Maruti Udyog is in the initial planning stage to develop a company-fitted LPG variant of its Maruti 800 and Alto.
The company is getting enough customer queries in this regard. Last week, it had launched, a dual-fuel (LPG and petrol) variant of Wagon R.
"In response to a flood of customer queries demanding a LPG version of Maruti 800 and Alto, Maruti is planning to study as to how it can modify the design of these cars (800 and Alto) to equip LPG infrastructure in them," said senior Maruti officials. A Maruti spokesperson, however, said, it is too premature to comment on the plan at this stage of time.
The variants are expected to be out in the market in two years. "If the launch is successful, the price of maintaining Maruti 800 or Alto will come further down. The new models would even provide a tough competition to Tata Motors' Rs 100,000 car," said a Mumbai-based auto analyst.
The models will come with an an approved factory-fitted LPG kit. Wagon R Duo, which was launched in Mumbai this week comes with a factory-fitted LPG kit, enjoying all the warranty benefits available on other car models.
According to Maruti officials, the time is ripe for companies to introduce more number of models based on alternate gas-based fuels.
"Five years down the line, there is probability for 20 per cent of passenger cars to drive on gas-based alternate fuels," they said.
Today, 40 metros have infrastructure for the re-fuelling of LPG.
This will substantially go up in the next few years. Companies like Reliance Industries, British Petroleum and GAIL have significant plans of marketing gas-based fuels.