Home Awesome Display of Products & Technologies   A Few Major Players Conspicuous by their Absence Auto Expo 2004 jointly organised by ACMA, Cll and SIAM was held during 15th to 20th Jan'04 in New Delhi. As against 120 participants in 1986 when the first Auto Expo was held, the 7th Expo attracted 960 participants from 26 countries. Also, this year, Expo attracted delegations and visitors from 36 countries and had exclusive country pavilions showcasing the auto products from China, Germany, Taiwan and the UK. The Expo offered tremendous business opportunities to the participants to showcase their latest products, R&D efforts, technologies, safety and environment related efforts. While inaugurating the Auto Expo 2004, Deputy Prime Minister of India, Mr L K Advani observed that India had the potential as a global hub for outsourcing and R&D. He exhorted the Indian automotive industry to increase its attention and expenditure on R&D. As India was committed to participating in free trade agreements with several countries and regions, SAFTA, the India-ASEAN FTA and the India-Thailand FTA must all be reviewed as an, opportunity for Indian automotive industry to become truly global players. Ashok Leyland unveiled a range of heavy vehicles - codenamed Newgen - powered by the new J engine. At the heart of the Newgen is the contemporary, high-powered and fuel-efficient J engine developing 260 hp. The J engine has the potential of meeting ensuing tighter Euro 3/Euro 4 equivalent norms. The Newgen products at display included 4026 J Tractor, 3126 J Tipper (8x4), High Mobility Vehicle for use in defence, Luxliner, Megabus and Stag CNG. Car market leader Maruti Udyog Ltd showcased five Suzuki vehicles and a total of 18 vehicles at the Auto Expo 2004. Among the highlights was Suzuki Concept S, a dynamic and futuristic Concept Car widely heralded as the "forerunner of Suzuki's next generation vehicles". On display also were the Suzuki Jimny, a slick SUV; the Suzuki Twin Hybrid, a 2-seater mini vehicle showcasing environment friendly technology; Formula Suzuki Hayabusa, the top-of-the-category track racing car; and Suzuki Hayabusa GSX1300R, one of the fastest bikes in the world. Hyundai Motor India besides launching Accent Viva CRDi, its third CRDi offering in the Indian marketplace, also displayed its international bestsellers Grandeur XG, Matrix and Coupe. HMI's future offerings: Getz and Elantra, as also Hyundai's concept luxury vehicle HCD-7, touted as the next generation upgrade to the company's luxury sedan, XG350 were also on display. The engineering capability and majesty of mighty Tata Motors was on view at the Auto Expo for everyone to see. Among the host of impressive products on display, the spruced up version of Indica V2 and Indigo Marina, an estate version of Indigo evoked an added attention as these products were launched with all fanfare by none other than Mr Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Motors. The cynosure of all eyes was Mercedes Maybach priced in the range of over rupees three crores. The two-wheeler segment saw the launch of new products by TVS Motors and LML. TVS Centra with Variable Timing intelligent engines (VT-i) technology, a 100cc 4-Stroke motorcycle, is claimed to be one of the most fuel-efficient motorcycles in the country, today. LML Limited is also set to drive into life-style motorcycle segment with the launch of GRAPTOR, with a 150cc, 13.45 bhp, Digital CDI system engine, wherein the engine ignition timing is varied according to the driving speed. Suzuki also showcased a slew of its two-wheelers to provide an idea of what it is going to offer to Indian market after its re-entry into India as a solo venture. Alongside, there were a number of concurrent shows with exclusive pavilions on Alternative Fuel Technology, Design and Technology, Audio and Electronics. Two popular concurrent shows, were Auto Enterprise 2004 and 'Asli-Naqli'. Auto Enterprise 2004, showcased India's strengths and capabilities in the auto components sector. The Pavilion attracted good number of serious visitors and business enquiries from the Gulf, China and some of the European countries. The 'Asli Naqli' theme pavilion showcased genuine auto components alongside the fake ones, thereby creating an awareness regarding spurious auto parts. Seminars and conferences were other attractions of the Expo. SIAM along with the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises organised a 2-day Auto Trade Dialogue on 15th & 16th January 2004. Experts and senior representatives of the industry from diverse countries, including Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and the USA participated in the Dialogue to discuss various issues arising out of WTO and regional and country specific free trade agreements. The Conference on World Class Technologies in Automotive Manufacturing jointly organised by ClI, SIAM' and ACMA on 16th January, highlighted the need for enhancing investments in the Testing and R&D facilities in the country. The seminar on 'Alternative Energy Driven Vehicles' attempted to explore fuel options for the country. It was noted that with availability of natural gas and CNG technology having been successfully tested, it was possible to introduce CNG in other cities located along or close to the existing gas pipeline. Hydrogen, the emerging fuel technology world over is likely to be available in India by 2006-07. SIAM and ACMA, signed jointly an MOU with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) International, the premier international technical society with a membership of over 85,000 engineers involved in development, collection and dissemination of knowledge and information related to mobility technologies. The three agreed to jointly promote and develop standards for materials, components and systems related to mobility engineering area and related activities.