The 15th edition of Auto Expo 2020 reflected the CV industry’s ability to turn out exciting products.
Ashish Bhatia
The 15th Edition of Auto Expo Motor Show 2020 jointly organised by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) turned a leaf in its long journey that has time and again put the focus squarely on key developments in the automotive landscape. Held at the India Expo Mart – Greater Noida, from February 05 to February 12, 2020, the premier show saw five CV makers participate. These included Tata Motors, Force Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Olectra Greentech and SML Isuzu. If the absence of VE Commercial Vehicles, Ashok Leyland, Volvo Trucks, Volvo Buses and Scania (India) was felt, the motor show attracted a good number of ancillary suppliers at the components show, which was simultaneously held at Pragati Maidan between February 06 and February 09, 2020. Attracting over six lakh visitors, the show, held under the theme, ‘Explore the world of mobility’, saw 70 vehicle premieres. Occupying a space of 2,35,000 sq.m, the fair drew an estimated 120 (plus 1300 ancillary)participants. With the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) occupying an indoor built-up area of 51,000 sq. m, the fair aptly highlighted the Indian auto industry’s uncanny desire to succeed despite the many challenges, regulatory and otherwise in its path. Expressed Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM & President, Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, in his opening address, that the auto industry is putting its best foot forward to match the aspirations of the nation. “This edition of the auto Expo brings to fore the futuristic trends and practicality towards encompassing a multitude of facets of mobility,” he averred.
Pointing at the transition to BSVI as well as the emergence of alternative fuel technologies like electric, CNG, etc., the biennial fair put the spotlight on how CV manufacturers and suppliers are leveraging technology and experience to stay put. With industry sources opining that pre-buying was not happening in the CV space this time, evident was how CV makers and their suppliers have come to hold against a strong regulatory framework and liquidity crunch.
The expo, on the supplier side, put the focus on how ancillary suppliers were developing cost-effective technologies through close collaborations. If the fair indicated at how CV OEMs and suppliers were looking at the entire lifecycle management in terms of support and revenue generation, out in good force were tyre makers and other aggregates and value-added services, providers.
Held alongside, the 14th SIAM Styling & Design Conclave, as well as the 12th Automotive Design Challenge (ADC), attracted good attention. The conclave was graced by a number of renowned automotive designers who showcased great zeal and enthusiasm in decoding the future trends of automobile styling in India.
Tata Motors Ltd.
Tata Motors Ltd., showcased an all-new range of commercial vehicles with a focus on Connected, Electric, Shared and Safe (CESS) mobility at the Auto Expo 2020. The company displayed 14 commercial vehicles. The showcase included the global unveil of the all-new Tata Winger. The Tata Prima facelift 5530.S powered by an ISBe 6.7-litre, 300 hp, BSVI engine mated to a G1150 transmission. In another exciting launch, the company displayed the Tata Ultra T.7 Electric as India’s first Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV) electric truck. Also displayed were the BSVI Tata Signa 4830.T, Tata Yodha, Tata Ace, and the Tata Intra. As part of the bus range, the company displayed the Tata 4/12m low floor entry electric bus claimed to be the first full-electric drivetrain. The company also displayed the Starbus LNG and the Starbus Ultra Standard at the expo in a product offensive strategy.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Under the ‘Driven by Purpose’ theme, Mahindra offered a healthy mix of mobility solutions that included a future-ready and innovative product range. The company showcased CVs from GVW 0.5-tonne to 49-tonne in a diverse range. The company displayed the Jeeto X 7-16 mini-truck (garbage tipper), electric Alfa-mini rickshaw (cargo), Jeeto Plus (e-commerce), Supro Minitruck HD Series tipper truck (solid waste application), the Furio 14 and the Blazo X 49. In buses, the company displayed the BSVI compliant LPO Cruzio. Also on display were the Atom as the new age electric urban mobility solution for last-mile. Besides the company also showcased its new division Mahindra MSTC Recycling Pvt. Ltd. (CERO) said to be India’s first organised vehicle recycler.
Olectra Greentech Ltd.
