AUTO: IN WITH THE REAL

With the roll-out of Phase Il of the BS VI norms soon, automakers are looking at another round of price hikes

- PRERNA LIDHOO

THE FACE OF the auto industry changed when the BS VI norms first kicked in, in April 2020. As the industry upgraded to the stricter emission norms, consumers saw a steep rise in prices across segments. The second phase of the norms, called real driving emission (RDE), are all set to come into effect from April 1, 2023. It will require all new vehicles to meet the emission targets as per the modified Indian drive cycle standards in real-world conditions and in a laboratory environment. A segment of the auto industry that will be particularly affected is carmakers as they will have to upgrade their engines, and that will entail additi