One of the leading car importers in Australia, Suzuki, has called on the government to further its commitment to green cars.
Suzuki Australian General Manager Tony Devers wants leadership with incentives to make globally efficient cars cheaper for Australians. He described the lack of policy in Australia as “hard to fathom” and that there is little incentive for people wanting to buy less expensive cars that are good for the environment.
He believes the time has come to establish what truly can be described as a green car pointing out that France, Belgium and Italy offer bonuses for cars that emit less than 130g/km of carbon dioxide (CO2). He has called on the government to use a similar figure.
If that were the case than Suzuki may be the first local car company to offer a genuine green car for around $13,000 when the Alto goes on sale in Australia in August this year. It has a three-cylinder, 1.0 litre engine and emits just 113g/km of CO2. It also offers a number of safety features including side curtain airbags and stability control.
It isn’t just about supporting Suzuki, however – Devers pointed out that nearly every manufacturer has a similar vehicle in their portfolio worldwide.
He believes that Australia is lagging behind the rest of the world – he points out that the most recent ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use showed the average Australian motorist emits 250 grams of CO2 for every kilometre driven. He wants to see the introduction of a vehicle scrappage scheme, similar to that used in Germany, with rewards for buyers purchasing greener cars based on a sliding scale.
Do you agree with his thoughts about the Australian automotive industry and the incentives offered to green car drivers? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
