India now represents
an important market for autocatalysts. While legislation
has been in place since 1995 requiring the use of
car emission control systems in India's four main
cities of Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Madras, it
has been continually tightening throughout the country
and extended to motorcycles and three wheeled vehicles.
From April this year all new passenger vehicles sold
in the National Capital Region of Delhi have had
to meet equivalent to EU II emission standards and
EU I equivalent standards have applied to the rest
of the country. Most of India's other metropolitan
areas will require vehicles to meet the same standards
as Delhi from early next year and further legislation
is expected that will implement new standards for
progressively tighter pollution control over the
period 2004 to 2007.
Commenting on the
opening of the facility, Neil Carson, Executive Director
of Johnson Matthey said:
" This investment
confirms our commitment to our autocatalyst customers
in India where Johnson Matthey is the clear market
leader. It also further strengthens our operations
in the Asia region where it stands alongside our
Technical Centre in Japan, our plant in Malaysia
and our new factory in China, which will open shortly."
John Walker, Managing
Director, CSD Asia Region said:
"This major expansion
of our autocatalyst business in India enables us
to provide our customers with an even better service
and will allow the manufacturing of the latest catalysts
to meet the needs of this exciting market as emissions
standards continue to tighten."
