Amid India’s ethanol fuel push, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. has issued a caution against using E20 blended ethanol fuel in vehicles like the Toyota Urban Cruiser, warning that it may void warranty coverage.
In response to a customer query, Toyota confirmed:
E20 is not advisable and only E10 fuel should be used as per the owner’s manual.
Using E20 fuel may void the warranty for affected parts of the vehicle.
The clarification came to light after Anuradha Tiwari (Founder of Dharma Party of India) shared the communication in a tweet, raising concerns about the government’s ethanol rollout:
While the government is forcing ethanol on us, automobile companies won’t cover damage. Wow!
– Anuradha Tiwari
Toyota’s statement adds to growing apprehensions about the compatibility of existing vehicles with higher ethanol blends, especially as the government phases in E20 fuel across India.
While the central government aims to reduce crude imports and lower emissions through ethanol blending, automobile manufacturers seem to be lagging in updating vehicle warranties or infrastructure support.
For now, Toyota owners are advised to strictly follow fuel recommendations in their owner’s manual to avoid warranty issues.
