SIAM Flags Concerns About Delhi Government's 2028 ICE Two-Wheeler Ban

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has asked the Delhi government to rethink its plan to ban new registrations of petrol two-wheelers from April 1, 2028.

The industry body believes the move, part of the draft Electric Vehicle Policy, may not help improve air quality and could cause problems for many users.

In a letter to Delhi Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, SIAM pointed out that modern BS6 two-wheelers, sold since April 2020, already have very low particulate matter emissions. These vehicles use advanced technologies like electronic fuel injection and three-way catalytic converters.

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The association explained that older pre-BS4 two-wheelers, which are more than 10 to 15 years old, are responsible for nearly 99.5 percent of particulate matter emissions from the two-wheeler segment in Delhi. Removing these old vehicles from the roads would bring far better results for air quality than stopping new BS6 models.

For high-usage riders such as delivery workers and long-distance commuters, who make up around 65 percent of two-wheeler sales, current electric vehicles still cannot match the range, price, and load-carrying ability of petrol models. A sudden ban could lead to customer distress, SIAM stated.

The industry body supports the government's push for electric mobility and the incentives offered in the draft policy, but has advised a more balanced and customer-friendly approach. Instead of depending only on EVs, the policy should promote other cleaner options like flex-fuel, CNG, and other similar fuels.

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Additionally, SIAM noted that India's power generation still relies heavily on coal, which limits the real environmental benefits of EVs at this stage. The association called for better alignment with renewable energy growth and charging infrastructure.

The Delhi government is still finalising the EV policy and is holding discussions with industry stakeholders. SIAM has requested long-term clarity on incentives and a practical roadmap that supports all green technologies without putting extra burden on government funds.

Image Credits: Honda 2 Wheelers, Ather Energy