Recalls for defective vehicles not to be made mandatory

Earlier this month, we had reported that the government had slashed the fines to be imposed on manufacturers for manufacturing faulty cars and refusing to recall defective vehicles (click here to read report). Now comes the news that there is no proposal to make recalls of defective vehicles mandatory.

At present, car companies, under an initiative by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) voluntarily recall vehicles if any defects surface. 100 vehicle owners need to complain for a company to consider issuing a recall.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in the draft of the Road Transport and Safety Bill 2015, had proposed a mandatory recall policy for vehicles. However, in a letter to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Heavy Industries, G. M. Siddheshwara has stated that that the government was not considering bringing such as legislation.

Since July 2012, when the voluntary recall policy was introduced, more than 7 lakh vehicles have been recalled in India.under the voluntary recall policy since July 2012.

Source: ET Auto