The recall of 114,000 Tavera multi-utility vehicles by General Motors India, for not meeting testing standards, has raised questions within the Government on the efficiencies of the testing labs.
Simultaneously, the Government is also thinking of imposing a fine or taking more stringent action on GM for not meeting the specifications.
Effectiveness
The testing labs which provide type approval certificates to automakers are under the Heavy Industries Ministry.
“We would like the Heavy Industries Ministry to evaluate the protocols and operating procedures of their testing labs. I hope they (testing lab) are not found wanting in tests for other vehicles as well,” Vijay Chhibber, Secretary, Road Transport and Highways Ministry, told
On Wednesday, GM India recalled 114,000 Tavera multi-utility vehicles that were rolled out in the Indian market over an eight-year period (2005-2013). Without specifying the exact nature of problem, GM said it was related to emissions and specifications.
This has raised questions on the effectiveness of the testing systems in the country. It will also lead to other automakers facing more intense scrutiny.
While the broad legal framework for vehicle standards is under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), framed by Road Transport Ministry, the implementation of the standards is under the Heavy Industries Ministry. This has prompted the Government to form a committee with members from both Heavy Industries and Road Transport Ministry, with a mandate to find the extent to which the Central Motor Vehicle Rules were flouted.
The committee also has to say who was responsible to ensure that automobiles rolled out were according to permitted specifications and how this problem has impacted the general public.
Additionally, it is to recommend changes in current rules to ensure that such problems are not repeated in the future. The committee has been informally asked to submit its report in two months.
Stricter recall rules
However, research body Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT) has questioned the effectiveness of forming a committee and reiterated its demand for setting up of stricter mandatory recall rules for automobile firms.
However, automobile firms and lobby bodies are against mandatory recall norms and want a voluntary recall policy.
“The Government is getting several complaints from customers. But, companies are not agreeing to the mandatory recall policy. The Society of Indian Automobiles Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers, as part of the industry body, agrees with the companies’ demand. There are surprise raids or visits by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) also once in a while, but they are not made public and sometimes companies and ARAI settle such issues within themselves,” an industry source on condition of anonymity said.