Haunted by SC temporary diesel ban, Toyota, Mahindra may come out with petrol versions of SUVs

What if the ban on registration of large diesel engines is extended? What if the Supreme Court doesn’t modify its order on the ban? These questions are haunting automakers, who are looking for alternate options now.

After the Supreme Court banned registration of diesel vehicles with engine size of 2 litres or more for three months, automakers have gone into frenzy.

So much so that the Indian arm of Toyota is mulling to bring petrol version of its diesel vehicles like Innova and Fortuner.

It is also planning to also have petrol version of all its cars in future so that such temporary bans do not affect its sales.

TS Jaishankar, deputy managing director-commercial at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, told ET, "When we started selling the Innova, we had made available a petrol version. It was discontinued as demand was largely diesel-driven. We have to see now ...If it warrants, we have to git back.
Enquiries in Delhi have dropped since the ban came into force. The NCR accounts for 14% of our total sales. We are exploring options to bring in petrol versions of the Innova and the Fortuner."

As per reports, every year around 4,00,000 diesel vehicles with heavy engines are sold in India, out of which 5-8% are sold in the NCR.

Meanwhile, the automakers are moved the Supreme Court to appeal against the ban.

Toyota said that over 53% of vehicles registered in the National Capital Territory of Delhi are of BS I and BS II standards, or more polluting than the newer ones.

Even Mahindra & Mahindra is worst hit as it has only diesel SUVs. It may also join Toyota soon.

(Image: Indiatimes)