Four carmakers with 63% output supported CAFE relief: Bhargava

Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava on Tuesday came down heavily on the position of the majority of members of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam) which rejected a revised draft offering relaxation in fuel-efficiency norms for lighter cars.

- SURAJEET DAS GUPTA

He said four car companies accounting for 63 per cent of vehicle production in the country had supported the flexible move and had done so because it was "the right thing" for the country.

The revised draft, prepared by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), has given relaxation in Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFÉ) norms for smaller cars.

Bhargava said: “Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motors, Toyota Kirloskar, and Honda, which account for 63 per cent of passenger-vehicle production as in October, have supported the proposal even though many of the companies don’t have a substantial small or light weight car play.”

The BEE’s revised draft gave weight-based exemption to vehicles running on petrol with characteristics such as weighing up to 909 kg, having an engine capacity of 1,200 cc, and a length of 4,000 mm. The draft said they would get an additional 3 g.km (3 gm per km) deduction in the carbon-dioxide emission they declare. Siam told the BEE that it was not able to come to a consensus on the issue and left the matter to it (BEE) to take a final call.