Country events on China and Turkey too
China built 6.2 million commercial vehicles in 2011. This makes it the world’s largest producer of commercial vehicles, with a share of 44 per cent of total global production. India and Turkey are also among the top five in the world ranking. India’s production of commercial vehicles in 2011 rose by more than one-fifth (+22 per cent) to 887,000 units, while Turkey built 549,000 commercial vehicles, an increase of 12 per cent.
The German Association VDA recognises this development by putting these countries at the focus of three events with top-level guests at the 64th International Motor Show (IAA) in Hannover.
The “IAA India Day” on September 21 will take a close look at the market and co-operation prospects in India. The main speaker will be the Indian Minister for Heavy Industries, Mr. Praful Patel. Together with the Automotive Component Association of India (ACMA), the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries, Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC) and the corporate consultants Management Engineers, VDA is organising the India Day for the seventh time at the motor show.
After the welcome address by VDA President Matthias Wissmann and a lecture by the Minister, industry representatives will speak on the development and prospects of the Indian commercial vehicle market. The ACMA President, Mr. Surinder Kanwar, will give an overview on the supply industry in India. This will be followed by the SIAM President, Mr. S. Sandilya, speaking on “Prospects for the Indian automotive industry.” Then Mr. Marc Llistosella, CEO & Managing Director of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, will talk on “Challenges for Indo-German co-operation in the automotive industry.”
Mr. Michael Rüger, of Management Engineers, will speak on “Technical challenges for the commercial vehicle industry”, while Mr. Jacques Esculier, Chairman and CEO of Wabco, will report on the “Next stage in customer partnership in India.” To finish off, Mr. Ambuj Sharma from the Indian Ministry of Heavy Industries will report on the Indo-German Working Group on Automotive Sector.
The Turkish scene
Turkey, as a significant c
ommercial vehicle market and production location, will be the focus on the “IAA Turkey Day” on September 24. It is expected that around 1.2 million vehicles will be produced in the country in the current year. About 1,000 automotive supply businesses form a major branch of industry as they account for around 45 per cent of all exports.
VDA and its co-operation partners – the Turkish suppliers’ association Taysad and the association of exporters in the Turkish automotive industry – will examine opportunities resulting from Turkey’s growing importance as an automotive market. After the welcome address by VDA Managing Director Klaus Bräunig, Mr. Ömer Burhanoglu, Vice President of the Association of exporters in the Turkish automotive industry, Taysad President, Dr. Mehmet Dudaroglu, and Mr. Emre Pinarli, Project Director, Prime Ministry Investment Support and Promotion Agency, will provide an overview of the Turkish vehicle market.
Promotion and R&D development activities will be covered in the following lectures to be delivered by Mr. Burhan Kurt, CEO of Aktas Holding, and Mr. Martin Panzitt, Director of International Tech Center Management.
The largest group of 147 foreign exhibitors at the 64th IAA Commercial Vehicles is from China. This number reflects the importance of China as a commercial vehicle market and location. The China event on September 26, which VDA is organising with the support from the law firm Hengeler Mueller, will give participants an overview of the Chinese market and the challenges and potentials of manufacturers and suppliers there.
The Chinese competence
After the welcome address by VDA Managing Director Klaus Bräunig, there will be a presentation by Dong Yang, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Chinese Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), on “China’s new role in the global economy.” Michael Dong, President of MAN Truck and Bus China, will talk on “Challenges for a European OEM in the Chinese market.” The topic “Obstacles and surprises when investing in and from China” will be discussed by Dr. Changfeng Tu of Hengeler Mueller, while Leon Liu, President Asia at Wabco, will reveal the latest “Commercial vehicle innovations in China.”