Auto firms say star ratings not required

Automobile manufacturers and the government appear to be in a tug-of-war over ‘star ratings’ over fuel efficiency. While Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) wants to rate passenger cars on a scale of one to five over fuel efficiency, the industry disagrees.

According to Pawan Goenka, president, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), “We do not know what additional information star rating would provide to the consumer.

Starting January 1, 2009, car makers have begun to voluntarily declare fuel efficiency as per Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) standards. We do not see the need for a new type of rating.”

This move by BEE followed the announcement made on the eve of climate change summit in Copenhagen last month regarding emission intensity reduction targets of 20 to 25%. After protests from the automobile industry, BEE has now decided to introduce star ratings from later this month, on a voluntary basis initially, and mandatory by 2013.

Supporting his contention, Goenka cites, “If the new ‘star ratings’ will compare the fuel efficiency of a Rs 40 lakh SUV with a 3-litre engine to a sub compact car with a 1-litre engine, the smaller car will obviously be  more fuel efficient. What is the point of stating this to the customer who already knows this?”.

The country is already gearing towards Bharat Stage (BS) IV norms from April 1, 2010. Supporting the concern of the UTO Sector, the Road and Transport Ministry has said that at a time when there are already so many energy efficiency ratings waiting in the pipeline, introducing another fuel efficiency rating will create a problem.