Aug. 26: Come October, you can compare fuel efficiency of various models of different manufacturers be-fore buying a car. The comparative data would, however, be provided for models in the same category.

“SIAM’s voluntary fuel efficiency labelling for vehicles will be implemented from October 1. This labelling would provide information to consumers on the comparative fuel efficiency of vehicles in different categories,” said Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), president, Mr Pawan Goenka.

He also indicated softening of the industry’s stance against the mandatory disclosure of fuel efficiency level. “The industry is willing and prepared to accept the mandatory fuel efficiency standards. As a starting point, we invite the government to formally adopt the mandatory requirement,” said Mr Goenka.

The environment minister, Mr Jairam Ramesh, said that it has now been decided to notify fuel efficiency standards for auto makers under the Energy Conser-vation Act which will come into force from January next year. “The standards will be notified under the Energy Conservation Act 2002 by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency and not under the Motor Vehicle Act,” said Mr Ramesh.

There were differences between the power and road ministries as who should notify these standards. However, the Prime Minister’s Office had chosen the power ministry to implement the scheme.

Mr Ramesh welcomed SIAM’s initiative on the fuel efficiency but called for the enforcement of mandatory fuel efficiency standards. The minister urged the industry not to see the environment as an impediment but consider it as an issue of public health. “The rate at which the automobile sector is growing our own estimates are that by the year 2025-30 it could account for close to 25 per cent of our green house emissions,” he said.