TL; DR
- Maruti Wagon R becomes India’s first flex-fuel car, compatible with E20 to E85 blends.
- The government confirms E85 will cost less than petrol, with 500 stations by December 2026.
- Hero MotoCorp also launched flex-fuel Splendor+ and HF Deluxe at the same event.
The Indian government has been talking about flex-fuel vehicles for years, but on June 4, 2026, it finally got one in the form of the Maruti Suzuki WagonR Flex Fuel. It goes without saying, but this is the first flex-fuel passenger car in the country, which, and I can’t stress this enough, is perhaps the biggest achievement for the Indian auto industry after the GST 2.0 rate cuts.
At the same event, the government confirmed that E85 fuel will be priced significantly below regular petrol.
Introducing WagonR Flex Fuel, Maruti’s E85 Compatible Passenger Car
While the exterior design and features of the car remain the same as the regular version we’ve seen on the roads, the WagonR Flex Fuel is based on Maruti’s 1.2-litre K12N petrol engine, which has been modified to run on any ethanol blend between E20 and E85.
For those catching up, E85 contains up to 85% ethanol (depending on the manufacturer) and just 15% petrol. Brazil has run a similar flex-fuel programme successfully for decades (with availability of all fuel blends), and India is now attempting something similar.
For now, the WagonR Flex Fuel will only be available to fleet operators and car aggregators like Uber and Ola.
At the same event, Hero MotoCorp also launched flex-fuel versions of its most popular motorbikes: Splendor+ and HF Deluxe. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari separately confirmed the government is evaluating up to 15% isobutanol blending in diesel as well.
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Government’s Take On E85’s Pricing
At the event, the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri confirmed that E85 will be “substantially cheaper than normal fuel.” However, there’s no word or hint about the exact pricing yet.
At the moment, the government is preparing a policy framework around deploying E85 fuel stations in a phased manner. In the first phase, the government plans to roll out 50 to 100 E85 dispensing stations in the Delhi-NCR and Mumbai-Pune-Nagpur corridors, likely in the next few months.
Thereafter, the government plans to scale to 500 stations by the end of this year, and about 5,000 stations by December 2027.
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Questions That Remained Unanswered At The Moment
- What will the actual price of E85 petrol be, and how much cheaper than E20 petrol will it be?
- Based on its chemical composition, ethanol contains less energy per litre than petrol, which typically reduces mileage, especially when the blend is increased to 85%. Will the lower fuel price compensate for the higher fuel consumption?
- Will automakers be directed to handle warranty claims related to ethanol’s corrosive nature on fuel system components, seals, and injectors, especially if the blend is forced on E10 or E20 petrol cars?
- Will insurance companies revise premiums or terms for flex-fuel vehicles, given the different risk profile of ethanol-compatible engines?
- Will car owners still have the option to opt for E0, E10, and E20 petrol?
Also Read: Maruti Suzuki Grand Vitara Review: Makes The Question ‘Kitna Deti Hai?’ Irrelevant
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