Maruti Suzuki has rolled out environmentally-friendly compressed natural gas (CNG) editions of five of its best selling cars and expand market share.

India's biggest car maker introduced the new editions of its Alto, Wagon R, Estilo, SX4 and Eeco along with CNG engine kits.

Shinzo Nakanishi, chief executive, Maruti Suzuki stated, "This is the first instance when a car manufacturer has developed and launched factory-fitted technologically superior CNG engines in India. CNG is environmentally friendly and also reduces the country's dependence on imported fuel."

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, who was also present during the launching event as chief guest, stated, "This is a bold step by Maruti to bring in this technology. By providing supply first, they will create automatic demand."

Mr. Ramesh also declared that all the vehicles to be purchased by his bureau now onward will only be CNG-run vehicles and not the present Ambassador car, which he called as fuel-inefficient.

Valued around Rs 3.23 lakh and Rs 7.47 lakh, the novel editions will save about 40-60% of transportation cost.

Mr. L. Mansingh, chairman, Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) said, "The cost of these cars will eventually come down, once the cars only use one fuel like CNG. For that we need to create more distribution network for the fuel to reach the people."

He trusted that with the heightening availability of CNG in India, extra gas stations will be set up by 2013.

All five editions will have Maruti's patented i-GPI technology and augmented suspension system.

The company said that CNG-engine cars are more dependable as against the retro-fitted CNG kits that are available in the market.