‘M800’ which was launched in 1983, has undergone many facelifts and has always been a subject of speculation of being phased out after its sales started dropping. This fiscal (April-Oct period) ‘M800’ sales have gone down by 18 per cent at 32,093 units as against 39,142 units in the same period a year ago. The model’s sales declined by 26.13 per cent during October at 3,307 as against 4,477 in the same month last year. The Maruti 800 satisfies the Bharat III norms (In India, the emission norms that are applicable to vehicles have been named as Bharat Stage III. The maximum speed, at which the vehicle is tested on the chassis dynamo, is limited to 90 kmph) It now features a 32-bit electronic control unit and a catalytic converter in compliance with Bharat Stage III emission norms. But now, it is time for upgrade!
Maruti Suzuki India said it is working to make the Maruthi800 model compliant with Bharat Stage IV emission norms. As per the Auto Fuel Policy, the 13 mega cities, which have Bharat Stage III emission regulations, will meet Bharat Stage IV standards from April 2010 and the rest of the country will upgrade to Bharat Stage III regulations.
“There are ways of making the engine compliant with stricter emission norms. Either you work on improving engine combustion or you put in a catalytic converter,” he said, without specifying which method the company was adopting for the M800 to comply with Bharat Stage IV norms, to be enforced by April 2010 in 13 mega cities.
In effect from From April 1, 2010 :
Bharat Stage III norms (Euro III equivalent norms) for the entire country; Bharat Stage IV (Euro IV equivalent norms) for all private vehicles, city public service vehicles and city commercial vehicles for cities of Delhi/NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur and Agra. Soon Bharat Stage IV is to be implemented in the country for all vehicles across India. These norms have a prescribed level of 1 g/km of CO and 0.10 g/km of HC + NOX. These are more stringent and effective for maintaining the ecological balance.