It is understood that import consignments from China are being subjected to one-hundred per cent manual inspection resulting in inordinate delays in clearance. Explaining the complexity of the automotive value chain and the need for permitting clearance of imports, Deepak Jain, President ACMA remarked, “The auto component
industry in India is committed to the ‘Atma-nirbhar vision’ of our Hon’ble Prime Minister. The entire automotive value chain in the country is around USD 118 billion of which import of auto components is USD 4.75 billion, 4% of the total auto industry turnover. Some of the items imported from China are critical components such as
parts of engines and electronics items for which we are yet to develop domestic competence. The automotive value chain is a highly complex, integrated and interdependent one; non-availability of even a single component can, in fact, lead to stoppage of the vehicle manufacturing lines. Post the lockdown, production in the component industry is gradually picking up in tandem with the growth in vehicles sales, itis therefore in the best interest of the industry and the economy that any further disruptions are best avoided.”
