Tired of everyday fuel price hikes? Finding it difficult to run Petrol cars? No option of cheap diesel cars?
Well now it’s time to switch to CNG/LP/Electric cars or simply alternate fuel cars. Cheaper running cost has been influencing customer decision and the market is gradually moving towards diesel cars, but recent hike in its price has made CNG or even LPG the best fuel option.
“We were expecting this to happen, that’s why our CNG-based models have been consistently doing well. But the recent demand has increased the waiting period for CNG models, says Maruti Suzuki India CGM (Marketing) Shashank Srivastava.
India’s largest carmaker launched five petrol cars-Sx4, Alto, Wagon R, Estilo and Eeco -with CNG-integrated injectors in November last year to cater to the demand for the clean fuel-fitted vehicles among customers in urban markets.
Working their strategies around shifting consumer behaviour in urban areas, several carmakers have now loaded CNG technology into their popular models such as Hyundai Accent, GM Aveo , Toyota Innova and Corolla, Tata Indica and Indigo in order to tap the growing demand for the cleanest and cheapest fuel, which is now available only in Delhi, Mumbai, Agra and Gujarat.
Cheaper running cost has been influencing customer decision and the market was gradually moving towards diesel cars, but recent hike in its price has made CNG the best fuel option.
While it costs Rs. 4.40 per kilometre to run a petrol version of Maruti Sx4, the diesel variant costs Rs. 2.40. Now compare this with a CNG version that costs only Rs. 1.50 per km. No wonder, car buyers in National Capital Region have lapped up CNG models over the last year. Sale of CNG-fitted cars in NCR has jumped 43% over the last year to touch 450,000 mark by May-end this year.
Even though electric cars such as Reva have a running cost of around 50 paise per km, they are largely unviable due to the huge battery cost and lack of charging options.
Despite its limited availability, auto analysts feel that CNG has now become reliable as well as popular among car users.
