The diesel ban has offended Toyota so much that it is rethinking their operations in India. The company won't shut operations, but reconsider their plan of launching new models in our country.
This comes hot on the heels of the decision taken by the National Green Tribunal Circuit in Kochi regarding the ban of diesel vehicles. It directed the Kerala government not to register any diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2,000cc and more. However, public transport and local authority vehicles were exempted from this.
Earlier, this diesel ban was imposed only in Delhi and NCR and now it has extended to Kerala. Toyota thinks that these orders passed are "against principle of natural justice" and so will relook their operations in India.
Shekar Viswanathan, vice-chairman and director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said "We have already started relooking our operations. What is hurting us is not so much the ban but the unfairness. Orders are passed without hearing us. It is going against the principles of natural justice. We feel our vehicles are being targeted."
The fact that not all diesel vehicles, but only the ones above 2,000cc have been banned has offended Toyota. And it is quite obvious as both their highly successful vehicles - Innova and the Fortuner - have diesel engine specifications more than 2,000cc. These cars cannot be registered in regions where this ban is imposed. Let's wait and watch how Toyota re-aligns its launch strategy, especially when the much-anticipated new Fortuner is due for the Indian market.
Source: ET
