Environment-friendly cars not for India

An article in Firstpost says that many green cars were unveiled at the 2012 Delhi Auto Show: like France's Peugeot SA and its hybrid 3008 car, hybrid buses from Volvo, and the new range of Reva Electric cars from Mahindra & Mahindra. But fuel-efficient cars are preferred to more pricey environment-friendly ones in India. “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.”

Fuel-efficient small cars were also unveiled. Bajaj had a new product named RE60, a mini four wheeler for intra-city urban transportation. The company claims a real world fuel mileage of 35 kpl, with a carbon emission of 60 grams per kilometre, which gives the name RE60. Based on its successful Tata Nano, Tata Motors unveiled the TataPixel - at just over three metres in length - making it the most package efficient four-seater in the world, comfortably accommodating four adults. “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.

But the show was dominated by glitzy SUVs and huge off-road vehicles. Hyundai showcased a new version of Sonata, which is expected to be launched in India by February end. Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Company unveiled the seven-seater Evalia. Ford drew back the covers off its global compact SUV Ecosport. Toyota launched the new Land Cruiser 200 coupled with the new Innova and Fortuner. German car manufacturer Audi displayed the compact SUV - Audi Q3, the new futuristic A3 e-tron concept, the Audi S6 limousine, the powerful Audi Q7 V12 and some highlights from the existing Audi India product range.



Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif poses poses during the launch next to the Audi Q3 at the India Auto Expo in New Delhi, India, on January 5, 2012. Katrina is an Audi owner like other Indian movie stars. "Quite a few Bollywood stars have picked up Audi cars in India. Whether it is Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan or Katrina Kaif — each of them has one Audi parked in their garage," Martin Birkner, marketing head of Audi in India, said back in 2009.