Professional Documents
Culture Documents
9TH
Against this, the auto show of 2006 had attracted ‘only’ one million visitors. The auto show also
saw over 9,000 trade enquiries, with 21 per cent coming from foreign visitors. Over 100 MOUs
were signed during this period. While 59 per cent of MOUs were inked with business visitors, 27
AUTO EXPO
per cent were with foreign visitors, and about 14 per cent with co-exhibitors
Vishnu Mathur, executive director, ACMA says, ‘30 international delegations, from Germany,
France, Japan, Spain and Canada and others, showed a keen interest in Indian Auto Component
sector.
2008
But this is only the big picture. The Expo has been a stupendous showcase of new-age trucks,
buses, utility vehicles, three-wheelers and tractors. The body builders and component makers
were in big attendance too. Over the course of the following pages, we let you occupy a virtual
front seat of all the action. Enjoy it!!
Ace >>
(A) 1-TONNER:
Big brother is finally here. The high performance, low maintenance Ace 1-tonne, combines a 1-tonne payload
mini-truck with sporty car-like features that enhance driver comfort and handling. The Ace 1-tonne comes with
HVAC for all-weather driveability. Besides the bigger 14-inch radials, power steering is another performance-
enhancing feature that comes as standard. It has an ergonomically designed, all-steel cabin with power
windows. The vehicle is equipped with an immobiliser for vehicle security. The power-packed offering is
expected to hit markets within 6-8 months.
LPT 909 EX2 Refrigerated Tata Marcopolo Starbus LF >> BRAKES FRONT Drum Brakes Disk Brakes Disk Brakes
Container Truck >> Ideally suited for BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System) applications, the air-conditioned Low
Entry Starbus offers its passengers comfort with contemporary styling. With its low
BRAKES REAR
FUEL TANK
Drum Brakes
160L
Drum Brakes
150L
Drum Brakes
9 Cyl x 80 L =
The Tata LPT 909 EX2 Refrigerated Container (Reefer truck) comes with entry height of just 380 mm and wide doorways, the Starbus LE allows for easy and 108 Kg Gas
a number of performance-boosting features as standard fitment, such as fast passenger entry and exit, reducing halt times and overall trip lengths and thereby
increasing operating efficiencies. GEAR SHIFT Mechanical Cable Cable
power steering and a clutch booster. The Reefer box is made of bonded (NA for Auto
PUF panels without joints and a GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic) skin, making Inside the bus, the wide and spacious interiors are kept consistently cool even at halts,
Transmission)
for better longevity and a lighter box with improved payload carrying with air-curtains at the doors. A rear engine bus, the Starbus LF, has injection-moulded
capacity. The GRP outer panels do not require painting and are rust proof, plastic seats that resist the wear and tear of daily passenger transportation. The bus FLOOR HEIGHT 710mm 380mm 380mm
while the anti-slip polyester floor coating inside the box increases safety. incorporates safety-enhancing features such as door opening and closing signals, LENGTH 11.2 m 12.0 m 12.0m
The reefer is capable of maintaining the temperature of its 25 cum box at seat belts, emergency door signals, pneumatic doors which arrest bus movement if
open, and a manual ramp for the physically challenged. Its structural design takes into WIDTH 2.6 m 2.6 m 2.6 m
-25 o C with ambient temperature around 40o C. The 5-lip sealing bonded
panel doors are lighter for easy handling, open 270o for easy loading/ account corrosion resistance, electrical and fire insulation for improved longevity. In AIR CONDITIONING Optional through Direct Drive Direct Drive
unloading, and seal securely, thus reducing load on the refrigerating unit. keeping with the features of BRTS lines internationally, the air-conditioned Starbus LF Auxilary engine for AC for AC
The reefer box comes fitted with a rear tail-lift to enable easy pallet loading also offers an electronic destination display integrated with voice announcement system
ELECTRICAL 24V, 150 AH 24V, 150 AH 24V, 180 AH
as and when required. The fully built truck is expected to retail at Rs 19-20 and compatible to GPS and a Smart Card ticketing system. The bus is expected to be
SYSTEM Battery Battery Battery
lakh. Tata Motors plans a similar reefer on a 25-tonne truck. priced at Rs 70 lakh. A huge fleet of 500 buses will be delivered to the DTC this year.
