KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- The government will establish an automotive council within two months to provide a platform for policy makers to interact with industry players, says Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

The minister who is also the chairman of the council said it will consist representatives from the government and business community, as well as, non-government organisations representing consumers.

"The council will provide a platform for policy makers to interact so that we can have inputs from the industry and have clear directions as to which way the automotive industry will move," Mustapa told reporters during the National Automotive Policy (NAP) 2014 update briefing in Kuala Lumpur, Friday.

Saying that the council would probaby hold its first meeting end of march, he said that the automotive sector was an important to the economy as more than 500,000 people are employed and involved in the industry.

"It is in many ways, the pulse of the nation's economy," he said.

In 2013, the automotive sector contributed RM30 billion to the country's Gross Domestic Product.

Meanwhile, Mustapa said the government would introduce the Euro 4 standards for RON 97 nationwide in September.

The implementation of Euro 4 standard for RON 95 will take place in 2018.

The minister said the sale of Euro 5 diesel, which was now confined to 12 petrol stations in Johor would be introduced to other states this year.