E20 Fuel Compatibility: Raipur Consumer Commission Orders Maruti Suzuki To Replace Car Or Pay Over ₹21.6 Lakh

A District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur has directed Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and its dealer to replace a customer's 'Maruti Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid Zeta Plus' with a new vehicle of the same model that is compatible with E20 fuel, holding that the sale of a non-E20 compatible vehicle amounted to deficiency in service and an unfair trade practice.

The Additional Bench of the Commission, comprising President Prashant Kundu and Member Dr. Anand Varghese, directed the opposite parties to replace the vehicle within 45 days.

If they fail to do so, they must refund ₹20,50,494, comprising the vehicle price, RTO charges and insurance premium, the order states.

The complaint was filed by Dr. Premraj Devta, who had purchased a Maruti Grand Vitara Strong Hybrid Zeta Plus 1.5 manufactured in January 2023.

According to the complaint, the vehicle repeatedly stalled because its engine did not support E20 petrol, i.e., petrol blended with 20% ethanol.

The complainant alleged that despite repeatedly changing the fuel, getting the fuel tank cleaned and refilling it with fresh petrol, the vehicle continued to stop functioning. As a result, he had to take the vehicle to the dealer's service centre on several occasions.

According to the order, the dealer and manufacturer attributed the problem to poor-quality fuel.

However, the complainant contended that the real issue was that the vehicle itself was not equipped with an engine compatible with E20 fuel.

He further alleged that despite his request on June 3, 2024, the opposite parties neither took back the vehicle nor replaced it with a new vehicle of the same model having an E20-compatible engine.

After considering the material on record, the Commission held that the complainant had partly succeeded in proving deficiency in service and unfair trade practice on the part of the opposite parties.

Accordingly, it directed Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. and the dealer to take back the existing vehicle and provide the complainant with a new vehicle of the same model having E20 fuel-compatible technology within 45 days.

The Commission further ordered that if the replacement is not made within the stipulated period, the opposite parties shall pay the complainant ₹20,50,494, comprising ₹18,29,000 towards the vehicle price, ₹1,86,850 towards RTO charges and ₹34,644 towards insurance premium.

Besides the replacement/refund relief, the Commission awarded ₹1 lakh as compensation for mental agony and ₹10,000 towards litigation costs, directing payment within 45 days.

The order further provides that if the dealer fails to pay the compensation and litigation costs within the prescribed period, those amounts shall carry interest at the rate of 7% per annum from the expiry of 45 days until payment.

Case Title: Dr. Premraj Devta v. Nexa Magneto (Sky Automobiles) & Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.