Thursday 26 August 2010

Chief Mentor: Reinventing the Wheel for India

The transportation sector in India is witnessing rapid
growth as India urbanizes and the economy continues to expand. Car sales for
July recorded a jump of 38% from a year earlier, rising to an all-time
high. Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkata are all building up mass-transit
systems. The national capital has just opened a swanky new airport
terminal and the civil aviation industry has never been more competitive.

Consumers today have lots of choices in how they choose to
get around. This is a far cry from the earlier times when government carriers
dominated the skies and entry into the automotive industry was heavily
regulated and just a handful of players allowed to manufacture cars. With the
exception of railways, which continue to be a government monopoly, every sector
of transportation is witnessing a vibrancy never seen before in India.

The upward shift in the standard and quality of
transportation in India is one of the most visible and tangible benefits
bestowed by economic growth. The problem - and investment opportunity - is that
we have only scratched the surface.

India currently has just one automotive company, Tata
Motors, in the global top 20, while China has three in the top 20 and ten in
the top 30. Interestingly, many of China’s large automotive firms are
home-grown, while international auto companies like Suzuki, Honda and Hyundai
dominate the Indian market.


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