Smart and efficient CVs, including those that are propelled by alternate fuels, will find a place of prominence at the Auto Expo 2016.
Story by:
Anirudh Raheja
The 13th edition of Auto Expo is set to open its doors to the show goers on February 5, 2016. To be held between February 5 and February 9, the premier event, organised by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Automobile Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), will be held at two locations. The vehicles show will be held at the India Expo Mart venue at Greater Noida between February 5 and February 9; the components show will be held at Pragati Maidan between February 4 and February 7. Expected to surpass the benchmarks set by the earlier editions of the show, the Auto Expo 2016, according to Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII, will see the existing eight halls at Greater Noida venue being joined by six new halls. Commenting on the future of the show, Banerjee mentioned that they (organisers) are in talks with the government to hold the show at a single place.
Bigger and more exciting show at Greater Noida
As far as the current show edition is concerned, there will be 65 exhibitors (there were 55 exhibitors in the last edition) at Greater Noida. They will be spread over an indoor exhibition space of 73,000 sq.m. (up from 69,000 sq. m. in the earlier edition). The joining of eight halls with six new halls is expected to generate an additional area of 37,240 sq. m. Over the Auto Expo 2014, which saw a footfall of 5.6 lakh people, this edition of the show is expected to attract over one lakh visitor per day. The highlight of the show will be 26 global launches and 44 Indian launches. According to the SIAM sources, auto companies are geared up to unveil no less than 80 vehicles. Many of these are expected to be hybrid and electric in nature. Hybrid and electric vehicles are thus set to play a pivotal role at the Auto Expo 2016. Especially in the wake of the measures that are being spoken about by various bodies to lower vehicular pollution. Also, with the government putting in place the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme to encourage a shift to alternate fuel vehicles, the presence of alternate fuel vehicles is going to be higher than ever before.The theme this year is ‘Mobility for all’.
More exhibitors will power the components show
At the components show, there will be more than 1,500 exhibitors displaying their products. Apart from a large contingent of domestic players, there will be players from over 20 countries. There will be over 900 Indian exhibitors, and over 600 overseas exhibitors. Spread across 18 halls, exhibitors at the components show will occupy 80,000 sq. ft. of display area. Over 50 exhibitors are new. Containing country pavilions of Japan, Taiwan, China, Canada, South Korea and UK, the components show will also have dedicated sections for bearings and garage equipment. With ‘Asli Naqli’ display, which includes an educative display of original and pirated products to educate the public, ACMA will highlight its fight against piracy. According to Arvind Balaji, President, ACMA, the show this year will have an Innovation Pavilion to showcase world-class components designed and developed in India.
From commercial vehicle makers
Expected to occupy the biggest display area at the show, Tata Motors will showcase a slew of new and exciting range of commercial vehicles. The highlight of the CV line-up will be the unveiling of the Signa range of M&HCVs by Tata Motors. Claimed to have been developed with an investment of Rs 500 crore, the Signa range, positioned between the Prima and the Ultra, will sport an all-new cabin and a reinforced chassis. Aimed at those who are looking for outstanding value and superior fuel efficiency, the Signa range is expected to employ future-compliant emission technologies and the latest telematics solutions available. Apart from a new variant of the Magic SCV equipped with a 40 hp common-rail diesel engine, Tata Motors is expected to display an electric intra-city Ultra bus. Tata Motors will also display a hybrid low floor city coach.
Mahindra & Mahindra, is expected to unveil an electric version of the Maxximo mini-truck. An exercise encouraged by government’s National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), the Maxximo electric is expected to draw a good deal from the Group’s electric entity, Reva. If sources claiming to be aware of the development are to be believed, the Maxximo electric will feature the same lithium ion batteries that are deployed in the Reva e2o electric car. The Maxximo electric is expected to have a permanent magnet synchronous motor to deliver 19 bhp of power and 62 Nm of torque. The travel range for a single charge is expected to be 100 km. Apart from the Maxximo electric, Mahindra is expected to display its range of new SCVs and M&HCVs including the Traco 49 tractor.
Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles is expected to showcase its Pro series of trucks and buses. The highlight will be the new Pro 8000 series of construction and cargo heavy-duty truck range. As far as the Pro 6000 series of commercial vehicles are concerned, the company is expected to display the Pro 6025 RMC and 6025T. The Pro 6000 series is powered by a 6-cylinder 7.7-litre VEDX8 diesel engine coupled to a 9 speed ZF 1110TD gearbox (with crawler). This engine is made in India at the new Volvo Eicher powertrain facility apart from a 5-litre diesel engine. Both these engines are exported in advanced emission compliance forms to various Volvo CV locations around the world. As part of the Pro series trucks, the company will also display the newly launched refeer truck range. In case of buses, the CV maker is expected to display the Pro Skyline bus range. Said Vinod Aggarwal, CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, “We have showcased innovation in our products. We are introducing technologically advanced telematics, which will ensure optimum fuel management, engine management and uptime management that are seen in advanced economies. These integrated services based on technology innovation will be seen as benchmark services in the Indian commercial vehicle industry.”
Isuzu India will display various iterations of its D-Max pick-up to present an idea of how versatile the pick-up platform is. Mahindra & Mahindra will be unveiling a new range of commercial vehicles. These are likely to include refreshed medium and heavy-duty models as well as a surprise in the form of an ICV concept. The company is known to be developing a range of ICVs in the 8 to 16-tonne range is on for some time now. Three engines – 3.2-litre, 3.5-litre and 4.8-litre, are expected to power the ICV range. The 4.8-litre engine is said to be based on the 7.2-litre engine that does duty in the medium and heavy-duty range of trucks currently.
Having begun to roll out its buses, JBM will display its low-floor monocoque construction city bus. Built in a technological partnership with BredaMenarinibus of Italy, the bus on display at the Auto Expo is expected to be what will find its way to the various transport undertakings. Ashok Leyland is expected to display its range of new, modern CVs including an Optare electrically operated bus.
Piaggio India is expected to display the new porter range of small commercial vehicles apart from the Ape three-wheelers it produces in India. Atul Auto is also expected to put on display its range of three-wheelers that it produces at its plant at Rajkot. Lohia Auto is expected to display its range of Eco-friendly three-wheelers.
