We reveal Tata Motors’ gameplan to tackle the ongoing M&HCV crisis in India, interview Ford Motor Co’s global logistics head Stephen J Harley who talks about the need for inter-modal transport in India and on exporting the EcoSport powertrain to global plants, find out how Faurecia is gunning for a chunk of India’s emission control technologies business by 2017, and also report on trade fairs like IMTEX 2013, the Int’l Bus & UV Show at Greater Noida, and get exhibitors’ feedback on the recent ACMA Automechanika.  Plus, lots of news too.

As the industry deals with Coronavirus and prolonged shutdowns globally, this March 15 issue details how businesses are becoming future-ready. 
Going local
Brose plans to step up its ‘local-for-local’ approach to build its India business significantly, is set to launch three new products with three OEMs over the next 15 months.
Lightweighting
Lanxess is working on new strategies to further grow its India, and a sharpened growing focus on lightweighting, driven by EVs.
India an alternative?
With the Coronavirus outbreak,given China’s dominance in global supply chains, the impact is felt worldwide. Can India step in an alternative production base?
Compact models
Will the 2020 Vitara Brezza, with a BS VI petrol engine, deliver what its manufacturer hopes it would? Hyundai too is pinning a lot on a new model, the Aura compact sedan.  
Women’s Special
A comprehensive 20-page special to mark Women’s Day.
Winner of the 2019 Nari Shakti Puraskar, ARAI’s RashmiUrdhwareshe speaks about her three-decade-old stint with ARAI before she retires.
Anjali Singh, Executive Chairperson, Anand Group and Gabriel India, details out the Group’s journey.
Sulajja Firodia Motwani, founder, CEO of Kinetic Green Energy & Power Solutions, on her plans for scaling up business.
As Design Head, M&M, RamkripaAnanthan takes forward the design philosophy of ‘Freedom and Adventure’.
Geeta Baskaran, MD, Suba Plastics, a Tier 1 supplier, on collaborative working with OEMs.
Julie Furber, VP- Electrified Power, Cummins, shares what's still missing from the EV conversation.
Tech Talk
Bosch establishes ethical 'red lines' for AIuse and Equipmake is partnering Hieta for developing what it claims is “the world’s most power-dense electric motor.”

Autocar Professional – March 1-2020

The March 1 issue brings up the bigger picture for automotive – it’s all about being future- ready.

 

Hero MotoCorp: The world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer aims to 'Be the Future of Mobility’. Pawan Munjal, CEO, Hero MotoCorp indicates collaboration is one key path to grow sustainably in a disruptive era.

Endurance Technologies: Future-readiness continues to buzz. With a brand-new 29-acre proving ground worth Rs 55 crore, Endurance Technologies has its eyes set on creating new solutions for the future.

Exclusive interview: Daimler Mobility’s CEO Franz Reiner details current global trends, why he believes pay-as-you-use and a higher share of leasing will also happen in India and why Daimler is betting big on Indian start-ups.

Haima says hello to India: Williams Dong, GM, Haima Automobile International Corporation says the company is partnering the Bird Group to bring the under Rs 10 lakh E1 EV in India in mid-2021.

DHL SmarTrucking: Vikas Mohan, CEO, DHL SmarTrucking, reveals how AI and machine learning are helping making transport efficient, reducing wastage.

Sandhar-Whetron: After a series of Korean partnerships and JVs, Sandhar now looks further east, ties up with Taiwan’s Whetron Electronics for a 50:50 JV.
SEG Automotive: German Tier 1 supplier focuses on optimising operations, innovate for new products and ready to accelerate cleaner mobility for OEMs in India.

Powerland ATV: This made-in-India electric ATV built with imported components is set to wow the world’s largest market for all-terrain vehicles – the US.

UV sales: Good news continues to flow in for Kia. Four UV makers see their new products deliver the goods, even as established players take a hit.
News: The leading OMCs assure delivery of BS-VI fuel ahead of the April 1 deadline, airline tarmac buses mean a massive business opportunity for electric bus makers, and lots more. 

The mid-month Auto Show review special is a cracker of an edition, full of content: exclusive interviews, vehicle and component reveals, and lots more. India’s biggest auto component trade fair transformed Pragati Maidan into a global marketplace for all parts, big and small and introduced some of the latest green technologies, safety measures and latest innovations.

Curating component buzz
With participation from nearly 1,500 component suppliers and 400 of them launching 1,200 new products at the 15th Auto Expo 2020 - Components in New Delhi, it was not surprising that the four-day trade fair saw record visitor footfalls over 115,000 business visitors. It was, perhaps, the most thumping vote of confidence that put to nought the naysayers and sent across a strong signal to overall industry that the tough get going when the going gets tough.

Global perspective
We bring you perspectives from across the world. Local and global stakeholders come together to highlight the big mobility trends of tomorrow – An exclusive interview, Subramanyam Javvadi, CEO of Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board, views from Masahi Oshita, Vice-Chairman and ED of the Japan Auto Parts Association, Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of SMMT, Varroc Group’s Managing Director Tarang Jain and also the MAHLE management.

ACMA packs a punch
ACMA spiced up the component fair with its special pavilions like the Safer Drives, which disseminated the message of use of genuine parts, and the Technovation pavilion where 16 companies including eight start-ups pushed the innovation envelope and how.

Motor Show thrills
The Motor Show, although without some regular biggies, still had its fair bit of excitement in the form of new metal. The Volkswagen Group, Tata Motors and M&M wowed the petrolheads.

February is all about Auto Expo 2020 and this preview issue details the preparations and expectations, and also exclusive interviews with industry association heads as India's biggest show unfolds at two separate venues: the Motor Show at India Expo Mart in Greater Noida and the Components Show at Pragati Maidan.
The slowdown has does little to dampen sentiment as tough-as-nails suppliers join hands with OEMs to ready new technology and materials for a smooth transition to BS VI and diversify into e-mobility.
Find out why both Deepak Jain, President, ACMA and Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA are optimistic about this year's event, which sees over 1,500 suppliers from 20 countries participating.  We also speak to Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM.
Safer cars, more stars, better ratings
Whether you are selling cars or buying one, in-vehicle and passenger safety are paramount and in a perfect tribute to the ‘Make In India’, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra gross the maximum number of GNCAP five-star ratings nationally raising the safety bar several notches higher and setting a new benchmark.
CV industry high on BS VI, innovation
The CV segment is buzzing. Ashok Leyland delivered its first set of BS VI trucks while Force Motors unveiled its all-new IC, CNG and EV van platform and Daimler India CV has upped the ante and unveiled plans of it becoming a powertrain hub for Daimler. Meanwhile, Eberspaecher Sharda Motor inaugurated its new Pune plant which will manufacture BS VI exhaust systems for CVs
That’s not all. There is plenty more to read in this 124-page issue packed with news, views and analysis.

2020 is all about innovation, information and constant change that the auto industry is going through globally. The mid-month issue brings you the change-makers, game-changers and industry disruptors.
The lines have started blurring at the CES 2020 as the spotlight stayed firmly on automobiles at the popular global tech platform in Las Vegas. Fast, futuristic and fashionable is what the car industry is focusing upon. Exhibitors from Mercedes’ innovative AVTR to Sony’s Vision S concept go big on connected sustainable mobility with a palpably exciting array of offers for the future. From Hyundai, Honda, Nissan to Bosch, ZF to Nawa, the who’s who of the automotive world and auto component manufacturers showcased their tech prowess.
We also have an exclusive interview with Henrik Fisker, CEO of Fisker Inc, who unveiled his luxury electric SUV ‘Ocean’ at Las Vegas this year.
Not just established OEMs but component makers too are concentrating on being future-ready. PPAP Automotive shares its secret of riding the slowdown and is now actively implementing industry 4.0 measures at its plants across India.
The spotlight is on the C-BEEV or the Centre For Battery Engineering and EVs. Housed in IIT Chennai, it is working with key industry stakeholders like Mahindra, Tata Motors, Exide, Exicom, Amara Raja and many others to ring in a sustainable future for vehicles in India.
But for now the auto industry has to contend with tepid sales and wait for despatches to pick up. The latest numbers released by SIAM indicate that low sales continue to plague manufacturers across segments. All eyes on the next quarter when the new BS VI emission norms kick in.

How can automobile brands stay relevant in a world disrupted by technology? Our cover story has all the answers. There’s been lots of action on the EV front. Tata Motors is set to launch its 300km range Nexon EV while Piaggio has launched its Ape E-City passenger-carrying e-3-wheeler, which uses Sun Mobility's battery swapping tech. And iTEC India’s conclave on ‘E-Mobility Solutions for the Community' proved to be a big draw. We have detailed reports on all.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor India is not given up on diesel and is betting big for its new compact Aura sedan. Find out just how.

Every drop of fuel matters, to the motorist and to oil marketing companies. Find out how India's leading OMCs are taking to machine learning, AI and data science to automate their retail network and fuel transparency, while also stopping malpractices.

In a similar move, Tier 1 clutch plate supplier Rico Auto is taking on the fake parts industry with new holographic packaging.

We've got two interviews in this issue – Georg Graf, President of the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and Continental India’s Krishan Kohli – and our guest columnist is Aashish Bhatia, President, Visteon India, who writes lucidly on the next-gen digital cockpit that's connected, conversational and safe.

Think disruption and the word start-up comes to mind. We detail the top 15 start-ups of 2019. There's plenty more to read in this 64-page issue that opens a new year that promises to be an exciting one. 

Team Autocar Professional wishes all readers and the industry a very happy New Year 2020. Let's hope it turns out far better than the forgettable one that 2019 was.

As 2019 drives to a close, it's time to take stock of a year that’s been a really tough one for India Auto Inc. But tough times call for tough leaders to make tough decisions.
Autocar Professional celebrates its 15th Anniversary Issue by celebrating the movers and shakers across the vehicle manufacturing and component supplier spectrum. This 182-page issue delivers the goods in a host of captivating features, exclusive interviews, industry analysis, exclusive guest columns by captains of industry and lots more.

