Fuel efficiency norms: Tata Motors opposes exemption for small petrol cars under CAFE; flags impact on EV push, safety

Tata Motors has opposed proposals to exempt small petrol vehicles from the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) norms, arguing that such relaxations could dilute the focus on sustainable technologies and undermine the country’s push towards electric mobility, PTI reported.In a letter to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Mumbai-based automaker said granting exemptions to petrol vehicles weighing up to 909 kg, with engine capacity not exceeding 1,200 cc and length capped at 4,000 mm, would be detrimental to the adoption of cleaner technologies in India.“In this context, we would like to highlight that the provision to grant relaxations/exemptions for petrol vehicles up to 909 kg weight not exceeding 1200 cc and length not exceeding 4000 mm, may result in diluting the focus on adoption of sustainable technologies,” Tata Motors said in its letter addressed to Shaktikanta Das in the PMO.The company said India’s efforts to innovate and leapfrog into future technologies are beginning to show results, with electric vehicle adoption rising to nearly 5% of passenger car sales. Any dilution of CAFE norms at this stage could slow this momentum, it warned.Tata Motors also raised safety concerns, noting that relaxations based on vehicle weight could incentivise original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reduce weight at the cost of essential safety features. Such a move, it said, could reverse the “hard-fought progress in vehicle safety achieved over the last few years”.“We humbly request the government to not create any special category of cars based on size or weight for the purpose of providing concessions in CAFE, as it contradicts movement towards zero emissions technologies, vehicle safety, and level playing field,” the company said.The comments come after the government released draft CAFE rules to regulate passenger vehicle fuel consumption and carbon emissions for the period April 2027 to March 2032. The proposed framework tightens fleet-wide efficiency targets for automakers, while also offering certain relief measures for small petrol cars.Tata Motors said CAFE limits are designed to operate at an overall OEM portfolio level, with the intent of pushing manufacturers to incorporate sustainable technologies across their model line-ups. Providing relaxations to a specific sub-category of vehicles reduces the incentive for automakers to invest in technologies such as electric vehicles, thereby undermining the national mission for EV adoption, it said.“With continued policy stability and focus, India can become one of the leading manufacturers and users of zero-emission vehicles in the coming years,” the company added.