Centre Proposes Relaxed Emission Testing for Automakers to Boost Ease of Business
NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed changes to the conformity of production (CoP) regime for emission compliance, aiming to reduce the regulatory burden on vehicle manufacturers and promote ease of doing business.
Under the draft proposal, new models of passenger cars and two-wheelers would undergo CoP emission testing annually for the first three years after type approval, and once every three years thereafter. For larger passenger vehicles, goods vehicles, and heavy commercial vehicles, annual CoP tests would continue. For existing models, testing frequency would be reduced to once every three years for all categories, including two-wheelers and passenger cars.
Currently, all passenger car models are tested annually, while two-wheelers are tested every three months to every year, depending on production volume. The CoP process verifies that mass-produced vehicles adhere to their type-approval specifications through random testing of vehicles from assembly lines, dealerships, or the open market, with costs borne by manufacturers.
An official stated that the proposed policy delinks testing frequency from production volume, requiring manufacturers and importers to strengthen quality control systems. Any defect detected after three years could lead to recalls of a large number of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, maintaining accountability.
The government intends to balance reduced compliance costs with ensuring continued adherence to emission norms, a move seen as supportive of the automotive sector.
