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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. Ra-
jagopalan, the veteran journalist, who
launched the new journal almost single-
handedly. Of course, he had the moral
support for his venture from his close as-
sociates in leading Madras-based compa-
nies 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 indus-
try 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 addi-
tional 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 au-
tomotive 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.
Publishers
Gopali & Co., Quanta Zen Building,
No.38, Thomas Road, 2nd Street, Off. South
Boag Road, T.Nagar, Chennai - 600 017.
Ph.: 24330979, 42024951. Fax: 044-24332413
Email: motorindiamagazine@gmail.com
Founder
M. Rajagopalan
Mentor
Rajagopalan Kalidasan
Managing Editor & Publisher
R. Natarajan
(Res: 24343475 Cell: 9381062161)
Email: motorindiamagazine@gmail.com
Assistant Editor
K.N. Ananthanarayanan (Cell: 9003053132)
Executive Editor & General Manager
K. Gopalakrishnan
(42127950, Cell: 9840897542)
Email: motorindia.india@gmail.com
Editorial Correspondent
N. Balasubramanian (Cell: 9840597082)
Email: balanatarajan.gopali@gmail.com
Marketing
G. Mohan
N. Ananthan
Designer
E. Marimuthu
REGIONAL MANAGERS
Mumbai
R. Balasubramanian (Cell: 9323711291)
G-102, Srinagar Co.Op. Housing Society,
Off. P.L. Lokande Marg, Chembur (West),
Mumbai - 400 089. Ph.: 022-25252377.
Email: r.balagopali@gmail.com
Coimbatore
Ganesh Kalidasan (Cell: 9790926388)
Flat No.A1-42, TVH Ekanta
No.5/179, Masakalipalayam Road
Uppilipalayam, Coimbatore 641015.
Email: ganesh.kalidas@gmail.com
Bangalore
J. Saravanam (Cell: 9880974765)
BS 23, 2nd Floor, Block ‘B’ Ittina Neela, Near
Gold Coins Club, Andapura,
Electronics City P.O.,
Bangalore-560100.
Email: saravanam_j@yahoo.co.in
Allahabad
Shoubhik Sarkar (Cell: 9936245032)
196-A, Chak Raghunath, Jail Road,
(Behind Asha Hospital), Naini,
Allahabad - 211008 (U.P.) Ph: 0532-2696873
Email: sarkarshoubhik@rediffmail.com
Member of INS / AINEC / IFSMAN
Edited & Published by R. Natarajan on
behalf of Gopali & Co., Quanta Zen Building,
No.38, Thomas Road, 2nd Street, T.Nagar,
Chennai-17, and Printed by B. Ashok Kumar
at Rathna Offset Printers, 40, Peters Road,
Royapettah, Chennai-14
Editorial
www.motorindiaonline.com
56 years, still going strong
R. Natarajan, Managing Editor & Publisher
MOTORINDIA
8
MOTORINDIA
l
August 2012