China, India emerge as major auto players

• Source: Global Times
• [00:37 January 14 2010]
• Comments

Affordability will be a key driver in the industry in the coming years, and China and India will offer carmakers an important testing ground for pushing the boundaries.

Ford CEO Alan Mulally said that while "China's going to be a force going forward and India is not too far behind ... We expect the auto world industry to continue to evolve."

But the lack of flexibility inherent in a massive and decades-old company could give their younger and more innovative rivals a leg-up, said Warren Harris, president of automotive engineering consulting firm Tata Technologies.

"Just the willingness to innovate in and around the value chain ... this is where the Chinese and Indian manufactures are going to have an advantage," he said.

Agencies