NEW DELHI: Based on GM's recall of 1.14 lakh Taveras, the transport and heavy industry ministries are undertaking an industry-wide assessment.Government officials said GM India had informed the transport ministry that its internal audit had pointed to breach of emission norms, allegedly because the vehicle weight and the engine during production did not match with that approved by the agencies.
GM's action will impact a vast majority of the Chevrolet Taveras it has produced in the country as it covers vehicles produced since 2005. The company said it has halted the production and sale of Tavera, although the "issues are not safety-related".
Auto companies have to provide prototypes of the vehicle to vehicle certification or type-approval agencies such as
Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and
International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), which have to be approved before sales begin. Even during production, an annual random check of vehicles is undertaken.
GM made an announcement on Wednesday afternoon, but in government circles, the news was out late Tuesday evening as the company had alerted the Centre about the results on an internal audit which showed that emission norms and certain specifications were not complied with in the case of Tavera BS-III and Tavera BS-IV vehicles. "Our internal audit revealed inconsistencies in emission results," GM India MD and president Lowell Paddock said in response to a detailed questionnaire from TOI but refused to elaborate further.
GM had voluntarily shared the information with the government and said the inconsistencies came to light during random checks on vehicles.
Auto companies have to provide prototypes of the vehicle to vehicle certification or type-approval agencies such as Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), which have to be approved before sales begin. Even during production, an annual random check of vehicles is undertaken.
Government officials said GM India had informed the transport ministry that its internal audit had pointed to breach of emission norms, allegedly because the vehicle weight and the engine during production did not match with that approved by the agencies.
"Our internal audit revealed inconsistencies in emission results," GM India MD and president Lowell Paddock said in response to a detailed questionnaire from TOI but refused to elaborate further. When asked if action had been initiated against 25 employees in India and two overseas, he said, "We will not provide additional details or comment on an internal personnel matter. Our focus at this time continues to be working with regulatory authority and consumers to resolve the Tavera emissions issue to their satisfaction."
In its statement, GM India said it had identified a solution and was awaiting regulatory approvals. "After the proposed solution receives approval from authorities, GM India will resume Tavera production and sale, and move forward with its recall and customer notification plan for both the BS-III and BS- IV models."
Launchpad: Nokia Lumia 920 - Indian Express
0 comments:
Post a Comment