The Indian CV is no longer limited to the Indian boundaries. It is making itself known the world over

The Rajya Sabha, through an amendment in the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988 has given a final nod to e-rickshaws. The only rider being that these will have to be made in India, rather than from imported kits. A driving license is a must and will be issued after a year of learning. This would not have happened without the initiative and efforts taken by the road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari, who has also stressed on the use of concrete to make roads. He has also spoken about an ambitious plan to lay 30 km of roads per day in the next two years. With mining activities and infra projects set to resume, the commercial vehicle sector in India will see the return of better days. While heavy commercial vehicle sales have come into a positive zone, those segments that are dragging have shown growth in sales too, though it will take some more time until they return to positive. Industry confidence is on the rise, and is reflected by developments such as the Scania bus plant going on stream, and Tata Motors introducing the Super Ace Mint to address the rising aspirations of the small commercial vehicle buyer. With issues like scarcity of drivers and higher interest rates continuing to plague the CV sector, the influx of young, educated entrepreneurs is proving to be a ray of hope. A big shift is due in the CV sector as sales rise. If the Tata Prima T1 racing championship could attract 45,000 people, it is certain that the Indian CV is no longer limited to the Indian boundaries. It is making itself known the world over. It is finding acceptance in some of the most demanding markets in the world. It did not surprise me when an Indian gentleman with a slightly heavy accent walked up to me at the Budh International Circuit and said that the Prima had found its way to the Middle East. If the Tata Prima found its way to the Middle East, the bus chassis manufactured at Daimler’s Indian operation found its way to Egpyt. Even before the first bus for the Indian market has found it way out of the Daimler plant in Chennai.

Indian commercial vehicles are enjoying a rising acceptance in the SAARC region, the Middle East and in the African continent. I was not surprised when a gentleman who runs a used CV e-commerce platform expressed that he got an inquiry from an African operator for a certain CV that he found to have been listed on the site. Rising commerce between the African countries and India, is set to give shape to a India-Africa story while American, European and Japanese manufacturers continue to be busy addressing the needs of their markets. Perhaps not finding the time and the right resources to serve a market like Africa. Clearly, Indian commercial vehicles are finding favour in Africa over those sourced from other parts of the world, including China. This seems to be a trend in the SAARC region too. The arduous operating environment in the SAARC, African and Middle-Eastern environments seem to work in favour of the robust-built Indian commercial vehicles.

Bhushan Mhapralkar

b.mhapralkar@nextgenpublishing.net