Auto Parts Asia — February 2018

32 | AutoPartsAsia | FEBRUARY 2018

SPECIAL REPORT

C

omposites are materials

made from two or more

constituents with significantly

different physical or chemical

properties that in combination

produce an entirely different

material that is stronger, lighter and

cheaper than metals. The individual

properties remain distinct within

the finished structure. Similarly, the

partners of E3, MG Composites

and Greaves, remain distinct for the

finished vehicle.

Anil M Kamat, Managing Director,

MG Group said, “We are jointly

pitching for the market with the

concept, which demonstrates

Greaves as a driveline system

supplier and MG Composites as an

application builder and designer. We

are giving our customers the option

to take either the body or electric

powertrain or both. If a customer

wants the vehicle as a whole, we

can offer. We are yet to take a call

on where the integration of the

powertrain into the composite shell

or the body, will take place. Most

probably it will be at our composites

plant in Zaheerabad in Telegana

State.”

MG Group decided to manufacture

a commercial vehicle since “we

have been on the lookout for new

challenges and opportunities in the

industry segment we are present

in. Design and composite materials

being our core areas we were keen

to combine the two to put forward

a suitable mobility solution in the

commercial vehicle segment.

The three-wheeler auto segment

being one of the product variants

in this segment that MG had never

attempted, we felt the time was

ripe to unveil E3. It is a bold step to

change from the traditional metal

body to composites as it may not

be easy to infuse it into the market.

Several countries, especially in

the ASEAN region, have begun

to accept vehicles of composites

for the last mile connectivity. E3

is an indigenously designed and

‘Made in India’ product, having high

performance, low cost of ownership

and zero emission. It is also stylish,

and futuristic,” Kamat said.

MG Group, India’s largest privately-

owned bus building enterprise, has

two companies: MG Automotives

Private Limited in Zaheerabad,

and MG Automotives (Bus &

Coach) Private Limited in Belgaum,

Karnataka. They have an installed

annual capacity of 16,500 buses.

Since its entry into this business in

1996, the group has manufactured

over one lakh buses, both for the

domestic and export markets.

The group has been one of the

leading high volume low-cost

manufacturers for the bus building

requirements of the Indian and

multi-national OEMs. The company

established West & Deccan in

2001 to strengthen its design and

Composite Of Technology

And Innovation Helps

MG Mould E3

By T Murrali