New Delhi: The government will consider
lowering import duty on hybrid vehicles to encourage the
automakers to introduce more environment friendly products in
the country.
"My department will recommend to the finance ministry but
only after the outcome of this conference... how it should
be done and how much. There could be some suggestions that we
will certainly consider," Heavy Industries and Public
Enterprises Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told reporters on the
sidelines of environmentally friendly vehicle conference here.
If the country wants to have eco-friendly vehicle,
definitely some concessions have to be offered, otherwise
nobody would come forward, he said.
Currently, import of all vehicles, including hybrid,
attract an import duty of over 100 per cent, making it highly
expensive for Indian customers.
"We do not have that differentiation between hybrid
vehicle and normal vehicle. For that we will wait for the
outcome of the conference," Deshmukh said.
"It is very sure that we have to give more importance for
the vehicles which have less emission," he added.
On continuing the excise benefits offered in the two
stimulus packages, Deshmukh said, "Now things have changed.
There is very good demand, the market is up now especially for
four wheelers and two wheelers. I don't think there is much
problem."
Bureau Report
First Published: Monday, November 23, 2009, 16:05