Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has sought written responses from automobile manufacturers on the impact of E20 ethanol
July 7, 2026: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has raised fresh concerns over the nationwide rollout of E20 ethanol-blended petrol, questioning leading automobile manufacturers, including Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar and Hero MotoCorp, about its impact on vehicles. He has asked companies to clarify in writing whether they would compensate customers if E20 fuel causes reduced mileage, engine damage or other performance-related issues.
Gadkari said India’s transition to E20 fuel has been much faster than in countries such as Japan, Thailand and Brazil, which took several years to increase ethanol blending levels. He also claimed that millions of older vehicles in India are not compatible with E20 fuel and urged the government to continue offering consumers multiple fuel options, including E0, E10 and E20, allowing vehicle owners to choose the fuel best suited to their vehicles.
The minister also questioned claims that higher ethanol blends are widely used across the world, stating that many countries continue to rely on lower blending levels. Responding to the concerns, Toyota maintained that any reduction in mileage is minimal and said most complaints are related to adulterated fuel rather than E20 itself. Gadkari said he would continue discussions with both automobile manufacturers and the government before taking the matter further.