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Diesel SUV Price Hike: Diesel engines may be gradually disappearing from small cars and sedans in the Indian auto market, but it still has a strong hold in the SUV segment. Especially drivers traveling long distances, users who like off-roading and customers who want strong torque still prefer diesel SUVs for themselves. Due to which the market share of diesel passenger vehicles has remained stable at around 18 percent for three consecutive years. But now the sound of BS7 emission rules has increased the tension of the auto industry. Let us tell you that experts say that in the coming time, there may be a big jump in the prices of diesel vehicles which will be heavy on the customers.

Missing from small cars, still powerful in SUV

At one time the dominance of diesel cars in India was 47 percent, but now people’s choice has become petrol, CNG and electric vehicles. Despite all this, people still consider diesel as the first choice for SUV buyers. The reason behind this is the better torque, long driving range and excellent mileage on the highway. Due to these reasons, Mahindra & Mahindra’s diesel SUVs like Scorpio, Thar and Bolero remain in demand among the people.

Why are Mahindra and Mercedes still relying on diesel?

Despite being special among the people of Mahindra & Mahindra, it no longer wants to depend on just one fuel technology. The company is showing its presence in all three segments, EV, petrol and diesel. On the other hand, Santosh Iyer, MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India, said that in the last quarter, more than 50 percent of their sales were of diesel models. The biggest reason for this is the total cost of ownership, which means the total cost of owning and running the vehicle.

Now performance, not fuel, has become the real reason.

Auto experts say that now people are choosing diesel not only because of cheap fuel but also for the strong performance and smooth driving experience in the luxury SUV segment. According to Ravi Bhatia, President of Jato Dynamics, “This is not a customer who is choosing diesel considering his budget so that he can save money on fuel.”

BS7 rules can change the whole game

The biggest concern among all this is regarding BS7 emission standards. According to the information, after the implementation of the new rules, the price of diesel vehicles may increase by Rs 30 thousand to Rs 1 lakh. This will mean that customers buying SUVs worth Rs 10 to 20 lakh will have to pay more for it. In such a situation, the question is whether they will continue to buy increasingly expensive diesel SUVs or shift towards CNG, Hybrid and EV? At the same time, some experts also believe that the coming few years are going to be very important for the Indian auto sector which will decide whether the era of diesel SUV will continue or end.