Daimler India Commercial Vehicles sees no 'acceptable reason' for delaying BS IV

After Bajaj Auto, commercial vehicle maker Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) seems to be batting for March 31, 2017 as the deadline also for registration of BS III vehicles.

The company says that the implementation of the new norms should not be "diluted by commercial interests" as the new emission norm is very crucial in tackling the deteriorating pollution levels. "There is no acceptable reason for any delay, as everyone in the industry had enough time to get ready for the transition," says Erich Nesselhauf, MD and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles. He also says, “Continuing discussions on BS4 are reflecting obvious attempts of some players in the Indian commercial vehicle industry to dilute this upcoming transition of emissions standards.”

There are two views regarding the deadline for introduction of the BS IV emission norm – by production only or by both production and registration. A senior industry official and a government source told Autocar Professional that there's no confusion in the communication from the government, which states that the industry should not produce BS III vehicles beyond 31 March, 2017.

There will be upward revision of prices for BS IV vehicles due to additional technology to meet the new emission norm. However, Nesselhauf argues that for Daimler truck customers and the country it will be economically beneficial. He says, “We also believe that our BS4 vehicles are in fact economically beneficial for the customers as they deliver more kilometres per litre compared to BS3 and can therefore reduce the import bill of the government of India."

Daimler says that it started selling "several hundred" BS IV vehicles in the Indian market since August 2015. It will start manufacturing only BS IV vehicles starting next month. Daimler’s comments come a day after Bajaj Auto’s MD Rajiv Bajaj criticised a section of the Indian industry for “dragging their feet” over BS IV.