The event not only served as a platform for interaction between exhibitors and visitors but also highlighted the current status of the commercial vehicle and automotive component sectors
The Namakkal Auto Expo 2022 jointly organised by Namakkal Taluk Lorry Owners Association, Namakkal Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Namakkal All Motors Workshop Owners Association, Namakkal Mechanical Workshop Owners Association and Namakkal Autonagar Association received tremendous response both in terms of number of exhibitors and visitors. Held from September 16-18, 2022 at Namakkal, the expo attracted almost all the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and Volvo Eicher as well as reputed automotive component manufacturers across India.
The inaugural function was started with a lighting ceremony by the dignitaries. R Vangili, President, Namakkal Taluk Lorry Owners Association, in his welcome address, said Namakkal is the gateway for transport business activities and keeping this in mind the automotive component manufacturers should consider setting up their manufacturing units through which a lot of employment generation can be achieved. Sanjeev Kumar, Head (MHCV), Ashok Leyland Ltd., in his inaugural address, pointed out that ever since he joined Ashok Leyland in 1991, he has understood the importance of Namakkal which has emerged as a major transport hub of India.
Also, Namakkal is considered to be one of the major contributors for Ashok Leyland’s sales. K G Prasad, Senior General Manager, Regional Manager South (Sales and Customer Care), Tata Motors Ltd., in his special address, said that Tata Motors remained committed to serve the Namakkal transport community and the company’s BS VI vehicles have been well-received in these areas. S Ravikumar, Deputy General Manager (Plant), Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Chennai, in his special address, said that as India’s foremost and leading lubricant manufacturer, the brand ‘Servo’ has enjoyed a very good reputation for over 50 years.
Together with other PSU oil companies, IOC contributes around 10 per cent revenue for the Tamil Nadu government’s GDP. S Sundar, Zonal Manager Sales (South), JK Tyre and Industries Ltd., one of the major participants at the expo, highlighted the strong association maintained by JK Tyre with all the leading OEMs including Ashok Leyland and Tata Motors apart from oil majors like IOC. Also, the company is a pioneer in introducing the latest technology-driven tyres for commercial vehicles.
Shaheer Rahman, Regional Manager Sales (Tamil Nadu and Kerala), Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (P) Ltd., in his address, said his company considers Namakkal as a testing ground since any product that succeeds in Namakkal can definitely do well all over India. Hence, the company gives special attention to the growing needs of Namakkal and delivers vehicles which meet all the requirements such as high-end technology and safety along with innovative and reliability. G Srinivasa Raghavan, Managing Director, TVS Automobile Solutions (P) Ltd., said that over several decades TVS, Ashok Leyland and Namakkal have been maintaining a very successful collaborative approach.
“They have been running the business as one family with the motto of serving the customers at all times. During the next three years, India will rule the world and the country is well-positioned to usher in a lot of new technology vehicles including electric vehicles, hybrid models, etc.,” he added. D Satheesh Kumar, Secretary, Namakkal Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, and one of the major driving force behind the success of Namakkal Auto Expo 2022, in his concluding remarks, thanked each and everyone who had contributed for the event’s phenomenal success.