Auto Expo 2014: German component association keen to have OEs and suppliers together

Speaking at a press conference at the German Pavilion at Pragati Maidan, Klaus Braunig, managing director of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), voiced his reservations about the Auto Expo 2014 being held at separate venues. He said: “We do not regard dividing the automotive trade fair in New Delhi into two parts – one for the suppliers and one for the car manufacturers – as the best solution. We welcome the fact that India wishes to rejuvenate its trade show infrastructure. But the suppliers in particular are stating clearly that in future they could see themselves presenting their innovations alongside the manufacturers again at one trade fair. So we would be pleased to see one large trade fair here again.”
VDA, which is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and by AUMA (Association of the German Trade Fair Industry), has set up the German Pavilion at the Auto Expo for the fifth time.
This year it is representing 15 suppliers of automotive components from Germany with another 4 suppliers in Hall No. 8, making Germany the fourth largest exhibiting country at the Components Show, after India, China and Taiwan.
Klaus Bräunig said he hopes Indian industry will actively support the free trade agreement with the EU as soon as negotiations pick up speed again. Last year German suppliers delivered parts and components worth over 500 million euro (Rs 4,230 crore) to the Indian market.
Speaking about the entire Indo-German automotive trade – vehicles and motor vehicle parts together – Germany has a trade surplus of 354 million euro (from January to November 2013). The total volume of trade declined slightly last year, but it has already returned to twice that recorded in 2009.
For Indian and German supply industries, he said there is potential for further expanding bilateral trade.

Photograph: Klaus Braunig MD, VDA, speaking at the press conference at the German pavilion in Pragati Maidan.