CV makers unveil exciting new products, EVs steal the show
The 14th edition of India’s biggest automotive event at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, where automakers unwrapped their brainchildren with lots of glamour, glitz and grandeur, turned out to be a relatively smaller show in size, but fairly illustrious in terms of stock extravaganza and sneak peek into future mobility. This year the event seemed far mellower since the beginning. That was partially expected, as the list of non-participants exceeded the exhibitors, therefore less number of stalls and ensuing crowd. Yet, I still hoped that the show would pick up gradually like a diesel engine to its peak torque. But it seemed not getting any better.
With the press conferences and unveiling of new vehicles passing by, that’s when I realized that it isn’t a diesel engine I’m dealing with. It’s sheer ‘electric’ – there was no grinding or rumbling noise while cranking, nor any revs, but yes, the expo was hitting the aspired torque output as the previous shows. In spite of the limited number of participants, there was no dearth of electric vehicles on display.
Almost every manufacturer across motorcycles, cars and heavy-vehicle categories showcased their recipe of EV technology that is way close to, if now absolutely ready to go catapult the automotive industry. I firmly believe that Auto Expo 2018 will possibly go down as a significant cusp in the Indian automotive history as automakers are starting to truly embrace electromobility.
Megatrends and takeaways
This year’s Auto Expo witnessed over 500 exhibits from 119 exhibitors, including 53 automakers, of which 14 were new brands. Together, there were over 81 premieres of all-new products, 22 market launches, and 18 concept vehicle revelations, including 25 electric vehicles across all segments. The show was again one of the best attended yet, with 605,175 footfall and positive feedback from all quarters of the industry, according to Mr. Sugato Sen, Deputy Director, SIAM.
What was interesting to note was that almost every automaker was trying to come up to those global disruptions that are plaguing the Indian automotive industry, or likely to in the near future. And hence the quest for electric and connected mobility that was apparently visible in almost every presentation at the show floor. Not just among established OEMs, but also from many start-up companies, thereby opening up new avenues for the industry to collaborate on future mobility technologies.
In the commercial vehicles space in particular, electrification of mass urban transportation and last-mile connectivity was quite pronounced. There were six pure-electric battery-powered buses on display, all of them locally-built including Ashok Leyland concept with swappable batteries. A host of EVs on SCV four- and three-wheeler platforms were also presented at the show, especially the mouth-watering UDO and ATOM concepts from Mahindra. It is clear that electric buses in urban applications are becoming new realities as they are better suited for the current battery technology limitations and support the pursuance of emission-free city transport.
Moving on to the trucking industry, there is hardly any sign of electrification happening in India, thanks to cost-sensitivity and practicality issues in cargo haulage. Yet, one can see a consistent impetus on reduced carbon-footprint using environmental-friendly fuels and improved fuel efficiency of trucks. The case in point is the new LNG-powered light truck from Tata Motors, along with the company’s selling of AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) as a practical modality to improved fuel economy and lower TCO in the long run. Tata also showcased the new-gen diesel ‘Turbotron’ 3- and 5-litre engines for CVs that guarantee best-in-class mileage and performance.
Mahindra, for its part, presented its ‘FuelSmart Technology’ in Blazo 25 Tipper and Blazo 49 ‘Smart’ truck, along with the demo of its BS-IV driveline with Smart SCR system for HCVs. CNG as a greener fuel also gained new momentum in the light truck category with the launch of Mahindra Optimo CNG and SML Isuzu Sartaj ‘Global Series’ CNG.
Another big talking point in the trucking arena was the aspiration for higher payload. Post-GST, long-distance haulage beyond State borders seems to be catching up. But the driver shortage problem is more acute in the tractor-trailer segment, so rigid trucks with higher tonnage rating may be preferred. Truck makers are geared up and Auto Expo saw the unveiling of the country’s first highest tonnage (37+ GVW) rigid truck – Tata Signa 4323.T 6-axle, 16-wheeler truck. The company has also equipped Prima LX 3718.T with heavy-duty rear rubber suspension for greater payloads. Mahindra Blazo 37 with pusher lift axle was also on display.
In fact, the diversification of Signa and Blazo truck ranges signifies the growing importance of ‘value trucks’ in the domestic market. They are ‘semi-premium’ that strikes a right balance in terms of affordability and essential equipment and technologies. Further, active truck safety systems was a key area of thrust this year, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Automatic Traction Control, Emergency Braking, Lane Departure Warning, etc. – all demonstrated by the Tata Prima LX 4930.S ‘Safety’ truck. Mahindra exhibited on-board drowsiness sensors for truck drivers in the ‘Smart’ truck.
In a nutshell, every motor show offers an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming products that are likely to be launched in the next 24 months. That’s not all; expos are like weathervanes that right point out the direction in which the auto industry is progressing. New ideas, pronounced vision, and collaborations – a reality projection of the future mobility. Auto Expo 2018 was no exception.