Tata Motors has notified that it is looking at phasing out small diesel cars, as it has become unviable with the new upcoming BS-VI emission norms.
Maruti Suzuki had recently announced it would stop selling diesel models from April 1, 2020.
The cost of upgrading diesel cars from BSIV to BSVI is expensive, as it requires three major upgrades — a DPF (diesel particulate filter), an SCR (selective catalytic reduction) system, and an LNT (Lean NOx trap). And this would increase the cost of diesel cars by around ₹1.5 lakh and widen the gap between petrol and diesel cars to ₹2.5 lakh. Petrol engines, on the other hand, require limited catalytic and electronic upgrades.
Tata currently uses a 1-litre diesel engine in the Tiago, a 1.05-litre in the Tigor and a 1.3-litre diesel engine in the Bolt and Zest.
