Schaeffler Group Ready to Face Challenges of the Indian Market

Schaeffler Group Automotive, a leading automotive supplier worldwide, has further emphasized the significance of the Indian automotive market for its business on the occasion of Auto Expo in New Delhi.

"India with its more and more internationally operating OEMs is still one of the key markets of the future", outlines Biswarup Dhar, Managing Director of Schaeffler Automotive in India. "We are fully aware of the fact that approx. 70 % of vehicles sold in India are from the lowest price segment and that we have to offer robust designs at competitive cost in order to further improve our position in the market."

A wide product portfolio offering sophisticated products for high-end applications but also comprising robust designs of basic modules – the latter priced competively – are one of the pillars of success in the Indian market, according to Biswarup Dhar.

With its brands LuK, INA and FAG Schaeffler Automotive shows at Auto Expo some of its innovative "classics": The LuK dual mass fly wheel is, particularly before the background of a significant increase in diesel applications in India, key to comfortable, low rpm driving by eliminating unplesant vibrations of the drive train.

INA high quality engine elements, such as finger followers or bucket tappets and, for example, FAG steering column bearings complete the range of tried-and-tested components for the automotive industry.

In addition, LuK, INA and FAG will also draw attention to their some of their highly innovative products for engines, transmission and chassis. These contribute to fuel reduction, cut of CO2 emissions and support sustainable development, thus being in line with the planned emission regulations as part of the Automotive Mission Plan 2006-2016, released by the Indian Government:

LuK twin clutches for sportive dual clutch transmissions offer best driving comfort and fuel economy in the region of more than 10 % in comparison to conventional automatic transmissions.

A reduction in fuel consumption in the order of up to 1.5 % is possible if conventional tapered roller bearings used as wheel bearing supports in vans, SUVs and light trucks are replaced by innovative, four-row twin tandem angular contact ball bearings from FAG. This concept can also be transferred to the final drive units in passenger cars. Tandem angular contact ball bearings with only double rows can be used to replace tapered roller bearings as bearing supports for pinions and differentials thereby reducing bearing friction by approximately 50 %. A reduction in fuel consumption of around 1.5 % is also possible here based on standard driving cy-cles.

INA engine systems on show include a cylinder head equipped with switchable bucket tappets for cam profile switchting or cylinder de-activation.

Only in March 2007 Schaeffler inaugurated a new plant in Pune covering 18,000 square meters and employing approximately 350 people in the production of precision elements for the automotive und Industrial sectors.

An engineering and test center has also been opened at the location so that solutions tailored to the needs of Indian customers can be developed even more quickly. No need to say that the new 40 million Euro facility is part of Schaeffler’s global production and R&D network and obeys to the strict international standards and quality regulations.

Schaeffler has been active in the Indian market since 1990. Today, the company operates a total of three factories in Vadodara (FAG), Pune (INA) and Hosur (LuK) and a network of 7 sales and enginering offices all over the country. Customers include international car manufactures, but also Indian OEMs from the vehicle and from the two-wheeler industry.

The booth of Schaeffler Group Automotive, featuring passenger car and HGV applications for OEMs and the automotive aftermarket, can be found in hall 15A.

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