Olectra Greentech Ltd (strategic partner of BYD) is banking purely on its India investment in technology for growth. At the Auto Expo, Olectra-BYD presented itself as the frontrunner in electric mobility. In the presence of Nitin Gadkari, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways & Shipping, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India, the company unveiled the 49-seater 12m Olectra-BYD C9 as the first electric inter-city coach in India. The bus is claimed to have a range of up to 300 km on a single charge powered by 360 kW (180 kW X 2 motors) that draw charge from an advanced Li-ion Phosphate Battery capable of being charged within two to three hours. The bus is equipped with various safety features including EU standard FDSS System with TUV certification, ADAS System and ITS System as per Indian regulatory requirement. The company also displayed the K6 eBuzz at the expo.
SML Isuzu Ltd.
SML Isuzu Limited emphasised on its focused and frugal strategy with an objective of ensuring a Return on Investment (RoI) through its customer value proposition. At the Auto Expo 2020, the company displayed the new brand of ‘Hiroi’ buses with a front overhang to offer wide and ample space for a safe and comfortable ride. Under the new brand umbrella, the company displayed the SML Hiroi Bus 4370 to be offered in 22D fully recline seats, 32+D fully recline or 34+D semi recline seats and 36+D highback seats both in staff and school bus guise. The company also showcased the 30+D GS School bus in a 3×2 seating layout besides displaying the 7.4-tonne (7.49) SML Sartaj GS HG75 MS Container aimed at the ecommerce segment and the 11-tonne (11.12) Samrat GS CNGTC Reefer Truck. The latter features a Thermo King T-600M reefer unit with a self-powered diesel engine and electric standby with a deep-freezing temperature range of (-) 18 degree Centigrade to 25-degree Centigrade and zero degrees to plus 15-degree Centigrade.
Force Motors
Force Motors displayed three new platforms and seven new models at Auto Expo 2020. The company displayed its next-generation shared mobility platform unveiled a fortnight back in Pune and christened as T1N. The new platform presented in both a diesel and electric guise is claimed to be a segment-first offering crash compliance with airbags for the driver and codriver. Expected to help the manufacturer reinforce its leadership in the van segment, the design is known to be protected for plying in select markets of Middle East, Africa, ASEAN and South America. On the mobility front, the company also displayed the electric variant of their flagship Traveller platform. It also displayed two buses (Mono and the Mega) built on the next generation modular monocoque bus platform. A 51-seater and the school bus variant of the 33-seater Traveller Monobus range. A refreshed variant of the Trax formed the basis of the new people mover Cruiser, the cargo variant Kargo King.
JK Tyre & Industries Ltd.
Tyre manufacturer JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. launched their new ‘Smart Tyre’ range at the Auto Expo 2020 compatible with both trucks and buses. Claimed to be a segment-first, it is said to be a first-of-its-kind cloud-based monitoring system wherein the company warrants maintenance of tyres through timely diagnostics using sensors integrated with a Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS). The sensors help augment updates on tyre health through multiple digital platforms including the company’s indigenous Treel Care app and the web page. Its key feature is facilitating early detection of issues and deployment of timely preventive measures to avoid them. Besides the tyres are also claimed to help deliver higher fuel efficiency up to four to five per cent and minimise operational expenses. The company also showcased a new range of concept tyres including puncture-proof tyres, EV tyre, coloured tyre, fuel-saver tyre and tubeless tyres at the expo.
Carrier Wheels Pvt. Ltd.
A manufacturer of wheels for applications ranging from passenger vehicles to agricultural equipment, Carrier Wheels showcased India’s first styled wheel for tractors at the Auto Expo. Infusing colour and life in the conventional wheel designs, the company showcased a complete range of wheels including for trailers. Sharing that the products pertaining to the farm applications were crucial to the company’s growth strategy, the company has taken special care to use export-grade steel in terms of strength and weight to match international specified standards. The company manufactured wheels are said to be Cathode Electro Deposition (CED) coated to ensure a rustproof life despite exposure to harsh weather and field conditions associated with the farm duty cycles.
Waxpol Industries Ltd.
To boost our magazine subscription drive, Waxpol came on board as our ‘Gifting Partner’ this year. The company offered four of its best selling products such as Silky Touch, Car Shampoo and Polish, Scratch Remover and Glass Cleaner. With a healthy mix of new and returning customers, the products flew off the shelf over the course of the expo. Waxpol also provides a glass shiner, windshield cleaner, tyre shine, eco saver tyre black, engined degreaser and leather conditioners among other class-leading products showcased at the expo.
