Carmakers Frustrated by India’s Engine Ban Ruling

Carmakers in India say they will abide by a Supreme Court ruling that in April will ban the sale of vehicles with engines that can’t meet so-called BS4 emission standards, even though some consider it unfair.

Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers President Vinod Dasari describes the ruling as “quite frustrating,” The Economic Times reports. Dasasri contends that the law mandating the cleaner engines says only that manufacturers must stop making BS3-level engines on April 1.

SIAM believed the law would allow manufacturers to sell off inventories of BS3-powered vehicles. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled otherwise, Dasari predicts “utter chaos” in the next few days among dealers and finance companies that have sold BS3 vehicles.

SIAM notes that some manufacturers have been offering BS4-compliant vehicles since 2010. But the trade group says others continued to make BS3 engines as well, citing limited availability in India of the cleaner fuel required for BS4 powerplants.

Critics, noting that tougher emission laws in India are inevitable, say some Indian manufacturers simply didn’t plan well for the transition. Market leader Maruti Suzuki has been selling only BS4-compliant vehicles since 2010, according to ET. It says Toyota Kirloskar phased out BS3 vehicles more than a year ago.