German Ambassador questions Jairam Ramesh's remarks on German Automotive Manufacturers

New Delhi, Nov.13 (ANI): The German Ambassador to India, Thomas Matussek, said here on Saturday, that its too difficult to imagine Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh commenting on fuel technology with reference to German Automotive Manufacturers.

"The German Automotive Industry has the most outstanding expertise in the area of engine development and the German automotive technology is far advanced in reducing both fuel consumption and fuel emissions", said a press release issued by the German Embassy.

Matussek said that the German car companies have pioneered CO2 emission cuts and have next generation fuel efficiency standards in engines in the world.

"Germany's success in reducing CO2 emissions has contributed widely to variety of fuel-saving and emissions-reducing measures implemented by the German Automotive Industry," he said.

The German Ambassador also said that the German Automotive industry has been continuously progressing to secure a sustainable future with fuel saving engines state of the art recycling techniques and greener production facilities.

"Leading German Automotive Manufacturers are already engaged in developing ground breaking fuel efficiency standards which may define how cars of tomorrow may be conceptualized," said Matussek.

Ramesh while speaking at a workshop on promoting low carbon transport on Friday expressed concern over heavy cars such as Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), saying the use of heavy-sized cars is criminal in the country, as they contribute significantly to carbon emissions.

He said the use of these cars should be discouraged by levying penalty on them.

"I think we seriously need to give thought to a fiscal policy regime that discourages the uses of heavy cars and SUVs (Sports Utility Vehicles) particularly. It's criminal in India with the type of society we are in. The type of challenges we face, you know, the luxurious growth of large-sized vehicles and SUVs in our country is really a cause for great concern," said Ramesh.

"I get very angry when I see them on the road. And I think the best way of dealing with them is not to prohibit them, but to have a fiscal policy regime that imposes a fiscal levy, a penalty," he added.

Ramesh said the government needed to rethink its fuel-pricing policy. On an average, diesel costs about rupees ten less than petrol.

Ramesh's statement on SUVs have drawn lot of criticism from the auto experts who believe that the SUV segment is hardly two to three percent of the total range of diesel vehicles and Minister's observation is not in tune with the facts. By Naveen Kapoor(ANI)