German auto parts firms eyeing India: Expert

Many German auto component manufacturers are keen to set up manufacturing bases in India to tap its fast growing automotive market and also to make India a sourcing hub for export to other countries, according to Helmut Becker, a world-renowned expert on the automotive industry.

The automotive industry in India is growing at a fast pace and there is ample scope for Indian automotive majors to scale up exports to other countries, chiefly North America and western Europe, he said.

Becker, who has served as the chief economist at BMW was speaking at a workshop on 'Toyota Management Philosophy', organised by CII.

"To enhance their competitiveness in the global market, the Indian auto companies need to cut down production costs and focus on improving quality. They also have to ensure that they design fuel efficient products which conform to the latest emission norms", he said.

Any automotive company which is aiming to establish a stronghold in the overseas market has to penetrate deep into its own domestic market, he said.

Talking on the Toyota management philosophy, he said: "Toyota's stupendous success lies in championing the production process, something which the German automotive majors have failed to achieve. Also, Toyota offers the best value for products which has enabled it to strengthen its presence in the North America market where Toyota sells more than 2 million pasenger cars per annum, higher than its sales in the domestic Japanese market."