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Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday asked vehicle manufacturers to discourage production and sale of diesel engine vehicles, and urged them to promote other technologies. Addressing industry body SIAM's annual convention virtually, Gadkari said the government is committed to delivering vehicles with flex engines that give the users an option to run a vehicle on either 100 per cent petrol or 100 per cent bio-ethanol. "I appeal the vehicle manufacturers to discourage the production and sale of diesel engine vehicles. Diesel-based pollution is extremely hazardous to the environment and human health. "The industry must promote alternative fuel technologies and fund R&D (research and development) for alternative fuels," he said. The minister said he is looking forward to the industry for quick roll-out of E20-compatible vehicles. E20 is a blend of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. "This will be immensely helpful in cutting our import bill an
Leading automaker Hyundai India on Wednesday said that skyrocketing prices of fuel in the country is increasing the demand for diesel models for the company. Director (sales and marketing) of Hyundai India Tarun Garg said diesel models are 30 per cent more fuel-efficient than the petrol versions which is causing the rise in demand in favour of the former. Speaking to reporters at Domjur in Howrah district, Garg said "Hyundai is concerned about the rise in fuel prices. But since diesel models are 30 per cent more fuel-efficient than petrol versions, there is a hike in demand for the former". He said though 2021 faced the second wave of the pandemic, sales are now back to normal to pre-Covid levels. However, the company is wary of a possible third wave, the official said Garg said that demand for SUVs is going up and Hyundai's share of this category to overall sales is 47 per cent. According to him, Hyundai's market share last year was 17.4 per cent, the highest ever in the company