ASHOK LEYLAND
::: OEMs :::
Avia >>
The Avia D series is an illustration of what next generation Indian CVs could look like. These petite Force-MAN >>
vehicles have a new suspension and braking system as part of a Euro IV drivetrain. The 12-tonne GVW,
D120 comes equipped with an Albion front axle that allows tighter turning circles. Full air- ventilated GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 11990 kg
disc brakes at the front and rear enable better control. The tubeless tyres and parabolic springs are WHEEL BASE: 4500 mm
notable additions too.
The Euro IV compliant Cummins ISBe4 common-rail diesel engine is available in the economical 160hp ENGINE: Cummins ISBe4 185
or the potent 185hp options. The powertrain relies on SCR technology to reduce emissions while EURO 4 phase 2 with NOx sensor
boosting fuel-efficiency. Capacity: 4.5 litre
CMD, Abhay Firodia poses
In keeping with European regulations, tachographs come as standard fitments. The cab has standard with the new Force Traveller
POWER: 185 hp (136kW) @ 2500 rev/min
side spoilers and an optional air management kit. The practical low cab-step and floor height make
entry and exit easier for city distribution applications. Additional features tuned to the truck driver are TORQUE: 700 Nm @ 1200 – 1700 rev/min
air-suspended seats for extra comfort.
The manufacturing capacity at Avia’s Czech Republic facility is 20,000 units per annum, but with the GEAR BOX: ZF 6S850 6 speed full
current utilisation being only 1,500 units, there is a huge upside for ALL’s growth agenda in overseas synchromesh with cable actuation
markets. FRONT AXLE: Albion F48, plated at 4200 kg
REAR AXLE: Albion 8 – 20, plated at 8200 kg
TYRE: 245 / 70R19, 5 tubeless
BRAKES: Full air, disc brakes of size: 330
mm diameter on both front and rear axles
SUSPENSION: front: 2 leaf parabolic springs
with shock absorbers and anti-roll bar, rear:
3 leaf parabolic springs with shock absorbers
and anti-roll bar The Minidor M4 pickup has had a The 430HP MAN TGA truck fitted
successful start with a refrigerated container.
FRAME: 203 X 62 X 6.5 mm, riveted
construction
CAB: All steel sleeper cab
Width 2150 mm, BBC 1776 mm
Hydraulic tilt
Premier >>
Suspended driver seat
Suspended co-driver seat
Optional equipment: Air-conditioning, 200
litre fuel tank, premium cab pack
VOLKSWAGEN VOLKSWAGEN
::: OEMs :::
‘Starting 2010, our plant in Pune will be able to manufacture up to 110,000 cars’, says Dr.
Jochem Heizmann, board member for vehicle production at the Volkswagen Group. To reinforce Crafter >>
the strong allure of the Indian market, Volkswagen pulled out all stops at the Auto Expo as it The Crafter takes the T5 series commercial vans to a higher weight class.
unveiled new cars, SUVs and of course commercial vans. Some of which are sampled herewith: With 3.0 and 3.5 as well as 5.0 tonne gross weights, the base models
Crafter 30, Crafter 35 and Crafter 50 cover a broad bandwidth. Also
available: a box van version and a variant with extended overhang. The
power output of the economical TDI engines ranges from 87HP to 161HP.
Caddy Maxi Life >> three or even four rows of seats – depending on the wheelbase selected
– create space for up to nine passengers. The gasoline and diesel engines
offered on this Volkswagen are also highly advanced; they deliver between
The extended Caddy Maxi Life merges the qualities of
83HP and 232HP.
a delivery van with the versatility of a compact van to
form a new vehicle class. Compared to a normal length
Caddy – such as the Caddy EcoFuel– the seven-seat
Maxi was extended from 4.41 meters to 4.88 meters.
