Team-BHP - Fuel quality puts Merc’s next-gen diesel on hold in India

- - Fuel quality puts Merc’s next-gen diesel on hold in India (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/176951-fuel-quality-puts-merc-s-next-gen-diesel-hold-india.html)

Quote:

The lack of availability of BS-V and VI grade of fuel in India could result in a delay in the introduction of latest Mercedes 2.0-litre diesel engine.The new Mercedes 2.0-litre diesel engine is unlikely to make its way to India anytime soon since the unit is only compliant with Euro V and VI fuel quality.

Mercedes-Benz has been gravely hit by the ongoing ban on sale of vehicles above 2,000cc in Delhi-NCR. It is ironic that the carmaker which has a Euro VI-compliant diesel engine under 2,000cc is being penalised due to the fuel quality.

http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...ia-402187.aspx

1. Merc is being penalized because of court's assumption (misguided by NGT) that higher capacity = more pollution.
2. In addition, the courts also (rightly) believe that >2L capacity cannot be bought by the "common man" and hence banning them will not cause any discomfort to him.

Many modernized Indian refineries are capable of producing BS5/6 fuel even now (or by mid 2017).
Most of the remaining will become capable by 2020.
So what is this sad picture being painted by Merc?

This could become a major handicap for Mercedes Benz, if their new gen diesel family is not backward compatible with BS4/3 fuel.

BS5/6 fuel will take minimum 2-3 years to make it to Metro cities.
Even then, merc cannot introduce these engines in India, as except a few metros this fuel will not available anywhere.
It will take a lot more time for BS5/6 fuel to reach whole of India.

I admit the NGT order is much too sudden and needs refining. However, personally I feel Mercedes is indulging in far too much hand-wringing and corporate whining to put pressure on GoI. Let them not get the 'latest' engine to India.

Fact is that fuel quality is a burning issue (pun intended) across every emerging economy in the world especially a huge country like ours. Governments everywhere are struggling to balance pollution levels in major cities versus meeting emission targets versus staggering costs / gestation periods to upgrade refineries and allied infrastructure to meet fuel quality norms.

Mercedes should stop issuing media statements and focus on working around these inevitable roadblocks.