Tata Motors has improved its passenger car portfolio to comply with tighter emission requirements, while Mahindra & Mahindra and Maruti Suzuki India are optimistic they can transfer their respective product ranges before the April 1 deadline. The second phase of Bharat Stage VI, or the equivalent of Euro-VI emission requirements, is being worked on by the Indian car industry to ensure that its products comply with real-world driving circumstances.


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Four-wheeler passenger and commercial vehicles will need more sophisticated equipment to be added to meet the next level of emission standards. The second phase of BS-VI emission norms will kick in from April 1. Car prices are also expected to rise as automobile companies are investing in adding additional equipment in powertrains.


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"Our portfolio has already transitioned to BS-VI phase 2 emission norms in February 2023, ahead of the regulation timelines. We have also enhanced the products with improved performance, added new technology features, and increased warranty of our vehicles," Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Managing Director Shailesh Chandra told PTI.


As far as pricing is concerned, part of the cost escalation arising out of this regulatory change has partially been passed on in the price increase announced in February, he noted. "Remaining part may be passed on in the next price hike. Can't confirm any timeline on the same," Chandra said.


Mahindra & Mahindra President Automotive Division Veejay Nakra noted that all company models will comply with BS-VI phase 2 norms per the government's timelines. "The cost increase is much lower than the cost of BS-IV to BS-VI transition and will be passed on to consumers in a phased manner," he added.


Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director Corporate Affairs Rahul Bharti stated that the auto major is fully committed to a cleaner environment and will complete the BS-VI phase-2 transition well in time.


"In fact, out of our total 62 applications, we had transitioned 31 applications to BS-VI phase-2 almost a year ahead of the compliance date," he added. 


Even in 2019-20, Maruti Suzuki had upgraded many of its cars from BS-IV to BS-VI well before the compliance date, Bharti stated. He noted that the Maruti Suzuki fleet currently has the least CO2 emission per car among all car manufacturers in the country, which will keep getting lower.


From April 1, vehicles will need to have an onboard self-diagnostic device to monitor real-time driving emission levels. To monitor emissions closely, the device will constantly monitor key parts to meet emission standards, such as the catalytic converter and oxygen sensors.


In a scenario wherein emissions exceed the parameters, the device will indicate through warning lights that the vehicle be submitted for service. Additionally, in order to control the level of fuel burnt, vehicles will also carry programmed fuel injectors, which would control the timing and amount of fuel injected into the petrol engine.


Even semiconductors used by the vehicle will have to be upgraded to monitor throttle, crankshaft positions, air intake pressure, the temperature of the engine, and the contents of the emissions from the exhaust (particulate matter, nitrogen oxide, CO2, sulphur), etc.


India had leapfrogged to BS-VI emission regime from the BS IV norm with effect from April 1, 2020. The transition saw the domestic automobile industry pumping in around Rs 70,000 crore to upgrade its technology. In 2016, the government asked the automobile industry to upgrade to BS-VI norms by April 2020.


The short deadline was unprecedented anywhere in the world as it was a leap from BS-IV to BS-VI. Deteriorating air pollution situation in various cities, including Delhi-NCR, was one of the prominent reasons to usher in stricter vehicular emission norms in the country. Sulphur content is the major difference between BS-IV and BS-VI norms.


With PTI Inputs