Tata Continues To Bet On Diesel Cars Even As Rivals Ditch Oil Burners For Hybrids

Diesel engines enjoyed immense popularity in the Indian market owing to their usable power (owing to a high torque output) and better fuel efficiency compared to petrols. In recent times, stricter emissions regulations have pushed carmakers such as Maruti, Renault, Volkswagen and others to discontinue their diesel offerings in favour of ICE-only and hybridised petrol powertrains. Yet, Tata still has faith in diesels and will continue to sell and develop oil-burner vehicles in India. 

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"There is a market for diesel vehicles. Some companies are finding it unviable to transition but not so in our case. Our vehicle architecture factors in the costs for the upgrade" – Rajan Amba, Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Customer Service at Tata Motors. 

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Currently, Tata offers 1.5-litre diesel options in the Altroz hatchback and ICE-powered Nexon SUV. Its Harrier and flagship Safari SUVs continue to be diesel-only offerings, powered by a 2-litre Fiat-sourced oil burner. Even smaller vehicles such as the Tiago and Tigor were offered with diesel options previously, but these variants were axed during the switch to BS6 emission norms in 2020. 

The demand for diesel powertrains is undeniable and the numbers show it. The Safari and Harrier still contribute significantly to Tata’s monthly sales, accounting for average monthly sales of around 2,000 and 3,000 units, respectively, each month until now. 

The Nexon leads the pack and the Altroz isn’t far behind despite the competition in its segment, especially the new Maruti Baleno and Toyota Glanza, putting up a tough front. Other than the Hyundai i20, the Altroz is the only diesel-powered hatch on sale in India currently. 

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We reckon that the diesel engine is here to stay, and that’s good news for gearheads. The oil burner has played an important role in the development of the Indian auto industry and will continue to offer a fun, torquey, yet frugal alternative to the corresponding petrol engines. Even Mahindra remains bullish about using diesel engines, while Toyota, though had halted bookings for the Innova Crysta diesel, will be bringing it back soon. 

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