How Maruti Suzuki Became India's Number One CNG Carmaker
When Maruti Suzuki introduced its first factory-fitted CNG models in 2010, the fuel had little acceptance among private buyers. Availability was largely restricted to Delhi-NCR, Mumbai-Pune and Gujarat, while the filling network was small and uneven. CNG penetration remained at just 1-2 percent until 2016-17, but Maruti continued to improve the technology and expand its range. It began with affordable cars such as the Alto and Eeco before taking CNG to the WagonR, Swift, Baleno, Dzire and Ertiga. Today, its portfolio includes SUVs such as the Brezza, Fronx, Grand Vitara and Victoris. Fixing what buyers disliked In the late 1990s, buyers who wanted a CNG car usually had to convert a petrol model using an aftermarket kit. Most kits were imported, often from Italy or Argentina, and a conversion cost around Rs 30,000-32,000. As demand grew, some dealers began tying up with local retrofitters. But when these cars developed problems, owners often returned to Maruti workshops even though th...