Man of the Year 2019: For the successful launch of the business and some rapid steps including e-mobility, Rajeev Chaba, president and MD, MG Motor India, wins the honour. We’ve also got exclusive guest columns from L Ganesh, Chairman, Rane Group; Dr Andy Palmer, President & Group CEO, Aston Martin Lagonda; Henrik Fisker, Chairman & CEO, Fisker Inc; David Ward, President & CEO, Global NCAP; Dr Wilfried G Aulbur, Senior Partner & Member Supervisory Board, Roland Berger; Dr Anup Bandivadekar, Program Director / Regional Lead, ICCT; Siemens’ Shashi Rajagopalan and Doug Burcicki; BASF South Asia’s Brieux Boisdequin.
Exclusive interviews: Baba Kalyani, CMD, Bharat Forge; Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland; Farrokh Cooper, CMD, Cooper Corporation; Harsha Kadam, MD and CEO, Schaeffler India;

Girish Wagh, President – CVBU, Tata Motors; Vikram Kasbekar, ED - Operations (Plants) & CTO, Hero MotoCorp; Victor Fedelli, Ontario’s Minister for Economic Development; Dr Keshab Panda, CEO & MD, L&T Technology Services.
Skilling at India Auto Inc: A comprehensive feature on how OEMs and suppliers are upskilling existing staff and skilling youth to make them future-ready.
This is just a glimpse into some of the editorial content. There's plenty more in this simply unputdownable cracker of a 15th anniversary issue. Enjoy.

India Auto Inc is going all out to take on new challenges and also embrace e-mobility. The December 1 issue focusses on innovations in e-mobility, tracks the race to BS VI preparedness and reports on stunning new UV launches globally.

E-mobility drive: SEG Automotive develops next-gen clean drivetrain solutions aimed at enabling OEMs to make a smooth transition towards e-mobility and more efficient IC engines.

E-bike innovation: Competition is heating up in the e-motorcycle space as Orxa Energies prepares for the reveal of its maiden electric bike, Mantis, in early December at India Bike Week. We speak to the start-up’s co-founders.

Charting the Chetak yatra: Bajaj Auto is keen on a home run for its e-Chetak journey before embarking on a global journey with its new electric scooter.

Technology boost: MapmyIndia makes a strategic move in the race to CASE, bets on IoT to offer advanced navigation solutions. 

Race to BS VI: Industry experts debate the emission technologies for BS VI and beyond at ECT 2019 Conclave in Pune.

Global buzz: The snazzy DBX marks Aston Martin brand’s debut into the SUV world while Tesla’s new electric Cybertruck pick-up takes you on a journey ‘back to the future’. 

Lots of news too: Tata Motors opens a cutting-edge PV, CV and EV powertrain facility; new Raize SUV likely to spawn Toyota and Maruti’s Creta rival; Greaves Cotton completes its buyout of Ampere Vehicles.

Safety, sustainability and sales will be the continuing mantras for growth for India Auto Inc. Autocar Professional’s mid-month issue turns the radar on each of these, even as vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers are putting their shoulder to the BS VI wheel.
Focus on safety: Global NCAP revealed the results of its latest round of India tests involving four cars but no five-star rating. Maruti's new Ertiga MPV received a three-star rating while the Wagon R and Hyundai Santro managed two each and the Datsun Redigo one single star. Proof enough that made-in-India cars have still some way to go before they consistently achieve top-notch safety standards.
CV industry revs up BS VI effort: Ashok Leyland has begun its BS VI journey in full earnest, what with a modular M&HCV; platform and its heavy-duty range of CVs getting ARAI certification. And, Cummins India is doing its bit to spread awareness about BS VI.
Spotlight on Indian technicians: It is India shining at the Hyundai World Skill Olympics. Full details.
Lights, camera, action at EICMA: EICMA 2019 in Milan, easily the world's most popular two-wheeler show, reveals the motorcycles and scooters that are India-bound.
Sustainable innovation: Mahindra & Mahindra, a forerunner of electric mobility in India, has evinced keenness to partner Ashok Leyland, or others, in the e-mobility space. 
Interview of the fortnight: Martin Schwenk, CEO and MD of Mercedes-Benz India, outlines its India plans, new initiatives and outlook for 2020.
Diwali sales fail to light up India Auto Inc: Complete sales analysis for October 2019. 
Lots of news too: The first fortnight of November turned out to be a proud one for India Inc with the prestigious Deming Award for TQM conferred on TVS Motor Co's Venu Srinivasan and Mahindra & Mahindra's Dr Pawan Goenka bagging the FISITA Technical Academy Award.

Autocar Professional's annual R&D Special reveals the latest developments in India. Like Liger Mobility's self-balancing and autonomous scooter. We exclusively reveal the prototype developed by the start-up and the plan to bring it to market.
Find out about Hyderabad-based eTrio, which has made a business case out of retrofitting EV kits on IC-engined vehicles from the Maruti Alto and Wagon R to the Tata Ace small CV. Or Tech.powersquare that aims to be a one-stop shop for product development from concept through to mass production.
Lots of component supplier news. MAHLE is betting big on India and has hiked its stake in its JV to 90% in tandem with its plans to manufacture AC/DC electric motors and control units for e-two- and three-wheelers in the country. Likewise, National Engineering Industries is working on a strategy for catering to EV makers. And the 19-company, well-diversified Anand Group which is adopting a different strategy as CEO Deepak Chopra tells us.
The big news of the past fortnight is the Chetak. Read our detailed report on the product reveal as well as an exclusive interview with managing director Rajiv Bajaj. To give brand Chetak its due, we go into flashback mode too. Don't miss reading this feature!
CNG is also in focus and the government, energy majors, OMCs and OEMs are bullish on CNG as a fuel for cleaner mobility in India. And, Italy's UFI Filters, which has set up its first aftermarket-only plant in Haryana, is diversifying into CNG filters to de-risk itself from the fast-reducing demand for diesel cars in India.
Even as the PV industry battles the sales slowdown, some carmakers are taking the export route to keep their assembly lines buzzing. Find out how 20 carmakers have fared in first-half FY2020.
All this plus plenty of industry news and the latest global technology updates.

