SIAM Convention sees government promise full support to India auto

The 54^th SIAM Annual Convention, like the ACMA Convention a day before it, seems to be a harbinger of good hope and prospects for the Indian automotive industry. The newly voted government has extended full support to the industry, which is a barometer of the country’s economy.  

Assuring the automobile industry of complete support at the 54^th SIAM Annual Convention today, Anant Gangaram Geete, the minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, promised that it will be the golden age of the Indian automobile industry for the next five years.

Inaugurated by Vikram Kirloskar, president, SIAM and vice-chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the premier industry event was attended by captains of industry, all stakeholders and policy makers.

In his speech, the minister extended unconditional support to the industry in every way possible and support prime minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a hub for manufacturing for industry. He said that with the huge potential of the market and well-channelized efforts of the government, the industry will not only be able to generate employment for the country and help its economy but itself experience a golden period in the next five years to come. He added that the success of the heavy industries ministry shall depend majorly on the success of the automobile industry.

He spoke of the Union government’s plan to enable facilitators in terms of setting up sea lanes, joining them to the road infrastructure and extending two-lane roads to four lanes. Over Rs 200,000 crore is envisaged to be spent over the next 5 years in concretising roads to help improve demand for commercial vehicles and passenger cars, he commented.

Geethe said the government is working on the National Mobility Mission for Electric and Hybrid Vehicles with the pilot project to kick off first in Delhi within a few days. Further, he offered unconditional support to industry to develop India as a manufacturing hub and suggested that industry and ministry officials meet every 3 months to review the progress.

Thanking the government for its support, SIAM president Vikram Kirloskar highlighted five key areas that need to be addressed to ensure robust growth in the automotive industry – namely fiscal policy that assures lower taxation and continuation of the lower excise duty rates. He said a draft Auto Fuel Policy roadmap has been readied and asked for government approval for it so that industry could have adequate time to prepare for the necessary changes in vehicular and component level technologies.

He underlined the need for a safety roadmap that requires concurrent action in five areas – road infrastructure, vehicle technology, enforcement of road rules, training and skills of drivers and post-crash assistance.

He said India has come of age to have a globally comparable competition law. Simply copying European Competition law principles in India without first laying down the rules for the aftermarket would be like putting the cart before the horse and would seriously damage the cause of road safety and quality of service.

Further, safety, emissions, and fuel efficiency need to be looked at holistically and implemented by a single agency which should have an overall mandate in all areas. Ónly then would it be possible to formulate effective regulations that are consistent with each other and not mutually conflicting in any way.