Skip to main content
Pro Plus

Does Diesel Have a Place in The Powertrains of The Future?

Once the villain of India’s pollution story, diesel is making a cautious return to respectability—armed with cleaner tech, stronger regulations, and a heavy dose of real-world pragmatism.

Shahkar AbidiBy Shahkar Abidi calendar 09 Apr 2025 Views icon4387 Views Share - Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to LinkedIn Share to Whatsapp
Does Diesel Have a Place in The Powertrains of The Future?

In the dull winter of the mid-1990s, Delhi's air turned from a nuisance to a national emergency. A heavy, pungent haze lay suspended above the capital, smothering the city. As lung-clogging smog became the new normal, a fierce debate erupted in courtrooms, in the media, and in the offices of automakers. The culprit—or at least, the most visible one—was diesel.

A proposal by the Environmental Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), an autonomous  body, jolted the nation’s automotive industry. It suggested a full ban on diesel-powered private vehicles in the National Capital Region. What it meant in clear language ...

This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.

STAY AHEAD OF THE CURVE WITH THE LATEST NEWS, ANALYSIS AND INSIGHTS INTO INDIA'S EXPANDING AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY

SUBSCRIBE TO AUTOCAR PRO PLUS

1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION

$39.00

  • Unlimited Access to Pro Plus articles
  • Features and Insights
  • Opinions and Analysis
  • Pro Plus Newsletter
  • Multi-Device Accessibility

RELATED ARTICLES

India a Blueprint for Hyundai's Global Expansion Strategy: CEO José Muñoz

auther Darshan Nakhwa calendar13 Oct 2026

Hyundai Motor Company is drawing on its experience of localisation in India to strengthen its global operations, as the ...

Pro Plus

Electric Trucks: Waiting for the World

auther Mukul Yudhveer Singh calendar13 Oct 2026

Truckmakers have built the zero-emission truck. Now they need the infrastructure, economics and customers to match.

SPR Auto Challenges Traditional Cabin Audio with Speaker-Less Acoustic Headliner Technology

auther Ketan Thakkar calendar09 Oct 2026

By deploying top-mounted agitators that vibrate roof fabric, the Tier-1 supplier eliminates conventional speakers to red...