Maruti Suzuki India on Friday launched automatic S-CNG versions of the Swift, Dzire and Baleno under its new Auto Green Mission, expanding its factory-fitted CNG portfolio as demand for the technology accelerates across the country.
The country’s largest carmaker said the new range has been developed to combine the convenience of an automatic transmission with the lower running costs and fuel efficiency associated with CNG vehicles. The launch comes after Maruti Suzuki recorded a 58 per cent year-on-year increase in sales of S-CNG vehicles during the first quarter of the year.
Three models go automatic
The Swift, Dzire and Baleno are among Maruti Suzuki’s key mass-market models and the addition of automatic S-CNG options is aimed at customers who want to avoid choosing between automatic transmission convenience and the running-cost advantage of CNG.
The company said the Dzire automatic S-CNG delivers fuel efficiency of 36.47 km/kg, which makes it the country’s most fuel-efficient sedan.
The new models use Maruti Suzuki’s factory-fitted S-CNG technology, which has been developed to integrate CNG equipment with the vehicle’s powertrain and safety systems at the manufacturing stage.
The expansion also represents an important development in India’s CNG passenger vehicle market, where buyers have traditionally had considerably fewer automatic transmission choices than in petrol-powered cars.
Demand surges 58%
Maruti Suzuki said growing acceptance of alternative fuel vehicles has translated into a sharp rise in demand for its S-CNG range.
“During the first quarter of this year, we experienced a 58 per cent increase in sales over the same quarter last year for our S-CNG vehicles,” said Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India.
The company also recorded its highest-ever monthly S-CNG sales in July, selling 83,000 units.
“The introduction of the new automatic S-CNG range of cars is sure to contribute to the growing share of clean and green cars in India,” Banerjee said.
The numbers underline the increasing importance of CNG in Maruti Suzuki’s product strategy as customers look for alternatives that can reduce fuel expenditure without requiring a complete shift to electric mobility.
Eyes urban customers
Maruti Suzuki is specifically targeting urban customers with the automatic CNG combination, arguing that congestion and changing driving patterns are increasing demand for automatic cars while high running costs keep fuel efficiency at the centre of purchasing decisions.
“With modern Indian cities experiencing rapid growth, new-age customers are looking for the convenience of an automatic car without compromising on fuel-efficiency and performance in traffic conditions,” Banerjee said.
He said the automatic S-CNG models under the Auto Green Mission were aimed at “aspirational customers who seek the best of both worlds”.
The company said changing consumer preferences and greater environmental awareness were also helping eco-friendly powertrain options gain acceptance across vehicle segments.
CNG strategy expands
Maruti Suzuki has steadily expanded its S-CNG portfolio as part of a broader strategy involving multiple powertrain technologies rather than relying on a single route towards reducing vehicle emissions.
CNG has emerged as an important part of that approach because of its comparatively lower emissions and running costs, supported by the expansion of CNG filling infrastructure across Indian cities and highways.
Factory-fitted systems also allow manufacturers to calibrate the engine, fuel delivery, suspension and safety components specifically for CNG operation rather than relying on aftermarket conversion.
With the automatic Swift, Dzire and Baleno S-CNG, Maruti Suzuki is now seeking to address one of the remaining compromises for CNG buyers — the limited availability of automatic transmission options.
The company expects the combination of automatic convenience and CNG fuel economy to further broaden the technology’s appeal, particularly among urban customers who spend substantial time driving in stop-and-go traffic.