EXCLUSIVE: BEE to recall Hitachi products with poor star ratings; other home appliance firms also under probe
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency has directed Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited to identify its customers, take ACs back from them, and compensate them.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited for selling substandard air conditioners, sources told Zee Business.
The Consumer Affairs Department sought information from the company by writing a letter to it and asking for the details of its products. The department has asked the company for clarification regarding the issue raised by The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).
If the consumer department is not satisfied with Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited's response, it can take action against the company. The company can face a number of penalties, including a product recall.
The company in its press statement said, "Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited is committed to manufacturing best quality products in alignment with all applicable global and local standards. We appreciate the efforts of BEE and are actively participating in acceleration of sustainable adoption of energy efficiency through our technology and innovation. We will continue to maintain the trust of our consumers by investing towards delivering nothing but the best.”
The company further said, "As a part of product life cycle assessment process, Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited identified models that were on the borderline of meeting energy efficiency criteria.
"In view of this identification and anticipation, we took necessary corrective actions, stopping production of Window RAC RAW511HEDO w.e.f. April 2021 and of Fixed Speed Split RAC RSNG318HEDO w.e.f. May 2022, which were reported by the BEE."
The Consumer Affairs Department is also writing letters to the Energy Ministry and the Electronics Equipment Association to make them aware of the non-compliance issue.
Zee Business was the first to raise issues related to customer rights and concerns after the BEE advertisement. In the same matter, BEE has also taken action at its level, in which Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Limited was asked to recall the product from its distribution network across the country.
The BEE had directed the air conditioning company to identify customers, take ACs back from them, and compensate them. Along with this, BEE is also investigating the company's entire range of home appliances and other companies.
Due to the hot weather, BEE is showing much concern regarding the quality and star ratings of ACs. It has taken a tough stance against companies selling home appliances with the wrong star ratings. Other than the said company, BEE is also running quality checks on other company products.
BEE is checking the quality of products in its labs through random sampling.
Catch the latest stock market updates here. For all other news related to business, politics, tech, sports, and auto, visit Zeebiz.com.
Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Power of Compounding: How many years will it take to reach Rs 3 crore corpus if your monthly SIP is Rs 4,000, Rs 5,000, or Rs 6,000
Power of Compounding: Salary Rs 25,000 per month; is it possible to create over Rs 2.60 crore corpus; understand it through calculations
Reduce Home Loan EMI vs Reduce Tenure: Rs 75 lakh, 25-year loan; which option can save Rs 25 lakh and 64 months and how? Know here
Top 7 Large and Mid Cap Mutual Funds with Best SIP Returns in 5 Years: No. 1 fund has turned Rs 15,000 monthly SIP investment into Rs 20,54,384; know about others
New Year Pick by Anil Singhvi: This smallcap stock can offer up to 75% return in long term - Check targets
03:29 PM IST