Overview
- Maruti launched the WagonR BioFlex in June as a flex‑fuel model that can run on blends from E20 up to E100 and is homologated for E85, and the company has opened bookings nationwide.
- Vahan registration data shows only three WagonR BioFlex units registered in the weeks after deliveries began, highlighting weak early consumer uptake.
- India currently has roughly 48 E85 retail outlets concentrated around Delhi‑NCR and Mumbai, which means owners outside those areas would struggle to access the high‑ethanol fuel.
- E85 can be cheaper per litre than lower ethanol blends but contains less energy, so higher ethanol mixes often reduce real‑world mileage and can erase pump‑price savings for drivers.
- Maruti says it will promote the technology and wait for the wider fuel and policy ecosystem to develop, while government plans foresee a phased expansion of E85 pumps if stakeholders invest in dispensing infrastructure.