I N D I A ’ S N O . 1 M A G A Z I N E F O R A U T O M O T I V E N E W S , V I E W S & A N A LY S I S
Auto Monitor
Vol. 13 No. 08
www.a m onli ne.i n
18 March 2013
IN PICS
The ADEA Event First peek into the ADEA event
Honda Amaze to launch sooner Anand Mohan Mumbai
H
onda will launch the Amaze on April 11. Dealers tell us that the launch date has been brought forward from the 16th to get the car into dealerships as soon as possible. They are anticipating a huge response for Honda’s first diesel car. Sources tell us that the company began production of the Amaze in January and has already built over 10,000 units so that the company can ‘flood the streets’ with the Amaze soon after its launch, a strategy Maruti follows with its new car launches. Furthermore, the source added that the company expects to sell 12,000 units of the Amaze per month to begin with and if the demand is higher, it can ramp up production to 20,000 units per month. The Amaze is Honda’s sub-4 metre sedan based on the Brio hatchback. It is powered by the same 1.2 litre petrol engine from the Brio and a new 1.5 litre diesel engine developed specifically for India. Honda has increased the length of the Amaze for rear-seat passenger comfort, and Honda’s ‘man maximum, machine minimum’ design philosophy ensures that the Amaze has enough boot space and doesn’t look like an afterthought. The Amaze is far better proportioned than its main competitor, the new Maruti Dzire with its stubby boot, and also offers marginally more boot space than the hatchback. The Amaze is expected to start at `5 lakh for the base petrol variant, and `6 lakh for the base diesel variant. The top-end diesel will carry a price tag of approximately `7.5 lakh. With the dieselization of the Indian passenger car market, Honda has had to sail troubled waters for a tough few years with no diesel engine in its portfolio. The 1.5litre i-DTEC diesel motor may prove to be the light at the end of the tunnel for Honda.
32 Pages
`50
COLUMN
The Biggest Motor Show Pg 14
Mark Carbery tells us about Geneva
Scan this code on your smart phone to visit www.amonline.in
Pg 24
Honda ups ante with new models Plans strategy to touch No 1 if markets remain what they are now Nabeel A Khan New Delhi
I
f all goes according to plan and circumstances are kind, Japanese automobile major, Honda Motor, hopes to touch the No 1 spot in the Indian two-wheeler segment, much earlier than expected. The company also seems sure that the Indian subsidiary Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) will contribute around 25 percent to global two-wheeler sales in unit terms by then. Currently, HMSI contributes around 18 percent to Honda’s global twowheeler sales. In India, HMSI is at second position in terms of sales of twowheelers, after archrival Hero MotoCorp. “We will touch the top spot by 2015-16, if the current situation prevails. Currently the market size is around 1.4 crore units, and if the market holds out then we will be number one,” said Shinji Aoyama, General Manager, Motorcycle Operations, Honda Motor Co. Japan. HMSI’s only concern is that an increase in the pie size will make it difficult for them to touch new levels because of capacity constraints. The company currently
has an annual production capacity of 2.8 million units across two manufacturing units at Manesar and Rajasthan. It third facility at Karnataka is set to begin production in the next three months which will raise capacity by another 1.2 million units, taking it to a total of 4 million units. In terms of revenue, India contributes around 15 percent that amounts to `1,200 crore in comparison to global two-wheeler sales of 1.4 trillion Yen. “The small revenue share can be explained in terms of the lower cost of per unit bike sold in India,” Aoyama explained. At a time when the automotive segment is seeing dismal figures, the two-wheeler manufacturer has seen a growth of over 30 percent between April 2012 and February 2013. HMSI alone reported a 10.87 percent growth in total sales for February 2013 at 228,444 units, while its total sales stood at 206,043 units in the corresponding month last year. Sales of motorcycles jumped 30.69 percent to touch 108,553 units in February 2013 from 83,061 units in February 2012, the company announced in a statement.
Contd. on Pg 12
HMSI launches Trigger HMSI has unveiled its premium 150cc bike CB Trigger. Expected to go on sale mid-April, the bike is equipped with a combi-brake system (CBS) and offers fuel efficiency of 60 kmpl. The 150cc – 180cc motorcycle segment contributes approximately 10 percent to the Indian 2Wheeler industry. CBS is an easy to operate bike that reduces braking distance by 32 percent compared to conventional braking. The motorcycle delivers peak power of 10.3 Kw @8500 rpm (approx. 14 BHP) and a resounding peak torque of 12.5 Nm @6500 rpm. The bike is also equipped with 240mm front and 220mm rear dual disc brakes which enhance braking efficiency and rider safety. CB Trigger will come in three colors, Meteor Green Metallic, Pearl Siena Red and Black and three variants.
Piaggio launches 3-valve apé city Powered by three-valve engine, the 3-wheeler can run on CNG/LPG/Petrol
P
iaggio has expanded its product portfolio in the three-wheeler category with the launch of apé City. The manufacturer claims that the apé City is powered by a three-valve engine which marks a first for the Indian three-wheeler segment. The apé City, a passenger carrier, will be offered in CNG, LPG and petrol variants. The company has priced the three-
wheeler competitively with the CNG priced at Rs 125,000, LPG at 123,000, and the petrol one for Rs 110,000. It also expects to export 50,000 units of apé. The apé brand has enjoyed considerable success since the time it was introduced. By capitalizing on the already popular brand value, Piaggio is aiming to capture more market share with the apé City.
Like every other manufacturer Piaggio too claims that its newest offering has been developed taking customer feedback into
consideration and is a big add on to its existing range. Piaggio also
Contd. on Pg 12
EDITORIAL ADEA Lessons
I
t was overwhelming, grand, and we had the audience and the participants enthralled. We are grateful. The ADEA awards just about topped the list of the industry’s most coveted event. Not only were the participants eager to spend an entire day with us, but they bonded well with each other. Being on the jury helped me glean a little into understanding the high level of nervousness that dealers undergo. Yes, they wanted the award, and they pitched well to the jury members. But what was heartwarming was their attitude towards it. Those who didn’t qualify cheered just as loudly for those who did. This does teach us a basic lesson. That it is better to come to the aid of others instead of being boorish about it. I joined a group of dealers to engage and learned that most within were in the business of selling competing products. And I marveled that there was no resentment for each others’ business or the people. They were happy to share notes, and also learn along the way. Tips were shared and the others present took it well. Our Chief Guest Dr Pawan Goenka’s speech to the dealers was one of the highlights of the evening. He advised the dealers that though the markets have not been great last few months, the dealers need to stick around and continue to work
because it is THE business to be in. Sometimes, it is not about the money. There’s a passion to the work and commitment that goes with it. And things will change. ADEA also taught us a few more things. That there are people in the industry who are willing to go all out to eliminate ‘hindering rules’. A dealer selling three-wheelers seeing that business was touching nadir moved the local government to ensure that more licenses were issued so that sales of threewheelers went up. And it worked well for him. Overall, one could sense that while the markets are not being too kind, there was a general sense of nerve and commitment to do well. May their tribe increase!
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QUOTES Dharmendra Mishra, VP (Sales, two wheelers), Mahindra & Mahindra
James Farley, Group Vice President For Global Marketing, Sales and Service, Ford
We hope for break even in 2014-15.
India is the big idea market. The consumers have a different reference point when compared to other markets globally. To add to that they are also tough and are among the most informed.
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CONTENTS
14
NEWS Making Do
08
Tough legislation, an economic recession, and rising fuel prices have taught OEMs to adapt to circumstances. We analyse the current automotive segment data provided by SIAM.
Heavy truck sales outlook weak
10
Slowing industrial production and low cargo availability make for bleak near-term prospects.
10
ADEA
14
We bring you the first glimpse into the star studded show that made ADEA. It had everything - panache, grandeur, and had all the best dealers at one place.
23
Tuned coatings ensure cleanliness
23
Contaminated industrial plants cost billions every year in Germany alone. Special coatings can prevent the build-up of contaminants.
The Biggest Motor Show On Earth
24
Alongside the big names and concept cars, making a splash at this year’s Geneva Motor Show were value brands and electric and hybrid vehicles.
Tata to raise JLR capex
10
Tata Motors is looking to add muscle to its Jaguar Land Rover portfolio keeping in mind market potential and reach.
24
10
Shaken, Stirred and Confused
12
Nabeel A Khan looks askance at the constantly reviewing government policies on the fuel adherence laws that require vehicle manufacturers to make changes to specs.
THE OTHER SIDE
30
12
Faisal Matin, Country Director, India & SubContinent, Delphi Isuzu to make LCVs in India Signs agreement with AP government. The company has acquired 430 thousand sq. m. of land and expects to sell 100,000 units annually in future.
12
Before joining Delphi, Faisal worked as a business manager with Global Weighing Tech, an industrial electronics parts and solutions provider.
Auto Monitor
18 MARCH 2013
NEWS
8
Making Do Anand Mohan Mumbai
W
hat doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. That seems to be what’s happening in the automotive industry. Over the past few years, tough legislation, an economic recession, and rising fuel prices have taught OEMs to adapt to changing circumstances. Companies are more frugal and aggressive with marketing new products, and new variants are launched every other week to keep products in the news and fresh in the minds of customers. Car manufacturers are focusing on diesel cars, two wheeler manufacturers are selling more commuter bikes, and commercial vehicle manufacturers have realized the potential of the LCV segment. So although interest rates are high and customers are hesitant to sign on the dotted line, sales are improving. The fiscal year is ending, and sales trends have become evident. Domestic passenger vehicle
sales are up 4.07 percent at 2.43 million, and exports are growing at an impressive 9.67 percent. Commercial vehicle sales have fallen by 1.51 percent overall, but if you look at the LCV space alone, it has surged by 14.53 percent. Two-wheeler sales are up 3.85 percent clocking 12.69 million units, and three-wheelers are up by a steady 5.05 percent.
Passenger cars Among the top four Indian carmakers, Mahindra has had the best run. An excellent value-formoney portfolio with all-diesel models has sent Mahindra sales rising in the past year. The XUV500 and Quanto performed strongly, helping the SUV manufacturer grow by a phenomenal 28 percent. Its counterpart Tata Motors has been steadily slipping in the past year, with an 11 percent dip in sales. What’s alarming is the landslide in the first two months of 2013, a 40.53 percent dip in January and a 51.22 percent fall in February. Tata Motors desperately needs to
Domestic Sales February 2013 2013
April-February Cumulative
YoY Growth
2012-13
YoY Growth
Three wheelers Atul Auto Ltd Bajaj Auto Ltd Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Piaggio Vehicles Pvt Ltd TVS Motor Company Ltd
2,580 18,606 4,803 15,552 1,000
2.75 8.61 -6.03 7.36 -23.37
28,795 2,07,777 60,679 1,68,378 14,614
19.07 11.99 -2.68 -0.98 11.56
Commercial Vehicles Tata Motors Ashok Leyland Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Force Motors Ltd
38,021 9,513 12,751 2,000
-16.88 -2.44 14.76 -10.75
3,98,131 92,654 1,28,169 19,732
-5.52 21.15 11.73 -8.85
1,78,632 4,88,930 2,15,144 32,097 1,42,800
-12.40 -4.12 8.94 18.66 -6.54
22,82,371 54,61,142 23,66,992 3,27,061 16,28,179
-3.14 -1.23 32.72 0.43 -6.14
34,002 6,510 25,837 97,955 19,981 12,756
-7.62 -26.49 12.41 -9.01 -51.22 -23.43
3,49,753 63,439 2,82,275 9,43,156 2,91,964 1,46,052
0.03 46.16 28.10 5.55 -11.02 2.87
Two wheelers Bajaj Auto Ltd Hero MotoCorp Ltd Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd TVS Motor Company Ltd Passenger Vehicles Hyundai Honda Cars India Ltd Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Maruti Suzuki India Ltd Tata Motors Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt Ltd revamp its product portfolio, but there isn’t any significant model launch expected till 2015,
except for the Nano diesel. Will Tata sustain itself till then is the question on most industry
watchers. As of now, the company is piggybacking on JLR’s new-found success.
Maruti has had a good year too, posting a 5.5 percent rise in sales. Hyundai, on the other hand, has reached a plateau. New models across segments haven’t increased sales one bit but if recent newspaper reports are to be believed, the company is raking in much higher profits than before, even doubling it in two years despite losing market share.
Two-Wheelers In the two-wheeler segment Honda is a clear winner, growing a massive 32 percent in the past year and steadily grabbing marketshare from Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj. The Japanese twowheeler manufacturer has overtaken Bajaj to claim the second spot behind Hero MotoCorp in the two-wheeler segment. The world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer hasn’t fared too well since its split with Honda. The Impulse, Hero’s big launch after going solo hasn’t done too well, and the company needs a new breath of life. Hero has been expanding capacity and infrastructure at their R&D division, and has tied up with AVL of Austria and Erik Buell Racing, USA. Both companies are helping Hero develop products in addition to the company’s R&D efforts. Hero has also partnered with Italian two-wheeler design firm Engines Engineering (previously owned by Mahindra 2 Wheelers). Engines Engineering will help Hero in the design of future products. The other major manufacturer TVS has seen a 6.14 percent fall in sales.
Commercial Vehicles Commercial vehicle manufacturers are hoping that M&HCV sales pick up after finance Minister P Chidambaram’s allocation of Rs 14,883 crores for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) in next fiscal year. CV major Tata Motors slipped 5.52 percent while Ashok Leyland and Mahindra have grown by 21.15 percent and 11.73 percent, respectively. BharatBenz is being quite aggressive with its model launches and poses a serious threat to Tata Motors and other major CV manufacturers with their made-for-India trucks. Who would have thought a few years ago that the LCV would be the saving grace of the commercial vehicle segment? The Tata Ace, Ashok Leyland Dost, and Mahindra Maxximo have been crucial to this segment.
Three-wheelers The three wheeler segment is growing at a steady pace helped majorly by the 0.35 tonne capacity passenger vehicles. Bajaj rules this segment with Piaggio not too far behind. There’s the TVS King too in this segment and Atul Auto plans to launch its first 0.35 tonne three-wheeler, tentatively named Gemini, this month. Piaggio recently launched a CNG/LPG version of the Apé to bolster its current range.
Auto Monitor
18 MARCH 2013
NEWS
10
Heavy truck sales outlook weak Slowing industrial production and low cargo availability make for bleak near-term prospects Abhishek Parekh Mumbai
T
he Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicle (M&HC V ) seg ment continues to bear the brunt of weak macro-economic indicators and low cargo availability. Industry players are of the opinion that it would take six to eight months for commercial vehicle(CV) sales to rise,
once recovery measures are undertaken by the government at the state or the national level, in terms of lowering interest rates, increasing infrastructure spending, or discontinuing older vehicles. The CV segment registered a volume decline of around 35 percent in February 2013 YoY, according to a recent report by rating agency ICRA. The report pointed out that the volume decline has been among the sharpest in the current financial year. Among OEMs, Tata Motors’ M&HCV volumes fell a sharp 47 percent owing to slowing demand in its key North & Wester n
region markets, Ashok Leyland’s volumes declined around 20 percent with Volvo Eicher registering a drop of 14 percent YoY. The segment is unlikely to recover in the near-term given that operators are shying away from expanding their fleets owing to weak cargo availability and relatively subdued freight rates. The Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) segment, on the other hand, continues to show momentum with the sub 3.5 (cargo) segment witnessing a 13 percent YoY growth. While Volvo Eicher continues to gain market share in the M&HCV segment aided by new model introductions and a growing sales network, Ashok Leyland made a good head start in the LCV segment with its first product offering ’Dost’. With more model introductions over the medium term, the Chennai based CV manufacturer could build a market share of seven to eight percent in the LCV segment. “We continue to see signifi-
cant downturn and pressure on the sales volumes in the 5 tonne and above segment. The industry is falling very sharply and it is the lowest quarterly sales volume in the last few years,” according to an official from Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV Eicher) in a recent interaction with analysts. Four major segments, i.e., 5-14 tonne, 16 tonne and above, buses as well as export, witnessed a decline in the fourth quarter last year. For the year 2012, the industry recorded overall sales volumes of 395,000 units, around 12 percent lower compared to 2011. In the fourth quarter, the segment recorded a sales volume of around 76,000 units, which is a drop of 29 percent over the same period last year. “We have a phase with a very weak operating environment and weak macroeconomic situation in the country, and with intense competitive pressures and the pricing pressure on the products increasing marketing
spend. The medium and heavy commercial vehicles volumes are affected significantly,” pointed out C Ramakrishnan, Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors in a recent interaction with analysts and media. Tata Motors officials pointed out that if the government recharges some revival programs, or if some major decisions or actions to tone up the economy is taken, it might still take at least a quarter or two for it to work its way into the system and result in medium and heavy truck demand. Most commercial vehicle manufacturers including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland and AMW are running their capacities much below the regular norm of 75 to 80 percent load factor for fear of saddling dealers with excess inventory in a dull market. Industry players also rule out any significant price increase in the near to medium term given the weak demand and intense competition leading to discounting of products.
Tata to raise JLR capex Our Bureau Mumbai
T
ata Motors is looking to add muscle to its Jaguar Land Rover portfolio keeping in mind market potential and reach. It has revised its capital expenditure plans for the marquee British brand from two billion pounds ($3.03 billion) to 2.75 billion pounds ($4.17 billion) over the next few years, according to a recent presentation to analysts by top company officials. The British luxury brands, acquired by Tata Motors in 2010, have emerged as major profit contributors to Tata Motors and have witnessed a revival in some of its key markets. Company officials pointed out that it is essential to continue investing in the brands to sustain the momentum in coming years, even as the brands face the heat of a recent global sales slowdown. JLR sales volumes stood at 89,000 units, a growth of 14 percent compared to the third quarter in the previous fiscal. Retail sales for nine months ended December 2012 was around 260,000 units as compared to 208,000 units in the corresponding period in the previous fiscal. The higher sales were mainly driven by continued momentum in the Land Rover brand (a growth of 12,000 units or 17 percent) contributed by Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Sport and the Freelander. Jaguar sales were down 1,000 units in the third quarter this fiscal as compared to the corresponding quarter in the previous fiscal. “It would be a challenge to sustain the sales and margin on JLR as the sales product mix has been higher for lower margin entry level product like the Evoque and the Freelander in addition to higher marketing and brand promotion related expenses. The expenses are likely to rise further with higher R&D spend and additional market related expenses on new launches in coming months,” pointed out C Ramakrishnan, Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors in a recent interaction with analysts and the media. The company has seen increasing pressure on retail sales in recent months for the Jaguar and Land Rover brands. Global sales for JLR grew a mere 3 percent YoY in February 2013. Land Rover sales fell 8 percent in February to 22,260 units as compared to 22,434 units. Jaguar sales, in contrast, grew around 27 percent in February to 4,595 units while sales grew 4 percent for the year till date to 48,770 units. The sales for both the brands were down in China, which had emerged as the single largest market for the brands in recent months, falling around 22 percent in February this year, while Land Rover sales were down 30 percent in February in China.
Auto Monitor
18 MARCH 2013
COLUMN
12
Shaken, Stirred and Confused
Nabeel A Khan New Delhi
W
e need clarity on policies. This has been one of the most com mon responses from automotive industry leaders when questioned about their expectations from the government. By clarity, they most often mean pan-India standards for fuel, duty structures, and a clear road map on manufacturing policy. But the government fails to rise and deliver the right answers and
leaves the industry baffled. The industry is already flummoxed with the varied emission norms of Bharat Stage-IV (BSIV) and BS III and has entered yet another maze. The latest government notification has ruled that the blend of ethanol in gasoline should be raised ‘up to’ 10 percent to bring down the national average of five percent. This leaves OEMs guessing as to which region is abiding by what level of ethanol blend. The higher content of ethanol will certainly help the bleeding oil companies to improve cost but leave the end consumer confused. There are some regions where ethanol is easily available, but some southern states may stand to suffer in terms of supply as the state government may not allow enough supply, despite abundance. This is because these states use ethanol to producing liquor. But states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra may support this change. However, the anguish doesn’t end here. In the case of two-wheelers,
some vehicles are not compatible with elevated ethanol content as it could be damaging to the vehicle. Even if manufacturers make vehicles compatible with the higher ethanol content, the ‘up to’ ten percent clause cannot be applied due to the lack of uniform fuel availability across the country. The uniform fuel quality across regions is very important as people often travel distances. Vehicle manufactures are dealing with the diesel dilemma on various fronts. Manufacturers have begun producing engines complaint with BS-IV (and even BS-V in some cases), but the government continues with dual quality BS-IV and BS-III options. Bringing in uniform BS-IV quality of diesel in the country could cost the government over a lakh crore rupees and so it is resorting to gradual upgradation of fuel policy city by city. The higher cost of BS-IV diesel also tends to discourage vehicle owners having a BS-IV engine and buy the BS-III engine that impacts the vehicle as well as the
Isuzu to make LCVs in India
Even if OEMs make vehicles compatible with the higher ethanol content, the ‘up to’ 10 pc clause cannot be applied due to the lack of uniform fuel availability. ed with the new definition of duty for Sports Utility Vehicle (SUVs) while levying an extra duty. Defining an SUV by using ground clearance as the benchmark has brought in many traditional sedans under the SUV segment. This segment which was doing well despite the gloom is now running scared. All in all, the more clarity the industry seeks, the more there is a chance to bring in confusion, say several companies. There seems to be some disconnect between the two stakeholders. They need to come on one board that will accelerate growth, and see real growth.
Honda ups ante... Contd. from P1 In a bid to achieve more, the company is looking to widen its network as much as possible. “We have decided to open at least one touchpoint everyday. It could be at a Honda dealership or authorized workshops,” said Yadvinder S Guleria, VP, Sales & Marketing, HMSI. Honda manages about 2,000 touchpoints in India including 1,300 dealerships. Aoyama insists that “India can be the hub for Honda’s two-wheeler operations, mainly with respect to technology”. The company recently opened a technical centre in India. In terms of production line expansion, the company is keeping its word it had announced at the Auto Expo in Delhi about launching a product every quarter and has launched seven models since. Looking at its rival’s strength in the 100 cc mass segment, HMSI realizes it needs three more models in the category. Currently it has two bikes in this category: Dream Yuga that has been selling well, and Twister. Simultaneously, the company is launching 3-4 models of two-wheelers in the current financial year that will help it gain traction in terms of market share. It is also scouting locations for setting up a new plant.
Signs agreement with AP government
I
suzu Motors India Private L i m ited ( herei na f ter “Isuzu”), the core company for starting the LCV operations in Indian, has signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh State Government to start LCV manufacturing operations and acquired land for the new plant, which would be the centre for full-scale LCV operations. The acquired land is located in Sricity in the southern part of Andhra Pradesh state. Isuzu has settled on Sricity as it is most suited given its access to Chennai, where many automobile related industries are situated, located closely to the port for import and export, and the background of developing a support foothold for its main LCV operations in Thailand. The company has acquired 430 thousand sq. m. of land and expects to sell 100,000 units annually in future.
environment. While the government insists on reducing sulfur emissions by increasing the fuel efficiency, light-weighting of the vehicles is what the manufacturers are abiding to. The automotive industry is also hit on another front – the issue of multiple taxes levied on vehicles. For some time, the industry has been demanding a single tax policy through goods and services tax (GST) and that is not likely to happen soon. In the last few months, the UPA government has been giving glimpses of hope by depicting some commitment towards implementing GST. In the recent Budget, the Finance Minister promised state governments compensation for losses suffered once GST comes into practice and also allocated `9,000 crore. However, this appears to be a delusion and if things go as they are then the industry is likely to have a long wait till the leading opposition party supports GST. And as if all this is not enough, then there is a new muddle creat-
Piaggio launches... Isuzu has started sales of pick-up truck (D-MAX) and pick-up derivative (MU-7) from this month by importing CBUs. It will build up a sales network starting two states - Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and expand accordingly.
India’s automobile industry has grown to a market with annual sales of 3,600,000 units last year. Especially the pick-up truck segment, the core product of Isuzu’s LCV, has expanded at a high speed to a market with annual sales of 200,000 units.
Contd. from P1 claims that its apé City has the best mileage in class, highest power and torque in its category, superior gradability along with generous seating and luggage space. While these claims may be debatable, the manufacturer does deserve praise for launching a three-wheeler capable of being powered by alternate fuels. Piaggio is offering its apé City with a 12-months/36000 km warranty along with four free services. The manufacturer is also confident that its vast sales and service network with over 750 touch points will further lure customers towards their brand. The manufacturer is hopeful the apé City will also be a popular choice among buyers owing to its superior performance, ergonomics, operating efficiency & enhanced earning potential. Speaking at the launch, Ravi Chopra, Chairman & Managing Director of Piaggio India Pvt. Ltd. said, “Our emphasis has always been on value creation. Be it product design or performance. We have consistently gone to the market with our customers in mind. Anticipating the regulatory shift towards more eco-friendly vehicles and customer’s needs for a small, fuel efficient and comfortable 3 wheeler, we conceived the apé City to deliver exceptional value and a superior experience to our customers.” “Today, we are confident the apé City will outclass others in the alternative fuel segment and will help consolidate our position in the 3 wheeler segment. Created on the basis of extensive customer need-gap analysis, apé City is truly a world class product that will complement Piaggio’s existing 3-wheeler portfolio. It should emerge as a preferred option over competition in this segment on the strength of its operating efficiencies, enhanced earning potential, and both driver & passenger comfort,” added Chopra. Piaggio Vehicles started its Indian operations in 1999. It has a manufacturing plant at Baramati, which has a production capacity of over 250,000 3-wheelers and 100,000 4-wheelers. They claim to have 60 percent cargo marketshare and 31 pc 3-wheeler passenger market share.
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The Chief Guest Dr Pawan Goenka, President - Automotive & Farm Equipment, Mahindra & Mahindra, addressed the audience.
ADEA
Bertrand D’Souza, Editor, OVERDRIVE and Auto Monitor delivered the welcome speech.
Sandeep Khosla, CEO, Network 18 Publishing, thanked the audience for their participation.
18 MARCH 2013
Nikunj Sanghi, Managing Director, JS Fourwheel Motors vt Ltd, and Past President of FADA.
Auto Monitor
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ADEA
18 MARCH 2013
T.V. Sundram Iyengar & Sons Ltd emerged Winner in the three-wheelers segment.
Automotive Marketing delivers a vote of thanks after winning the trophy from K Srinivas for Dealer of the Year in the Commercial Vehicles segment.
Dr Pawan Goenka hands over the trophy to Winner PR Sawhney Motors in the Commercial Vehicles category.
Winner Pratham Honda is all smiles as they receive the trophy for Winner in two-wheelers from Sandeep Singh, Deputy Managing Director (Marketing), Toyota Kirloskar Motor, and A Krishnakumar.
A rapt audience is all ears at the highly engaging panel discussion and the awards function.
Runner-up Bagga Links is all smiles as he receives the trophy for three-wheelers from Sandeep Khosla.
Paved with good intentions: Winners, organisers, and CARERatings gather round for that show of strength.
Auto Monitor
18 MARCH 2013
ADEA
20
Winner Nippon Toyota and Runner-up Automotive Manufacturers Pvt Ltd take home awards for Service Satisfaction Index.
Runner-up remove thisAutomotive photo (put Manufacturers bagga here) Pvt Ltd bagged the trophy in the four-wheelers segment.
Runner-up Anamallais Agencies (Stadium) accepts the trophy from K Srinivas, President, Motorcycle Business, Bajaj Auto.
A Krishnakumar, Managing Director & Group Executive (National Banking), State Bank of India and Dr Pawan Goenka are ready to announce the next winner.
Jury members deliberate on the various parameters before the actual judging.
Runner-up VJ Honda shows off his trophy that he won in the two-wheelers segment.
A panoramic view of the awards hall.
The team at Auto Monitor.
The Devilbiss stall at the venue.
The Fenner folks pose for ADEA.
State Bank of India pitches in with its schemes for the automotive sector.
The Vodafone stall at the event.
18 MARCH 2013
N E W M AT E R I A L S
Auto Monitor
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Tuned coatings ensure cleanliness Contaminated industrial plants cost billions every year in Germany alone. Special coatings can prevent the build-up of contaminants. Researchers are now able to adapt ultra-thin coatings for an extremely wide range of applications.
A
ll of us are faced with the same daily batt le aga inst dir t. Nevert heless, once laziness is overcome, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers or washing machines can relatively quickly restore order in our homes. However, keeping industrial plants and equipment clean is a different kind of challenge entirely. In such cases, the devil is often in the details, as is the case in, for example, the milk pasteurization processes. Dissolved milk proteins tend to build-up in pipes, boilers or heat exchangers of the equipment being used. After one working shift they are already soiled to such a degree that the entire plant has to be shut down for cleaning. This translates into huge costs for manufacturers. Such deposits, referred to by experts as “fouling”, can disrupt production processes. Studies
demonstrate the versatility of their new anti-fouling coatings at the Hanover trade fair by way of a recreated fountain. Here, water runs over the variously tuned surfaces and forms – depending on the degree of the anti-adhesive effect – different droplet patterns. “Now that we understand how to individually configure the layers, the next stage involves tackling the question of how to most efficiently produce the coated equipment. Anti-fouling already works extremely well for external surfaces, however, internal coating, for example for pipes, is anything but straightforward. For this reason, we are now collaborating with industry and research partners to create new manufacturing processes”, concludes Keunecke. Courtesy: Fraunhofer Institute
suggest that this results in costs of between 5 and 7 billion euros per year in Germany alone.
Tailor-made for every requirement At the Surface trade fair (8 to 12 April, Hall 3, Stand D25) in Hanover, Germany, the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST, based in Brunswick (Braunschweig), Germany, is exhibiting a range of technologies that prevent fouling within plants in the first place. Special coatings prevent proteins, salt crystals and calcium carbonate deposits from sticking to the surfaces of plants or system components. The difficulty in achieving this is that the types of deposits vary depending on the materials used to manufacture the plant and the liquids used. Scientists have now found a way to adapt the coatings for a wide variety of different industrial applications and loads. They achieved this by “custom tuning” the structures and surface energy of the coating surfaces. One important variable in this formula is the surface energy of the coating. It determines to what extent deposits are able to cake on. “The range of properties relating to these layers range from high wear protection through to an extreme anti-fouling effect. With the help of special process technology, we are now able to create practically any desired property”, explains Dr. Martin Keunecke, Head of Department for New Tribological Coatings at IST. The coatings are made up of carbon and other elements and are just a few micrometers thick. That corresponds to approximately 50 times thinner than a human hair. Both extremely hard and durable, carbon layers are characterized by excellent anti-corrosion and anti-wear properties. Their surface energy, and thereby cohesive properties, can be further reduced by integrating non-metallic elements such as fluorine and silicone. This leads to an additional anti-fouling effect. “Depending on the type and quantity of the elements used, we are able to control the properties of the coatings in a targeted way”, explains Dr. Peter-Jochen Brand, Head of Department for the Tribology Transfer Center at IST. “This is necessary because industrial plants are subjected to a wide range of differing stresses resulting from liquid substances. Just consider milk processing or fruit juice manufacturing in the foods industry, paint production in the chemical sector, production of medications in the pharmaceuticals industry or the transportation of crude oil.”
Strong demand for anti-fouling solutions Industry currently uses carbon-based coatings primarily in order to reduce friction and wear. Although already in great demand, antifouling applications are still in their infancy. For this reason, Keunecke and Brand are anticipating fresh momentum from the market as a result of their innovation. The scientists will
Auto Monitor
18 MARCH 2013
COLUMN
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The Biggest Motor Show On Earth Alongside the big names and concept cars, making a splash at this year’s Geneva Motor Show were value brands and electric and hybrid vehicles.
Mark Carbery
E
ven by the standards of the Geneva International Motor Show, where there’s always a riot of concept cars, and obscure lowvolume carmakers sit right next to the market leaders, the 2013 event in early March was something else. The show sits in a bubble, surrounded by snowcapped mountains and clean air, in a place of international financial muscle where they’ve just found the God Particle. It’s not like other motor shows. Against a wider European backdrop of punishing austerity, the proliferation of exotic new vehicles at the show was in sharp contrast to the number of significant volume car launches, underlined by the fact that Ford’s new Mondeo has been delayed 18 months by Ford’s need to address its European restructuring. So where else to start than the world’s most luxurious car company? Rolls-Royce wheeled on the most powerful model it has ever offered, the Wraith. A coupe producing 624bhp and capable of accelerating from 0-100kph in under 4.5 seconds, it takes the RR brand into new territory. If it
strays too far into performance and technology it could take the focus away from its core identity of traditional luxury. Perhaps that’s why it has eschewed the clever drivetrain technologies and light weight so obvious in the two hybrid supercars at Geneva which grabbed the attention of engineers and salivating schoolboys alike. McLaren’s P1 was shown in production form and produces 903bhp from its 3.2-litre turbocharged V8 petrol engine combined with an electric motor, enough for 0-100kph in 2.8 seconds and ferocious 0-200kph acceleration in 7.0 seconds – like a Formula 1 car, more important than the 350kph top speed. Extensive use of carbon fibre and the removal of all unnecessary weight – the windows are made from plastic and carpets are an option – underline the goal of McLaren to make the P1 the world’s fastest road car on a racing circuit, where it has the proven ability to challenge Ferrari in Grand Prix racing. The P1 will set you back £866,000. Ferrari’s ta ke, dubbed LaFerrari, was shown for the first time at Geneva and required up to an hour of patient waiting for a glimpse, which says a lot about the Ferrari brand’s magical lure and also about the size of McLaren’s task in taking it on. It is essentially similar to the McLaren – a petrol-electric hybrid utilising Formula 1 design principles, producing over 900bhp and with a focus on dynamics over top speed Ferrari does not even quote one.
However, unlike the McLaren the Ferrari uses a 6.3-litre normally aspirated engine and twin electric motors, fed by a KERS system. It also trumps the McLaren in most respects on paper, with an astounding 950bhp, more torque, faster acceleration to 300kph and a higher price tag - £1,040,000.
It was comforting to be reminded that there are cars which people actually want to buy. The European Car of the Year award is made on the eve of the Geneva show, and this year it went to the VW Golf, which more than any other mainstream car demonstrates an understanding of the consumer. In comparison, Lamborghini’s conventionally powered Veneno, a run of three cars already sold for £3.1 million each, looks somewhat retrograde. It’s full of sound and fury but signifies little for the future of motoring, whereas the P1, LaFerrari and Porsche’s previously revealed 918 Spyder apply technologies which could redefine green cars of the future and therefore redefine motoring. Their combination of a fossil-fuel engine with electric motors and battery packs, and the ability to recover and store energy, can give a car with a small engine the
same effective power as one with a much larger powerplant. But that’s for the future. In the here and now, only mainstream sales growth will shrug off the depression cloaking the industry after five successive years of declining sales in Europe, with 2012 registering the lowest demand since 1995 and the biggest fall since 1993. Bosses in Geneva were warning that the market will continue to be weak for at least another five years. Renault has been in an alarmingly downward spiral, and in Geneva it was announced that France’s famously protectionist unions have agreed to the loss of 7500 jobs and a pay freeze. Even the region’s powerhouse, Germany, has been falling, down 3% in 2012 and around 10% this year. So it was comforting to be reminded that there are cars which people actually want to buy. The European Car of the Year award is made on the eve of the Geneva show, and this year it went to the VW Golf, which more than any other mainstream car demonstrates an understanding of the consumer. Ironically, this near-premium model of restraint is probably even more relevant in the current economic situation: it’s a quality item which does everything you could reasonably wish for, at a very affordable price. That’s something which the Hyundai-Kia double act has understood and profited from enormously over the last five or so years. Their cars may lack the badge, but precious little else, and the group is doubling its adver-
tising spend to help fix that. The two brands were located at opposite ends of the show as though advancing on their European competitors with a Vulcan death grip, and both stands were full of well-styled, nicely finished cars. Kia’s Pro Cee’d sporty hatchback could easily wear an Audi or Volvo badge, and Hyundai’s i30 appears to have been copied – less successfully - by the new Toyota Auris. And both companies had somet hing mould-brea k ing interesting on show – Hyundai the world’s first production hydrogen fuel-cell vehicle, an adapted ix35 SUV, Kia the Provo concept study for a muscular subMini size ‘urban-racer’. Forget its hybrid powertrain – if productionised, this could inspire a new niche, picking up where the rather more effeminate Fiat 500 and Opel Adam stop. Like Hyundai-Kia, Skoda has been transformed, and its new Octavia C-segment offering advances the formula. You get a lot for your money – space and high quality thanks to its VW Group ownership, and increasingly confident styling. But just as Skoda is surely taking customers away from the VW brand, a new company capable of spoiling the party for Skoda and several other brands made its debut in Geneva. Qoros is a joint venture between China’s Chery and Israel Corporation. It has recruited senior people from all the major OEMs, is based in Germany, and set its stall out convincingly in at the show.
