Ever since the price of petrol has gone high diesel cars are in much demand in Indian automobile market. In fact diesel cars have driven past their petrol variants in sales in almost all segments. With diesel cheaper by an average of 53% across the major metros, people prefers cars powered by diesel engines even though they are pricier than petrol variants.
A steady growth in the compact 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 story 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%.
When the price difference between diesel and petrol was Rs 9 last year, 55% of Maruti’s customers preferred the diesel option in the segments in which India’s largest car maker offered that option. Today, when the difference between petrol and diesel prices is more than Rs 20, 85% of them are opting for the diesel version.
Almost all major car makers are offering revamped versions of their diesel cars. Recently, Toyota Kirlosar Motors launched diesel variants of Etios sedan and Liva hatchback, after getting likewarm response their petrol countrparts.