Maruti S-Presso: SUV-inspired bet to net youngsters: New hatchback that has seen the maximum engineering input from Maruti Suzuki R&D is the Japanese OEM's strategy to strengthen its position as a first choice of first time car buyers...

Autocar Professional’s Lightweighting Special is a heavyweight – 88 pages of in-depth features, exclusive interviews with CEOs and industry analysis. From commercial to passenger vehicles and also leading component suppliers, we take a close look at just what India Auto Inc is doing to cut the kilos and shave the grams as OEMs look to derive the maximum mileage from their vehicles.  

Suppliers are doing their bit to help OEMs shed vehicle weight. Jaya Hind Industries has developed its first structural part – an aluminum cross-member – for an OEM’s upcoming model using the high-pressure die casting route and achieved sizeable 35 percent weight savings. Meanwhile, Vedanta Aluminium has become the first aluminium producer to launch primary foundry alloy for the auto industry in India.

Adopting weight loss therapy also means using high-performance engineering plastics. Find out how DSM is exploring deeper synergies with OEMs and suppliers to drive in innovation. And BASF is targeting new growth with the advent of BS VI norms in India as well as the OEM drive to reduce vehicle weight.

With the vehicle scrappage policy in the offing, Mahindra Accelo, M&M’s JV with MSTC which has India’s first organized vehicle recycling facility in Greater Noida, has a first-mover advantage.

We also reveal MG Motor India’s plan to ramp up production as well as localisation, while detailing 70 component suppliers to the MG Hector SUV.

Lots of other news too – like Tata Motors’ Ziptron EV tech, the Renault Triber’s clever engineering – and interviews with Arvind Sawant, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, and Ashish H Kale, President, FADA.

Chinese EV manufacturer BYD is biding its time to attain a bigger footprint in India. The world's largest EV maker, which already has a strong presence in the country  through its BYD-Olectra buses, has launched the T3 MPV and cargo minivan, targeted at the personal mobility and cargo logistics segments. They could also be the precursor to manufacturing electric cars in India and also for exports. We reveal the company’s India market strategy.  

At present though, India Auto Inc is fully focused on the technological leap to BS VI. Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, which has the advantage of parent Daimler Trucks' familiarity with Euro 6 tech, has revealed plans to not only rejig its product portfolio to BS VI with a promise of superior fuel efficiency and lower total cost of ownership, but will also leverage the India production base as an export hub of BS VI trucks and buses, starting FY2021-22.

This issue also carries comprehensive reports on the SIAM and ACMA Conventions, which saw captains of industry urge suppliers to focus on quality and on making zero-defect products. We also have an interview with the new ACMA president – Deepak Jain, who reveals his three top priorities and the way out of the downturn.

How to tackle the ongoing downturn and how it has already impacted them is also the subject of an analytical three-pager wherein five captains of the component industry speak to Autocar Professional. They include Deepak Chopra, CEO, Anand Group; Nishant Arya, ED, JBM Group; Ramashankar Pandey, MD, Hella India Lighting; Prashanth Doreswamy, MD, Continental Automotive Components India; and Rohit Saboo, President and CEO, National Engineering Industries.

August was not such an august month for the Indian automobile industry, what with sales across vehicle segments declining at an alarming rate month on month. We have all the stats and facts in the sales analysis pages.

September has opened as has the festive season. Will it bring improved fortunes to India Auto Inc? A lot would depend on how Delhi-NCR, India's biggest car market, performs. This region, home to the country's largest car maker, two-wheeler OEM and component manufacturer, not to mention policy makers, remains special. Our eighth NCR Special is laden with exclusive interviews, in-depth features and plenty of analysis.
In this 100-page issue, we take a close look at just what some OEMs, component makers and even start-ups are doing in a time of slowdown, how they are thinking anew, innovating and also improving process and manufacturing efficiencies across the board.
A flurry of new cars saw launch last fortnight – Maruti Suzuki XL6, Hyundai Grand i10 Nios, Kia Seltos and BMW 3 Series. We have all the details on them as we do on the latest developments at JK Tyre, TVS Srichakra and Goodyear India.
Plenty of exclusive interviews too. Like Heinrich Baumann, Managing Partner and COO, Eberspaecher Group; Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA; Nakul Pasricha, President of Authentication Solution Providers' Association; Nikunj Sanghi, Chairman of the Automotive Skill Development Corporation, and Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Director, Automotive Research Association of India, among others.
We also find out how Gurgaon-based Kognoz Research & Consulting is helping OEMs and suppliers, particularly MSMEs, improve their performance.
Our focus on electric mobility continues. Check out the special feature on the ultracapacitor battery-equipped Erick three-wheeler, whose standout feature is a single charge in a scant 5 minutes and good enough for 70km. We also speak to Dr Saurabh Markandeya, Co-CEO and Executive Director, Shado Group, who reveals that the company could be looking to diversify from electric three-wheelers to mini-trucks and also partnering to develop two-wheeler platforms.
All this is a speedy glimpse into the contents of this special issue. There’s lot more. Enjoy.

