Hyundai line-up for Excon 2019 would feature innovations in terms fuel saving technologies, optimization for various applications as well as informatics to ensure the most profitable use of excavators
what is your expectation from the EXCON ’19?
Excon provides a good opportunity for the CE manufacturers like Hyundai to interact with our customers on one platform. Over the years, Excon has grown considerably in size as well as stature. It provides a good platform for the industry to showcase the best technology in the CE space. Excon acts not only as an ideal launch pad for newer products but also as a breeding ground for newer concepts and ideas. We expect that this edition of Excon will continue this contribution to the industry with more ideas being generated and more visitor footfall.

What are the new product launches you have planned for Excon 19?
Hyundai CE India has consistently led from the front in terms of innovations in the construction equipment and specifically excavator segment. Our focus is on innovations in terms of mechanical improvements in the excavators as well as using the digital technology to ensure maximum productivity at minimum cost to the customers while optimizing the cycle time.

In the same vein our line-up for Excon 2019 would feature innovations in terms fuel saving technologies, optimization for various applications as well as informatics to ensure the most profitable use of excavators. We are sure that customers will welcome the game changers in the excavator segments that we will present this year.

How do you respond to the market, what are the USP of your products that allows you to stand tall?
Hyundai in Korea means Modern, we keep working at different levels to keep our products current and equipped with latestand innovative features. We have ensured that our product offerings are always ahead of the competition in terms of technology, reliability and efficiency. We are constantly expanding our product portfolio to address any gaps that may develop in the market. This is apparent from the wide range that we offer.

Additionally, we have one of the widest networks of sales, spares and service facilities across the country. This ensures that our engineers are able to reach the equipment in field wherever and whenever required. Hyundai has one of the most competitive Mean Time to Respond (MTR) as well as Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR) in the industry. We have implemented an online complaint management system, which the customers can use to ensure that their complaints are not only addressed on time but also escalated to the correct node. To ensure that Hyundai is reachable for the customers whenever the need arises, we have set up a dedicated call centre and CRM centre. Any customer can reach us using our toll free number 1800 209 8600.

Distribution of genuine spare parts and the availability of these spare parts closer to the machine is ensured through our central parts warehouse in Pune, Regional parts depot at regions and Dealer spare parts depots spread across the country. All these factors combined ensure that we remain a top choice for our customers.

What is your view on the future of the construction equipment segment?
The long-term prospect for India continues to be quite promising. Large scale projects by the central and state governments in sectors including roads, inland waterways, ports, airports and infrastructure modernization in the cities would demand equipment on a large scale. The infrastructure sector remains the biggest focus area of the central government. Under Union Budget 2019-20, ` 4,41,704.8 crore has allocated to the sector.

Railways, roads and highways, ports and airports are expected receive a huge chunk of this allocation. Furthermore, government has announced to invest Rs 10,000,000 crore in infrastructure over the next five years. To upgrade 1,25,000 kms of road length over the next five years, the estimated cost of ` 80,250 crore is envisaged under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY). The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has created a pipeline of projects worth ` 8 lakh crore which will be awarded over the next three years, as the government begins the exercise of creating a national infrastructure pipeline. All these developments point towards the continued thrust by the policy makers for the infrastructure industry leading to a buoyant demand for the CE Industry for the next three to five years.

ES Lee, MD, Hyundai Construction Equipment India