The Hindu : Business : Eurocopter forms subsidiary

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Thursday, Oct 21, 2010
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Business

Eurocopter forms subsidiary

K. V. Prasad

— PHOTO: AFP

TAPPING THE POTENTIAL:Eurocopter India Chief Executive Officer Marie-Agnes Veve (left) and Executive Vice-President (Commercial Helicopters) Joseph Saporito at a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: Eurocopter, which belongs to European consortium EADS, on Wednesday, announced the setting up of a new subsidiary in India, sensing a huge business potential and aiming to capture 50 per cent of the market share in helicopters.

Established as the 25 {+t} {+h} worldwide subsidiary and 10 {+t} {+h} in Asia, Eurocopter India Private Ltd. has decided to take an aggressive plunge. It hopes to expand its market share from the current 30 per cent to 50 per cent by 2015.

“The Indian helicopter sector has been growing at an annual rate of 20 per cent and our ambition is to become the country's number one supplier for the civilian, government and para-public markets,'' Executive Vice-President (Commerical Helicopters) Joseph Saporito told a news conference here.

Eurocopter is also competing for the Indian Army/Air Force bid to procure 197 light utility helicopters. Mr. Saporito said Eurocopter had taken part in the trials and awaits the process to be completed. However, the Indian subsidiary would not been associated with the bid since the military affairs were handled by the main company.

At present, Eurocopter said, its AS365 Dauphin was serving for off-shore, para-public and government transport, while it offered the EC135, EC145 and AS350 Ecureuil for medical emergency and law enforcement duties including in naxal-affected areas.

Eurocopter India CEO Marie-Agnes Veve said the company was the world's first major helicopter manufacturer to establish a subsidiary in India. She said Eurocopter had now 23 civil and government customers and had been operating in the country for the last four decades.

Ms. Veve said at present Eurocopter had 30 per cent market share with U.S. Bell having majority 50 per cent. However, over the next five years, Eurocopter India aimed to increase its share to 50 per cent. The company estimated to sell at least half of the 50 helicopters that the civil sector was expected to buy each year.

Through the Indian subsidiary, the company hopes to address current and future operators' needs for maintenance and support by offering cost-effective solution for spares management and technical documentation and develop a country-wide maintenance, repair and overhaul network. The company plans to expand industrial cooperation building on the 40-year relationship with Hindustan Aeronautics, which has produced 600 of its Lama and Aloutte III helicopters under licence.

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