Maruti Suzuki India Limited is thinking about launching factory fitted CNG vehicles from the next financial year. According to the reports, the company may launch CNG vehicles in the year 2010-11. Its main purpose is  to strengthen its small car product portfolio. “Developing a CNG vehicle which will have factory fitted kits is the main aim of our R&D people. We are going ahead with the development but it all depends on availability of the CNG across the country,” Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava said.

Maruti Suzuki India Limited is having tough competition in the Indian market this year. So the company is planning face-lifting of its product portfolio. And CNG vehicles are a part of its plans to give new and alternative fuel cars to its loyal customers. “We are concentrating on small cars … up to segment B. The small car customers are much more price cautious. So we want to make affordable car for middle class and lower middle class families,” he said.

For receiving natural gas, Maruti Suzuki has signed an 10-year contract with Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL). It has already started getting natural gas at its at its Manesar plant factory. GAIL will supply 0.33 MMSCMD of R-LNG at the rate of USD 5.8 per mmBtu.