Diesel technology is getting better each day and diesel cars are getting less noisy and more fuel efficient each day. Diesel cars have always been a preferred choice for most of the consumers but their high cost of maintenance and price tags holds back customers from making a purchase. With the advent of new technology nearly every auto maker including even the luxury car makers like BMW and Mercedes are planning to launch more diesel options from their production portfolios.
Toyota especially sells diesel models in India and its entire sales are majorly for diesel models. Its premium SUV model Fortuner recorded 99 percent sales of the diesel models. Toyota also offer diesel options for Camry, Corolla and Innova. Ankush Arora, VP, sales, marketing and after-sales of GM India says Optra diesel outsells the petrol variant by more than 75 percent.
Mercedes is planning to roll out new E class diesel variant soon in India. BMW is also bringing its various diesel variants at the upcoming Delhi Auto Expo 2010. Hyundai will also introduce diesel variant of Sonata in India in coming months. “Premium car buyers travel long distances, so fuel economy plays an important role. With diesel cost being lower than petrol, the payback is quicker,” said Arvind Saxena, senior VP, marketing and sales, Hyundai Motor India.
Maruti has recently launched the new SX4 model with automatic transmission and the new K-series engine. A diesel model of new SX4 is slated for the launch in next few months. Maruti Swift and Swift Dzire also clock 65 percent sales for diesel models.
According to the industry experts, diesel car market is expected to grow by 50 percent in India in the year 2010. All auto manufacturers including GM, Ford, Hyundai, Tata Motors and Mahindra and Mahindra have jacked up their diesel car production.
