Why are car manufacturers removing spare wheels?

Manufacturers are removing spare wheels due to a five-year-old government order that permits it for vehicles with tubeless tires and repair kits.

What replaces spare wheels in new cars?

Many new cars now come with tyre repair kits instead of spare wheels, along with features like TPMS.

Do electric vehicles have spare wheels?

Electric vehicles usually do not have spare wheels to save space for batteries and reduce weight for better range.

Home / Business and Economy / Car Trunks Get Lighter: Spare Wheels Vanish

Car Trunks Get Lighter: Spare Wheels Vanish

20 Jan

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Summary

Automakers are removing spare wheels due to a five-year-old government order.
Vehicles must have tubeless tires, TPMS, and a repair kit to skip the spare.
Removing spares offers more boot space and improves manufacturer profit margins.

Car Trunks Get Lighter: Spare Wheels Vanish

In a notable shift for the automotive industry, many car manufacturers are ceasing to include spare wheels in new models. This practice, which has been observed across brands like Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota, and Tata Motors, is largely attributed to an amendment made by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in July 2020. This amendment to Central Motor Vehicles Rules allows M1 category vehicles under 3.5 tonnes and carrying up to nine passengers to forgo a spare wheel.

The exemption is contingent upon the vehicle being fitted with tubeless tires, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), and a tyre repair kit. While companies like Mahindra & Mahindra and Honda continue to offer five wheels, a growing number of models are now equipped with puncture repair kits instead. This trend is particularly evident in lower diesel variants of certain Hyundai models, and specific variants of Tata Safari and Harrier.