First and foremost, what are your impressions of the show? Is it
getting better?
I think in the true spirit of
continuous improvement, our show is getting better and better each time. I think this year it has gone off well. The
feedback we have received is that the quality and spread of participation has
been very good. There have been tremendous innovations by various suppliers. It
has been a very exciting show.
This time around there has been an Innovations Pavilion. What’s this
all about?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
talked about “Make in India” and we took that message very deeply. For our
industry we translated that as Make Quality and Technology in India. These are
the only two parameters that matter for the automotive sector. We themed our whole year around it. Keeping
in line with the theme we kept an Innovations Pavilion here. What we were trying to showcase was there are
many Indian companies that are designing, developing products here in India of
world class standards and also supplying to world class customers. We wanted to
bring it all together and who it to people can have a look. So far you do not
get the feeling that Indian is an Innovations Centre. We wanted to showcase
that innovations is happening here now.
Do you now find Indian auto components companies working ahead of the
curve when it comes to technology?
Absolutely! I think different
companies are different stages of evolution. But you are seeing every company
making an honest and sincere effort to go up the value chain, investing in
R&D, investing in innovations, and I think when you walk across the various
pavilions you get a clear sense that technology development is a major thrust
for many entrepreneurs.
Participants are generally happy with the fact that the two
shows—Components and Motor Show--- are at two different locations. Yet many
said closer proximity of the locations would have been better. Do you agree
with that?
I think as it stands now, it
is what it is. But I would like to make a point here that the OEs have been
very supportive, almost every company has sent a delegation of their senior
management and engineers here. People have taken the effort to come here. This
has also given more space to people to showcase things. To be frank, it has
gone on quite well. This is the second edition in two different locations and
everything has gone on well. It would be nicer if the two shows were closer
together.
With Prime Minister’s “Make in
India” Are auto component manufacturers far more aggressive in their growth
strategies?
We are hoping that the tide
has started to change. We are seeing some pockets of growth. The car market has
been growing at a stable pace. The commercial vehicle market has picked up now.
The rural markets are a bit subdued but we expect that to come back soon.
Indian companies are really pushing to go global. You are seeing a lot energy
on how to expand.
The Asli-Naqli pavilion continues to have a presence at the show here. Are
spurious spare parts still an area of concern for the industry?
I think what people do not
realise is the automotive aftermarket is a very large market. But it is also a
very uncontrolled market. There are no standards in place for products to be
sold in the aftermarket. In fact there are imports of components into India
which have no standards and no certification. Whatever regulations you put in
place in the original equipment side, if the aftermarket does not keep pace
with that you could have all the good work done on safety and emissions undone
in the aftermarket with spurious parts being fitted.