In this issue

Autocar Professional’s bumper February 15, 2023, issue is out

This 64-pager is power packed with news, features, interviews and technology articles that will keep you up to date on developments in the Indian and global automotive sector.

The highlight of the issue is about financing problems the EV industry is facing.

Newswatch

All the information about companies who made headlines for various reasons.

Interviews

Jim Rowan, the global CEO of Volvo Cars shares his vision for a new smaller SUV and the organisational changes that are taking place.

Budget 2023

The industry in general reacts to the Finance Minister's proposals.

Special feature

Role of simulation and software is now even more important with the roll out of 5G.

Edelwiess Insurance rebranded as Zuno

FIVE-YEAR-OLD EDELWEISS General Insurance is among one the disruptors in the insurance business in India that has successfully marketed its business using digital apps and attempting to make the transaction hassle-free.

1 min

Uno Minda to acquire complete stake in Minda Kosei Aluminium Wheels

GURGAON-BASED UNO Minda Group has announced that it will invest Rs 115.5 crore to acquire complete stake in its JV firmMinda Kosei Aluminium Wheels - by taking hold of the remaining 22.64 percent share from Japanese partner Kosei.

1 min

Mahindra Q3 net profit up by 14%

LED BY SUSTAINED demand and increase in output on improved parts supplies, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) posted a 14 percent increase in standalone net profit for December ending third quarter of FY23.

2 mins

Apollo Tyres develops concept tyre with 75 percent sustainable materials

APOLLO TYRES, THE leading tyre manufacturer, has developed tyres with 75% sustainable materials.

1 min

Shriram Pistons acquires 75% share in Japanese moulding major Takahata

SHRIRAM PISTONS AND Rings, country's largest piston manufacturer has announced it will acquire 75 percent shareholding in Japanese company Takahata Precision India Private Limited (\"TPIL\") through its wholly owned subsidiary, SPR Ingenious Limited (\"SEL\").

1 min

Greaves to purchase Excel Controlinkage

GREAVES COTTON, A diversified engineering business has announced a four-tranche deal to pay Rs 385 crore to acquire Excel Controlinkage's full stake in the motion-control systems company.

1 min

Mahindra & Mahindra to expand Telangana tractor plant to make EVs

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA has signed an MoU with the government of Telangana for its proposed expansion plans at its existing manufacturing facility at the Zaheerabad plant in the Medak district. This work is likely to begin in a quarter.

1 min

In a first for India, huge Lithium reserves found in Jammu & Kashmir

IT'S CLEAR NOW that India is very much determined not be reliant on China for expensive raw material imports like lithium, a key raw material for EV batteries and cells.

1 min

ICAT sets up new start-up incubation centre at Manesar

The first-of-its-kind incubation centre for automotive products will nurture and hand-hold start-ups in developing future products that are ready for the market. Mayank Dhingra reports.

2 mins

Growth-oriented Budget to be demand accelerator for Auto Inc

Demand-side measures with lowered direct taxes, heavy push on infrastructure and support to start-ups and MSMEs augur well to stimulate economy. Mayank Dhingra, Shahkar Abidi and Amit Vijay M report.

8 mins

Mixed reactions from industry on FAME 2 subsidy updates

Increased allocation in Budget 2023 is welcome, but Rs 1,200 crore worth of subsidies that are unpaid by the government is what is worrying industry players, claims SMEV. Amit Vijay M reports.

5 mins

The rocky road to EV financing

Conservative estimates suggest that the Indian electric vehicle financing market is valued at $2.15 billion and it is expected to reach $4.37 billion, registering a CAGR of above 15 percent over the next five years. But all is not as bright as it appears when it comes to financing or lending, write ShahkarAbidi and Amit Vijay M.

10+ mins

World Bank $1 billion fund for EVS to be rolled out by April 2023

THE MUCH AWAITED financial support of US$1 billion from World Bank is set to be rolled out in the coming few months.

4 mins

Mahindra Quiklyz aims to deploy 40,000 EVs by 2025

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services expects its leasing business Quiklyz to end FY23 with a book value of Rs 600-700 crore and sees the book size swell to Rs 5,000 crore by 2025, writes Ketan Thakkar.

