Maruti to launch CNG cars in 2010, stop making LNG models

22 Jun 2009

Maruti Suzuki Ltd, the country's largest carmaker, plans to roll out CNG variants of the entire range of its cars from early 2010, and stop working on LPG models.

"We have stopped working on LPG models, because customers prefer CNG cars. We will launch the first CNG variant next year," Maruti Suzuki India chairman R C Bhargava said.

Maruti plans to start with CNG variants of the `Alto', its highest-selling model, and would introduce 'cleaner-fuel' cars in all models once the distribution network of CNG improves across the country, he added.

"We do not want our customers to wait in long queues and suffer because of lack of distribution network. We hope that the distribution network will strengthen by 2010 and at that time we will roll out the CNG cars," Bhargava said.

Besides, Maruti Suzuki has introduced waste heat recovery process at its Gurgaon facility - the first of its kind in manufacturing, the company is reusing waste gases for steam generation and in the manufacturing process.

The reuse of waste steam from these boilers has eliminated the requirement of electrical motors in the processes.