Toyota wants govt to frame policy to phase out BSI,II vehicles

New Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar Motor today urged the government to put in place a framework to phase out old BS I and BS II vehicles, amidst ambiguity over enforcement of BS IV emission norms across the country.

Expressing concerns over increasing pollution levels, the company supported the government's move to phase out BS III vehicles saying it was a step in the right direction.

Currently, the Supreme Court is hearing pleas of automobile firms which have sought permission for disposing of around 8.2 lakh BS-III vehicles which are being held in stock.

The companies have approached the apex court to dispose oftheir stock as the BS-IV emission norms are to come into force from April 1 this year. "We would urge the government also to put in place an enabling framework to phase out BS I and BS II vehicles," Toyota Kirloskar Motor said in a statement.

The company further said it "strongly uphold the Indian government's move on phasing out BS III vehicles. This is a step in the right direction". Toyota Kirloskar Motor said it has stopped manufacturing of BS III vehicles more than a year ago.

"All our vehicles currently being sold in India are BS IV compliant," it said, adding the increasing pollution levels needed immediate attention from all walks of life. TKM further said it would gear up to meet future challenges associated with the roll-out of BS VI technology by 2020.

"We remain confident that our oil and gas industry will provide BS VI fuels before 2020 to enable the auto industry to synchronise its production of BS VI compliant vehicles accordingly," it added.