The Indian government is planning a mandatory vehicle recalls policy.
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Replacing the country's existing voluntary recalls guidelines for auto companies, this new legislation is a response to the alleged General Motors India irregularities around the recall of the Chevrolet Tavera.
The government is also revamping the regulations for sampling and testing vehicles. Currently, conformity of production (COP) is tested by picking up the entire sample from factories with consent from both the manufacturer and supplier and the testing agency. This is open to abuse with companies providing only those vehicles for random check which are compliant with the standards approved for that model.
The change will involve testing agencies being allowed to pick up 75% samples from factories and the remaining 25% from dealers across the country.
If a sample reveals a major violation or deviation from the certified specifications, testing agencies will be allowed to order a halt in production of a vehicle by cancelling its Type Approval Certificate (TAC). Approval of a new TAC document will allow production to be recommenced.
According to sources, more stringent COP norms are likely to be produced similar to the US safety regulator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).