Clock ticking for India's diesel-run 4-wheelers

Govt panel wants to ban such vehicles, sparking opposition from auto industry

- Debarshi Dasgupta

A government-commissioned report that recommends a ban on diesel-powered four-wheelers has put a cloud over their future in India, with experts suggesting it could worsen declining demand in the country for such vehicles.

The Energy Transition Advisory Committee's report, which lays out a low-carbon pathway for India's oil and gas sector, has been discussed widely in local media since its release in April.

One recommendation that caught public attention suggests a ban on diesel-driven four-wheelers, such as cars and sport utility vehicles, in cities with a population of more than a million, as well as in all towns with high pollution levels by 2027.

Such a move could have wide repercussions, as there are an estimated 46 cities with more than a million residents.

The report also recommends that no diesel city buses be added to the public transport fleet in urban areas from around 2033.

These recommendations have provoked opposition from the Indian automotive industry and concern from diesel-vehicle owners in the world's third-largest auto market, prompting the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to clarify in May that the report was still under consideration.

But the ideas have been welcomed by many, especially clean energy advocates working to reduce emissions in India's transportation sector.