BL reported that Pallia Transport has formed a JV with Italian logistics firm Gruppo Mercurio SPA. The JV Mercurio Pallia Logistics will provide logistics services to automotive companies. It will procure about 100 trailers over the next 1 year and has already placed orders for 20 trailers with TATA Motors.

Mr Vipul Nanda MD of Mercurio Pallia said “GM SPA, EUR 130 million company, will bring in its expertise in stockyard management, pre-delivery inspection and other value additions.” It aims to offer auto makers end-to-end logistics services between India and Europe.

Mr Nanda said “The Indian automotive logistics players usually offer services between factories and dealers. The JV will provide value added services to the Indian auto logistics market, which is roughly INR 2,000 crore annually. We will increase our existing business in car transportation with automobile companies including Maruti, Mahindra and Mahindra, TATA Motors, Hyundai, General Motors and Honda. We are doing a feasibility study for car transportation in rail wagons.”

(Sourced from Business Line)