New Delhi, February 8, 2013: Tenneco Automotive India, which makes emission control products and ride control products, has displayed front struts and shock absorbers for high-end cars such as BMWs and Audis in its stall at Hall 9/Booth A18 at the ongoing ACMA-Automechanika trade fair. Also showcased are a variety of products from the company’s existing portfolio.
With the number of hi-end luxury cars on India's roads on the rise, the company clearly wants to tap the aftermarket demand for them. A company official said that the components on display are meant for 1- and 3-series BMW saloons and the Audi Q3 SUV. Also on display are imported struts and shock absorbers for the Skoda Laura and Octavia saloons.
Tenneco Automotive India caters to Maruti and Nissan from its plants at Bawal and Chennai respectively. The company services its western India clients such as Mahindra and Mahindra and VW from a plant at Chakan.
Tenneco’s focus during the event is on its Monroe-branded shock absorbers and struts for vehicles across all segments. Currently, the company says, Monroe offers the widest shock and strut product range on the Indian market with applications for all types of vehicles – from passenger cars and SUVs to two- and three-wheelers, off-road, light commercial vehicles and medium- and heavy-duty trucks.
The company plans to set up Monroe stock shop retail points in all major metropolitan areas in India. On January 22, it opened its first Monroe stock shop in Mumbai, in partnership with Monroe distributor Rane. This unique retail concept for the automotive replacement market provides a single point of sale for the complete range of Monroe shock absorbers and struts.
Mumbai is a key market for Tenneco India and represents approximately 34 percent of total aftermarket sales in the Western region. “We are delighted to bring our global aftermarket brands and expertise to India,” said Pankaj Kapoor, deputy managing director, Tenneco India (pictured). “As a leading original equipment (OE) supplier to vehicle manufacturers worldwide, we continue to expand our aftermarket product coverage, leveraging Tenneco’s OE quality and technology in our aftermarket replacement products.”
BRIAN DE SOUZA