May 2, 2013: The Jaipur-based Autolite India, part of the Autopal-MPG Group, is for the first time participating in Automechanika Johannesburg, South Africa to be held between May 8-11.
The company plans to launch LED worklamps and Orbit Blue halogen bulbs during the trade show. The new headlamps for Tata Motors’ light and heavy commercial vehicles for the South African replacement market will also be displayed during the show. It will also display headlamps for the Volkswagen Golf for that market at its booth No. 6B080.
Speaking to Autocar Professional, Adarsh Gupta, director-marketing, said: “South Africa is a very important market for Autolite. We have been exporting our products for more than 20 years. Our experience with Automechanika is very good as the organisers arrange world-class fairs and help promote the industry in different product lines. Automechanika Frankfurt provides an opportunity to meet global buyers and we are very optimistic that participation in country-specific Automechanikas will boost our current business in South Africa. We hope to start OEM business there as well.”
Autolite, which currently supplies lamps to Tata Motors, AMW, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Auto, Ashok Leyland, Swaraj Mazda and the Indian railways, is also eyeing OEM business in South Africa for which it will hold discussions with vehicle manufacturers in that region. <>
It has set up a modern headlamp manufacturing facility at Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, which will help the company offer the latest technology headlamps and tail-lamps to OEMs globally. It will also be a supplier of plastic composite headlamps for the face-lifted Ace LCV that will be launched by Tata Motors in July. These headlamps will replace conventional sheet metal and glass headlamps and will be equipped with a multi-surface reflector.
The company currently exports automotive headlamps, auxiliary lamps, work lamps, and halogen bulbs to about 55 countries worldwide with exports contributing 40 percent to its Rs 200 crore turnover. The company is targeting a 20-25 percent growth in 2013-14.
SHOBHA MATHUR