The August 15 issue's cover story resonates with PM Narendra Modi’s Independence Day speech, where he stressed upon the need for water conservation and the need for it to be taken up as a mass movement at the very grassroots level.
That's just what a number of companies representing India Auto Inc are already engaged in. Find out how some OEMs and suppliers are stretching the envelope when it comes to saving water.
Maruti Suzuki India is the prime mover and shaker of the Indian PV industry. It is also among the first to employ multi-modal transport logistics to transport cars from its plants. SIAM's sixth Logistics Conclave  saw industry experts and stakeholders show how a judicious mix of road, rail and shipping logistics can help industry in a time of downturn.
Make in India has been a huge success but it's time for innovate in India. ARAI has recently set up a simulation Centre of Excellence in association with software major ANSYS to work on automotive megatrends, including vehicle electrification.
Electric mobility is an area where Ashok Leyland, which aims to enter the Top 10 CV makers club, is scouting for partnerships and strategic ties to successfully ride the EV era. We speak to Dr Seshu Bhagavathula, president, New Technologies and Business Initiatives.
For higher range, EVs will necessarily have to be lightweight. Or 'rightweight' as Tata Technologies would have it. Anand Bhade, president - APAC Sales & Global Marketing, reveals how the 5R Rightweighting formula can pay dividends to automakers.
The right idea is something which clicks in the marketplace. Pune-based entrepreneurs Chetan and Aditi Walunj's idea to manufacture diesel-dispensing bowsers for doorstep delivery of the fuel to commercial consumers has seen success in a short span of time. Their conviction in the business and their start-up Repos Energy has also seen Ratan Tata invest in the future potential of the company. We have the inside story.
All this and lots more from the past fortnight.

South India, which encompasses Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and now Telangana, is a thriving hub of vehicle and component manufacturing. Be it cars, two-wheelers, commercial vehicles or the component supply chain, South India has it all. Autocar Professional’s August 1 issue is a microcosm of the region, which is now seen making a shift to the needs of new-age mobility. 
Proof of that change is revealed in an exclusive interview with industry veteran N Venkataramani, Director of the Amalgamations Group. We also speak to Dr Aravind Bharadwaj, CTO – Farm Equipment Sector and R Velusamy, Senior VP – Automotive Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, to learn how engineers and R&D are helping the OEM drive ahead in these disruptive times.

Find out why Nexteer Automotive, the US-based steering and driveline parts supplier, is bullish on its make-in-India operations. Or how vehicle cockpit electronics major Visteon’s army of Indian engineers is helping is working on several global projects in autonomous, shared and connected mobility.

Come along with us as we visit Tata Motors’ plant in Dharwad, which shows the way ahead in sustainable manufacturing. And to Ashok Leyland’s Namakkal Driver Training Institute, which is developing a new generation of safe truck drivers. Plus, learn the latest on Daimler’s BharatBenz and Scania in the Indian market.

Plenty of content on e-mobility too as we reveal Ather Energy’s innovative marketing strategy, Ampere Vehicles’ game-plan to become a national player, and raise the curtain on four start-ups in the EV space – Altigreen Propulsion Labs and Lithium Urban Technologies from Bangalore, & EMF Innovations and Srivaru Motors from Coimbatore.
Lots of exciting industry news too from the last fortnight.

As the buzz about EVs gets louder in the Indian market and with the Union Budget giving a new charge to e-mobility, OEMs are rejigging their new product plans.

While Hyundai has launched the Kona, India’s first long-range electric SUV with a 452km travel range, the big news is of the Korean carmaker’s Indian and Korean R&D centres  developing an India-specific ‘small EV’.  Our cover story reveals all.

Be it the IC industry, EV manufacturing or production of components, companies are looking at new ways and methodologies to optimise production. Autocar Professional’s Smart Manufacturing Conclave saw experts detail how digitalisation can enable speedy transformation in products and processes.

The first week of July saw two global majors – Continental and ZF – hold their Technology Day in Hanover and Dresden respectively. Our first-hand reports on both reveal the innovation factories.

The Interview of the Fortnight is with Kristin Trecker, Senior Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Visteon. She speaks on the challenges involved in spotting the right talent, motivating and providing a platform for employees for self-development, and India’s fast-growing role in Visteon’s global scheme of things.

The first fortnight of July was packed with news-making events starting with the Union Budget, rollout of Scania India’s new BS VI truck, DICV’s BS VI BharatBenz 5528TT and ending with TVS launching India’s first ethanol-powered motorcycle – the Apache RTR 200 Fi E100. It’s all there in this issue.

The first issue of July is Autocar Professional’s landmark 350th edition and it sure packs a punch. Incorporating a Maharashtra Special, it also brings along with it an 80-page 2019 Vehicle Manufacturing Capacity Guide – a must-have for every industry stakeholder.  

Plenty of reading material on automakers, which are driving gains from their Maharashtra-based operations. They include Greaves Cotton, Mahindra & Mahindra, Piaggio Vehicles, FCA India, Harman India, Nelson Global Products, KPIT and an exclusive interview with SC Dixit, executive director of the Mumbai-based Shapoorji Pallonji Engineering & Construction, which has set up 25 greenfield manufacturing plants for India Auto Inc.

