In an ambitious move to unite the comprehensive spectrum of the mobility value chain and pave the way for numerous collaborative opportunities, the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2024 (BMGE 2024) commenced its three-day global showcase at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, on 1 February 2024. Simultaneously, the 5th edition of ACMA Automechanika New Delhi made its debut, featuring a lineup of over 500 exhibitors from India and 12 other countries.
Organised collaboratively by several organisations such as the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the Automotive Component Manufacturers’ Association (ACMA), the Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA), the Indian Steel Association, and Nasscom, and with the backing of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the BMGE 2024 showcased a diverse array of exhibits and events. The expo delved into futuristic vehicle concepts, advanced automotive component technologies, electric vehicle battery and charging innovations, alternative powertrain solutions, as well as groundbreaking urban mobility solutions and advancements in connectivity and autonomy.
Drawing participation from nearly 30 leading OEMs including Ashok Leyland, Ather Energy, Bajaj Auto, BMW India, Hero MotoCorp, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Honda Cars India, Hyundai Motor India, Kia India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki India, Mercedes-Benz India, MG Motor, Skoda Volkswagen India, Tata Motors, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, TVS Motor Company, and Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, the expo showcased the industry's latest innovations and developments.
The comprehensive expo highlighted the entirety of the mobility ecosystem, spotlighting the strides in sustainable transportation underway in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the expo tomorrow. The India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), a leading industry body, curated a dedicated pavilion within this global expo focusing on battery technologies, recycling, and EV infrastructure. This pavilion featured the participation of over 60 companies, including iAmara Raja, LivGuard, GODI Energy, Epsilon Advanced Materials, Bhilwara Group, Replus, Himadri Speciality Chemical, Trontek Group, Battrix, GFCL EV, SEMCO, Exigo Recycling, Sungell India, LICO Materials, BatX Energies, Attero Recycling, Hioki, Fortum, Statiq, SCharge, and Neuron Energy.
Recognizing the need for a skilled workforce to drive the future of the mobility industry, the IESA Academy, with support from the International Solar Alliance (ISA), is launching the 'Future Mobility Learning Centre' (FMLC) during the BMGE 2024. FMLC will conduct multiple training sessions, with support from entities like the Automotive Skills Development Council, Electronics Sector Skills Council of India, IEEE-Power and Energy Society, among others.
The IESA is also orchestrating three dedicated conferences. The International Battery Manufacturing, Recycling & Circular Economy Conference will bring together government officials and industry leaders to discuss the latest developments in the battery industry, including the additional ten GWh ACC-PLI announcement, progress on Giga factories, raw materials processing, and key challenges in the recycling industry. The Global EV Battery Safety Forum, a pioneering event, will gather battery manufacturers and EV OEMs alongside esteemed organizations like the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Underwriters' Laboratories, Automotive Research Association of India, International Centre for Automotive Technology, Honeywell, Fitretech Department of Science & Technologies (DST), and others. Additionally, the Bharat EV Charging & Battery Swapping Leadership Summit, scheduled for February 2, will host key industry CXOs and government officials to strategize the growth plan for the EV infrastructure in India.
Commercial Vehicles
Commercial vehicle (CV) maker Ashok Leyland showcased its range of products including Hydrogen truck and the one with ADAS features, while Volvo Group India showcased its electric prime-mover and a multi-axle bus. VE Commercial Vehicles, on the other hand, displayed its eco-friendly mobility solutions covering a range of electric trucks and buses that offer customers and transporters a pro-business, pro-planet choice.
Passenger Cars
The Honda group has chosen to use BMGE 2024 to showcase its commitment to sustainability and road safety, aligning with the company’s global vision to realise zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050. Honda also aims to realise carbon-neutrality for all its products and corporate activities by 2050.
At the heart of Honda’s stall is Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s (HMSI) first flex-fuel powered motorcycle developed specially for the Indian market. The pre-production model displayed here uses innovative “FlexTech”Technology, allowing riders to experience a benchmark product with reduced environmental impact by utilising a blend of gasoline and ethanol. The flex-fuel powered motorcycle will be HMSI’s first FFV (Flex Fuel Vehicle). It will be powered by a 293.52cc, single-cylinder, air-cooled engine compliant with up to E85 fuel (85% ethanol & 15% gasoline).
Honda Power Pack Energy India exhibited its new-age technology, including Honda Power Pack Exchanger e: and Honda Mobile Power Pack at the expo. The company also showcased Honda e:Swap, an innovative battery-sharing technology tailored for electric two- and three-wheelers.
Honda Cars India featured its Honda City e:HEV and recently-launched SUV, Honda Elevate, at the expo. Both models come equipped with Honda's advanced safety technology, 'Honda Sensing.' This system uses a high-performance front camera with a wide-angle detection system to scan the road, alerting the driver and intervening when necessary to minimize accident risks.
Honda India Power Products limited displayed its Li-ion Battery-powered Lawn and Garden range comprising robotic lawnmower, handheld grass trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower ideally suited for efficient and eco-friendly turfcare.
Bio-fuel compatible advanced fuel injection (FI) equipped portable inverter generator model EU70is (5.5kVA) was on display and along with EU30is (3kVA) model, increasingly being used for drone charging applications for fertiliser spraying in agriculture and horticulture besides others. It also exhibited its eco-friendly, bio-fuel compatible advanced 4 Stroke Honda Marine model BF20 that offers a clean, reliable, and durable mobility solution for sustainable & efficient use in Indian waterways and along the coastline for coast guard & tourism purposes.
India Yamaha Motor (IYM) has displayed R15 V4 series (155cc) in four dynamic colours: Racing Blue, Intensity White, Dark Knight, and Metallic Red; the R-World grabbed the attention of bike enthusiasts with the display of iconic models in the R-Series family including the R1 (1000cc), R7 (700cc), R3 (321cc), and R15M (155cc) models. R-World embodies high-performance sportbikes, delivering cutting-edge engineering and track-worthy thrills.
The theme for Hyundai Motors India at BMGE 2024 was “Mobility for All” and the company showcased its various benchmark products like IONIQ 5, new CRETA, TUCSON, VERNA and its social initiatives like Samarth and Localisation and technologies like Smart sense ADAS and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric vehicle.
Maruti Suzuki unveiled the Wagon R Flex Fuel model at the expo, set to hit the roads by late next year. The redesigned model is built to run on various ethanol-petrol blends, promoting a significant reduction in tailpipe emissions. While an automatic variant is expected in the future, the current powertrain is designed to support ethanol-petrol blends ranging from 20% (E20) to 85% (E85). Mahindra also presented its existing product lineup, featuring some Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and its innovative RALL.E Concept.
Suppliers
While Bosch Limited dwelled up on its offering to optimise operations of logistics players, ZF showcased TRAXON, an intelligent automated manual transmission, delivering from 1,500 up to 3,400 Nm of torque.
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