ACMA hosts national conference on Minimising Carbon Footprint for Sustainable Growth

New Delhi, May 13, 2013: ACMA, the apex body of the automotive component industry in India, today hosted a National Conference on Minimizing Carbon Footprint for sustainable growth.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambuj Sharma, joint secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, said: “By 2020 there will be approximately 20 million electric and hybrid vehicles. This would be achieved by the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan of the government of India, which would aim at adding green mobility within India. As cheaper alternatives are introduced, their acceptability will also increase.” Dr Kirit Parikh, chairman of Integrated Research and Action for Development (iRADE), spoke about the transport sector being one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases and said that the Bureau of Energy Efficiency under the Ministry of Power along with the Ministry of Heavy Industries is working on fuel efficiency and fleet efficiency regulations. The regulations are expected to be notified this year and would include norms being laid down for the industry that would include star rating for fuel efficient cars.

Fleet efficiency norms would allow manufacturers to sell or carry forward grams per kilometre saved in the form of carbon credits. Already affixing of labels showing car mileage at point of sale has been followed as a voluntary initiative of SIAM since 2010. Vinnie Mehta, executive director, ACMA, said: “The adoption of green technologies in the automotive industry in India must be across the supply chain with active involvement of all stake holders including the government. Worldwide, the automotive industry has used an array of technologies to reduce emissions; these have however varying applicability in the Indian context due to lower average speeds, road quality, congestion and the prevalence of small engines. We must encourage use of greener technologies that are local or can be easily localised at costs that are commensurate with the paying capacity of our people.”

The conference was attended and conducted by Deepak Jain – chairman - STDC, ACMA & senior executive director, Lumax; Dr Arun Jaura, Conference chairman, ACMA and Board of Directors, SAE International, USA; Dr Kirit Shantilal Parikh, chairman, Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe); N K Minda, chairman, ACMA and CMD, Minda Industries; and Ambuj Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries.

SHOBHA MATHUR