(Reuters) - Music blared and white smoke swirled in the cavernous Tata
Motors hall at the India Auto Expo as an excited crowd milled near a
stage displaying the company's new hybrid car. Most, though, were
craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the carmaker's new
gas-guzzling Safari off-roader being launched on the other side of the
hall. Few seemed to notice the sparkling green-technology vehicle
behind them.
Billed as an event to showcase new environmentally friendly vehicles
entering India's auto market, about a dozen new hybrid, electric or
alternative-fuel vehicles from global and domestic carmakers will
debut at the bi-annual expo.
But for all the green glitz, most of these cars, trucks and buses are
decades away from gracing India's roads, executives say. Blame a
cost-sensitive market, a lack of on-the-ground support infrastructure,
and little or no government support.
"India is very far away from using this sort of technology," said Kou
Kimura, chief executive and managing director of Nissan-Renault India.
"It's expensive, and needs both government support and the necessary
infrastructure to be possible."
Hybrid cars involve pricey technology that uses fuel engines and
electric motors in tandem for greater efficiency. Electric vehicles
need charging stations, and would require huge investments to equip a
country as large of India.
France's Peugeot SA unveiled its hybrid 3008 car on Thursday, while
Volvo Buses showed off its hybrid bus in India. Mahindra & Mahindra
launched its range of Reva Electric cars on Friday.
"The Volvo hybrid is very much the solution cities and
environmentalists have asked for," Akash Passey, South Asia managing
director and CEO of Volvo Buses told reporters.
"We are ready. All we await is the demand and the direction from the
authorities, so that we can apply this solution specifically to Indian
needs."
EFFICIENCY, NOT EXPENSE
Global hybrid vehicle leader Toyota Motor Corp sold its 3-millionth
hybrid car in March 2011. The U.S. and Japanese markets account for
the overwhelming majority of hybrid sales.
"India is ready for good fuel efficiency. But hybrid, no, I don't
think so," said Andy Palmer, executive vice president of Nissan Motor
Co, recognized as a global leader in low-emission technology vehicles.
"It's an expensive way of topping up the last 10 percent of a fuel
engine's capability. Hybrid isn't the answer for India," Palmer said.
Wheeling out hybrid or electric vehicles to banks of flashing
photographers and wide-eyed industry watchers is mainly a
demonstration of a carmaker's technological prowess, not an indication
of any expectations for sales.
Petrol prices in India have risen by almost 50 percent since January
2010, and carmakers in Asia's third-largest economy have invested in
more efficient vehicles. Many car advertisements around the Expo
highlighted fuel savings.
Bajaj Auto, a leading Indian motorcycle maker, unveiled its first
four-wheeled vehicle on Tuesday, in a news conference dominated by
statistics trumpeting its industry-leading fuel efficiency.
Tata, alongside its new diesel-hybrid Indigo Manza, also launched a
hybrid bus, and unveiled a version of its ultra-low-cost Nano model
that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).
CNG was made the mandatory fuel for all public transport vehicles,
including taxis, in India's capital city in 2004. The move has been
widely praised and cited as the major reason behind a recent
improvement in the city's air quality.
"LPG, CNG, these low-emission fuels are much more practical options
than hybrid or electric vehicles, which India simply cannot afford,"
said Arvind Saxena, director of marketing and sales at the Indian unit
of Hyundai Motor Co.
(Writing by Henry Foy; Editing by Ted Kerr; )
*Posted by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor*
Read this article:
Green cars headline auto show, but India not ready
http://www.autoparts-marketplace.com/2012/01/green-cars-headline-auto-show-but-india-not-ready.html
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