4.2 m3 cargo capacity (corresponds to about 4,200
liters volume), 800 kilogram payload, 1,500 kilogram
trailer load and up to 3.07 meter maximum cargo length Multivan Highline
– depending on the interior configuration – are all record
values for this segment. Three engines are offered with and Multivan Business >>
power outputs from 100HP to 138HP. This vehicle is
expected to be launched by the middle of next year at a This is the top gun in VW’s van kingdom. As an option, the Multivan Highline,
price of Rs 23 lakh. Following the initial CBU imports, the with capacity for a maximum of seven seats, may be ordered with four
vehicle is likely to be localised. individual seats in the passenger compartment. The Multivan Business even
has them aboard as standard equipment. Providing for suitable propulsion
are either the V6 petrol engine (232HP) or a five-cylinder TDI (172HP), with
optional automatic transmission. On the Multivan Highline, a TDI with 129HP
Caddy EcoFuel >> can also be delivered.
VECTRA KAMAZ
::: OEMs :::
Rasandik Engineering
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT: 31000 kg
PAYLOAD: 18000 kg
GRADEABILITY: 25 % @ GVW
Industries India Limited >>
MAX. SPEED: 80kmph
Rasandik Engineering Industries India Limited is piloting a range of 7-11
MIN. TURNING RADIUS: 10.5 m
HP three-wheelers. Besides the three and six seater passenger versions,
BODY OPTIONS: 14 cu meter Box Body with Tailgate for there are ready made 0.5-0.75 tonne applications in the form of a mobile
small aggregate transport; 15 cu meter Rock Body with shop, garbage tipper and a delivery van. As the trials get completed in
Tailgate for overburden removal
3-4 months, a new plant will come up in Himachal Pradesh. The capacity
in this plant should scale up to 100 units per month by mid-2009 ‘We are
also planning to set up another plant in South India. We have committed
Rs 80 crore in investments for the three-wheeler project,’ explains MD,
The Vectra-Kamaz- range has finally been unveiled. The first off the blocks is the 31-tonne GVW tipper which is being powered by the Rajiv Kapoor.
same 260HP engine. Its 4 axle construction, a 9S ZF gearbox and ABS make it an attractive proposition. Sources reveal that this The three-wheelers are mid-engined with a larger wheelbase, windscreen
premium tipper priced to be priced between Rs 25-30 lakh will come with two body options – a 14 cubic metre box body with tailgate and a box type chassis for better load carrying abilities. The accelerator
and a 15 cubic metre rock body. and clutch assemblies are done in house.
Also debuting is the 260HP 40 tonne Vectra-Kamaz 5460 – 4x2.2 tractor (see facing page). With a Gross Train Weight of 44,000 kgs, Trials are also on for a CNG version targeted at markets like Delhi.
it is governed by a ZF – Eco-split 16 speed Gearbox. It will be launched in the middle of this year at an expected price of Rs 20 lakh. Rasandik has appointed 22 dealers for the three-wheeler business. And
It is also reliably learnt that a 360HP engine option waits in the wings. A 20 tonne 8x4 cargo tipper is also getting ready. the thoughts are already on offshore markets. ‘We have got enquiries
Meanwhile the Vectra Group is contemplating whether the Hemang dumper will be continued. It is to be noted that in an interview with from Nepal, Sri-Lanka and China,’ reveals Kapoor.
Commercial Vehicle magazine, Tatra Vectra Motors Ltd.’s former MD, Rakesh Jinsi had said that the specialised truck faced huge cost Besides this new line of business, Rasandik specialises in making
overruns and capacity constraints at the mother plant in the Czech Republic. Another product about which he was not very bullish about, fuel tanks, exhausts and stampings- including that for the Tata Nano.
the Binggo, mini-truck could also face the axe. There were niggles with sourcing a suitable engine for the vehicle. Incidentally, the company is investing Rs 45 crore in Singur, where a
Finally, the Vectra- Kamaz JV could go beyond a technology tie-up. Indications are that the Russian CV maker could take a majority robotised pressline will come up soon.
stake in the new venture. The projected capacity for the truck assembly in India will be 500 units. Until volumes pick-up, the localisation With these developments, Rasandik expects to grow turnover to Rs 400
levels will hover around 10 percent. As the trucks take their place, the buses will arrive by the middle of next year. crore from the current level of Rs 250 crore.
