Auto Expo 2014: ACMA and APMA explore business opportunities with the Canadian auto industry

At the Auto Expo 2014, ACMA along with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) organised a session on ‘Business Opportunity with Canadian Automotive Industry’ at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. This session was attended by a delegation from APMA led by president Steve Rodgers and ACMA president Harish Lakshman, who represented the Indian delegation. Both the associations led this session with a mission for Canadian companies to explore the potential opportunities, collaborations and partnerships with India.

Currently, ACMA and its member companies are working towards improving the overall competitiveness of the supply chain through the various tiers. Currently the auto component industry is pegged at $ 39.7 billion with key growth sectors in the vehicle production area such as commercial vehicles, construction equipment, tractors, two- and three-wheeler segments respectively. One key growth factor for the Indian component industry has been the consistent export growth; exports from India to Canada nearly doubled from $ 50 million in 2010 to $ 93 million in 2012.

In Canada, the automotive manufacturing industry is the largest sector and is aggressively export intensive, on average shipping three-quarters of its production in a year. Canada is part of a fully integrated North American market with annual sales of about 20 million vehicles and accounts for 16 percent of NAFTA production. Canada has much to offer in alternative fuels and powertrains; electric vehicles and fuel cells; connected car and intelligent transportation; biomaterials, composites and light metals; and advanced safety systems. Canada’s exports to India have remained around $30 million from 2010 to 2012, which is why the two countries are looking to promote and grow each others’ export capabilities and technology transfer.

Photograph (L-R): Deep Kapuria, past president, ACMA; Steve Rodgers, president APMA; Harish Lakshman, president ACMA; Sara Wilshaw, minister (commercial), government of Canada; and Peter Frise, scientific director and CEO, Auto21.