Mico launches anti-spurious packaging for fuel injection components
New packaging to address counterfeit issues

December 3, 2004: MICO, India’s largest manufacturer of diesel fuel injection equipment and spark plugs, has announced the launch of an improved capsule packaging for the main components of its Fuel Injection System. Developed indigenously over the last two years at
a total cost of Rs 40 million, the new packaging is not just state of the art, but is also antispurious. The capsule packaging is unique as it consists of a cap made of a Vapour Corrosion Inhibitor (VpCI) impregnated foam and a label with six levels of hidden security
features.

“38% of automotive components sold in India are counterfeit according to a study done by NCAER (National Council for Applied Economic Research) and commissioned by ACMA (Automobile Component Manufacturers Association),” said V K Bedi, Deputy General Manager, Automotive Aftermarket Division, Motor Industries Company Limited (MICO). “Our new packaging will help reduce the problem of counterfeit products and ensure that our customers buy products that have the MICO stamp of technology and quality. We are simultaneously investing in educating our dealer network and consumers about how to identify counterfeit products as part of our obligation towards society.”

The new packaging is ideally suited to Indian conditions where improper handling and inadequate storage facilities affect product quality. It is anti-counterfeit, self destructive and non-reusable. The packaging is being done at the Bangalore and Nashik plants of Mico with special equipment installed at a cost of Rs 12 million. This initiative from a market leader like Mico is not just focused on introducing the most modern designs and latest technologies into India, but is also an initiative to increase consciousness about spurious packaging and help wipe out the counterfeit market so that consumers do not get impacted.

About Bosch Group:
The Bosch Group, a German company, is strong globally in the business sectors - Automotive Technology, Industrial Technology, as well as Consumer Goods and Building Technology. In 2003, worldwide sales were EUR 36.4 billion. The Bosch Group operates 258 subsidiaries, of which 215 are located outside Germany, and has a total of 2,39, 000 employees worldwide. Sales of Bosch Group in India in 2003 were 413 million euro.

About MICO:
Motor Industries Company Limited (MICO) is a Bosch Group company present in India for the last 53 years and has catered to the Indian auto market with technology support from Bosch. It is the largest Indo-German company and a household name in the country today.

Mico has developed excellent R&D and manufacturing capabilities. Its strong customer base and the market leadership are a testimony to its technology and quality of products. Mico currently has 4 plants in India including 2 in Bangalore and 1 each in Jaipur and Nashik. All the 4 plants are TS 16949 and ISO 14001 certified. The service network of Mico spans 1,000 towns and cities across India. Over 10,000 employees are currently employed with Mico across its R&D, manufacturing and sales and service network.