The company expects automatic CNG models to expand demand as it targets higher green vehicle sales.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) is targeting close to 1 million green vehicle sales in FY27. The target includes CNG, hybrid and electric vehicles, according to senior company executive Partho Banerjee.
The company had earlier expected to sell 8 lakh to 9 lakh green vehicles during the financial year. It has now raised the target after introducing automatic CNG variants of the Swift, Dzire and Baleno.
Maruti Suzuki Launches Automatic CNG Models
Maruti Suzuki launched automatic S-CNG versions of the Swift, Dzire and Baleno on Friday. The company expects these models to attract buyers who want the running-cost benefits of CNG with automatic transmission convenience.
Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, said CNG models previously lost some buyers to petrol automatic cars. The lack of automatic transmission was a key reason for this gap, he said.
The new models are aimed at customers who do not want to choose between CNG and automatic convenience. Maruti Suzuki said the new combination opens CNG vehicles to a previously unaddressed customer segment.
CNG Remains Maruti Suzuki’s Key Green Vehicle Segment
Maruti Suzuki holds around 70 per cent of India’s CNG passenger vehicle market, according to the company. It currently sells close to 80,000 CNG vehicles every month.
CNG penetration within Maruti Suzuki’s own portfolio stands at around 43 per cent. Banerjee said this gives the company a strong base to increase green vehicle sales.
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The company also sees supply capacity as a major factor limiting higher CNG sales. Maruti Suzuki currently has CNG production capacity of around 18,000 units a month, according to Banerjee.
He said higher production capacity could help the company increase CNG volumes. The company is allocating available CNG vehicles based on waiting periods due to current supply restrictions.
Will CNG Share Rise Further?
Maruti Suzuki is also looking to increase CNG’s contribution within its green vehicle portfolio. Banerjee said the company is hopeful of reaching a 50 per cent share if adequate supplies are available.
However, he did not confirm that the target would be achieved during FY27. The company’s ability to increase CNG supplies will remain an important factor.
The company also expects market conditions to support demand for green vehicles. Banerjee said rising crude prices, including levels around USD 100 per barrel, could further support adoption.
Automatic CNG Prices for Swift, Dzire and Baleno
The new automatic CNG range covers three popular Maruti Suzuki models. The introductory prices start below Rs 9 lakh across all three models.
The Swift automatic S-CNG is priced at Rs 7.92 lakh, while the Baleno automatic S-CNG costs Rs 8.32 lakh. The Dzire automatic S-CNG is priced at Rs 8.53 lakh (ex-showroom).
Maruti Suzuki also claims that the Dzire automatic S-CNG delivers a fuel efficiency of 36.47 km/kg. The company describes it as India’s most fuel-efficient sedan based on this claimed figure.
What Happens Next for Maruti Suzuki
Maruti Suzuki will focus on increasing CNG supplies as it works towards its FY27 green vehicle sales target. The company expects higher production capacity to support additional CNG volumes.
The introduction of automatic CNG models gives buyers more transmission choices across the Swift, Dzire and Baleno. These models will form part of Maruti Suzuki’s wider push towards its 1 million green vehicle sales target.
