What is WP-29? What Are CAFE Norms? National Automotive Policy Aims for Holistic Development

Department of Heavy Industry is formulating National Automotive Policy for holistic development of automobile sector in India through a series of one to one stakeholder consultation.

Reduction of Aggregate Pollutants Since 1991

Proposals of the Policies

Department has finalized the draft Automotive Policy that proposes to:

  • Adopt a long-term roadmap for emission standards beyond BS-VI and harmonize the same with global standards by 2028
  • Rollout CAFE norms till 2025 and beyond with appropriate incentives and penalties
  • Composite criterion based on length and CO2 emissions to classify vehicles for differential taxation purposes.
  • Harmonize automotive standards over the next 5 years in line with WP-29 (see later)
  • Improve skill development and training eco-system by increasing accountability of Automotive Skills Development Council and implement labor market information system.
  • Retain tax exemption on different levels of R&D expenditure with strong audit
  • Scale-up indigenous R&D with commercially viable innovations
  • Harmonize AIS and BIS standards on safety critical parts over next 3 years
  • Fast track adoption of Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program

What Are CAFE Norms?

  • India՚s proposed corporate average fuel efficiency (CAFE) norms for all car-makers realign Indian with global auto industry.
  • CAFE requires cars to be 30% or more fuel efficient from 2022 and 10% or more between 2017 and 2021.
  • The mileage improvement will be decided based on litres of fuel consumed by a vehicle to run 100km. The move is targeted at reducing the carbon footprint of the automobile industry.

What is WP-29?

  • The World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP 29) offers globally harmonized regulations on vehicles- providing benefits of road safety, environmental protection and trade.
  • WP. 29 is a permanent working party in the institutional framework of the United Nations with specific mandate and rules allowing open discussions on motor vehicle regulations.
  • Any member country of the United Nations may participate in activities of the World Forum and become a contracting party to the Agreements on vehicles administered by the World Forum.

What is Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program?

  • The Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) is a proposed New Car Assessment Program for India.
  • The aim is to assign cars star ratings based on their safety performance. It will be implemented in phases with plans being drawn up by the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project.
  • It is the 10th NCAP in the world and is being set up by the government of India
  • Program was postponed to start from 2017 and within two years, new cars in India will need to comply with voluntary star ratings based on crash safety performance tests.
  • Critical safety features such as airbags, ABS and seat belt reminders will become standard in India resulting from rankings and mandatory crash testing.

Examrace Team at Aug 21, 2021