Future Mobility - Branding & Marketing Challenges for OEMs

At the recently held SIAM Annual Conclave I sat through a presentation by a gentleman of the World Economic Forum about the 4th industrial revolution, pressing the case for autonomous vehicles across the world.

High-End Polymers Key to Meet OEMs Weight Reduction Targets

As part of its commitment to the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals, Covestro, the Leverkusen-based materials manufacturer, announced an ambitious sustainability target to reduce its specific CO2 emissions per tonne of product by 50 %, based on a base line of 2005 in April this year. Towards that goal, the company has also been taking significant steps in the Indian market. We recently met up with Ajay Durrani, Country President, India and Managing Director – Indian Sub-Continent, Covestro for a detailed understanding of the company’s approach towards polymers and chemistry in general.

Accessible Performance With Advanced Electronics

With close to 300,000 units of the Monster having been sold since its launch in 1993, there have been many iterations of the bike over the last two decades. Currently, the Monster family comprises two models – the Monster 821 and its bigger sibling, the Monster 1200. here, we take a look at the suite of technologies underlying the Monster 821, which also make it an excellent sportsbike.

Overlapping Technologies Lead to Disruption

Held in January every year in Las Vegas, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is widely known to showcase leading consumer electronics technologies from across the globe. However, for the past few editions, the show has had a large presence of, and participation from, the automotive industry. The message is twofold – technologies that once belonged largely in the home environment have now entered the automotive domain as well, and cars are now more about electronics (entertainment, navigation, connectivity, sound & display and so on..) and technology than ever before.

Brake-by-Wire, AEB is the Way Forward for Braking Tech

With relentless advances in automotive technology, cars are now more powerful and faster than ever before. In this scenario, braking technology is also being advanced to keep up with upgrades in power and performance. OEMs and suppliers are working on a host of braking hardware, electronics/ software systems, which ensure that cars stop as hard as they go. Here, we will take a look at some of the most important developments in the area of automotive braking technology and understand future directions for this critical area in automotive R&D.

BMW Chennai Plant Completes 11 Years; Focuses On Skilling, Overall Growth

Since its entry into the market, German luxury carmaker BMW has been successfully operating in India, building a strong base of loyal customers and reach. The company’s manufacturing facility in Chennai has now completed 11 years. To commemorate the occasion, BMW launched its SKILL NEXT initiative. In this feature, we take stock of the company’s journey in India, a market where it is keen to establish itself as a leader in luxury car space.

New Engine, Transmission On Freestyle Pack A Punch

The newest Ford in town – the Freestyle – is what the company calls a compact utility vehicle or CUV. Based on the Figo platform, Ford India claims the Freestyle is an almost entirely new product. And it is new in many aspects – it’s a new body style for Ford, it gets a new engine and a new transmission too. The company invited us to drive the Freestyle from Jaipur to the Sambhar Salt Lake, India’s largest inland salt lake in Rajasthan recently. We delve under the hood of the new Ford Freestyle.

Academia-industry Collaboration: Imperative For The Fast-changing Automobile Industry

The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Index 2017-2018, which puts India at 40th place in a list of 138 nations, also ranks us at 26th on the index of industry-university collaboration on R&D. China is at number 28, while Switzerland, US, Israel, and Finland occupy the top four ranks. According to the Centre for Technology, Innovation and Economic Research (CTIER), “Industry-Academia research collaborations in India are dismally low, as indicated by collaboration output statistics. Collaboration in patenting is 0.4 % of the total volume of patents in India…”

CVF 2018 Deliberates On Relevant Industry Subjects

The third edition of Commercial Vehicle Forum (CVF) was recently held in Pune, where speakers deliberated on various subjects around the truck, bus and transport industry.

HMSI - Riding The Two-wheeler Growth Wave

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd (HMSI) has been steadily moving up the sales charts and gaining ground in the scooter as well as in the motorcycle segments.