Autocar Professional’s BS VI Conclave in New Delhi was a hugely successful event and our 11-page comprehensive report reveals just how OEMs and component makers worked to surpass the challenge. We have two other exclusive interviews in this cracker of an issue – Priyank Bharti, joint secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, government of India, and Rajendra Petkar, chief technology officer, Tata Motors.

Plenty of news too what with a number of new product reveals – Kia Seltos, Renault Triber, MG Hector and the Revolt RV 400 – in the past fortnight.

Of the many countries that India has business and trading ties with, Germany easily stands out by the depth of its engineering and technological prowess, particularly in the automotive scheme of things. Reason enough for Autocar Professional to dedicate a special issue to the partnership each year.

As Indian OEMs tackle a host of challenges including BS VI and new safety mandates even as they contend with megatrends like lightweighting, connectivity and electrification, they are also looking up to suppliers to help them surpass the many challenges.

This Indo-German Special covers a number of leading suppliers like the Schaeffler Group, the FEV Group and Elringklinger, who say they have what it takes to assist Indian OEMs surpass the challenges of BS VI, ride global megatrends and also reduce costs.

The first half of June was a very newsy one, what with captains of industry coming together in one voice and taking on the government on the proposed mandate to fully electrify all two-wheelers (below 150cc) and three-wheelers a few years from now.

BS VI, which will continue to be a sustained theme from now on till the new emission norms finally kick in from April 2010, was another news maker what with Mahindra & Mahindra announcing that it has achieved compliance for a number of petrol and diesel engines and is readying for market demand transition. Eicher Trucks also revealed its new BS VI-ready Pro 2000 series of light duty trucks and both Honda and Hero announced their BS VI products on two wheels.

As the global automotive industry takes on disruptive technological challenges as well as looks to benefit from global mega trends like connectivity, electrification, safety and lightweighting, there are also cost pressures to deal with. This even as they deal with the one who has the final say: the buyer. And, after all that, they have to ensure they stay profitable and sustainably at that.  

Automated production lines, tightening emission norms and higher safety standards means the business of manufacturing vehicles is getting increasingly tougher. Getting it first time right is vital. Rather than spending expensive capex, the smart way to see tomorrow today is VR or virtual reality. VR is one method that helps OEMs and suppliers build better products. By deploying VR, engineers can dive inside a vehicle in the virtual world and gain a much better idea of how their designs work, resulting in a better overall product.

For India Auto Inc, which is currently engaged in meeting the new BS VI emission norms, improved safety mandates and also new model programmes, using the right software and simulation techniques is vital if it is to gain an edge in the marketplace. That’s where Autocar Professional’s annual Software & Simulation Special, with its host of special features, interviews and analyses, plugs in. This issue is a must-read for all industry stakeholders.

The lead cover story on the new Intra, Tata Motors' big bet on the small CV market. We reveal full details, the first pictures – both exterior and interior – of the mini-truck built on a new platform which is set to spawn an entire new family of small CVs.
Meanwhile, VE Commercial Commercial Vehicles is looking to be the challenger brand to Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland in the bus market. Our feature reveals just how.
Transmission major Eaton is bullish on India. As Indian OEMs gear up to take on the era of disruptions, a confident Nitin Chalke, president, Vehicle & Hydraulics, APAC, Eaton, says the company has what it takes to help them navigate change.
The E-Way Bill is one of the many changes seen in the Indian market of late and it is a big positive for transporters, the logistics industry and the country. Our-depth feature, which decodes how the E-Way Bill functions, reveals how this technology-driven initiative is benefiting all industry stakeholders.
We also report on Hero MotoCorp's three-bike launch designed to take it into premium territory, reveal Bajaj Auto's strategy aimed at sustaining growth profitably, and also how Japanese major  MinebeaMitsumi is making headway in India.
All this plus plenty of industry news from the past fortnight.

The annual Two-Wheeler Special is an 80-page cracker of an issue packed with in-depth analysis, exclusive interviews and industry sales numbers.

We reveal the findings of the Autocar Professional-Frost & Sullivan white paper on the Indian two-wheeler industry, which provides many a clue to the growth path OEMs can take in what is a disruptive era.  

We also have exclusive interviews with Y S Guleria, Senior Vice-President and Operating Head, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, who reveals plans for an all-new platform designed to drive growth in the BS VI regime. Meanwhile, Diego Graffi, MD and CEO of Piaggio Vehicles, spills the beans on two new products to come from the company’s stable.

The OEM which made all the news in the fiscal just gone by is Bajaj Auto, which recorded blistering growth in both domestic and export markets. Find out just how.

Benelli is also eager on the Indian market. Vikas Jhabakh, Benelli India's managing director, reveals plans on dealer expansion, ensuring quality aftersales service, introduction of the Leonciono modern classic, developing a highly localised Imperiale commuter cruiser and lots more.

India Yamaha Motor is also gunning for speedy growth, looking to gain from the growing demand for premium motorcycles as well as the burgeoning 125cc scooter market, for which it could be developing a new product. Oops, we let you into a secret!

Two-wheeler and safe riding go hand in hand, which is where the life-saving helmet comes into focus. If the alarmingly high number of two-wheeler road fatalities in India is to be reduced, it is imperative that all new two-wheelers are sold accompanied by a quality helmet for both rider and pillion. The ball is now in the industry's court. There's of course business to be had: 100 million helmets will be the annual demand in India, which is what our special feature says.

