No Single Technology Can Solve India's Clean Mobility Challenge: Maruti Suzuki's Hisashi Takeuchi

India's transition to cleaner mobility will require multiple technologies working together, rather than depending on a single solution, according to Maruti Suzuki India Managing Director and Chief Executive Hisashi Takeuchi.

While launching the country's first flex-fuel passenger vehicle - WagonR Flex Fuel, Takeuchi said India's energy and emissions challenges were too large to be addressed by any one technology alone.

"I am happy that the government is encouraging all clean technologies. This direction is very important because India's challenge is large, and no single technology can solve it alone," he said.

The comments come as automakers debate the future mix of electric vehicles, hybrids, compressed natural gas (CNG), biofuels, and hydrogen-powered vehicles in the world's third-largest automobile market.

Takeuchi said India must pursue solutions that are cleaner, affordable, and scalable while reducing dependence on imported crude oil and lowering carbon emissions.

Maruti Suzuki noted that India's path to decarbonisation should reflect local conditions, including affordability concerns, fuel availability, and infrastructure readiness.

"To meet the different needs of different customers in India and to use all possible technologies to reduce carbon emissions, Maruti Suzuki is committed to a multi-pathway strategy, including EVs, strong hybrids, and compressed natural gas," Takeuchi said.

The strategy mirrors parent Suzuki Motor Corp's broader view that no single technology fits all markets and that reducing emissions must be balanced with economic realities and energy security considerations.

Maruti Suzuki expects compressed natural gas vehicles, including those running on compressed biogas, to account for the largest share of its powertrain mix by the end of the decade. Company projections indicate CNG- and biogas-powered vehicles could contribute around 35% of sales by financial year 2031, while conventional internal combustion engine vehicles and hybrids are expected to account for about 25% each.

Takeuchi also highlighted compressed biogas as an important part of the company's long-term plans, saying fuel produced from biomass can be carbon-negative.

The flex-fuel WagonR adds another option to Maruti Suzuki's growing portfolio, which already includes CNG models and electric vehicles under development, as the automaker expands its efforts to support cleaner mobility and reduce India's oil import dependence.