A scam developing in the auto sector

The Indian auto industry is facing some headwinds in the form of rising input costs, fuel prices and interest rates in recent times. All of which has dampened demand for vehicles as well. Increasing vehicle pollution is also an issue that it needs to address. And so the auto industry body Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has made a suggestion to the government that all private cars made before 1996 should be scrapped. This would boost demand for new vehicles and push sales of environment conscious vehicles. SIAM opines that a regular scrappage policy should be put in place for private and commercial vehicles as well as for two wheelers like it in the West. This would ensure that there is a regular churn and burn-out of old vehicles, while adding new and more efficient ones at the same time. SIAM has suggested a cut-off point of 10 years for commercial vehicles, while for private vehicles a cut-off point of 15 years or above could be considered. At present, with no such policy in place, the average age of vehicles on the road is quite high. That said, introducing such a policy without incentives for new purchases, in the form of lower excise and sales tax as well direct cash benefits for those who scrap their old vehicles, may not go down well with consumers.

The above is from the mail I receive from Equitymaster.

I totally disagree with SIAM.
WE should not ape the Western countries blindly. Their mindset of eat, drink and be merry today for you know not what tomorrow holds for us. See where this philosophy has landed them. They are all falling like nine pins.
It is our habit of saving which has saved us during these difficult times.
All these vehicle manufacturers have paid billions of dollars importing plant and machinery of western car manufacturers to try to induce demand forcefully.Having failed to do so, now they would like the government to pass a law.
We should be allowed to run our vehicles as long as the cost of running is it is less than the cost of buying and running a new vehicle. The vehicle owner is the best judge as to when his vehicle should be scrapped. It does not have to be time bound but depends upon how well the vehicle is maintained.
I see another scam building up.
These SIAM people will probably pay money to some minister to have a new law passed to scrap old vehicles.
Here is another point for Anna to raise his voice to nip the scam developing in the bud.