Auto Expo 2008 is expected to herald exciting time for the Indian auto industry as well as the ones who aspire to own a vehicle. This show will, for the first time, shed light on India's common man even as it highlights green solutions

The Auto Expo has always been the mirror reflecting the latest developments concerning the automobile industry in India. Considered as the Mecca of exhibitions featuring the Indian auto industry, Auto Expo 2008 is poised to be the latest (9th edition) and most successful exhibition in the chain of auto exhibitions that started in 1986 and is held every two years. Always held at Pragati Maidan in the national capital, New Delhi, the Auto Expo has by now become a well established platform to showcase the capabilities and new developments; and this includes not just the auto makers but also the component manufacturers as well as all the allied industries.

Looking back, Auto Expo 2006 was quite successful with a sizeable participation from the auto component industry. The exhibition arranged under various heads like Vehicles, Coach Builders/Design Vehicles, Accessories, Components, Garage Equipment, etc, witnessed participation of the component industry to such an extent that they almost shadowed the displays of auto makers, displays that have been the true crowd pullers. This is considered to be a sign of the Indian auto industry maturing to a certain extent, a fact dictated by a high growth rate. During 2005-06, the Indian automotive industry produced 1.4 million passenger cars, 390,000 commercial vehicles, 8 million two wheelers and 290,000 farm tractors. Gaining recognition as a leading competitive country in the production of auto components, India exported an estimated Rs 12,643 crores worth of auto components in 2006-07. In the same year the auto industry produced 1.5 million passenger cars, 520,000 commercial vehicles, 556,124 three wheelers and 8.4 million two wheelers.

Looking at the 16 per cent growth in the exports of auto components in 2006-07 as compared to 2005-06, the growth target of auto components exports is expected to reach Rs 15,172 crores. The auto components industry continues to battle a number of challenges like the lack of infrastructure, rise in import cost of raw materials, etc, even as the automakers demand better quality at lower costs. While investment in new technology is also a challenge the auto components sector is tackling, automakers at the other end are busy dealing with issues like the tightening emission norms, growing competition and elevating customer expectations. The positive side to these challenges is the increasing trend for closer collaboration between the auto component manufacturers and automakers to achieve more efficiency and value. The 9th Auto Expo is expected to highlight these achievements and many others.

A larger audience is expected at this Auto Expo and also exhibitors compared to 1150 participants and 11,00,000 visitors at the last exhibition. The highlight of the show this year is expected to be the mini cars and those employing alternative propulsion technologies. The theme of Auto Expo 2008 is eco-mobility and this would also include the frugal, compact and highly cost effective concept of the Tata Rs one-lakh car. While the Tata Rs one-lakh car is expected to be unveiled at this expo, the other entry is expected to come from Bajaj Auto, which has entered into an agreement with Renault for the development of a US $ 3000 entry-level model. Bajaj Auto is also expected to display an entry-level light commercial vehicle. This expo is also expected to include a large number of launches/displays featuring the new Mercedes C-Class, Honda Accord, Mahindra Engenio and Scorpio hybrid, new Indica and the utility vehicle platform from Tata, Skoda Fabia, Toyota Corolla, Fiat Palio Diesel, Fiat Grande Punto and Linea, Bajaj hydrogen powered three-wheeler and Mahindra three-wheeler hybrid concept, Splash (new WagonR?) from Maruti, etc. Volkswagen, which launched the Passat recently, will showcase the Touareg and Jetta. Another Volkswagen Group company, Audi, is expected to display the new A4 at the Expo. Also participating at the Auto Expo are Hero Honda, Volvo Car India, Ashok Leyland, Suzuki Motorcycle India and Hyundai Motor India.

The two-wheeler industry is also expected to spring some interesting surprises. Bajaj is expected to showcase a range of fuel injected higher capacity motorcycles and so are others. A display of CBUs is also expected. Yamaha has already unveiled big bore MT Series and YZF Series machines. While these are expected to pull a crowd, other manufacturers are also expected to display big bore machines.

Moving over to components, most component makers and suppliers are expected to participate in the show. While they are expected to hog a large portion of the show that is spread across the many halls that make much of Pragati Maidan, some of the big names that have already announced their participation are Eaton and ElringKlinger. Eaton Corporation, which is setting up a medium and heavy-duty truck production plant at Ranjangaon near Pune and will be present in Hall5. ElringKlinger has set up a plant at Ranjangaon near Pune and specialises in the manufacture of gaskets. The Kolbenschmidt Pierburg group will be present through its group company Pierburg, which set up a facility in India at Pune and is into the manufacture of individual components, systems, and modules for air supply and emission reduction. Yet another Kolbenschmidt Pierburg group company MS Motor Service International GmbH is also exhibiting at the Auto Expo. MS Motor Service International GmbH is the distribution organisation for the worldwide aftermarket business of Kolbenschmidt Pierburg AG. It is a foremost supplier of engine components for this market and its premium brands include Kolbenschmidt, Pierburg and TRW engine components and will be at the German Pavilion in Hall 15A.

