ACMA honours OEMs and industry leaders at Golden Jubilee

INVC,,

Delhi,,

The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the apex body representing the interest of the auto component manufacturing industry in India, celebrated its golden jubilee today. The event aptly titled ‘Celebrating 50 Glorious years of Partnership’ marked the fifty years of glorious services of the industry body to the sector and the nation, with tributes paid to the industry leadership and the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), who have been instrumental in shaping the auto component industry in India.

Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Past President of India, complimenting ACMA and the contribution of the Indian automotive industry in driving the economic development of the country, said, “ While the auto component industry in India is already an industry to reckon with, going forward, the industry will have to be a responsible one to emerge as strong global leader. In line with the fast changing technology trends in the world, the industry needs to focus on green and energy efficient manufacturing as also on research in advanced materials to lower weight, extending product lifecycle, reducing maintenance and lowering overall cost of ownership”.

Congratulating the auto component industry, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Minister for Industries & Public Enterprises, said, “The auto component industry in India has responded well to the stimulus packages announced by the government to counter the adverse impact of the global economic downturn. While some of the global markets are yet to come out of the recession, the auto industry in India is in an unprecedented accelerated drive.” He also urged the industry to rapidly add capacity to meet the growing demands and assured all support to remove the bottlenecks for the same.

Earlier, tracing the history of the industry body, Mr Jayant Davar, President, ACMA, said “With a modest beginning in 1959, when 7 pioneers of the automotive industry came together to form the All-India Automobile & Ancillary Industries Association (AIA & AIA), the Association, over the last 50 years, has traversed a path of trials and tribulations and is today an institution to reckon with”.

He further added, “The ‘All India Automobile and Ancillary Industries Association’, rechristened to its present name – Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) in 1983, has over the years, significantly grown in scope and diversity of engagements and is today a vital catalyst that drives the Indian auto component industry. The 600 strong membership of ACMA today accounts for an estimated turnover of over US$ 21 billion and exports of about US $ 3.8 billion. The industry is expected to grow five times the current size in the next ten years”.

Assuring all stakeholders of the continuation of the dynamic role of the institution, Mr Srivats Ram, Vice-President, ACMA said, “ACMA is already working on several initiatives of R&D, new product development and better engagement with the OEMs. Technology infusion, skill development and scaling up will receive special thrust in the forthcoming years”.

A golden jubilee commemorative Coffee Table book, tracing the evolution of the Indian automotive industry and ACMA was also released on the occasion by Dr A P J Abdul Kalam, Former President of India and Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh, Minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises. An ACMA commemorative film titled – “Setting India in Motion… Parts of an auto story” was previewed as well.

The celebration witnessed leaders from the automobile and component industry, senior Government Officials, Diplomats, heads of Institutions & Counterpart associations and several key decision makers converge under one roof.