S-Class Technology Banned in India. Why?

BUSA · 26th July 2006, 15:45

The Technology Marvel The All New Mercedes S Class is here which is yet again the best car in the world. I was reading its review and was shocked to read that there is no Laser guided Cruise Control, Infra-Red Night Vision Camera and all those technos which differntiate the S from all the other cars. The reason why these features are exempted from the Indian models is because its banned by the govt. or the ARAI. Why is it so only in India, any reason? If all these features are needed you will have to buy a imported S class and the price would be quite high. The local assembled S class doesnot have them as its banned? But why!?

navin · 26th July 2006, 16:08

Ref: Laser guided Cruise Control, Infra-Red Night Vision Camera
Yes both these technologies can only be availed of (legally) in India if you are part of or connected to the armed forces. Dont blame me if you find some well connected people getting away with this though.

Why? because of some ham handed policies, mixed with bureaucracy and spiced with corruption.

naveendhyani · 26th July 2006, 16:14

another lovely example of "red tapism" & corrupt bureaucracy. the real issue are the people who make rules & regulations dont understand technology at all.

remember the example when an MP cried out "agar paani mein se bijli nikal lenge to usme kheton ko seenchne ke liye bachega kya?" (if we take out electricity from water what will be left in it to be used in irrigation?)

GTO · 26th July 2006, 16:25

Quote:

I was reading its review and was shocked to read that there is no Laser guided Cruise Control, Infra-Red Night Vision Camera and all those technos which differntiate the S from all the other cars.

The ARAI is a laughable organisation! It does not even have the facilities to test the top speed of cars now available, leave aside such advanced technologies.

They have a major ego issue. Since foreign countries dont accept ARAI certification for cars exported, our ignorant testing authorities do not accept a car that may have passed the most stringest testing overseas.

GTO

John · 26th July 2006, 17:51

The problem is that organisations like ARAI are run by a bunch of 'babus' and not professionals. Same goes for other dept.s handling this kind of stuff. Moreover, as someone mentioned, they have a major ego issue.

Mpower · 26th July 2006, 21:47

MBIL should be also happy. Less warranty nightmares to worry about.

headers · 30th July 2006, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by John

The problem is that organisations like ARAI are run by a bunch of 'babus' and not professionals. Same goes for other dept.s handling this kind of stuff. Moreover, as someone mentioned, they have a major ego issue.

[IMG]images/smilies/Off%20Topic.gif[/IMG]

Thats also the reason why certain Share Autos..made by unknowns put together on a roadside and thumping along with a single cylinder rebuilt diesel engine ruin our happiness on the oh so fabulous roads..

ksethuram · 31st July 2006, 10:20

It is a shame that these high end technologies are illegal in india. Seems the politicians and workers fo ARAI does not want us to use latest technologies....

May be Merc did not bribe them well....

Technocrat · 31st July 2006, 11:34

Well a lot of stuff happens when a new car is introduced in India i.e. teh Car first needs to be homologated.(Refer to this thread on Homologation)

It took Mercedes 7 months to homologate the C220. So it is very much possible that the new tech in the S class was too time consuming & they decided to drop this feature(just a speculation). Also the article says its an expensive exercise for any manufacturer

Also why is it that whatever is approved given in Europe or elsewhere shoudl be done here also, I mean our security complications are different from their isnt it.

Mp421b · 31st July 2006, 15:17

Our security compliance is different agreed but its isint up to their standards i mean look in India so many cars without active as well as passive safety are sold the only thing they (ARAI) is want some bribes and BMW didnot know that hence its more then 3 years and Beemers havent yet entered officially.

1100D · 31st July 2006, 15:19

Perhaps they have read somewhere that laser beams can be used to cut objects so would be afraid that anything including the Cycle-rickshaws that forms the pride of the ARAI portfolio would be cut to pieces once the S-class is launched with such a feature.

ksethuram · 31st July 2006, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1100D

Perhaps they have read somewhere that laser beams can be used to cut objects so would be afraid that anything including the Cycle-rickshaws that forms the pride of the ARAI portfolio would be cut to pieces once the S-class is launched with such a feature.

...

I hope ARAI did not like these latest technologies as it would bring down accidents.

1100D · 31st July 2006, 16:26

Jokes apart , to be honest, The distronic cruise control actually will not work on Indian roads. Firstly even in US, this thing leaves more than 3 car lengths of a gap enough for other road users sneaking in that gap. Moreover in India you have the added feature of Cycles, and other slow moving objects threatening to come in its way, which would always cause it to slow down. In a country where the road users are so haphazard (and also varied) such a thing will not work. Infact if such a thing is is kept on and relied upon, it may on the contrary lead to accidents. Secondly there are hardly any lane markers in India.

We need infrastructure first, we also need general awareness as to how a road should be used in modern times. Case in point is SAT-NAV systems. Think about when they were launched and think about the fact that we cannot use it in India. 99 percent roads are not digitized.

Kinetik · 31st July 2006, 16:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

The ARAI is a laughable organisation!
GTO

isnt it LOUD to label them laughable, they are doing the best they can in
a country
1) where resources are difficult to come by
2) where automobiles are still a luxury for many

yes they can be better and im sure with time they will be... they may be a hindrance for a lot of imports but i think their certification processes gets the best out of the local automobile industry, espcially two wheelers..

