Chinese vendors eye India's auto boom

At the China Sourcing Fair, held at the Bombay Exhibition Fair, there were over 500 booths with products ranging from home products, bathroom products, hardware and building materials. But it was only at the far end of the hall that one found a host of automotive products including alloy wheels, car accessories and metal disc brakes as well as springs and shock absorbers of all sizes. This was the third 2010 China Sourcing Fair.

By Autocar Pro News Desk

12 Oct 2010

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Spread over 28 stalls, on display were components and products from seasoned exhibitors already associated with the Indian automotive industry and also a bunch of new-fangled component manufacturers such as Discovery Motors Company Ltd, XGM Group Co Ltd, Sino Fastener MFG, Steel Mate Automotive, Hefei Shenglong Impex, Qingdao TKS Sealing Industry Co. Ltd. and Hutian Rubber Belt hoping to tap India’s one of the fastest growing sectors.

Another aim of the exhibition was to change the negative image of Chinese product quality. With time, Chinese manufacturers have begun to realise that quality matters and this has encouraged them to work on such issues, one exhibitor said.

This exhibitor said the companies now have got the manpower and the technology know-how to compete with the best in the business and supply China-made components to some of the major car manufacturers globally. On display were electronic components, brake parts, car accessories, garage equipment, motorcycle parts, wheels, tyres and spare parts for heavy motor vehicles. While some were hoping to crack a deal with the OEMs, others were in search for distributors and partners who could market their products in India. “This is the first time that we are exhibiting here and we hope to be a part of the industry,” said Panl Han, business manager of International Trade Department, Qingdao TKS Sealing Industry. Today, even as Indian companies try and leverage China’s low cost advantage- many companies have sourced tyres from China. The improvement in the quality of Chinese products offers Indian companies the option to consider sourcing from China.

In the component space, some key Indian component players include Sundram Fastners and Bharat Forge, which has a manufacturing presence in China. More recently, GM India which is 50 percent owned by SAIC is planning to bring a raft of small MPVs to India. SAIC will tap its Chinese partner Wuling to bring into the country products that are, at a basic level, designed in China. And while some overtures have been made towards local sourcing, some Chinese content cannot be ruled out.

Even Tata Motors has shown interest in the Chinese components, some vendors claimed. These included rubber O-rings, shock absorbers, springs, brake pads and shoe. Some of the aftermarket car accessories providers too were optimistic about being a part of the burgeoning Indian automobile industry.