Maruti Suzuki India announced its intention to appeal against a directive from the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Raipur. The order instructed the automaker to replace a customer’s Grand Vitara Hybrid with a new E20-compatible model. The customer had reported technical issues allegedly caused by using E20 petrol as fuel.
The Commission granted Maruti Suzuki a 45-day deadline to replace the vehicle or refund the customer Rs 20.5 lakh, covering registration and insurance costs. Maruti Suzuki contended that the Grand Vitara in question was already E20-compatible, as stated in the owner’s manual. The vehicle, sold to the customer in June 2024, was manufactured in January 2023.
Maruti Suzuki emphasized that the fuel collected from the customer’s vehicle showed signs of contamination. The company also claimed that crucial details were omitted from the Commission’s ruling. Maruti Suzuki expressed its plan to challenge the decision made by the district consumer commission.
The case has drawn attention against the backdrop of discussions on ethanol-blended fuels and vehicle compatibility. Auto manufacturers assert that E20-compatible vehicles are engineered to run safely on fuels with up to 20% ethanol, provided the fuel meets specified quality standards.
