BS6 Maruti Diesel Cars To Be Launched By Next Year

Maruti Ciaz 10 — All diesel cars will be powered by a 1.5-litre motor

Country’s largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki is set to launch its BS6 diesel cars by next year, reversing its decision to not offer any diesel models post 1st April 2020.

Back in 2019, the firm’s Chairman R C Bhargava openly stated that it will phase out all diesel cars from its portfolio once BS6 emissions norms kick in.

The decision comes as the segment continues to garner a lot of sales, particularly in the various segments that come under the SUV category and in the MPV category.

Maruti has begun upgrading its powertrain plant in Manesar so that it can start producing BS6-compliant diesel engines by the middle of, or by the festive season, next year.

It is said that the Vitara Brezza compact SUV and Ertiga MPV will first receive the 1.5-litre BS6 diesel motor followed by other models such as the Ciaz, S-Cross and possibly the Baleno.

Toyota’s Urban Cruiser, rebadged Vitara Brezza, might benefit from this decision and also receive a diesel variant. However, it is most likely that small Maruti cars like the Swift, will stay petrol-only.

It seems that Maruti has come around to the fact that some customers would prefer BS6 Maruti diesel cars and not offering such a model has given its rivals, especially Hyundai, the upper hand.

Further, the automaker has been vocal about the advantages of owning a petrol car due to them costing lesser than diesel models and because of the smaller price difference between the two automotive fuels.

When it reintroduces diesel variants of its cars, Maruti is likely to see its sales jump considerably, considering the fact that around 23 percent of its total sales in the BS4 era were from diesel models.