The government should get into discussions with the world's leading car manufacturers, almost all of whom have now set up (or are setting up) shop in India, to encourage the local production of cars that run on dual fuels or even entirely on fuel cells. The benefits will be seen not just through reduced consumption of hydrocarbons but also through a reduction in automobile emissions. While Honda has just introduced its hybrid Civic in India, more such cars are being produced overseas (like Toyota's Prius). The lead in encouraging such a transition has been taken by California, which by putting a cut-off date for the introduction of zero-emission vehicles has virtually driven the technological changes taking place in the industry. India does not have the market clout that California does, but it is going to be a significant long-term market, especially for small and medium cars, and therefore could (indeed should) introduce its own policy package, with a multi-pronged approach that covers manufacturing, imports, new emission standards and taxation policy. Honda's announcement with regard to the hybrid Civic is that the car will be entirely imported