Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari today launched India’s first flex-fuel passenger vehicle by Maruti Suzuki in New Delhi. Flex-fuel vehicles can operate on a range of ethanol-petrol blends, from E20 up to E100.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said the entry of flex-fuel technology into the passenger vehicle segment is not merely a product launch, but the beginning of a new chapter in the country’s energy transition. Mr Puri said that large-scale adoption of flex-fuel technology can significantly multiply the impact of ethanol-based mobility. He said that India’s ethanol blending program has become one of the most successful energy transition initiatives in the world. He noted that India’s ethanol success story was built through a whole-of-government approach and creation of a strong ecosystem involving farmers, ethanol producers, oil marketing companies, vehicle manufacturers, scientists and financial institutions. He added, adoption of such technology is the creation of a complete ecosystem for cleaner mobility, stronger energy security, and greater self-reliance.
Mr Gadkari described the launch as a remarkable and forward-looking achievement. The Minister noted that the milestone aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for clean, sustainable, and self-reliant mobility. He emphasized that flex-fuel vehicles can significantly reduce emissions, lower crude oil import dependence, and enable foreign exchange savings worth 1.44 lakh crore rupees. He further highlighted that the initiative will accelerate biofuel adoption, support farmers, strengthen rural energy security, and generate employment opportunities, thereby contributing to a greener, more resilient mobility ecosystem in the country.
