Suzuki Motor Corp (SMC) chairman Osamu Suzuki appears rather sceptical about Tata Motors’ ability to deliver a safe and environment-friendly vehicle in the form of the Rs 1 lakh car.
Questions emission, safety issues; Tatas quickly retort they’re conscious of responsibilities
NEW DELHI: Suzuki Motor Corp (SMC) chairman Osamu Suzuki appears rather sceptical about Tata Motors’ ability to deliver a safe and environment-friendly vehicle in the form of the Rs 1 lakh car.
Is Suzuki that worried about emerging competition in the small-car space? Or is it just competitive thrust and parry?
When Suzuki was asked what he thought of the Rs 1 lakh Tata car, expected to be unveiled at the January Auto Expo in New Delhi, Suzuki said, “(If a manufacturer) sacrifices safety and emission norms, then it cannot shoulder the responsibility of an auto manufacturer”.
Does that mean the Tata attempt at bringing out a low-cost car would result in an unsafe, environment-unfriendly vehicle?
When asked if SMC can also attempt to build a $3,000 car, the patriarch asked: “Do we know the safety norms, carbon di-oxide emission values etc for such a car? We cannot take a decision unless we know the details of what comes in $3,000. Is it the cost of parts or is it the retail cost? Does the car have airbags or not?”
Tata Motors was quick to react: “As an auto manufacturer of more than 60 years’ standing, Tata Motors is conscious of its responsibilities and all its vehicles have met and will meet all the norms and regulations of the countries where they are marketed in,” a company spokesman said.
Automobile experts have been speculating that once the low-cost car hits the market, Maruti Suzuki would be left with no option but to tailor the M800 — by either dropping the price or bringing in an even smaller car to replace the M800.
But Osamu isn’t ready to show his cards on the issue yet.
In the past, Maruti officials have asserted that even if they were to bring the 660cc mini that is being sold in Japan, there is no guarantee that its cost would be lower than the Maruti 800.
b_sindhu@dnaindia.net
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