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Maini group ties up with Renault

Our Bureau

BANGALORE, Oct. 27

THE Maini group, makers of the Reva electric car, has been selected by the French-based Renault V.I. Mack group as a buying house, to help it source components from the country for the manufacture of its commercial vehicles.

The new company formed by the Maini group, Zero Concepts Marketing, will develop Indian vendors for supplying auto components to Renault V.I. Mack Trucks. Zero Concepts Marketing will also identify those Indian suppliers, competitive in quality, delivery and cost. The company will handle quotations, price negotiation and also finally recommend the suppliers to the Renault group.

Mr S.K. Maini, Chairman of the Maini group, told reporters here on Friday that the company would invest $300,000 in the project. One of its group companies, Maini Precision Products, has already won an order worth $800,000 for three products, namely valv e guides, brackets and pins.

Mr Loic F. Mellinand, Director (Purchasing Engines), Renault V.I. Mack group, said that the company sourced components from Brazil, Japan, East Europe and West Europe and from Mexico.

Zero Concept will be involved in quality assurance for Renault V.I. Mack, including supplier process audits, assistance in documentation of initial samples and will also manage logistics, and monitor supply base delivery and inventory in both US and Euro pe.

The Renault V.I.Mack group sold 93,230 vehicles in 1999, and holds 10.7 per cent of the European truck market in the five-ton category and 12.2 per cent in heavy truck market in the 16-ton category.

The Maini group exports 50 per cent of its turnover to OEMs in Europe and the US, of which major exports are auto components and battery operated material handling equipment. General Motors and Bosch are among its major customers.