Toyota Kirloskar Motors (TKM) recently released a statement confirming that it had stopped taking bookings for the diesel variant of the Innova Crysta. TKM cited the reason for this being the high demand for the MPV. However, according to sources, the Innova Crysta diesel has failed the latest round of emission tests that the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) conducted.
According to sources, Toyota submitted 32 samples of the Innova Crysta to the testing agency. However, all of them failed to meet the BS6 emission requirements during the COP tests. Sources also reported seeing many Innovas entering the ICAT facility recently.
What Is A Conformity Of Production (COP) Test?
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in Pune, or the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT), Manesar, conducts COP tests every 6 months. Vehicles that are on sale in India should conform to the test with regard to components affecting the emission of particulate pollutants and gases from the engine, emissions from the engine’s crankcase and also evaporative emissions. The vehicle model type is only approved if it passes all these tests. This is to ensure that after the initial homologation, mass-produced models continue to adhere to emission regulations.
Furthermore, the agencies randomly select vehicles in the series and test them for multiple parameters as part of the COP test. The agencies summon a lot of 3 vehicles to conduct the test. If a particular lot fails to conform to the tests, the vehicle manufacturers can immediately send another lot of 3 cars for retesting. Carmakers can send up to a maximum of 32 vehicles from the ongoing mass-production batches. If a model fails to pass the test even after this, the carmaker is asked to stop production of that model immediately.
In case the carmaker’s models face repetitive failure, the carmaker is also given a chance to explain before the authorities. The COP test protocols in India are identical to the ones in Europe. However, the difference lies in self-regulation, which carmakers practice overseas. On the other hand, external agencies conduct these tests in India.
Toyota Has Stopped Producing The Innova Crysta Diesel
Multiple sources within the supplier industry, as well as the dealer community, suggest the brand has stopped production of the diesel Innova Crysta. On condition of anonymity, one of Toyota’s main suppliers said that Toyota told the company that Innova Crysta diesel’s production is stopped but will likely restart from March 2023.
Thus, this suggests Toyota will continue to sell the Innova Crysta alongside the upcoming Innova Hycross. The diesel Innova is one of the best-selling Toyota models. It is also the breadwinner model for fleet owners. Hence, it is unlikely that Toyota will phase out the Innova Crysta anytime soon.
TKM continues to remain tight-lipped about this. The series of events has also created speculation in the market. A dealer representative, who wishes to remain anonymous, said that the brand unofficially informed them about discontinuing the diesel MPV. He also added that the reason for this was the upcoming CAFE-2 norms.
Innova Crysta Diesel Stocks To Last A Month
According to dealers, the existing stocks will last for an additional month. However, most of them are looking at clearing their inventories before the festive season. This also suggests that production has stopped. Customers who booked the diesel variants until early August will likely get their cars.
However, customers who booked it later in August will see deliveries pushed further, possibly to 2023. Sources also suggest dealers are offering a complete refund of the booking amount due to the unavailability of diesel variants. Dealers are also persuading them to opt for the petrol variants.
Also Read: Toyota launches Innova Crysta Limited Edition in India at INR 17.45 lakh