GTO · 31st July 2006, 18:38

Kinetik

Sure, the ARAI were competent. Butttttttttttttttt In the days of Padminis and Ambassadors. As of today they arent capable of "testing" most modern cars available, in terms of safety, top speed, handling or any other aspect of their supposed "road-worthiness" certification. You can blame the bureaucracy, resources etc. etc. But there is no clearer sign of incompetence.

26th July 2006, 15:45	#1
BUSA Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,130 Thanked: 20 Times View My Garage	S-Class Technology Banned in India. Why? The Technology Marvel The All New Mercedes S Class is here which is yet again the best car in the world. I was reading its review and was shocked to read that there is no Laser guided Cruise Control, Infra-Red Night Vision Camera and all those technos which differntiate the S from all the other cars. The reason why these features are exempted from the Indian models is because its banned by the govt. or the ARAI. Why is it so only in India, any reason? If all these features are needed you will have to buy a imported S class and the price would be quite high. The local assembled S class doesnot have them as its banned? But why!? Last edited by BUSA : 26th July 2006 at 15:47.
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 16:08	#2
navin Team-BHP Support Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 25,196 Thanked: 9,292 Times	Ref: Laser guided Cruise Control, Infra-Red Night Vision Camera Yes both these technologies can only be availed of (legally) in India if you are part of or connected to the armed forces. Dont blame me if you find some well connected people getting away with this though. Why? because of some ham handed policies, mixed with bureaucracy and spiced with corruption.
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 16:14	#3
naveendhyani BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Posts: 542 Thanked: 9 Times	another lovely example of "red tapism" & corrupt bureaucracy. the real issue are the people who make rules & regulations dont understand technology at all. remember the example when an MP cried out "agar paani mein se bijli nikal lenge to usme kheton ko seenchne ke liye bachega kya?" (if we take out electricity from water what will be left in it to be used in irrigation?)
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 17:51	#5
John BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Secunderabad Posts: 382 Thanked: 519 Times	The problem is that organisations like ARAI are run by a bunch of 'babus' and not professionals. Same goes for other dept.s handling this kind of stuff. Moreover, as someone mentioned, they have a major ego issue.
	() Thanks

26th July 2006, 21:47	#6
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	MBIL should be also happy. Less warranty nightmares to worry about.
	() Thanks

31st July 2006, 10:20	#8
ksethuram BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Chennai , London (now) Posts: 233 Thanked: Once	It is a shame that these high end technologies are illegal in india. Seems the politicians and workers fo ARAI does not want us to use latest technologies.... May be Merc did not bribe them well....
	() Thanks

31st July 2006, 11:34	#9
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Well a lot of stuff happens when a new car is introduced in India i.e. teh Car first needs to be homologated.(Refer to this thread on Homologation) It took Mercedes 7 months to homologate the C220. So it is very much possible that the new tech in the S class was too time consuming & they decided to drop this feature(just a speculation). Also the article says its an expensive exercise for any manufacturer Also why is it that whatever is approved given in Europe or elsewhere shoudl be done here also, I mean our security complications are different from their isnt it.
	() Thanks

31st July 2006, 15:17	#10
Mp421b BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 190 Thanked: Once	Our security compliance is different agreed but its isint up to their standards i mean look in India so many cars without active as well as passive safety are sold the only thing they (ARAI) is want some bribes and BMW didnot know that hence its more then 3 years and Beemers havent yet entered officially.
	() Thanks

31st July 2006, 15:19	#11
1100D Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,390 Thanked: 4,096 Times View My Garage	Perhaps they have read somewhere that laser beams can be used to cut objects so would be afraid that anything including the Cycle-rickshaws that forms the pride of the ARAI portfolio would be cut to pieces once the S-class is launched with such a feature.
	() Thanks

31st July 2006, 16:26	#13
1100D Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,390 Thanked: 4,096 Times View My Garage	Jokes apart , to be honest, The distronic cruise control actually will not work on Indian roads. Firstly even in US, this thing leaves more than 3 car lengths of a gap enough for other road users sneaking in that gap. Moreover in India you have the added feature of Cycles, and other slow moving objects threatening to come in its way, which would always cause it to slow down. In a country where the road users are so haphazard (and also varied) such a thing will not work. Infact if such a thing is is kept on and relied upon, it may on the contrary lead to accidents. Secondly there are hardly any lane markers in India. We need infrastructure first, we also need general awareness as to how a road should be used in modern times. Case in point is SAT-NAV systems. Think about when they were launched and think about the fact that we cannot use it in India. 99 percent roads are not digitized.
	() Thanks

31st July 2006, 18:38	#15
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,515 Thanked: 300,704 Times View My Garage	Kinetik Sure, the ARAI were competent. Butttttttttttttttt In the days of Padminis and Ambassadors. As of today they arent capable of "testing" most modern cars available, in terms of safety, top speed, handling or any other aspect of their supposed "road-worthiness" certification. You can blame the bureaucracy, resources etc. etc. But there is no clearer sign of incompetence.
	() Thanks