“We still see demand for diesel variants, and will continue to manufacture them till we have the future technology setting in,” Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) vice-chairman Shekar Viswanathan told PTI.
The sales figures of Innova Crysta and Fortuner from January to June 2019 are hugely tilted in favour of the diesel standing at 82 (diesel):18 (petrol). While in the case of other models, the sales figures are around 50:50. Most Toyota offerings like the Glanza, Yaris and the Camry Hybrid are petrol-only models. On the other hand, Innova Crysta, Fortuner and Altis are offered with both petrol and diesel engine options.
Mahindra, in a recent conference, stated that it will cost around Rs 80,000 to Rs 1 lakh for it to upgrade its existing diesel engines to meet new emission norms. Though Toyota hasn’t announced any estimate as yet, Mahindra numbers may provide sufficient idea of the kind of increase the Toyota cars could get in the coming future.
Maruti Suzuki had earlier announced that it will remove diesel engines from its entire range of models. However, if the demand for diesel cars post April 2020 is lucrative enough, it may start offering them again. Other brands going the Maruti Suzuki way are Renault and Tata. The latter plans to discontinue the 1.05-litre diesel unit on the Tiago and the Tigor.
Even though the current market focus is on BS6-compliant engines, manufacturers are also looking at electrification of mass market cars for the near future. Maruti and Toyota are jointly working on EVs and we may see one soon from Maruti in the form of a Wagon R-based EV next year.