Maruti Suzuki India Limited is planning to introduce factory fitted CNG vehicles from the next fiscal year. According to the reports, the company may also introduce CNG vehicles in the year 2010-11. Its main aim still remains to strengthen its small car product portfolio. "Our R&D people are working on developing a CNG vehicle which will have factory fitted kits. We are going ahead with the development but lot will depend on availability of the fuel across the country," Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava.
MSIL is facing tough competition in the Indian market this year and renovation of its product portfolio is on the cards for the company. CNG vehicles are a part of its efforts to provide new and alternative fuel vehicles to its customers to retain their loyalty. "We are concentrating on small car segment... up to B segment. The small car customers are much more price sensitive. So we want to make affordable car for middle class and lower middle class families," he said.
Maruti has entered into an agreement with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) for receiving natural gas at its Manesar plant. It has already started receiving fuel at its factory where GAIL will supply 0.33 MMSCMD of R-LNG at the rate of USD 5.8 per mmBtu under a 10-year contract.
