The govt today said it would support auto companies that strive to make vehicles more fuel-efficient and use alternative fuels."The govt will henceforth support those companies which will achieve substantial reduction in energy consumption and at the same time look for use of alternative fuels including hybrids," Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Minister Sontosh Mohan Dev, said at the AGM of Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), here today. The two major challenges before the auto industry were development of efficient engines to minimise energy consumption and promotion of hybrid and alternative fuels."We have crossed the first phase of liberalisation, which was only investment-oriented. Now, we are at the second phase where we will look for investment in innovation and energy security," he said. Dev also released the draft "Automotive Mission Plan 2006-2016" that seeks to make India a global hub of automobiles and auto components. "There is a need for wider public debate on the draft so that the document can be inclusive," the minister said adding the govt would like to announce the "Automotive Action Plan" by the end of the calender year.
