<p>Automobile industry today welcomed the Supreme Court decision to lift ban on cars and SUVs with diesel engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above in the Delhi-NCR region.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The industry also said that efforts must be made to address the real cause of pollution instead of targetting a particular type of fuel.<br /><br />Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, which had offered to pay 1 per cent green cess, insisted they made the voluntary offer in order to overcome the ban and "not on the premise that our vehicles are polluting the environment".<br /><br />The Japanese auto maker insisted that its stand to hold back investments in India will continue till it gets a clarity on the future road map both from a court's stand point and government's policy side.<br /><br />"Our vehicles meet every norms laid out in the country. We made the offer of 1 per cent green cess under duress. While we welcome the Supreme Court decision, we wish if only the Court did this earlier," Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice-Chairman and Whole-time Director Shekar Viswanathan told PTI.<br /><br />He further said the diesel fuel has been maligned and wondered if it has damaged the environment so much that it had to be banned.<br /><br />When asked if Toyota would now reconsider its decision to hold back investments in India, Viswanathan said: "We will still wait for the final pronouncement. We will wait for a clear statement from the court and government on the road ahead for diesel fuel."<br /><br />Echoing the view, Mercedes-Benz India said it had followed the earlier direction of the Supreme Court and filed an Interim Application seeking relief on the ban on its cars.<br /><br />"Following the court suggestion, we as a voluntary interim measure, offered to pay 1 per cent of the ex-showroom price of the vehicle towards anticipated Environment <br /><br />Compensation Charge as a deposit, and not on the premise that our vehicles are polluting the environment," the company said in a statement.<br /><br />Mercedes-Benz had also said it was putting on hold its future investments in India in the wake of the ban on big diesel cars and SUVs.<br /><br />Welcoming the apex court's decision, Mahindra & Mahindra Executive Director Pawan Goenka, said: "We are very relieved with the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court <br />today. Hope this decision will put all controversy surrounding diesel fuel behind us and we <br />will be able to focus on the more important task of making our vehicles compliant with BS <br />6 norms by April 2020."<br /><br />Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava termed the decision as one "which the entire industry was waiting for a long time".<br /><br />"It's a welcome decision. It will end the suffering of companies who had been hurt the most by the decision. Besides, the anti-diesel sentiment will come to a stop now," he added.</p>
<p>Automobile industry today welcomed the Supreme Court decision to lift ban on cars and SUVs with diesel engine capacity of 2,000 cc and above in the Delhi-NCR region.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The industry also said that efforts must be made to address the real cause of pollution instead of targetting a particular type of fuel.<br /><br />Toyota and Mercedes-Benz, which had offered to pay 1 per cent green cess, insisted they made the voluntary offer in order to overcome the ban and "not on the premise that our vehicles are polluting the environment".<br /><br />The Japanese auto maker insisted that its stand to hold back investments in India will continue till it gets a clarity on the future road map both from a court's stand point and government's policy side.<br /><br />"Our vehicles meet every norms laid out in the country. We made the offer of 1 per cent green cess under duress. While we welcome the Supreme Court decision, we wish if only the Court did this earlier," Toyota Kirloskar Motor Vice-Chairman and Whole-time Director Shekar Viswanathan told PTI.<br /><br />He further said the diesel fuel has been maligned and wondered if it has damaged the environment so much that it had to be banned.<br /><br />When asked if Toyota would now reconsider its decision to hold back investments in India, Viswanathan said: "We will still wait for the final pronouncement. We will wait for a clear statement from the court and government on the road ahead for diesel fuel."<br /><br />Echoing the view, Mercedes-Benz India said it had followed the earlier direction of the Supreme Court and filed an Interim Application seeking relief on the ban on its cars.<br /><br />"Following the court suggestion, we as a voluntary interim measure, offered to pay 1 per cent of the ex-showroom price of the vehicle towards anticipated Environment <br /><br />Compensation Charge as a deposit, and not on the premise that our vehicles are polluting the environment," the company said in a statement.<br /><br />Mercedes-Benz had also said it was putting on hold its future investments in India in the wake of the ban on big diesel cars and SUVs.<br /><br />Welcoming the apex court's decision, Mahindra & Mahindra Executive Director Pawan Goenka, said: "We are very relieved with the decision of the Honourable Supreme Court <br />today. Hope this decision will put all controversy surrounding diesel fuel behind us and we <br />will be able to focus on the more important task of making our vehicles compliant with BS <br />6 norms by April 2020."<br /><br />Maruti Suzuki Chairman R C Bhargava termed the decision as one "which the entire industry was waiting for a long time".<br /><br />"It's a welcome decision. It will end the suffering of companies who had been hurt the most by the decision. Besides, the anti-diesel sentiment will come to a stop now," he added.</p>