Tata AutoComp Systems Limited (TACO), a technology and engineering company in the automotive sector, and Yutaka Giken, a world leader in automotive exhaust systems, have established "Tata Yutaka AutoComp Limited" on 23 March 2001. The joint venture company (JVC) will spearhead the development and manufacture of exhaust systems, including fabricated manifolds and catalytic converters for two-wheelers, cars, multi-utility vehicles and commercial vehicles.

The partners also agree that the JVC will continuously explore the possibility of introducing the entire range of Yutaka Giken products, including brake discs for two wheelers, in the future.

TACO, together with its global partners, offers "one-stop" solutions, including manufacturing, engineering and supply chain management capabilities, to the Indian and global automotive industry. TACO has setup 11 JVCs in partnership with leading world leaders for different product areas and has plans to get into several new product groups.

Yutaka Giken is a Japanese leader and pioneer in exhaust systems, catalytic converters, fabricated exhaust manifolds and related technologies.

Takeshi Yamada, president, Yutaka Giken said, "Through the joint venture with TACO, Yutaka Giken is committed to bringing our global resources and expertise to provide exhaust systems and associated technologies to the Indian automotive industry."

While Yutaka Giken will bring to the joint venture its technical expertise and worldwide experience in exhaust systems, TACO’s knowledge of the Indian conditions, market and association with various customers will add value to the venture.

TACO and Yutaka Giken plan to invest Rs. 52 million in the equity of Tata Yutaka AutoComp Limited. The plant will be located at Pune with commercial production scheduled for year 2001. Significant areas of possible replacements of traditional exhaust systems on passenger vehicles, buses, trucks, and two-wheelers have already been identified as opportunities for the joint venture.

The exhaust system in India is on its way to becoming a complex module with an important role to play in emission control and acoustic comfort. Expectations in these areas on the part of automakers and users alike are forcing the pace of these changes on exhaust system manufacturers.

In India, so far low-emission targets and ignorance towards acoustic comfort allowed automakers to design simpler exhaust systems themselves. However, with increasing competition and stringent regulations, automakers have to make significant improvements in features like noise, vibration, harshness, fuel consumption, and thermal emissive efficiency.