‘Our 1.5-litre diesel engine is versatile and we have received interest from OEMs across segments.’

Mohanjit Singh Walia, chief operating officer, Engine Business, Greaves Cotton, speaks to Shobha Mathur on the new globally benchmarked 1.5-litre, 3-cylinder, 105bhp diesel engine developed for passenger car as well as light CV applications, meeting BS VI norms by 2020, and being a regular at the Auto Expo.

How has the announcement of the transition of emission norms from BS-IV to BS-VI by 2020 impacted the demand for the company’s new 1.5-litre diesel engine?
We are protected for BS-VI with our design and it gives us an excellent advantage; we are in talks with a couple of vehicle manufacturers. Since this is a very recent development, more interest will follow.

At SIAM’s last meeting with the government, industry was hoping that some relaxation might come in the announcement but now we are almost sure that no relaxation is possible. So we will start generating more interest at the Auto Expo.

After the development of the new 1.5-litre diesel engine, will Greaves Cotton also look at venturing into petrol now?
No not petrol, we will be sticking to diesel. We may bring in one derated version of the 1.5-litre 105bhp diesel, a 70hp unit which would be used for a smaller payload vehicle of around 1 tonne. 

What are your plans for catering to the passenger car segment?
Our diesel engine is versatile and we have received interest from across segments. Our engine is primarily for commercial vehicles but it will deliver superior performance even for passenger vehicles.

Have you finalised any orders till now for the 1.5-litre diesel?
We are in discussions. It is not so easy and does not happen so quickly either. 

Which new technologies and products is the company displaying at the Auto Expo 2016?
We are ready with our major business for micro trucks and three-wheelers where we are already present with BS-IV offerings which will become effective across India from April 2017. We will be displaying these as also the new 1.5-litre diesel engine.

Apart from that, we will start work on BS-VI requirements for micro trucks and three-wheelers. We have some programmes with Piaggio Vehicles. 

We will be picking up internal programmes and will be in time for meeting the new BS-VI norms by 2020. The 1.5 diesel engine is protected for BS-VI standards though more work has to be done on the exhaust front in comparison to BS-V emission norms. The engine is ready but the gearbox, emission components, exhaust treatment devices like SCR and DPS will have to be adapted to the engine along with the vehicle.

While the BS-V and BS-VI fuel requirements are the same, the emission treatment differs as components for BS-V protection require Diesel Particulate Filters but BS-VI also necessitates use of Selective Catalytic Reduction technology.

How many times has Greaves Cotton participated in the Auto Expo?
We have participated every time as it is quite useful and we are able to display our capabilities and products at the event. Our expectation from the show is to find more customers for our 1.5-litre diesel engine from both commercial vehicle and passenger vehicle manufacturers, though our priority is commercial vehicles. Our presence at the Auto Expo will be different this time around as we will exhibit, for the first time, higher engine development technology and manufacturing capability. 

Greaves Cotton, which is participating in Auto Expo 2016, is located at Hall No. 4, Stall E-16 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida

This interview has been published in Autocar Professional's Auto Expo Preview Issue (February 1-2016)