The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ (SIAM) has announced a voluntary automobile recall policy for India. The policy prescribes standard procedures to be followed by the manufacturers on detection of defects and technological glitches in their products. 

The recall policy informs that all manufacturers of two-wheelers, four-wheelers and commercial vehicles including those selling imported vehicles, need to voluntarily rectify the problems that compromise safety, free of cost. The guidelines suggest that the companies will have to publicise their defects through media and also divulge the information on their websites. The new code will be applicable to all vehicles within seven years of manufacture date.   SIAM confirmed that the guidelines have been drawn after consensus from all the members and has provisions to recommend government intervention in case of proven violations. 

The government of India is mulling for stricter statutory recall policy on the line of the policies in US, UK and other developed markets; and objects to SIAM’s initiative as those are mere guidelines with no legal binding.