Maruti launches India's first E85 flex-fuel WagonR, betting on fuel rollout
Maruti Suzuki has put India's first flex-fuel car on sale — an E85 WagonR — even as ethanol pumps remain scarce. Government targets 500 E85 outlets by December from ~200 today, scaling to 5,000 by end-2026. Pricing is pitched well below E20 petrol, aimed at 37 lakh PV and 30 crore 2W buyers.
What happened
Maruti Suzuki launched India's first E85 flex-fuel car, a WagonR, ahead of fuel availability. Government plans 500 E85 outlets by December and 5,000 by
Key facts
- E85 (85% ethanol + 15% petrol)
- 200 dispensing outlets currently
- 500 outlets by Dec
- 5,000 outlets by end of next year
- 30 crore two-wheelers
- 37 lakh passenger vehicles
Why this matters
OEM-fuel infrastructure asymmetry opens partnership lanes with OMCs, ethanol producers, and flex-fuel component suppliers where Maruti's volume commitment can anchor co-investment terms.