German automaker Mercedes-Benz is willing to power its cars and trucks with bio-diesel in a bid to curb atmospheric pollution.
Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari revealed on Wednesday that Mercedes-Benz had written to him, offering to use 100 per cent bio-diesel in its vehicleas in India. The Mercedes India chief had also met him and reiterated the offer.
The Supreme Court had in December imposed a temporary ban on the registration of diesel SUVs and high-end vehicles with engine capacity of over 2,000 cc in Delhi and the National Capital Region. This had hit the sales of vehicles of manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Indian manufacturers like Mahindra. The court has extended the ban till April 30.
Roland Folger, managing director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, had recently said that the company had maintained it growth momentum in Q1 of 2016, despite facing multiple market challenges. “We have been able to compensate the negative sales impact in the Delhi and NCR market, with a strong double digit growth achieved in most other markets across the country,” he said.
Car manufacturers had claimed that their modern diesel engines do not add to atmospheric pollution, which had resulted in the apex court asking them whether their cars were emitting oxygen.
Gadkari said that leading auto manufacturers had shown willingness to use bio-diesel including ethanol to curb pollution.
Source : BS Motoring