Just 12 Flex-Fuel Cars Sold in 3 Months, All From Maruti Suzuki

Image Credits- Maruti Suzuki

India's push toward alternative and greener mobility has seen significant milestones, but the passenger flex-fuel segment is experiencing a surprisingly slow start. According to recent Vahan retail sales data, only 12 flex-fuel cars have been sold across the country over the last three months. Interestingly, every single one of these 12 vehicles belongs to Maruti Suzuki, highlighting both the automaker's status as a first-mover and the steep uphill battle this new technology faces in the current market.

Maruti Suzuki spearheaded the mass-market flex-fuel initiative earlier this year with the launch of the WagonR BioFlex. Engineered to run seamlessly on ethanol-blended petrol ranging from standard E20 all the way up to E85, the vehicle was introduced to help reduce the nation's reliance on imported crude oil while cutting down tailpipe emissions. Yet, despite the proven reliability of the WagonR badge and Maruti's massive dealership network, consumers are largely holding back, resulting in these muted registration numbers.

The core issue driving these low sales isn't a flaw in the vehicle itself, but a severe lack of supporting fuel infrastructure. As of now, dispensing stations for high-blend ethanol fuels like E85 are extremely scarce and heavily concentrated in select urban pockets like Delhi-NCR and Mumbai. When you combine this lack of availability with a premium upfront price tag over standard petrol variants and uncertainty regarding real-world fuel efficiency on E85, everyday buyers are understandably opting for more established CNG, hybrid, or EV alternatives.

Despite the sluggish initial rollout, Maruti Suzuki securing 100% of these early sales cements its position at the forefront of India's flex-fuel transition. As the government continues its push to expand specialized ethanol fuel outlets nationwide over the next few years, this small trickle of 12 vehicles could eventually serve as the foundation for a much larger shift in how India fuels its daily commute.