Backed by a robust GDP growth (7-8 %), the Indian automotive industry is growing at a phenomenal growth rate of over 20%. Automakers around the world are vying for a place in the Indian auto market, while steelmakers are partnering their automotive counterparts to develop steels, which would cater to the requirements of the next generation automobiles. Therefore, one of the focussed areas in steel research today is to develop advanced high strength steel with superior formability. Similarly, efforts are also underway to cater to the requirements of zinc coated strips used in modern automobiles.

India has a lot to learn from the experiences of steel makers and auto makers in Japan, Europe and USA. Experts from these countries as well as those from India will deliver invited 45 minutes talks as per the following:

• Dr Hiroshi Takechi: Fukuoka Institute of Technology, Japan. - Advanced High Strength Steel Sheets for Automotive Application.

• Dr Kawaguchi:Toyota Motor Co., Japan - Use of high strength and other recently developed steels in Toyota cars.

• Dr Walther Van Raemdonck: Bekaert, Belgium - Production of tyre bead quality wire rods/wires.

• Dr Jean-Claude Herman: CRM, Belgium - Surface quality and other quality features of zinc coated strips used in automobiles.

• Speaker from Arcelor, France - Coated steel.

• Speaker from NSC, Japan - Steelmakers’ view point of steels for the automobile market.

• Speaker from Maruti Suzuki, India - Use of indigenous and imported strips in the body in white of Maruti cars.

• Speaker from Tata Seel, India - Production of skin panels and other products for the Indian automobile industry.

• Speaker from SAIL, India - Galvanised strip supply from SAIL.