Automobz.com Unofficial Blog

Regulatory authorities in the automobile sector has always been a mere puppet and in some cases questions can be raised about their pro activeness while you are watching a plume of smoke from certain vehicles choice words do follow. Especially since most commercial vehicles have no concept of routine checks and environmental courtesy. These vehicles run for long durations too, so their impact on the environment is very harmful. Automobiles too sometimes fall into this bracket where there is no one to check and enforce stringent rules that sadly remain only in theory and paper. But now, SIAM – Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers has thought of some initiatives to bring about a more ecologically friendly environment as the automobile population is only set to grow further and the need of the hour is more stringent laws and their habitual enforcement. SIAM is an apex body that represents 40 leading vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers in India. Most of us recognise SIAM because of the leading role they play in organising the biennial Auto Expo series of trade fairs along with Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) and Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India(ACMA). They also act as a medium between the Automobile Industry and Government and also other national and international automotive related organisations. They have been striving hard to be on par with the international stand and practices in terms of technical capabilities as well as emission standards.

Seeing the rise in the number of automobiles over the years, SIAM has proposed many projects that should kick off soon. One would be the Fuel Efficiency Stamp that was supposed to come into effect from January this year but due to reasons unknown the date now stands at January 2009. An unbiased fuel efficiency figures on every single vehicle manufactured in India and would be made as a mandatory requirement by all vehicle manufacturers in India. SIAM has now been asked to proceed with this initiative. All new vehicles from January 2009 would be expected to have this stamp. Since many countries have adopted this system where a standardised and more importantly unbiased authority would check the fuel efficiency of the vehicle making it easier for the customer. The mileage tests will be carried out by the manufacturers and the data will be certified by a proper testing agency such as ARAI(Automotive Research Association of India), VRDE(Vehicles Research & Development Establishment or NATRIP(National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project). The manufacturers do have the option of getting a second opinion but are liable for that data to be accurate. The manufactures are more than willing to co-operate as the customer will have be the one to benefit the most. The implementation plan is on its way.

There is also a plan to revamp the way the PUC centres function here and exhume out the corruption that is rampant in these centres where the certificates have no significance when it comes to the environment. A pilot project is ensues as we speak with 27 PUC centres being run by SIAM to check the corruption. These centres are connected to a localised server situated in the transport department which has all the correct data on emission norms for all the varieties of vehicles available. The certificate issued at the centre itself while the data is examined at the transport office. A person with the server will be able to spot discrepancies if any in the rendition of data from the PUC centres and can pin point the centre for a random check. This should in a way clean out the possibility of getting false certificates and catch the centres that are encouraging such practices. Emission norms are visibly being flaunted around us and its about time some one takes a stand and what is even better is that an apex body like SIAM is driving forward such initiatives. Everyone wants more and better models to come into the Indian market and they surely will in the coming years increasing the importance of such norms have to be put into working order as a sign of progress and balanced growth of the industry as a whole.