Thaindian News

Chennai, Oct 6 (IANS) An effective policy on urbanisation, multi-modal transportation and appropriate automotive technologies to meet future needs are important for India which will become the third largest market in the world for automotives by 2030, experts said here Thursday.

“India will be the third largest market for automotives by 2030 and by that time, 40 percent of the population will live in cities. Future demand for two-wheelers is expected to grow. What is worrying is the decline in the public transportation,” said TVS Motor Company CMD Venu Srinivasan, inaugurating the 16th Asia Pacific Automotive Engineering Conference (APAC) here.

The event is organised by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAEINDIA).

According to him, India’s oil demand will increase by five times from the current levels by 2030 and customer convenience will drive fuel, engine and drive train technologies.

Srinivasan said the average vehicle speed in Indian cities is around 10 kmph and if it increases to 20 kmph, the carbon dioxide emissions will drop by 60 percent.

Agreeing with him, Ashok Leyland executive vice chairman R. Seshasayee said: “The growing aspirations of people in developing economies poses a challenge to vehicle makers to roll out models at challenging price points.”

He said new mobility solutions are important for growth in the future and will be helped with the confluence of technologies - automotive, communication and electronics.

Seshasayee said people’s aspiration to own a vehicle even at lower per capita income levels will pose a challenge for the industry to come out with appropriate product.

The three-day conference-cum-exhibition has around 1,000 delegates and 130 exhibitors attending.