M&M
::: OEMs :::
E483 Engine
ENGINE: 4 Cylinder, DI, TCIC Hy-Alfa >>
SWEPT VOLUME: 3.3 Ltrs
As part of its Sustainable Mobility Solutions Programme, M&M has showcased the hydrogen
BORE X STROKE: 100 x 105 mm
powered Alfa 3-wheeler. The first of its kind in the world, the Hy-Alfa runs on pure compressed
COMBUSTION CHAMBER: Re- entrant hydrogen gas. Demonstrating that it is indeed possible to effectively store hydrogen, M&M
RATED POWER: 90 kW @ 2600 rpm showcased three-wheelers featuring both steel and composite material storage cylinders.
PEAK TORQUE: 400 Nm @ 1600 rpm Safety was strongly adhered to, thanks to sensors like the pressure sensor which shuts off
the system when the pressure crosses a certain limit and a flame taper that prevents any
EMISSION LEVEL: Forthcoming BS IV flame from reaching the cylinder.
APPLICATION: Automotive It is to be noted that the Hy-Alfa is as yet only a concept and as such, hydrogen is currently
AFTER TREATMENT: DPF/ SCR stored under a pressure of only 120 bar - the maximum permissible in India. For hydrogen to
become viable as a fuel, pressure in the bracket of 800 bar is needed.
As a result, in a standard 33 litre CNG tank, just 1.2 kg of hydrogen can be stored. Since
Eicher Motors >> the hydrogen dispensing infrastructure is not yet in place, each kilogram of hydrogen costs Rs
200. The gas fuel can support a range of 60-70 km/kg
Eicher Motors, has announced the development of E483, a BSIV compliant, 120HP Common Rail Diesel engine. Speaking at the ‘Diesel City’ conference during Hydrogen delivers huge benefits over conventional fuels because it is renewable, has
the Auto Expo, Rajinder Sachdeva – Director Product Development said, ‘The 3.3-litre engine with a power output of 90-120HP could be deployed in a 11-12 tonne zero emissions, high calorific value and wider flammability limits. The flip side is that it is
LCV. The option also exists to develop the same engine in a 4.9 litre capacity (power output 128-175HP)’. The CRD engine is most likely to debut in the middle of an inflammable gas and hydrogen dispensing infrastructure and storage are issues to be
2009, once tests are completed. reckoned with.
The four cylinder Direct Injection engine develops a maximum torque of 400Nm@1600RPM. Eicher which has invested Rs 20 crore in the BSIV project is
equipping itself for all three possible platforms to meet EuroIV norms. Eicher claims that the engine has the highest power density of 27KW/Ltr, with the engine
itself having a life of 5,00,000 km.
The company is working on technologies such as Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR), or a combination of Diesel Particulate Filter (DPR) and Partial Flow Filters.
Eicher spends 4 percent of its turnover on product development. There are about 200 people working in product development. Before being introduced, a new
engine undergoes endurance testing for about 3,000 hours as well as a rigorous thermal shock testing procedure; all this apart from vehicle testing of about one
million kms during the customer piloting phase and the mandated statutory testing.
E-Alfa >>
The E-Alfa has a rugged 3 AC Asynchronous motor with an integrated transaxle. Fitted
with a 60V system, the E-Alfa provides high power and a long driving range. Moreover,
the state-of-charge monitor allows easy and accurate estimation of driving range.
