Car makers rejig product portfolios as diesel, petrol prices near parity

Car manufacturers are rejigging their product portfolios as diesel and petrol prices near parity

For the first time in decades, diesel prices are now at parity with petrol because of structural changes such as oil price deregulation and recent increases in indirect taxes. With the introduction of Bharat Stage VI fuel norms from April raising the cost of vehicle ownership and the price advantage inherent in diesel cars no longer valid, automobile manufacturers are reworking their manufacturing and marketing strategies in response.  

The share of diesel vehicles sales in the overall passenger car industry has already fallen sharply — from a peak of 58 per cent in FY13 to 29 per cent in FY20