I think you guys are exaggerating things a bit. Prius is selling like hot cakes in US, it cant be just the enviro freaks buying it. It is cheaper to run and maintain (source: bay area friends).
It makes sense for Indian govt to push auto makers to introduce cars with better milages or alternate source for fules. 50 mpg means 23 kmpl. (mpg multiplier is 1.6/3.5 = 0.46)
Just like how, to cut pollution, we have stricter emission norms (refer: Harley Davidson wants govt to lower emission norms so that they can sell a 500 cc bike here), we need our govt to either encourage - lower duties on cars that give 20 kmpl or more; or force - 1 in 3 of the models you introduce must be more than 20 kmpl.
We need this guys. Or else it will be late. Once the policies to force/encourage are in place, other things could fall in place. It is toyota's headache to make sure Prius can be serviced around at a reasonable cost. Or Suzuki will figure a way. How do we care. Let the market figure. |