Equipped with on-board and off-board charger capabilities, it has familiar driver controls
M&M AMW
::: OEMs :::
2 0 0 8 2 0 0 8
3118 >>
AMW has consolidated its position in the HCV segment by launching 3118 segment is expected to be a high –growth segment with a potential market
(HL) haulage for the Indian market aimed at cement, containers, tankers, size of 3 lakh units per annum. We expect to sell more than 1,000 units
petrochemicals, fertilizers, agriculture, and general cargo. of 3118HL in the next fiscal year. AMW Global Truck series represents an
Priced at approx Rs. 17 lakhs the company showcased the 31 tonner HL efficient mating of the best aggregates.
with 180 HP engine. While announcing its expansion plans, the company Says Mr. R. C. Mangal, Senior Vice-President, Marketing, Asia
shared that it aims to sell 10,000 heavy commercial vehicles in the next MotorWorks Ltd. (AMW), With more strictness on overloading, instead
fiscal year. Speaking about AMW’s decision to launch another product in the of overloaded 25 Tonner, transporter can now have a 31 Tonner to carry
HCV segment, Mr. Anirudh Bhuwalka MD and CEO, Asia MotorWorks goods legally. “3118HL’s unique design is not only extremely attractive
said, ‘ The HCV in its styling but is built for low operational costs and savings up to 10
- 15%. We will be marketing the 3118HLthrough our 29 main dealers
throughout the country. We are also in the process of rolling out a vast and
dependable, nationwide sales service and spares network, comprising
30 Main Dealers and 450 service and spare parts centres.
Asia MotorWorks has completed test runs of its trucks equipped
with global positioning system (GPS) and has rolled out the first trial
batch of 25 trucks. With the installed GPS, the fleet owners will
be able to have round-the-clock access to the truck through a call
centre or a service administers ensuring contact at all times with
the driver.
TRATEC
At the Diesel City conference Cummins made a strong case for Selective
Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology as the way to meet Euro IV and V
emission norms. Currently engine makers across the world are trying to figure
out whether they need to couple high pressure common rail engines with
Gurgaon-based Tratec, specialises in hydraulic modular trailers for over on which the wheels are fitted,’ explains Sunil Yadav, Marketing Executive. SCR or instead a combination of Exhaust Gas Regeneration Technology and
dimensional or super heavy payloads. It also makes running gears/ wheeled Tratec can make 40 lines of axles in a month. But on account of the huge a Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC). In his presentation, Arun Ramchandran, VP,
undercarriages, car transport trailers and container trailers. backlog in orders, delivery times are being stretched to 5 months. Each line of Automotive Business, Cummins India said, ‘SCR shows predictable results for
This makes the company an approved supplier of trailers for defence, space, axles costs Rs 9.5 lakh for the customer. Euro IV and is easily scalable to Euro V. On the other hand, EURO IV with PM-
power and other infrastructure sectors in addition to the commercial transport Tratec justifies the slight premium over unorganised sector solutions. ‘We fit catalytic convertor is unstable due to catalyst aging and irreversible adhesion
industry. Typically, these trailers are so big that only Volvo tractors can be custom built tarpaulins rather than using metal fabrications. This reduces weight of ash particles. At operating conditions where 30-40 percent filtration was
deployed to move them. by as much as 30 percent. The extensive use of aluminium also helps in rust measured, zero filtration was measured when approaching the same operation
The modular trailers are constructed by using 2,4 or 6 lines of axles. The prevention,’ adds Yadav. The coil carrier applications come with railings to help point after a different testing history.’
advantage to this construction is that the structure is stable. And more anchor the cargo. There is also a coil holder that clings on to the coils. When SCR converts NOx with the aid of a catalyst into nitrogen and water. As a
importantly, there is a reduction in weight too. ‘We can carry upto 2 tonnes of not in use, the coil holder can be stowed away under the chassis. This can allow result, there is a 86 percent reduction in Nox and 95 percent decline in PM,
extra cargo because, the trailers come with their own specially reinforced base other kinds of cargo to be carried on the trailer. when Euro I and Euro V emissions are compared. This means the emissions
from 20 Euro V compliant buses will be the same as that from merely two Euro I
compliant buses.
