Rohit Punjabi, Vice President, LiuGong India

What are the key products or technologies you are showcasing at bauma ConExpo India, and what makes them particularly relevant to the evolving needs of Indian customers?

At bauma ConExpo India, our focus is on demonstrating equipment and technology solutions that address the evolving requirements of Indian customers, with particular emphasis on productivity, efficiency, reliability and operating economics. We see increasing demand for machines that can deliver higher output while remaining practical across diverse Indian applications and operating conditions. Our portfolio approach allows us to address requirements across earthmoving, road construction, material handling and other applications. The objective is to combine proven equipment capabilities with technology that delivers greater value throughout the machine lifecycle.

What major shifts are you seeing in customer demand—such as automation, digitalisation, fuel efficiency, alternative fuels and lower operating costs—and how is your product strategy responding to these trends?

Indian customers are increasingly evaluating equipment beyond the initial purchase price, with greater attention to productivity, fuel efficiency, uptime, operating costs and overall total cost of ownership. Digitalisation is also becoming more relevant as customers seek better visibility into machine utilisation, maintenance and performance. At LiuGong, our product strategy is therefore focused on combining machine performance with intelligent technologies, improved efficiency and operator-focused features. We believe the next phase of equipment adoption in India will be driven by solutions that make operations more productive, predictable and economically sustainable.

With global trade uncertainties, geopolitical tensions and changing tariff dynamics, how are you managing supply chains, costs and localisation to remain competitive?

The current global environment reinforces the importance of building resilient and flexible supply chains. Our approach is centred on increasing localisation where commercially and technically appropriate, strengthening supplier relationships and improving supply-chain responsiveness. We are also focused on operational efficiency and disciplined cost management so that changes in the external environment can be managed without compromising product quality or customer support. For India, localisation is particularly important because it can improve responsiveness while reducing dependence on longer supply chains. Ultimately, our priority is to remain competitive by combining efficiency, flexibility and strong local market alignment.

With India’s push towards higher ethanol blending in fuels, how do you see this impacting construction equipment engines, machine performance, fuel systems and the overall equipment ecosystem?

It is important to distinguish between petrol and diesel applications when considering ethanol blending. A significant portion of construction equipment operates on diesel, so changes in petrol ethanol blending do not directly translate into the same impact on these machines. However, the broader transition towards alternative and cleaner fuels reinforces the need for manufacturers to evaluate fuel compatibility, engine calibration, fuel-system materials, durability and operating conditions carefully. At LiuGong, we see fuel evolution as part of the industry's wider transition towards more efficient and lower-emission equipment, with technology development guided by application requirements and applicable standards.

What are your key business priorities for the Indian market over the next two to three years, and where do you see the biggest growth opportunities?

Our priorities for India are centered on strengthening our product portfolio, expanding customer support, deepening localisation and continuing to introduce technologies that address changing equipment requirements. We see significant opportunities across infrastructure development, road construction, urbanisation, mining, material handling and other applications where productivity and equipment efficiency are increasingly important. Alongside product development, we will continue focusing on service capability, parts support and closer engagement with customers and partners. Our long-term objective is to build sustainable growth in India by aligning our capabilities closely with the country's evolving construction and infrastructure needs.