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Maruti Suzuki Wagon R is expected to be the first mass-market E100 model which can run on up to 100 percent ethanol blending in petrol
Maruti Suzuki Wagon R Flex-Fuel is likely to launch on Jun 5, 2026 in the country, claimed Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road, Transport & Highways, Government of India. It will be the first mass-market E100 model which can run on up to 100 percent ethanol. Just so you know, World Environment Day 2026 falls on June 5 and hence, it would be rather fitting for the brand to introduce its first car using pure ethanol as fuel in the Indian market. In Apr 2026, the MoRTH included E100 in the automobile testing and certification norms category.
Recently, Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, was speaking during Maruti Suzuki’s quarterly earnings call as the brand announced its Q4 results. “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,” said Bharti.
However, Rahul cautiously remarked that flex-fuel cars may not generate substantial volumes initially due to limited availability. In addition, the E100 fuel is yet to reach at most of the petrol pumps in India. The industry insiders stated that ethanol-based fuel could increase the production cost of such vehicles by Rs 50,000-70,000 as compared to regular petrol using cars.
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Cars Pricing Hiked by Rs. 30,000 In June 2026
“We need more models. We need energy-based parity between the 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,” said Bharti to the analysts.
Maruti Suzuki had unveiled multiple flex-fuel cars at the 2025 Bharat Mobility Global Expo in New Delhi. The Wagon R flex fuel was one of the models showcased at this event. Hence, if the country’s biggest automaker at all launches the flex fuel (E100) version of the hatchback next month, it will indeed become the first such mainstream brand to do so as the commercial availability of the fuel is still a question.
Also Read: 3 New Maruti Suzuki Cars Spied Testing In A Convoy; What Are They?
Multiple two-wheeler brands such as Honda and Suzuki retail flex fuel bikes in the Indian market. However, the exact sales volumes and corresponding demand of these models is still not known. A few days back, the Union Government stated that it is contemplating increasing the ethanol blending level in petrol from 20 percent (E20) to 21 (E21), 22 (E22) and 25 (E25) percent.
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