Diesel cars outsell petrol cars by far

Diesel cars are no doubt expensive than petrol cars, but due to low price of diesel, diesel cars have driven past their petrol variants in sales in almost all segments. The hatchbacks like Ford Figo, Maruti Swift, Chevrolet Beat Diesel and Volkswagen Polo diesel variants have witnessed 56% sales in the month of August compared to their petrol siblings. A steady growth in the diesel car sales has been observed with 39% in last July to 45% in January to 51% in June, this year. In the sedan segment as well the same saga continues. It was only an year ago that diesel variants were just 28% in the car market, which is now estimated to rise to 68%.

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The demand for the diesel vehicles has grown outrageously. Apparently, when the difference between the petrol and the diesel price was Rs 9, then 55 % of Maruti consumers opted for diesel vehicles, which has now grown to 85%, with the existing price difference of Rs 20 between the two fuels. Maruti India sales during the period of April to August, last year was reported to be 4 lakh, in which the diesel car sales accounted for a little over 1/5th of the sales. Suzuki Motor Corp., which is not very popular for its diesel engines had to depend on the Fiat for their diesel engine supply. Maruti India offers just four diesel variants out of the 12 models that constitutes of Maruti Swift, Maruti SX4, Maruti Ritz and Maruti Swift Dzire. The 2011 sales figures show three fourth of Maruti Swift sales, three fifths of Maruti Swift Dzire and two third of Maruti Ritz models in the diesel variants, marking a dramatic shift in the diesel car sales for Maruti India.

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Similarly, Ford India also showed a positive shift of 75% in diesel variant of Ford Figo sales against 55% from last year. Volkswagen India has placed its models strategically, introducing all its vehicles in diesel variants except for VW Beetle and had been able to capitalize on the demand for the diesel vehicle in the Indian car market. VW Polo petrol variant, which sold around 70 % until last year, had come down to 50% during this year and Neeraj Garg of VW India reportedly expresses that the demand for the diesel cars are likely to go up further, even if the government decides to lift the subsidy on the diesel in future. Observing the trend, Toyota India has also launched Toyota Etios Diesel sedan and Toyota Etios Liva Diesel hatchback recently.