2 mins

Specialist two-wheeler financers are better placed to cater to EV transition

Bike Bazaar, a pre-owned two-wheeler financer is swiftly moving towards EV financing as the market transitions to zero-emission vehicles. The company wants to offer a bouquet of solutions, right from vehicle financing to leasing and subscription for new and used electric 2Ws, writes Ketan Thakkar.

5 mins

'EV industry needs an organisation within the government that can induce bankability of contracts'

Mahua Acharya spoke with Shahkar Abidi and Amit Vijay M on her experience of steering the Government of India's Convergence Energy Services and the challenges faced by the ecosystem.

5 mins

India's first dedicated mobility cluster launched in Telangana

The specially curated mobility cluster will focus on big ticket industry investments and aims to create over four lakh jobs over the next five years. Shahkar Abidi and Amit Vijay M have the details.

7 mins

Corporate India mentors EV incumbents at Hyderabad

Gujarat-based i-elektrik was declared a winner for its smart charging solutions for EVs and E-neomotion's personalised wheelchair concept was runner-up, write Amit Vijay Mand Shahkar Abidi.

2 mins

Automakers kicked off Hyderabad E mobility in style

Organised by the Telangana government, the Hyderabad E-Mobility week provided a platform to the business leaders and policymakers to discuss the future of sustainable mobility writes Shahkar Abidi.

1 min

India poised to shift gear with next-gen connected cars

Rajen Vagadia, VP, Qualcomm India Private Limited explains how 5G roll out makes the difference.

4 mins

CRM software solutions can help in dealer management

Gurgaon-based dealer-networking solutions provider Orbitsys Technologies is enabling new OEMs to expand swiftly by using its cost-effective, fully-integrated software offerings for managing sales and after-sales operations. Mayank Dhingra delves into the details on how it actually works.

3 mins

Designing EV BMS systems with modeling techniques

Exicom is optimising BMS performance by using COMSOL Multiphysics simulation that understands the thermal behaviour of different battery cell and pack designs, writes COMSOL's Neena Picardo.

5 mins

Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance opens a new chapter

While the focus on the mainstream ICE market will be with the B-segment SUVs, on the EV front, Renault-Nissan alliance will explore A-segment models for India, writes Ketan Thakkar.

6 mins

'Small SUV EV will play well for us in emerging markets like India'

Volvo will unveil the model this summer and it may make its way into emerging markets like India by 2024-25. A top-of-the-line EX90 too likely to be added to the portfolio. Ketan Thakkar has the story.

7 mins

Yulu-Magna bond spawns new Battery-as-a-Service network

Yuma Energy aims to set up battery swapping infrastructure for electric two-wheelers and plans to scale up the network to 500 stations across India by end-2023. Mayank Dhingra gets the details.

2 mins

Skoda India to export models to Middle East and South Asia

New model introductions in both LHD and RHD export markets and improved supplies are expected to help Skoda Auto Volkswagen sustain stronger market growth, writes Ketan Thakkar.

3 mins

India accounts for 60% of Suzuki output for the first time

Maruti Suzuki's share in parent Suzuki Motor Corporation's revenues, volumes, profitability all inch higher in FY23, thus helping the company to revise its earning guidance upwards, writes Ketan Thakkar.

2 mins

Piaggio plans mid-sized sports bike entry with Aprilia

The India launch of the motorcycle model to coincide with the first ever MotoGP race to be held in the country. Shahkar Abidi and Ketan Thakkar have the story of how the brand plans to move forward.

2 mins

Read all stories from Autocar Professional

Autocar Professional Magazine Description:

Autocar Professional is India’s leading automotive B2B fortnightly. Its in-depth analysis of the Indian automobile and components business is a must-read for industry personnel. It is circulated among key industry executives and decision-makers, and provides news, incisive interviews and accurate vehicle sales and production data. Its ability to spot and forecast trends has made it a strategic tool for auto professionals. The pages of Autocar Professional have emerged as a platform for the stakeholders of the Indian auto industry to showcase and share their ideas and vision.