Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has ban on registration of new large diesel-powered vehicles in Delhi, saying it is a “transient” phase and India is a market large enough not to adversely affect auto companies. Mr Jaitley, who arrived in Tokyo yesterday on a 6-day trip to support investors, is scheduled to meet Suzuki Motor Chairman Osamu Suzuki tomorrow.

The ban on sale of large diesel cars and sport utility vehicles with engines of two litres or more was first imposed in December and was recently extended to Kerala. The one in Kerala, however, has been temporarily stayed by the state high court .Maruti Suzuki, the country’s leading automaker, has about 60 per cent of market share for petrol vehicles while for the diesel segment, the share stands at 28 per cent.

Earlier this month, the world’s largest automaker Toyota said the restrictions would be the “worst advertisement of India”.

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