Why India’s sub-4 metre rule has run its course

Posted by gobiSamosa

2 Comments

  1. Fuck this article lol.

    This is one of the few good regulations India has. Fewer trucks or SUVs on the roads.

  2. dizzyhitman_007 on

    The sub-4-metre rule was a function of lobbying by a certain leading automaker, which wanted to retain its leadership position in India in the face of new foreign entrants and sought to obtain a tax advantage to do so. The only other country which has a similar rule is Japan, with its regulation on Kei cars.

    Everywhere else, people have realised that differential taxation rates based on the size of the vehicle are meaningless. People argue about parking space, but most parking slots are of a standard size and width, and a 3995 mm long car which is 1795 mm wide occupies the slot as much as a 4710 mm car which is 1850 mm wide (comparing a Brezza and an Allspace). Even on roads, we are more often constrained for width, not length.

    What other countries have is differential taxation based on emission levels or fuel economy. Once again, forcing people to make small engines does not necessarily make sense – in the ICE world, a Camry Hybrid probably gives better fuel efficiency than the 1.2 l petrols in many cars. And there should be a value for lower particulate emissions as well, given the pollution levels in our city.

    So I think it is time the government abandons this stupid sub-4 m rule which forces people into less safe India-specific cars instead of larger and safer cars because the times are changing now. However, yes, GST concessions for zero-emission vehicles and penalising vehicles with high carbon and particulate emissions through higher taxation make sense.

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