Setting standards for car parts will reduce vehicle costs

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MADHU AGRAWAL

24 March, 2011

A standard manufacturing protocol must be set in the mid segment car range, and car makers should be asked to set certain standards for spares, so that there is not much variation in the product range. This will help in reducing car costs.

BUREAU OF Standards (BIS) should take initiative to set certain standards for car manufacturers. There must be uniform specifications for common consumables such as tyres, batteries and other commonly used spare-parts. Presently, there are different sizes of tyres with small variations to be used in different car-models.

System should be to have common specifications by merging some similar sizes. It will help in reducing consumer prices because increased production in minimum possible specifications will cut manufacturing costs by a significant margin.

Dealers and workshops will have to maintain fewer inventories. Same holds goods for tyres used in other vehicles like scooters, etc. Likewise, a list of other consumables and spare parts such as batteries, shock-absorbers and other items can be prepared for having uniform specifications by merging nearing powers/sizes.

Such guidelines are also mentioned in auto policy of the Union government, but are never followed in actual practice.

Too many variants of any car-model confuse customers. Basically, there must be only two variants (apart from the third with automatic gears), one basic Lx for economy customers and the other Vx with all company-fitted extra accessories and luxuries for affording customers.

There is no sense in having extra variants like Lx, Lxi, Vx, Vxi for the same model. India being one of the world’s largest consumer-markets has the power to dictate consumer-friendly terms to global car makers.