Debutante "TAASE", the acronym for The Automotive Aftermarket and Services Exposition of Asia, waltzed into the industrial scene with its opening act enhanced the presence of Mr. Jagdish Khatter, Executive Director MUL, who cut the ribbon and opened the first-of-Its- kind Exhibition in India on 15th February 2001 at Pragati Maidan.

Around 35 per cent of the total domestic production of automotive components in India is supplied to the country's after-market while the remainder is original equipment. This is a sizeable figure. With the removal of all types of QRs in April this year, the Indian automotive after-market will see intense competition with products from overseas. Will the contribution from the indigenous manufacturers increase or will it diminish? Where do other products and services stand? Competition is good and inevitable. But, of indigenous players must survive they have to offer consumers best quality and price or else the imported alternative is waiting in the wings.

The intention of the Association was to offer opportunities to strengthen the competitive arm of Members and focus on the After -market that, actually, keep the wheels of the automobile industry turning. This makes the After -market products and services as important a backbone as the auto component sector.

TAASE, a focused show organised by ACMA at IETF 2001, show-cased auto components & accessories, maintenance equipment and e-commerce solutions. Gross area sold was over 1500 sqm approximately, which was excellent, as the potential of a first show is always an unknown factor. In the end, TAASE proved a success. Visitors came from Argentina, Austria, Botswana, Canada, China, including Hong Kong, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Iran, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Nepal, Saudi, Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, U.K., U.S.A. Vietnam and Yemen.