Take back BS-IV vehicles: Dealers to auto cos

NEWDELHI: The Federation of Automobile Dealers Association today requested the Supreme Court to direct automobile companies to take back unsold inventory of Bharat Stage-IV vehicles.

The automobile dealers' association said manufacturers could export the inventory to countries that allowed Bharat Stage-IV vehicles.

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra remarked that automobile companies and dealers were aware of the Mar 31 deadline to clear their

Bharat Stage-IV inventory.

The apex court will next hear the case on Jul 31. In 2018, the Supreme Court had ordered automobile companies to manufacture and sell only Bharat Stage-VI-compliant vehicles from Apr 1, 2020. In March, the automobile dealers' association approached the apex court and sought more time to clear their Bharat Stage-IV inventory in wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic and the resultant lockdown.

On Mar 27, the SC allowed automobile dealers to sell 10% of Bharat Stage-IV vehicles after the Mar 31 deadline.

However, the court recalled the order on Jul 8 saying more than the permitted number of vehicles were sold.

Projecting losses to the tune of Rs 1-1.3 lakh crore over the financial years 2020-22 for the domestic airlines, CRISIL Research last week said curtailed mobility of people due to the pandemic and related restrictions will squeeze domestic air passenger traffic by 40-45% in 2020-21.