E20 to E100, with homologation up to E85. This technology builds on Maruti Suzuki's experience with CNG and LPG vehicles.
“India imports a large quantity of crude oil every year, and biofuels like ethanol are an important pathway towards reducing this dependence while strengthening our rural economy.”
- Significant reduction in oil imports
- Boost to farmer income through ethanol demand
- Lower carbon emissions and local air pollution
Why this matters
This launch supports India's energy security and sustainability goals by reducing oil imports and boosting farmer income through ethanol demand.
Terms in This Story
- Flex-fuel
- A vehicle that can run on any blend of ethanol and petrol, from low to high ethanol content.
- Ethanol blend
- A mixture of ethanol (a biofuel) and petrol, denoted as E20 (20% ethanol) to E100 (100% ethanol).
- ECU calibration
- Adjustments to the engine control unit to optimize performance for different fuel blends.
- Homologation
- The process of certifying that a vehicle meets regulatory standards for road use.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.