NEW DELHI: Beginning next April, all automobile manufacturers in India will be mandated to conduct fuel-efficiency and mileage tests for new vehicle models under two specific conditions: one with the air-conditioning system activated and the other with it turned off, as stated in a recent notification from the Ministry of Road Transport.
For existing vehicle models, manufacturers may receive a grace period of several additional months to meet these new testing requirements, according to sources familiar with the matter. The initiative aims to provide customers with more accurate and realistic mileage figures, thereby enhancing transparency and assisting buyers in making informed purchasing decisions. The new testing regulations will apply to both internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and electric vehicles (EVs).
Currently, car manufacturers in India report fuel-efficiency data based solely on tests conducted with the air-conditioning system off. Previously, the ministry intended to implement the new testing protocol starting in October of this year. However, following discussions with the automotive industry, the timeline for new vehicle models has since been revised.
Industry insiders have indicated that manufacturers have requested additional time for compliance regarding existing models, and details on this timeline are expected to be announced soon. Upon completing the tests, car manufacturers and importers will be obligated to provide mileage figures for both conditions—AC on and AC off—in the user manuals of vehicles and on their respective websites.
While car manufacturers have referenced European standards, where mileage is assessed without accounting for AC usage, the Indian context is different, prompting the government to establish these updated norms.
