SME Times News Bureau | 20 Jan, 2018
Automobile manufacturers body SIAM is hoping to release
documents on hybrid and other alternative fuel vehicles during the upcoming
auto expo, an official said here on Friday.
"We have submitted a white paper on electric vehicles in December,"
the official of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said.
"We will be coming out with two more documents -- one on hybrid vehicles
and the other on alternative fuel vehicles -- that we hope to bring in during
the Auto Expo," SIAM's Deputy Director General Sugato Sen told reporters
here.
"These documents will be our inputs to the government," Sen said.
Amid a buzz on the electric vehicles and cleaner fuels, the society called for
a policy and clear roadmap for the automobile industry.
"The Automotive Mission Plan 2016-26 has been in place. This document was
prepared in 2015 and now things have changed drastically.
"At this moment, the Ministry of heavy industries, which is a nodal
ministry for the automobile industry, is working on a new auto policy document.
The dialogue is on. We hope this new document will bring in clarity," Sen
said.
Responding to a query about the visibility of electric vehicles in the upcoming
expo, SIAM Trade Fair Group Chairman Arun Malhotra said, "What was seen
last time was some form of electric utilisation in the vehicles.
"What has been talked at the present time is either 100 per cent electric
vehicle or strong hybrid...it is a very evolving phase....there will be some
visibility (of electric vehicle) but it will grow as we go along."
Sen also said the visibility of hybrid vehicles was there last time.
The white paper on electric vehicles said that pure electric vehicle
penetration currently remains "quite low in India, 0.1 per cent in
passenger vehicles, 0.2 per cent in two-wheelers and practically nil for
commercial vehicles" due to significant affordability gap and low level of
consumers' acceptance (lack of demand), low level of electric vehicle
manufacturing activities (lack of supply), lack of comparable products
(especially in the two-wheeler category), non-existent public charging
infrastructure etc.
Speaking on the upcoming Auto Expo-The Motor Show 2018, to be held at India
Expo Mart in Greater Noida from February 9-14, Sen said more than 100 companies
would be participating in the Expo.
There would be some new entrants in this edition like Kia Motors, India
Kawasaki and Cleveland Cyclewerks, etc.
"Last time, there were about 106 unveiling of products and this time we
are also expecting more than 100 unveiling. About 24 vehicles are to be
launched this year," Sen added.
The Auto Expo, organised by SIAM jointly with Automotive Component
Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and CII, would focus on launching
newer greener technology and products to reduce the pollution level further,
hence promoting green mobility.