New Delhi: Leading automobile manufacturers Maruti Suzuki India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor have dismissed concerns over the use of E20 petrol, saying extensive testing and real-world data show no evidence that the higher ethanol blend causes engine damage, excessive wear, or an increase in insurance claims.
The companies said fears surrounding E20 fuel are largely misplaced and that most vehicle-related issues are more likely to stem from contaminated or adulterated fuel rather than ethanol content.
Maruti Suzuki Senior Executive Officer Rahul Bharti said the company has carried out extensive testing on both newer and older vehicles.
“There is this concern or fear about corrosion, wear and tear, and reduction in engine life. We want to reassure customers that there is no such concern,” Bharti said.
He added that Maruti Suzuki tested E20 petrol in vehicles manufactured before 2010 and found no unusual wear, corrosion or reliability issues.
According to Bharti, the company serviced more than 2.5 crore vehicles during FY26, including over 1.5 crore older-generation cars, and did not observe any problems linked to E20 fuel.
Toyota Kirloskar Motor also expressed confidence in the fuel. The company’s Country Head, Vikram Gulati, said neither Toyota nor the wider automobile industry has seen an increase in vehicle problems attributable to E20 petrol.
“There have been no such complaints coming to our dealerships related to E20 fuel,” Gulati said.
Both manufacturers also rejected claims that E20 petrol has resulted in higher insurance claims. Maruti Suzuki said it has not recorded any increase in claims related to E20 usage, while Toyota reported no pattern linking ethanol-blended fuel to insurance-related issues.
The companies acknowledged that E20 fuel can lead to a slight drop in fuel efficiency because ethanol has a lower energy content than conventional petrol. However, they maintained that this does not affect engine durability or reliability.
With inputs from IANS