Cummins has already developed the XPI – Cummins Common Rail Fuel System
ISBe (Euro 4) Field Test Experience for Scania. This positive experience has been repeated in London. Cummins’
London Bus operation over 42 months 210,000km ISBe engine with SCR was the first engine to obtain Euro IV approval by
Transport for London (TfL), the city’s public transport authority.
Euro 3 Euro 4 % Improvement Annual Savings
Four and six cylinder ISBe engines were tested for 2,10,000 kms over a period
4.46 MPG 5.35 MPG of 42 months by TfL. Comparing Euro III and Euro IV statistics, the transport
19.96 £2,452 body found that Cummins’ SCR technology ensured PM emissions comparable
6 Cyl ISCe 6 Cyl ISBe
with the use of Diesel Particulate Filters. Along the way, fuel efficiency was
8.44 MPG 9.64 MPG boosted by 7-20 percent, even as Nox emissions fell by 40 percent.
10 £ 863 The same technology can be replicated in India to meeting upcoming emission
4Cyl ISBE 4Cyl ISBE
norms.
GL 400 A+
APPLICATION: BORE: 86mm
STROKE: 68mm
DISPLACEMENT: 395 cc
COMPRESSION RATION: 18:1
RPM: 3600
HP (CMVR): 7.5 HP
MAX TORQUE: 17 Nm @ 2200 rpm
OIL CAPACITY: 1.4 litres
WEIGHT (DRY): 45 Kg
CONTINENTAL
::: COMPONENTS :::
Continental explores percent each year in India over the next five years. ‘While North America and
the US continue to be our main markets, we will look to bag 25 percent of our
mechanism of the vehicle.
The simulator also comes with an optional electric motion platform for the
CV radials opportunity turnover from Asia,’ asserts Jay K Kunkel, President Asia and Member of the cabin providing movements like pitch, roll, forward and backward motion,
Management Board, Continental AG. abrupt braking and crashing movement. Zen Technologies manufactures
this simulator at its plant in Hyderabad. Though the production of
German Auto components conglomerate Continental AG will look at making simulators depends upon orders, it normally takes 45 days to manufacture
CV tyre radials in India soon. ‘We are discussing local manufacturing of radials one simulator. Zen has also developed another simulator known as ZEN DS
with a number of OEMs . As the volumes build in a couple of years, we should to impart basic driving skills.
be ready to capitalise on the huge opportunity,’ reveals Dr. Markus Distelhoff, It is a multi station classroom driving training stimulator and consists of a
Managing Director, Continental Automotive Systems, India. The Euro 25 billion LCD monitor that displays various driving scenes. All the driver stations are
Group already makes radials in China. But tyres are not the only thing on its networked to a single instructor who can control the sessions and monitor
plate. Continental AG is looking to boost its India operations after the recent the trainees either individually or as a group. As many as 10 driving
buyout of Siemens’ Automotive business. The Euro 11.4 billion acquisition has stations can be configured to an instructor station. The driver station can
made Continental the second largest auto component manufacturer in Europe be configured as a light, medium or heavy vehicle station.
(after Bosch) and the 5th largest in the world. It is worth noting that Siemens Established in 1993, Zen Technologies Ltd has been involved in
has signed a JV with Ashok Leyland in the realm of telematics for CVs. designing, developing, and manufacturing training simulators. The company
With an initial investment of Rs.100 Crores (17.5 Million Euros), the upcoming has registered an average growth rate of 100 percent over the last three
automotive electronics plant in Bangalore is one of the major investments for years. Besides the two driving simulators, Zen has also developed various
the new Continental in India. The new state-of-the-art manufacturing setup will other simulators for the defence sector. All Zen Products carry a warranty
also house an R&D centre. The city will also have a 400-seat R&D centre that of 12 (twelve) months against any manufacturing defects from the date of
will do sizeable offshoring for Continental. installation.
After all, the Group makes everything from brake systems, systems and
components for the powertrain and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment