Hero MotoCorp wins first BS-VI certification for a two-wheeler company
11 Jun 2019
The International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) has released and awarded the first BS-VI certification for a two-wheeler in the country to Hero MotoCorp's Splendor iSmart model. This means Hero MotoCorp is now eligible to start production of the certified model compliant with the BS-IV fuel emission norms coming into force from April 2020.
The BS-VI emission norms compliant motorcycle has been designed and developed in-house at the company's R&D hub, the Centre of Innovation and Technology, in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Hero MotoCorp said in a statement.
ICAT Director Dinesh Tyagi handed over the certificate to top officials of Hero MotoCorp Ltd at an event on Monday.
"With this, Hero MotoCorp has reaffirmed its commitment to be ready for the BS-VI transition much ahead of the April 1, 2020 deadline," Hero MotoCorp said. The two-wheeler major has the technological prowess for meeting BS-VI norms and will now be gearing up to make its large portfolio of motorcycles and scooters BS-VI compliant, it said.
Tyagi said the ICAT has issued BS-VI certificates to Maruti Alto, Honda Civic and a model of BMW, and electric vehicle certificate to two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses and e-rickshaws.
Speaking on the occasion Tyagi said the ICAT has taken many steps in providing assistance and support to the automotive industry for the development, optimisation and calibration of engines and vehicles for complying with these upcoming emission norms.
Bharat Stage norms are the automotive emission norms which the automotive manufacturers have to comply to sell their vehicles in India. These norms are applicable to all two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and construction equipment vehicles.
To curb the growing menace of air pollution through vehicle emissions, the government has decided to leapfrog from the exiting BS – IV norms to BS- VI, thereby skipping the BS – V norms, and to implement the BS – VI norms with effect from 1 April 2020. Only those vehicles will be sold and registered in India from 1 April 2020 onwards, which comply with these norms. The norms are stringent and are at par with global standards.
Last year, ICAT issued the approval for BS –VI norms to Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles for the heavy commercial vehicle segment, which was also the first in its segment in India.
ICAT is the premier testing and certification agency authorised by the ministry of road transport and highways for providing testing and certification services to the vehicle and component manufacturers in India and abroad. It has the latest equipment, facilities and capabilities to develop, validate, test and certify the engines and vehicles for the latest norms in the field of emission and many other facilities like crash lab, NVH lab, EMC lab and test tracks.