India ke top carmakers, jaise Tata motors, Hyundai Motors India, Mahindra and Mahindra, JSW MG Motor ne government ke weight-based fuel-efficiency rule proposal ko oppose kiya hai. Unka kehna hai ki agar yeh rule aaya toh competition unstable ho jaayega or India ka EV transition bhi slow ho sakta hai.
In different ministries ko bheje gaye individual letters (jinhe Reuters ne review kiya), companies ne Government ko bola ki jo small petrol cars, 909 kg ya usse less weight wali unke liye special exemption hai, usko haata diya jaaye. Letters mein kisi company ka name nahi tha, but industry executives or sales data dekh ke lagta hai ki Maruti Suzuki jo India ki biggest compact car seller hai. Iska sabse zyada benefit millega.
Draft rule sparks industry division
India ab CAFE Norms ab aur strict banane ki taiyaari kar raha hai. Phele jo CO₂ emission limit 113 g/km thi. Woh ab 91.7 k/gm ho jaayegi. That means companies ko EV sales ko or fast push karna hoga so that unke fleet-target meet ho sake.
Par jo latest draft aaya hai. Usme Government kuch small cars ke liye thoda lenient approach kiya hai. jaise jo car 4 meter se small hai, 1200 cc se kam engine wali hai or 909 kg ya usse kam weight rekhti hai. Unka kehna hai ki vehicles mein efficiency improvement ka limited potential hota hai.
3 industry executives ne Reuters ko bataya ki yeh 909-kg cutoff kaafi random hai or globally kahi match nahi karta. Unka yeh bhi kehna tha ki yeh exemption ek specific company ko benefit dene ke liye banaya hai lagta hai. And the fact is maruti ke pass iss category mein sabse zyada models hai, approx. 16% domestic sales unki sub-909 kg waali cars se aati hai.
Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai express their concerns
Mahindra And Mahindra ne power ministry ko ek letter mein bola ki agar size ya weight ke basis par koi special category bana di gayi, Pura level playing field unstable ho jayega or cleaner, safer cars ki progress bhi slow ho jayegi.
Hyundai ne apni representation mein Industries Ministry ko warn kiya ki agar aise exemption diya gaya, toh internationally yeh "step backward" ki tarah dekha ja sakta hai. especially jab global markets tougher fuel-efficiency or zero emission standards ki taraf move kar rahe hai.
Hyundai ne Reuters ko bola ki agar policies suddenly change ho jaayein or sirf ek hi segment ko favour karein, toh industry ki stability or customers dono ko lose ho sakta hai.
JSW MG Motor ne point out kiya ki 909 kg limit ke below aane wali 95% se zyada cars ek hi manufacturer se aati hai. Unhone is proposal ko ' disproportionate' bola or warn kiya ki isse market pura skew ho sakta hai.
Tata motors or Mahindra ne Reuters ko koi comment dene se mana kar diya.
Maruti backs the exemption for small cars
Maruti Suzuki ne bola ki small, fuel-efficient cars ko protect karna ek global practice hai. Europe, US, China, South Korea or Japan jaise markets mein bhi emission norms ke under "very small cars ko protect karne ka provision" hote hai, company ke according.
Maruti ka kehna hai ki small cars, bigger SUVs ke comparison mein kaafi kam fuel peti hai or kam CO₂ emit karti hai. Unhone yeh bhi bola ki yeh safguard national emissions-reduction goals ko support karega.
India mein small cars ki demand kaafi time se gir rahi hai, because customers ab mostly big-size SUV ko prefer karte hai.
Finalizing the rules continues to be postponed
Yeh dispute ki wajah se CAFE norms ka next phase finalise hona slow ho gaya hai, or yeh policy bahut important hai car companies ke liye, especially jab woh future investment plan karte hai hybrids or EVs mein. Abhi EV penetration zyada nahi hai or compliance cost bhi increase ho rahi hai, toh emission targets par clarity bahut important ho jayegi. Isi se next 10years ka product strategy kaafi impact hoga.
Power, transport or industries ministries ne abhi tak Reuters ke questions ka reply nahi diya hai, draft rules ke status par.
Ab industry yeh dekh rahi hai ki Government proposed concession ko phir se consider karegi ya phir final regulation mein direct exemption ko in the near future forward kar degi.