Maruti to launch CNGcars in 2010

The country’s largest car maker Maruti Suzuki today said it had stopped working on LPG models as it would roll out CNG variants of the entire range of its cars from early 2010, the first of which could be its highest selling model Alto. We will launch the first CNG variant next year, Maruti Suzuki India chairman Mr RC Bhargavasaid. The company would start introducing ‘cleaner-fuel’ cars once the distribution network of CNG improves across the country starting with in main cities, he added. We do not want our customers to wait in long queues and suffer because of lack of distribution network. Mr Bhargava, however, declined to name the model which would hit the roads on the CNG mode first. The company’s Maruti800, Omni and Wagon Rmodels come with dual fuel (LPG-cum-petrol) variants. Earlier, MSI had offered CNG-fitted cars for some period, but later withdrew them. It has so far sold over two lakh vehicles fitted with alternative fuel technology. MSI managing executive officer (engineering) Mr IV Raosaid the company would roll out one model in every segment, to begin with, by the end of this fiscal, but declined to give details. (June 23, 2009)