All this, and much more in the latest issue.

For a country which sees 16 people killed and another 53 injured every hour on its roads, vehicular safety is of utmost importance. Which is why Autocar Professional brings out its annual Automotive Safety Special.

Even as the government has mandated a series of norms designed to make made-in-India cars and two-wheelers safer, India Auto Inc has already been working on developing safer products. Case in point is the fast-improving performance of some carmakers in the Global NCAP crash tests. Our cover story reveals just what four leading carmakers – Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki India and Toyota Kirloskar Motor – are doing to make their products safer.

Another automotive safety driver is Volvo Cars, which with its Equal Vehicles for All initiative, is sharing more than 40 years of safety research to make cars safer for everyone, including women.

We also visit Continental Automotive Brake Systems' ABS assembly plant in Manesar for a first-hand report.  

To further boost the safety quotient of this issue, we have an exclusive column from David Ward, president and CEO, of safety watchdog, Global NCAP, who writes on 'Building a market for safer vehicles in India'. Along with crash tests and mandatory legislations comes a need for inculcating a culture of safety. Ramashankar Pandey, managing director, Hella Lighting India, writes on a subject close to his heart.

The past fortnight saw a lot of automotive action from Citroen to MG Motor India and we've captured it all in this issue.

You are reading Autocar Professional’s annual Green Industry Special. As India Auto Inc thinks, plans and works towards greener mobility, we bring you the inside story on how China’s Evoke Motorcycles is readying for its entry into the Indian EV market.

We also have an exclusive interview with Livia Cevolini, CEO of Modena-based Energica Motor Company, the sole supplier of supersport electric bikes for the FIM Enel MotoE World Cup.

If e-mobility is to take firm grip in India, EVs have to be affordable or subsidised. It is imperative that the battery, the costliest component in an EV, becomes cheaper. Our detailed study points out just how that is achievable.

Meanwhile, Andrew Hines, co-founder of CleanMax Solar, India's leading rooftop solar developer, has solutions that can enable OEMs and suppliers to generate clean energy and also reduce expensive conventional power costs.

Whether BS VI, electrification or improved safety norm, the entire Indian automotive industry is grappling with disruption. Two-wheelers, which account for 76 percent of India's vehicle parc, are the most affordable form of personal motorised transportation. Autocar Professional's third Two-Wheeler Industry Conclave saw industry stakeholders including the government, CEOs, suppliers and marketing heads discuss and debate both challenges but equally the many opportunities that are arising out of technological disruptions. Our comprehensive 9-page report has it all.

All this plus an exciting news section.

As India drives towards BS VI and also announces a Rs 10,000 crore outlay to accelerate electric mobility, OEMs and suppliers are adopting technologies that can enable development of cleaner and greener vehicles. The Mahle Group is driving a multi-technology growth strategy, which banks on both IC engines as well as alternate powertrains.

The past fortnight saw the Geneva Motor Show hold centrestage. Tata Motors had all of four global premieres and one European premiere. We also have a scoop! Find out how the Tata Altroz got its name.

The PSA Group has confirmed that is Citroen, and not the Peugeot brand, that would be marking its re-entry into India. The carmaker is banking heavily on localisation – as much as 90-95% – as Carlos Tavares, CEO and chairman, PSA Group reveals in his interview.

In the Interview of the Fortnight, we speak to Anuj Kathuria, president (Global Trucks), Ashok Leyland, who speaks on how the country’s first 16-wheeled rigid truck – the 4123 – was developed, the drive to introduce innovative and disruptive products, changing dynamics of the CV industry, impact of new axle norms and the company’s sharpened focus on customer profitability.

Optimising customer productivity is also what VE Commercial Vehicles is doing. Kiran Bajad visits the company’s plant in Pithampur.

The tractor industry in India is notching decent growth but there are ways to accelerate that growth as Ashim Sharma, partner and Group head at NRI Consulting & Solutions reveals.

All this plus an exciting News section, sales analysis for February 2019 along with April-February 2019 cumulative numbers.

The fourth edition of ACMA Automechanika New Delhi saw over 500 exhibitors showcase innovations, new products and a heightened focus on Industry 4.0. The Indian aftermarket looks well set to hit a turnover of Rs 98,000 crore by FY2023. In our comprehensive cover story which reviews this year’s trade fair, we speak to a number of industry heads to find out the reason for their bullishness.  

Gautam Kanduja, director of the Mumbai-based Mansons which supplies to global OEMs, Tier 1s and independent aftermarket trucks, trailers, buses and vans, reveals plans to bring the company’s CV product range to the Indian aftermarket.

Rakesh Kher, president of Minda Distribution and Services of the UNO Minda Group, speaks on the company’s expanding footprint in the organised aftermarket and why he is optimistic about maintaining a robust 17 percent CAGR till FY2025.

Piaggio Vehicles, a substantial player in the small commercial vehicle space, especially in goods carriers in India, has a plan to contribute to sustainable mobility through alternative fuel solutions and electric  three-wheelers, the first of which — a passenger carrier —  is set to be introduced in mid-2019. Managing director and CEO Diego Graffi tell us this and lots more.

