New Delhi, April 15 -- The war in West Asia has triggered an unlikely crisis for Indian carmakers: a critical shortage of high-purity urea used in the exhaust systems of BS-VI compliant diesel vehicles. To prevent the supply chain from stalling, the union government has now directed Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd (GNFC), India's sole producer of technical-grade urea (TGU), to ramp up output as imports dry up, three people aware of the development told Mint.

The government's move follows efforts by the ministry of heavy industries and the ministry of chemicals and fertilizers to secure urea stocks for their respective user industries, and requests by auto industry lobby group Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturer...