Having successfully completed 56 years, MOTORINDIA, the popular Chennai-based automobile monthly, has just entered its 57th year of dedicated service to the automotive industry and trade. The journal’s unbroken journey for nearly six decades, with uninterrupted publication every month since inception, is indeed exceptional, and the credit for this achievement goes to the late M. Rajagopalan, the veteran journalist, who launched the new journal almost singlehandedly. Of course, he had the moral support for his venture from his close associates in leading Madras-based companies of the day with whom he had close rapport. What inspired Rajagopalan, whose Birth Centenary is being celebrated this year, to launch the automobile journal was his firm belief that, unlike the other sectors, the automotive industry in India, as elsewhere, has its encouraging future with its role in transport of men and material which is most vital for industrial growth.
Now the Indian auto sector represents almost all international players of world repute who keep expanding their operations despite several odds. The Automotive Mission Plan (2006-16), also announced by Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime Minister, for developing the auto sector on a sustainably long-term basis envisages the sector’s annual turnover growth from $45 billion to $145 billion in 2016. Its contribution to the Indian GDP is projected to increase to 10 per cent from five per cent, and the sector is expected to create an additional 25 million jobs across the value chain.
The Indian auto industry potential was fully reflected in its quick recovery along with the Chinese industry from the worst-ever recession of 2008 when economies around the world were completely paralysed. While the US and Western auto industry reported nil or negative growth during the crisis, the Indian industry bounced back with redoubled vigour and registered positive growth. Not that the Indian industry is back to normal. After a two-year rapid growth of 24 per cent during 2008-09 and 2009-10, the rate has once again slowed to three per cent. However, based on the industry performance over the last two decades, this may be taken as a temporary phase, and the auto sector is bound to be back on its track sooner than later.
It is worth mentioning here that MOTORINDIA is the one and only automotive publication that has been closely associated with the growth story of the Indian automotive industry. We would like to sincerely thank all its readers, advertisers and well-wishers for their whole-hearted support for its success all along.