Auto parts imports from China down 42% during April-July: Ministry data

Industry body is optimistic about govt's push for greater localisation of components, but says indigenous manufacture will take some time

Auto components and parts imports from China dropped by around 42 per cent during April-July 2020 to $246.33 million from $424.32 million, a year ago. Internal combustion (IC) engines and imports reduced to $58.78 million from $89.57 million, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry data.

Industry representatives have attributed the drop to the pandemic-driven slowdown in automobile sales. However, with the government's push for more localisation and initiatives undertaken by the industry, additional business of Rs 25,000–30,000 crore within the next 3-4 years is possible and if volumes are sustained.

Last year, India imported components worth $17 billion, of which China accounted for 26 per cent or $4.5 billion. The rest came from South Korea, Germany and Japan, among others, Auto Component Manufacturers' Association of India (ACMA) data shows.

 

ACMA Director General Vinnie Mehta attributed the drop in component imports in April-July mainly to a decline in vehicle production due to the lockdown. "However," he said, "while localisation of components will take some time, with the Government's effort and industry's initiatives, we will start showing  positive results in next 12-18 months."

Mehta said the supply chain had started getting disrupted in February, eventually with shutdown production coming to a standstill in April and most of May. It is only now that the production is gradually returning to pre-Covid levels. 

"While the industry, OEMs and the components manufacturers are closely working and are committed to deep localisation, it would take around 2-3 years to develop a product, test it and validate it. Besides, it is important that regulations allow sufficient time for  technologies to be localised," he said. 

"Government is taking all the right measures. For example, the recent order on quality control for wheel rims will help check rampant imports of the item by aftermarket traders. In the same vein, we need to mandate standards for other components sold in the aftermarket. These are low-hanging fruits for localisation. Invoking standards will also benefit the customers as they will get access to quality products ensuring vehicle safety", he said.

A recent report by EY stated that power train, automatic transmission and electronic components have contributed to over 60 per cent of the total imports by value.

 

Some raw materials like platinum, palladium and rhodium, used for exhaust after-treatment devices are 100 per cent imported, as they aren't available in India. Even local raw material suppliers of steel, copper, plastics, and engineering plastics have a high import content. This is primarily due to constraints such as unavailability, inadequate quality, and dependence on other industries.

With technological advancements and disruptions in the mobility ecosystem due to introduction of BS VI norms, regulatory measures on vehicle safety and the push towards e-mobility, the reliance on imports of these components has increased in the recent past. Full realisation of this will be visible in the year 2020. Therefore, the import content is expected to show an increase in the short term since the industry did not get adequate time for localization e.g. BS VI in 2020 was introduced just three-years after BS IV Emission Norms in 2017. Subsequently, with concerted on-going efforts, import is expected to come down.