In India, when you happen to buy a car “kina deti hai?”, is an important question. Many people decide which car to buy based on the mileage it gives. Thus, the auto manufacturers who want to be the buyers first preference, quote a high fuel efficiency figure for their products in the hope that it will lead to more sales.
The mileage claimed so is not tested by the manufacturer but these figures are quoted by certified by organizations like ARAI or ICAT, which follow a standard procedure – the Indian Driving Cycle – on cars from different manufacturers in their labs. These organizations make the car run through a select pattern of gear shifts, acceleration, braking and these organization then decide the certified mileage.
With the IDC procedure expected to be overhauled, the new driving cycle will be closer to real world driving conditions. As a result, the fuel efficiency figures claimed by carmakers will not only see a dip, but also become more achievable than before.
Michael Jopp, vice president, sales and marketing of Mercedes-Benz India, said, “Official norms will be changing, and they’ll be more towards real-world driving. So, the difference between the official consumption and the real-world consumption will narrow in future. It’s a change of method. Development will continue, and fuel consumption will always go down with every upgrade and generation.”
