India's BEE proposes 5-star rating system

India’s plan to introduce fuel efficiency norms for passenger cars has run into rough weather after the auto industry has expressed strong reservations on the five-star rating system proposed by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE). The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has pointed out that car models with an average mileage of 14 kilometers (km) per liter may be in the five-star category, while others with an average mileage of 16 km per liter may be in the three-star category under the proposed system. European countries have been following a similar five-star rating system, which includes, in addition to the cars fuel efficiency rating, passenger, child and pedestrian safety ratings. SIAM is voluntarily introducing a rating system for passenger cars from October 1. (September 21, 2010)