Do you know that Tata Motors, which has drawn up a multi-pronged strategy to develop its EV  business, plans to focus on EVs for personal use, in addition to the fleet sector? And amidst all the EV talk last month, Mahindra & Mahinda launched its latest salvo at the UV market – the XUV300.

All this and much more in this issue.

Mahindra Trucks and Buses is going all out to make a mark for itself in the Indian CV market. While the Blazo has garnered a substantial presence, the company’s latest salvo at gaining market share is the new Furio intermediate CV which also fills a gap in the company’s portfolio and helps it become a full-range CV player.
Gaining new buyers and market share is also what Maruti Suzuki India is targeting with the new Wagon R. Read our first drive impression as also interviews with CV Raman, Executive Director – Engineering, and RS Kalsi, Executive Director, Marketing & Sales.

The Interview of the Fortnight is with PB Balaji, Chief Financial Officer, Tata Motors, who speaks on how the company’s turnaround plan is shaping up, winning sustainably in the passenger vehicle business, extending gains in the CV business and also collaborating with Jaguar Land Rover in EVs.

Like vehicle manufacturers, the component industry is also dealing with a multitude of disruptions, technological and otherwise. The recent ACMA ACT Summit, held in Pune, saw captains of industry urge the supplier community to speedily transform to stay relevant and ensure sustainable growth. This means digitization, IoT and Industry 4.0.

The fourth ACMA Automechanika New Delhi automotive aftermarket trade fair is underway and we’ve got an in-depth interview with Raj Manek, the Executive Director and Board Member of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holding.
Another recently held key industry exhibition was IMTEX in Bangalore. Our comprehensive coverage of the largest ever such trade fair for machine tool manufacturers is a must-read.
There’s plenty of news too in this issue.

The key industry event of the past fortnight was SIAT 2019, which proved to be a true-blue tech fest with plenty of research presentations, scores of new products and innovations being showcased and technologies aimed at cleaner, sustainable and more efficient mobility. Our 14-page report covers the latest updates on BS VI, vehicle crash and safety, electric mobility, telematics, NVH and simulation.

The past fortnight was also one of new passenger vehicle launches including the Tata Harrier, Maruti Wagon R and the Nissan Kicks. We also speak to Peyman Kargar, senior VP of Nissan Motor Co and Nissan in the Africa, Middle East and India region, on the learnings from a very competitive India market, and the strategy to differentiate the Nissan and Datsun brands. Meanwhile, Yamaha launched updated FZ-F1, FZS-F1 and YZF-R3 Version 3.0.

Two other interviews in this issue: Dr Dirk Leiss, chairman of the executive board, Benecke-Hornshuch Surface Group, Continental, and Dr Bala K Bharadvaj, SAE India president and MD, Boeing Research & Technology – India.

Sales in December 2018 for India Auto Inc were forgettable as seen in our detailed analysis of the April-December 2018 domestic sales numbers.

All this, plus an exciting News section led by Bajaj Auto which has embraced a brand-new global brand identity.

The big industry event of the second fortnight of January will be the Symposium on International Automotive Technology 2019. SIAT is a benchmark biennial international event, organised by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) since 1985. It will see global experts share their views through 42 keynote addresses, 120 research presentations, and two plenary sessions. We also have an exclusive interview with Rashmi Urdhwareshe, Director, ARAI.

Technologies for automotive also held sway at CES 2019. We report on the some of the major highlights including Blackberry and Tata Elxsi’s collaborative effort to develop the new QNX Platform.

With AIS 140 norms being implemented in India, GPS tracking companies are eyeing a tidal wave of growth. We bring you the latest on three players: Track N Tell, MapmyIndia and Letstrack.

Global automakers as well as Indian OEMs are increasingly adopting local design in their made-for-India products. We take a close look at the New Delhi-based Desmania Auto Studio, which offers a gamut of services ranging from styling and clay modelling to prototyping and Class A surfacing.

All this plus plenty of exciting industry news.

You are reading the biggest issue of the year – and the biggest-ever Autocar Professional edition too – at 226 pages! Our Man of the Year 2018 is Jayant Davar, founder, co-chairman and MD of Sandhar Technologies. This first-generation entrepreneur has, in a span of three decades, taken the Tier 1 supplier to new heights. Our cover story reveals just how.

This 14th Anniversary Issue is really special – it has exclusive interviews with 14 captains of industry including the presidents of apex industry associations SIAM, ACMA, SMEV and FADA. We’ve also got in-depth coverage on the component industry, the electric mobility sector, the two-wheeler and the commercial vehicle industry. What’s more, we bring you details on some stand-out start-ups in India which are making news in the automotive world, how the Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing at Mehsana is making skilling young Indians, and the inside story on how an Indian Tier 1 supplier has bagged the prestigious Deming Prize for not one, two or three but all of 17 manufacturing plants!

We’d love to tell more about this simply unputdownable issue but the thrill is in reading it, from cover to cover.

MARCH 15-2020

MARCH 1-2020

FEBRUARY 15, 2020

February 1-2020

January 15-2020

January 1-2020

December 15-2019

December 1-2019

November 15-2019

November 1-2019

October 15, 2019

October 1, 2019

September 15, 2019

September 1, 2019

August 15, 2019

August 1, 2019

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.

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Autocar Professional - March 1, 2013

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