Volkswagen scam not to hit diesel sales in India, need uniform emission norms
New Delhi: The cheating scandal involving Volkswagen will not affect diesel car sales in India but the country needs uniform emission norms across the country, auto industry body SIAM said on October 9.
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) also said there is a need for a single body for the auto industry to deal with various regulatory issues at the Centre and the state level for ease of doing business. "I don't think so. Diesel is a clean fuel. It continues to be a popular fuel in many parts of the world," SIAM President Vinod Dasari said here when asked if the VW scandal would hit sales of diesel cars in India.
He said diesel continues to be very popular fuel in India considering its economical proposition and efficiency. "I don't see any impact of what has happened with one particular company affecting diesel (car) sales in India," he added. While calling for a singular emission norm across India, Dasari also stressed on the need to have one body that will deal with many regulatory issues related to automotive industry.
"There is a requirement for having a single regulatory authority. It will be wonderful to have one body," he said, adding currently the sector has to deal with various ministries such as Petroleum and Natural Gas, Heavy Industries and Road Transport for different matters, besides States.
He, however, said the government is in the process of setting up National Automotive Board and SIAM is supporting the initiative. "It will become easy for us to do business once it gets operationalised," Dasari said.
On the emission issue, he said the auto industry was ready to adopt stricter standards provided fuel is available across India. "If the fuel is available the auto industry can always consider options to move faster," he said when asked if the auto industry was ready to jump straight to Euro VI from Euro IV as is being suggested in some quarters. He said it is the auto industry, which voluntarily suggested that Euro VI, which was to be brought in 2026 must be brought in 2023.
"The minute oil industry says fuel will be available in 2023, we will be ready. I am actually worried whether they will have BS V fuel available in 2019. We are ready," he added.
As per SIAM figures, motorcycle sales declined 2.87 per cent to 10,20,237 units last month from 10,50,420 units in the year-ago period. Sen said that slowdown in the rural economy has led to decline in sales. "Rural markets continue to be in bad shape. Below normal monsoon has further impacted the sales in rural areas," Sen said.
During September, market leader Hero MotoCorp saw its bike sales rise 2.48 per cent to 5,26,658 units as against 5,13,886 units in same period of last year. Rival Bajaj Auto saw sales decline 5.79 per cent to 1,87,711 units in September as against 1,99,251 units in the year-ago month, SIAM said.
Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) saw its bike sales decline 17.96 per cent to 1,47,229 units as against 1,79,472 units in September last year. Scooter sales, however, continued to do well in September as the segment posted a growth of 6.54 per cent during the month at 4,62,341 units as compared to 4,33,955 units in the same period of previous year.
HMSI maintained its leadership position in segment posting a growth of 9.65 per cent at 2,64,416 units as against 2,41,128 units in the corresponding month last year. Hero MotoCorp sales declined 5.98 per cent to 62,986 units in September, as against 66,996 units during the same period of previous year.
Chennai-based TVS Motor Co saw its scooter sales increase 12.15 per cent at 71,303 units in September as against 63,576 units in the same month last year. Total two-wheeler sales in September declined 1.06 per cent to 15,37,137 units as against 15,53,608 units in the same month last year.
Sales of commercial vehicles were up 12.07 per cent at 62,845 units in September, SIAM said. Vehicle sales across categories registered a 0.45 per cent decline to 18,81,673 units from 18,90,218 units in September 2014, it added.
