Text: Bhargav TS
Bosch the company which has commendable exposure and a proven record of excellence in automotive electronics is likely to commence its hardware manufacturing for two-wheeler Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and MSP. The commencement will take its inauguration phase in 2017 and the company is not planning for any manufacturing set-up separately. The volume of the vehicles fitted with ABS should be large in order to have the set-up locally. The ABS need is slowly inculcated and the vehicles with engine displacement more than 125cc should be installed with ABS as per the new regulations. The same bells the OEMs with good opportunity and in turn Bosch could expect a phenomenal volume.
Speaking to Auto Components India, about the penetration of ABS fitment in India, Kartikeya Joshi, Marketing and Sales Head, Bosch Chassis Systems India said that the Indian market with regards to two-wheelers is still not luring for the company as the volume play is still blurring. The two-wheeler ABS needs are satiated still through Japan facility. But for the four-wheelers, as the market portends a big hit and the ABS installation which gives better assistance for drivers in rugged road conditions has become almost mandate for all the vehicles.
kartikeya Joshi, Bosch Chassis Systems India
The company has a plant in Chakan Pune for four-wheeler which takes care of ABS and ESP manufacturing. Commenting on the Pune facility, Joshi highlighted that, “As of now we have 1 million volume per annum for four-wheelers and as far as two-wheeler is concerned we have localised the engineering support and, technical queries with respect to ABS are addressed then and there to the customers. But the commercial support extent would be limited with the hardware getting shipped from Japan. The option of manufacturing the same indigenously is within our vicinity as the quantity need will soon tempt us to have a facility in India. By 2017 we will start manufacturing the hardware for two-wheeler ABS in India as we predict that the penetration of ABS in two-wheelers are set to grow.”
Bosch has already initiated the talks with several OEMs on the ABS needs and have also formulated the initial priorities to be addressed. The accident results provide good data support to design and helps the company in making decisions. Joshi claims that, “We could provide the best engineering and support to Indian market as we have lot of technologies evolved which would be relevant to Indian market needs. We have ample technologies in hand but based on the regulations and affordability the technologies could be shared with all OEMs.”
Bosch accident research outputs that 1 out of 3 accidents would be prevented if there is ABS fitment. There are various stakeholders involved in addressing the situation. The company has ABS solution in their portfolio and could be made available immediately in India but the impact of technology should be felt by them. The ABS solution will be provided eventually to all OEMs and the end consumers will feel the change the fit brings in. Based on the requirement and the combination of disk and drive brakes the position of ABS fitment would be decided. OEMs’ inputs will help the company to have the position of ABS decided better.
Speaking on the cost metrics Joshi pointed that, “Bajaj’s pulsar comes with ABS and non ABS fitment. The difference brings with it a cost differentiation of Rs 12000. But the price differentiation should not be cornered to one attribute viz ABS. Bajaj has their own pricing policy and also they work on the price based on the cost of the capital investment. Also they analyse the consumer segment for which the features are launched and the fellow player’s pricing policy,” concluded Joshi. ACI
