Auto makers to jointly work on diesel vehicle ban

Passenger vehicle makers, including Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra and Toyota, have decided to jointly work on the matter related to ban on diesel vehicles above 2,000 cc in Delhi/NCR imposed by the Supreme Court.
Senior officials of the automobile majors who met in Mumbai today also decided to form a core group, which will communicate with lawyers and brief them during the case, according to industry sources.
"In the meeting it has been agreed to have a joint effort between the companies. It was also decided to form a core group to communicate with lawyers and and brief them during the proceedings instead of the companies doing individually," a source added.

Besides, it was decided that some select senior people in the auto industry will interact with the government officials to explain their viewpoint.
Earlier this week also the carmakers had got together here in the Capital to find a way forward in the wake of the Supreme Court ban on registration of diesel cars and SUVs of engine capacity of 2,000 cc above in the capital and NCR.
The apex court, in its hearing on March 31, had directed the companies to sit together and come out with the "propositions" so that some solutions could be arrived at by holding a full-fledged hearing on Saturdays, a non-working day for the apex court, to save some "judicial time".

In December last year, the Supreme Court banned registration of diesel-run SUVs and cars having engine capacity beyond 2,000 cc in Delhi and NCR till March 31, as it unveiled a slew of measures to curb the alarming rise in pollution levels in the city.
On March 31 this year, the Supreme Court extended the ban till April 30.
Mercedes-Benz and Tata Motors-owned JLR are among the worst hit due to the order as their entire diesel model range is powered by engines above 2,000 cc.