As the MS Motor Service International GmbH location would suggest, country pavilions at the Auto Expo is a regular phenomenon and this time around the expected pavilions are Germany, China, Italy, Japan and others. The largest presence at this Expo is expected from China and Germany. Expect to meet a good number of Chinese auto sector players at the fair. Some of them include component makers like Zhejiang Kaituo Automobile Electrical Appliance Co., Shanghai Amnic Co., Hangzhou Xingguang Machinery Co., Wzs Bearings Co., Fengcheng City Zhenqi Turbocharger Co., Chongqing Yu An Innovation Technology (Group) Co., Zhejiang Kyungshin Automotive Parts Co., and more. France will be represented by companies like Danielson Engineering, Ateliers Des Janves, Faurecia, Mecafilter and more. Representing Germany are some of the most well known automakers and system suppliers. These include Hüco Electronic GmbH, Imtech Deutschland Gmbh & Co Kg, Iwis Motorsysteme Gmbh & Co Kg, Leonhard Kurz Gmbh & Co Kg, Schweisstechnik Bräuer GmbH, Eberspächer Gmbh & Co Kg, Zf Friedrichshafen Ag, Hella Kgaa Hueck & Co, Mahle GmbH and Gustav Wahler Gmbh & Co Kg., among others. Dorken MKS India will participate in the Hall 15A Stand 08, while Igus India can also be reached at the Auto Expo. A prominent force at this Expo would be Italy, which is represented by companies like Idea Institute, Renolit Gor, Selmat Group, Mario Levi, Zanini Industries, Centro Estro Per L Internazionalizzazione S.C.P.A., S.R.S. Engineering Design Srl and more. Representing Japan are companies like Benda-Kogyo Co., Kokoku Intech Co., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Sankei Industry Co., and more. Companies participating from Malaysia include Hardex Corporation Sdn Bhd, Avana Technologies, Filton Industries, BT Automotive Systems and more. The most effective international participation after China and Germany is probably Taiwan. A number of Taiwanese companies can be reached at this Expo.

Among the big Indian component manufacturers are Automotive Valves, Anand Group companies, Elofic Industries, Fleet Gaskets India, Gandhi Special Tubes, Jay Bharat Maruti, Mukand Limited, NSK Limited India, Pricol, Rinder India, Vega Auto Accessories, Federal Mogul, Gold Seal, Mico Bosch, NRB Bearings, Rico Auto, Sigma Freudenberg Nok, Sona Koyo, RSB Transmission, Allied Transmission & Gears, Eschmann Textures India, ARAI, Allison Transmission India, GNA Axles, Injectoplast, India Nippon, Jaya Hind Industries, Osram India, Voith Turbo, Lakshmi Precision Screws, Böllhoff Verbindungstechnik GmbH/Boellhoff Fastenings. Bayer Materialscience, India Japan Lighting, Lucas TVS, Mubea Automotive India, Emitec, Henkel Teroson India, Shriram Pistons & Rings, Victor Reinz India, Sundaram Industries, Talbros, Edag Engineering + Design Ag, Axles India, Emcon Technologies India, Perfect Circle India, Bhagat Forge, Sandhar Technologies, Endurance Systems, Borgwarner Morse Tec Murugappa, Dow Corning India, Mahle Filter Systems India, Victor Gaskets India, Fiem Industries and many more. Garage Equipment specialist Madhus will be present at the Auto Expo in Hanger 1, Stall 4. The Indian operations of Eaton Corporation will mark their presence at the Expo with the display of 5-speed synchronised transmission, 6-speed synchronised transmission, 9-speed synchronised transmission and 10 speed automatic transmissions for heavy-duty application. Eaton, which is setting up an engineering centre and a transmission plant at Pune will also display hybrid power pack and fuller clutch.

Held from 10th to 17th January 2008 this Auto Expo promises to reflect the fast maturing face of the Indian auto sector. This show will probably be the first to truly attract the common man as much as it will attract auto makers hunting for sourcing out of India. The show will mirror the latest developments in the Indian auto sector and unfold exciting times for the industry ahead. n