joint venture, to be known as Mercurio Pallia Logistics, will provide logistics services to automotive companies in India. It plans to procure about 100 trailers over the next year and has already placed orders for 20 trailers with Tata Motors.

According to Andrea Conti, chairman of Gruppo Mercurio and Board Member of the new company, “The Indian automobile market is poised to be a significant growth hub. By setting up this joint venture, we have taken a positive step forward in realising our ambitions in the India market. Small segment cars produced in India also have good sales potential in Europe.”

Vipul Nanda, managing director, Mercurio Pallia, said: “GM SpA will bring in its expertise in stockyard management, pre-delivery inspection and other value additions. “Indian automotive logistics players usually offer services between factories and dealers. The joint venture will provide value-added services to the Indian auto logistics market, which is roughly Rs 2,000 crore annually. We will increase our existing business in car transportation with automobile companies including Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Hyundai, General Motors and Honda. We are also conducting a feasibility study for car transportation in rail wagons.”