Small diesel cars in India is what carmakers envisage

According to recent updates in Indian automobile industry, car manufacturing companies both local as well as Global are planning to release smaller displacement diesel engines. This is mainly due to rise in petrol prices and consumers preference drifting towards diesel cars in India. It is being reported that car giants like General Motors, Tata Motors and Honda are seeking small diesel engines to drive their small cars. And, Hyundai along with Toyota has started structuring regarding manufacturing of diesel engines in India in coming years. As per reports, General Motors India is expected to unveil a 1.0 litre diesel engine under the hood of its Chevrolet Beat in coming June.

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Vice President GM India, P Balendran said that Diesel engine offer high fuel efficiency and assists in keeping the running cost low. Further he added that fuel efficiency of Chevrolet Beat diesel is expected to be more than 20 kmpl and its petrol variant is already delivering exceptional mileage of 18.3 km to a litre. It is worth mentioning that GM was working on this diesel engine at its unit in Talegaon, Maharashtra from past 3 three years. Another entry in small cars in India is of Honda Brio, which is going to be unveiled in the festive season. Director (marketing) at Honda Siel Cars India, Seki Inaba said that Honda India intends to release sub 1.5litre diesel engine to power Honda Brio India in coming years, which will assist in lowering the custom duty. It is worth mentioning that compact cars in India with length less than 4-meter can be fitted with engines up to 1.2litre in petrol and 1.5 litre in diesel and they attract only 10 percent of custom duty.

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However, cars with length more than 4-meter and with higher engine displacement are eligible for 22 percent custom duty. Further, one of the India’s largest car makers Tata Motors India, which created the world’s cheapest car “Tata Nano”, is expected to launch a two-cylinder sub 1,000 cc diesel engine, affixed under the hood of Tata Nano Diesel later this financial year. Another player in the Indian car market is Maruti Suzuki India, which is planning to release a new diesel engine. However, Maruti India is also unveiling a1.3 litre diesel engine which will drive Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Maruti Dzire and Maruti SX4.

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Managing executive officer (engineering), Maruti Suzuki India, IV Rao said that company is searching for a diesel engine other than they are currently using in their diesel cars. He further added that switching to CNG (compressed natural gas) was due to the fact that they don’t have option of a small diesel engine. However, as per reports, Suzuki is currently in talks with stakeholder Volkswagen for diesel engines. As per sources, Hyundai India is already working on establishing a diesel engine unit, which is expected to operate within next 2 years. Also, Toyota Kirloskar Motor intends to affix a new diesel engine in its Toyota Etios range. However, keeping an edge over competitors, Ford India is expected to be in final phase of developing a 1.0 litre diesel engine.