'Will companies compensate if E-20 fuel damages older vehicles?': Arvind Kejriwal asks auto firms

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said he has written to 29 auto manufacturing companies over concerns regarding the use of E-20 fuel in older vehicles.

Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Kejriwal said he had sent separate letters to three companies, Maruti, Toyota, and Hero, which had earlier stated at a government press conference that E-20 fuel would not cause any problem in older vehicles.

Also read: E20 petrol may affect turbocharged engines, damage rubber fuel-system parts in E10 vehicles: Report


"Today, I have written to 29 auto manufacturing companies. I sent separate letters to three companies Maruti, Toyota, and Hero- which had stated in a government press conference that E-20 fuel will not cause any problem in older vehicles. I pointed out to these three companies specify in their owner's manuals that older vehicles should not use fuel with an ethanol content higher than E-10," Kejriwal said.

He added that he had posed two specific questions to the companies.

"So, I have asked them two questions: If the use of E-20 results in a mileage drop of more than five per cent or causes damage to any component, will compensation be provided? They should inform the public whether E20 can be used in automobiles made by them before 2023. If yes, then in case of mileage issues or damage to any component, will the company compensate for the loss?," Kejriwal asked.

Earlier, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said reports of customer problems with E20 fuel are a "misrepresentation", and stressed that the move to a higher E25 blend will only happen after tests are completed and discussed with automakers.

Dismissing the controversy around 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol, Puri said both car manufacturers and consumers have accepted the fuel.

"The automobile manufacturers, as well as the people who service these vehicles, all say there is no difficulty. Why this sudden interest?" he said.

"It is a misrepresentation and I don't want to use stronger words."The Minister noted that India has been gradually increasing ethanol blending.

"We have been using E15 for the last three and a half years. We have been on E20 since April of last year. From April 2025 to April 2026, it has already been one year, and we are now another five months beyond that," he said.

According to Puri, 20 crore two-wheelers and 20 lakh four-wheelers are currently running on ethanol-blended petrol. "The car manufacturers are comfortable with E20. Each one of them has made a statement to that effect. Consumers also appreciate the product," he added.

Also read: E20 rollout fuels demand for premium petrol amid mileage, engine concerns

On calls to move to E25, Puri said the government is not rushing the decision.

"If someone is suggesting E25, we have made it clear that we are conducting tests. Those tests will take time. Once the reports are available, we will evaluate them. Then we will discuss the findings with the stakeholders and the automobile manufacturers. After all, I neither manufacture the cars nor the fuel," he said.

The Minister also updated on the E85 rollout, saying it has only just begun. "We have only begun the rollout of E85, and that rollout will take some time because new petrol pumps and related infrastructure need to be put in place," he said.

The government is targeting 20 per cent ethanol blending nationwide under its Ethanol Blended Petrol programme to cut import dependence and support farmers. Puri maintained that the transition is proceeding in phases, based on technical data and industry feedback.