No impact on transition to BS-VI regime: Ashok Leyland

New Delhi: Hinduja Group flagship firm Ashok Leyland on Friday said it currently doesn't foresee the coronavirus outbreak affecting its plans for migration to BS-VI emission norms, although some of its component suppliers source parts from China.

The commercial vehicle manufacturer, which on Friday delivered its BS-VI compliant modular platform vehicles to select customers, also said it doesn't see demand bouncing back in the first two quarters of next fiscal.

"While we do not have any direct suppliers, some of our tier-1 suppliers will be kind of impacted. As of now whatever we have understood, if everything happens as per that plan and materials start moving out from China, it should not have a major impact," Ashok Leyland Chief Operating Officer Anuj Kathuria told reporters here.

He was responding to a query on whether the coronavirus outbreak in China would affect its supply chain, thereby impacting its plans for transition to BS-VI emission norms from April 1.

Stating that more companies have started to operate in China in the last few days, Kathuria said, "As of now we do not see a major challenge, but we have to wait and watch.

There would be some impact but that could be manageable." Stressing on the global automotive industry's dependence on China, he said, "Today the entire auto industry throughout the world has something or the other coming from China. There is a dependence on China."