A day after the scandal-ridden German auto major Volkswagen group’s Indian arm announced the recall of 3,23,700 cars fitted with emission cheating software, diesel cars manufactured by other companies have also come under the government’s scanner. The nodal ministry of heavy industries has decided to carry out checks on all diesel passenger vehicles in the next six months to see if they complied with the country's emission standards.
Auto majors such as Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Hyundai, Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki manufacture a wide range of diesel cars for sale in the local market and exports. “We have proposed to check emission levels of all diesel vehicles in the country. Starting this month, we will start the process which will take three- to-six months to complete,” additional secretary in the heavy industries ministry Ambuj Sharma told Financial Chronicle.
When asked if Volkswagen India would be asked to halt sale of its diesel cars, Sharma said that the matter has been referred to the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH). “Both the issue of halting sales of new vehicles (flouting emission norm) and penalty are to be settled by the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) as per the provisions of Central Motor Vehicles Act (CMVA) and Rules,” Sharma said.
In an official statement, the German carmaker had on Tuesday said that it would recall Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi cars that are equipped with the EA 189 diesel engines. After the emission scandal involving Volkswagen was first unearthed in the US in October this year, India also ordered a probe by its apex testing agency Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) into a possible fraud.
ARAI carried out random tests on Volkswagen cars and found significant variations in on-road emission levels compared to laboratory test results in the case of diesel variants of six of its car models such as Polo, Vento, Jetta, Audi A4, Audi A6 and Skoda Octavia. The testing agency found the company using diesel engines equipped with a ‘defeat device’ which could lead to excess nitrogen oxide emission levels in the on-road running of vehicles.
Union heavy industries minister Anant Geete on Wednesday said that Volkswagen had violated emission norms to the extent of eight-to-nine times of the current permissible levels. He termed the emission test cheating by the German car major as a “well thought-out” crime. The auto company faces penalty for violating the emission standard besides a possible ban on sales of its new vehicles.
“MoRTH may take a decision on it in a day or two,” a government official said. Other car firms manufacturing diesel cars, meanwhile, appeared unperturbed by any further emission test of their vehicles by the government. They welcomed the heavy industry ministry’s move to revalidate diesel passenger cars for emission standards, saying that it would bolster consumer confidence.
“It is a welcome move for all stake holders. But diesel car manufacturers would not be bothered about it as vehicles are tested and certified by ARAI before being sold in the market,” said Pravin Shah, president and chief executive (automotive) at M&M. M&M manufactures and sells a range of popular brands such as Bolero, Scorpio, XUV 500 and TUV 300, among others. N Raja, director and senior vice -president, sales and marketing at Toyota Kirloskar Motors agreed with him. “We are open and transparent for any test. There will now be stricter monitoring and double checks at all level of manufacturing within the car factories,” he said.