Contd. on Pg 26
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The Biggest Motor... Contd. from Pg 24 Two of its three cars were shown as concepts, but are clearly fully-formed and production-ready. This message a lone differentiates Qoros from the majority of Chinese brands which have dipped their toes in European waters – the company has created cars suitable for Western markets and is underplaying its mission. The four-door sedan is the only official model but the wagon and crossover alongside it are the same as the sedan from the B-pillar forward; the crossover has a distinct rear end and a higher ride height. Styled by Gert Hildebrand, the former Mini designer, all are understated but well proportioned; they are not derivative and they have a certain presence. The fact that the sedan will be launched first suggests that Qoros will initially be targeting the Eastern and Central European markets where that type of car sells well, leaving the major markets, with their taste for five doors, for when the time is right. Qoros is another thing to
think about for the mainstream brands already reeling from the challenge posed by value brands and a Euro Zone in crisis. They’re fighting back strategically though – for the established OEMs the 2013 Geneva show was about two things: small SUVs and new niches. Renault’s play has been to launch an appealingly fresh small SUV in Geneva, the Captur, based on the recently introduced Clio. The Captur has clean lines, options for personalisation, good interior space and will help the company recover vital relevance and, perhaps, turn the corner. It will have to fight hard to become the small SUV market leader however. Peugeot’s 2008, also unveiled at the show, has class-leading weight and efficiency, an offroad system inherited from the larger 3008 crossover, and a head-up display giving access to Peugeot apps. Ford joined Geneva’s small SUV party with the Ecosport. This is very much a product of our time. Ford can’t afford to be a late entrant so it
Volkswagen XL1
looked around and found it had something ready to go. However, the Ecosport was conceived in Brazil for emerging markets; the fact that it was not developed or styled for Europe will tell in
the battle with the Captur, 2008 and Opel’s Mokka, but ultimately Ford needs to be there and the margin on the India-built European Ecosport is key. The transition from the tra-
ditional product segments to a market characterised by niches moves on at an alarming pace, and in Geneva several of the major OEMs introduced cars which don’t fit into existing seg-
ments. BMW showed its 3-Series GT, a liftback variant of the sedan but longer, wider and taller, and with more space than the wagon. Mercedes debuted the CLA, a small four-door coupe with less space than the C-Class model it’s based on. And it was telling that Qoros was launching an entire company with a hybrid 4WD crossover as part of its core offering.
Get Real Even where a brand was not touting a niche vehicle the lesson was clear: it’s all about the product, its appeal and quality. VW learned to invest in product with the Golf, and look where it is now. Kia moved from being a value brand to a producer of stylish vehicles by bringing in the Audi TT designer Peter Schreyer, and recently promoted him to president. Qoros has singlehandedly advanced the cause of the Chinese by launching in Europe with cars which look, feel and smell like a VW group product. So you have to praise Opel for not only the recent Adam, Mokka and Astra GTC coupe but, in Geneva, the Cascada, an Astra-based fourseat convertible with real style and perfect proportions. It’s a designer’s car and one which, logically, shouldn’t have made it through GM’s cost-cutting. Then there’s Alfa Romeo’s 4C, a small sports car which has gone from concept to production intact. It may be just a niche product but it’s an important one: it is central to Sergio Marchionne’s ambitious plan to move the brand from 100,000 to 300,000 units a year by 2016 as part of the Fiat group’s drive for profitability. Talking of which, Tata’s Jaguar brought its halo model, the F-Type, to Geneva for the first time, but there is a growing feeling that the car is priced too high to attract the younger customers Jaguar wants, ranging from just under £60,000 to £80,000. At this level Porsche makes life extremely difficult, with the Boxster S priced at £45,000 and the 911 from £73,000. Jaguar’s sister brand Land Rover is the star of Tata’s portfolio. There was nothing new on the Geneva stand, but the company is glowing in the aftermath of the new Range Rover launch and huge demand for the Evoque. It owns the premium and luxury SUV territory right now. But the final word has to go to VW. If this industry is all about making cars people want to buy then it would have been easy to overlook its futuristic XL1 (pictured above) in Geneva. This plug-in hybrid two-seater with gull-wing doors will shortly go into production at the rate of just 1000 cars a year. But it’s a technological marvel with fuel consumption of just 1 litre/per km, more than 300mpg, and it looks the part so people will want one. The XL1, more than any car in recent years, demonstrates the industry’s ongoing ability to reinvent itself and, crucially, offers a glimpse into a future beyond Europe’s current economic challenges.
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Auto Monitor
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ACE Micromatic Group
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THE OTHER SIDE
18 MARCH 2013
Getting Personal with Faisal Matin, Country Director, India & Sub-Continent, Delphi Product & Service Solutions
If not in the auto industry, where would you be? If not automotive, I would have been an entrepreneur. What car do you drive? What do you dream of driving? I currently drive the Toyota Corolla Altis. I would like to own a Beetle -- give me some time! First graduate to the Beetle, then talk of the next … I bite it in pieces. Your most recent heartwarming experience? Attending a training on Breakthrough Achievement Program – a good experience. What are you currently reading? Simply Fly by Captain Gopinath. A little old, but motivating. What do you do when not talking auto? Listen to music, read, and spend time with the family. An outdoor activity you would miss office for… Aaaah…..nothing really. Outdoor with family would be fun! Where did you go for your last holiday? Just visited Agra on a weekend getaway. You get angry when… When I want to! What is the one thing you would like to change about yourself? I wish I was over 6 feet tall. Best thing to have happened to you… I guess - Delphi.
An experience I won’t forget…
Illustration: Sachin Pandit
I performed in a skit/drama at a Global Leadership Meet at Delphi HQ at Troy, Michigan, and won the Best Actor (so-called Oscar) award from the Global President of Delphi Product & Service Solutions. I got to re-live my school and college days and that was nostalgic.
In Real Life Faisal Matin is Countr y Director, India & Sub-Continent, for Delphi Product & Service Solutions. Faisal is responsible for aftermarket activities, product strateg y, customer strategy and P&L accountability for DPSS India & sub-continent. Before joining Delphi, Faisal worked as a business manager with Global Weighing Tech, an industrial electronics parts and solutions provider. Faisal holds an Advanced Executive Program from IIM Calcutta, an MBA Degree in Business Administration from IPM, and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from Delhi University.
Regn. No. MH/MR/WEST/20/2012-2014. RNI No. MAHENG/2000/11414 Licenced to post at Mumbai patrika channel sorting office G.P.O. Mumbai 400 001. Date Of Mailing:16th & 17th Fortnightly Issue. Date Of Publication: 13th of Every Month
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