What happened
MoRTH notified G.S.R. 911(E) on 26 October 2026, amending the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to add E100 alongside E85 in emission certification for vehicles designed as flex-fuel.
- E100 ethanol content
- 100% E100 is fuel made up of 100% ethanol; E85 is a blend with up to 85% ethanol and the rest petrol or other permitted components.Press Information Bureau (PIB) - Ministry of Road Transport & HighwaysThe Economic Times
- Existing car owners
- No change required No obligation to switch to E100/E85 or modify existing vehicles; only vehicles designed and certified for these fuels can use them.Press Information Bureau (PIB) - Ministry of Road Transport & HighwaysThe Economic Times
- Effective date
- 26 Oct 2026 Rules take effect from publication in the Official Gazette under G.S.R. 911(E).Press Information Bureau (PIB) - Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
- Gross vehicle weight threshold
- 3,500 kg Raised from 3,000 kg in the relevant emission standards as part of the amendment.The Economic Times
Why it matters
Existing petrol car owners do not have to switch to E100/E85 or modify their vehicles; only vehicles designed and certified for these fuels can use them.
Remember this
Your existing petrol car stays on petrol — E100 is only for flex-fuel vehicles.
What the rules do and do not change
The amendment updates emission certification to include E100 alongside E85 and raises the gross vehicle weight threshold from 3,000 kg to 3,500 kg. It does not require owners of existing vehicles to switch fuels or modify their cars, and no nationwide rollout date for E100 at pumps has been announced.
More context & who is affected
Existing petrol car owners need not switch to E100 or E85 or modify their vehicles under new flex-fuel rules from the transport ministry. The changes mainly affect vehicle certification, not today's pumps.
The notification, G.S.R. 911(E) dated 26 October 2026, amends the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to add E100 alongside E85 in emission certification. Only vehicles certified by manufacturers as flex-fuel can use them; E10 or E20 cars are not automatically suitable.
E100 is 100% ethanol, and no nationwide pump rollout date has been announced, so availability depends on fuel supply and infrastructure. Any crude-import benefit is presented as potential, not measured.
Car Owners
Existing car owners face no cost or obligation: their vehicles stay on petrol-compatible fuels and no switch or modification is required.
General Public
E100 is not yet widely available at pumps; no nationwide rollout date has been announced, so most drivers will not see it soon.
General Public
The change mainly affects vehicle certification and manufacturers; any effect on fuel production or related jobs is not established by the sources.
Reporting fromPress Information Bureau (PIB) - Ministry of Road Transport & Highways ↗The Economic Times ↗
Sources & verification2 sources · 4 claims
These are the records behind this briefing. Linked reporting is not the same as independent confirmation.
- Press Information Bureau (PIB) - Ministry of Road Transport & HighwaysOfficialPublished Oct 26, 2026 · Accessed Oct 28, 2026
- The Economic TimesReportingPublished Oct 27, 2026 · Accessed Oct 28, 2026
Claims and linked sources
MoRTH notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to support flex-fuel vehicles running on E85 and E100.
The amendments add E100 alongside E85 in emission certification, but only for vehicles designed and certified as flex-fuel; E10 or E20 cars are not automatically suitable.
The notification does not require owners of existing vehicles to switch to E85/E100 or modify their vehicles.
No nationwide rollout date for E100 fuel at petrol pumps was announced; availability depends on fuel supply and dispensing infrastructure.
