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Maruti reveals fuel efficiency of
all its brands |
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| Business Standard |
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New Delhi: As part of
the voluntary labelling programme for vehicle mileage spearheaded by the
Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam), Maruti Suzuki, the
country's largest manufacturer of passenger vehicles, has for the first
time revealed the fuel efficiency of all its 12 brands of cars,
multi-utility vehicles (MUV) and sports utility vehicles (SUV) sold in
the country.
While the popular selling Maruti 800 delivers 16.1 km to a litre, its
5th world strategic model A Star notches 19 km/ litre. While the Swift
diesel achieves an impressive 21 km, the petrol variant runs for 16 kms.
Similar mileage efficiency has been informally disclosed by Hyundai for
its bestselling "i10" models that sport the new-age Kappa engine.
These mileage disclosures for the Maruti vehicles have been tested and
certified by accredited automobile testing bodies in the country such as
Automotive Research Association of India at Pune, Vehicles Research and
Development Establishment (VRDE) at Ahmednagar and International Centre
of Automotive Technology (ICAT) located at Manesar.
From January 1, automobile majors in the country will voluntarily
disclose mileage obtained from each of the new passenger vehicles they
sell. "This is part of a broader initiative to educate customers on fuel
conservation and its implications on the environment," says Dilip
Chennoy, Director General, Siam. The mileage disclosures will have to be
completed by March 31.
The fuel efficiency disclosures will first be limited to two-wheeler and
passenger vehicle manufacturers. Commercial vehicles have been kept out
of the pilot project for the time being. One industry executive said
since the buyers of commercial vehicles, accounting for a small number,
are versatile in determining the mileage of the buses and trucks they
purchase. So this segment has been kept out of the project for the time
being.
The aim of the labelling programme, according to an industry executive,
is to ensure that the customer does not have to rely on word-of-mouth
testimonials on the mileage of a particular brand of car or motorcycle
he buys. Siam's fuel-efficiency labelling project also involves training
vehicle owners in driving techniques to achieve greater fuel efficiency. |
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