From Tradition To Transition

Truck maker Ashok Leyland is rapidly moving towards new emission norms and electric vehicles with initiatives to engage and encourage employees

- Harichandan Arakali

The automobile industry is facing two major changes: First, an incremental shift towards more stringent Bharat Stage VI emission norms, and the second, more futuristic, shift is towards electric vehicles (EVs), an area where no company has gone mainstream even in advanced economies.

Given this context, Ashok Leyland has set itself the target of not only becoming one of the top 10 commercial vehicle manufacturers in the world, but also of preparing for the more stringent emission norms that will come into force next year in India.

Managing changes in technology requires different skill sets. For a company such as Ashok Leyland, “from a very established way of making engines to now looking at new norms...[and] be ready by May 2020 is a huge challenge,” says Uma Rao, head of human resources (HR) for medium and heavy commercial vehicles, the company’s flagship unit.