NBC Bearings | Focus On Innovation For Sustained Growth

Jaipur-headquartered National Engineering Industries Limited, better known as NBC Bearings, has carved out a very strong reputation over the past several decades as a leading bearings manufacturer and exporter. Founded in 1946, NBC Bearings produces over 150 mn bearings each year in more than 1,000 sizes. The biggest share of revenues (60 %) comes from the automotive sector, with the rest being contributed by the railway and industrial sectors. We recently met Rohit Saboo, President & CEO, National Engineering Industries to get an update on the company’s business.

DICV I Achieving BS IV Standards With SCR Technology

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has been in the country for about half a decade, and has been offering trucks and buses across various categories in India. The company markets its two brands – Mercedes-Benz and BharatBenz in the country, and also exports its BharatBenz trucks as FUSO branded trucks to 15 countries.

BASF- Spearheading Advancements In Materials Development

The use of speciality chemicals in the automotive industry has kept pace with growing requirements of light weighting and emissions reduction. Global trends have warranted the increased use of advanced polymers, which helps carmakers achieve international quality standards. BASF has been a leading solutions provider for speciality materials and chemical solutions for the automotive sector. ATR met Prabir Das, Business Director, Performance Materials-South Asia, BASF, to discuss the innovation witnessed by the materials development industry for automobiles.

FAG- Engineering Advancements In Transmission Technology

Automotive bearings are used for a variety of applications including wheel hubs, engine, interior applications and transmission modules.

Integerated Product Design Development Is The Key To Success

Siemens is a leading software solutions provider to many carmakers around the world and has also been present in India for more than two decades. Auto Tech Review met Robert Haubrock, Senior Vice President, NX Product Lifecycle Management, Siemens, to discuss the intricacies of software development for automobiles. Haubrock says that, for software companies, doing well in the market will depend on the successful amalgamation of electrical and mechanical capabilities

Iot To Bring Disruptive Changes To Automotive Industry

The Internet of Things, or IoT. It’s a term that we hear often these days from automotive engineers and industry professionals. And while it sounds a bit mysterious and maybe even mildly intimidating, IoT isn’t exactly rocket science. What it is, simply, is a network of physical devices (for example, smartphones, smart TVs, smart watches and, yes, the modern day automobile) with embedded sensors that can collect data, and Internet connectivity for receiving and transmitting data in various digital formats. So what exactly is IoT in the automotive context, and why are engineers saying that it will completely revolutionise the way cars are built, and the ways in which people interact with their cars? Let’s find out.

Open Service Platforms For The Smart Car

The project experience collected by FEV shows that the Open Service Cloud has the potential to drive open in novation, independent of the underlying platform and vehicle brand. For the idea and concept generation, it can make sense to adapt modern operation models from other industries. 

A Diverse Attitude

Automotive Electronics (AE) has aided higher safety, enormous connectivity, better cabin comfort, lower emissions and improved drivability. AE content has been increasing steadily over the years, and it is projected to further increase by double percentage points year-on-year due to electric and hybrid mobility, autonomous and connected transportation, super-connectivity and stricter carbon footprint norms.

Video Injection Methods in a Real-world Vehicle for Increasing Test Efficiency

For the testing of camera-based driver assistance systems under real conditions, simulation methods can contribute to increased test efficiency. IPG Automotive presents the potential of video injection methods in real components based on the Video Interface Box.

Developing Effective ABS & CBS Is a Key Task for Our R&d Centre

Since its entry into the Indian market in 1985, Yamaha Motor Company has had mixed success. The company in India has undergone a few changes in its holding structure, and has had a renewed focus since Mitsui & Co, Ltd entered into an agreement with YMC to become a joint-investor in India Yamaha Motor Private Limited (IYM) in 2008. Critical to that strategy is the establishment of the Yamaha Motor Research & Development India Pvt Ltd (YMRI). We caught up with Yasuo Ishihara, Managing Director, YMRI for a chat regarding the company’s second R&D facility, which has recently been set-up in Chennai, its R&D initiatives and product development plans for the Indian market.

Triumph Speedmaster – Retro Cruiser With Modern Manners

The Triumph Speedmaster is not just your average cruiser. It features a 1,200 cc, liquid cooled, parallel twin, high torque motor that can really set your pulse racing. The Speedmaster wears a classic hard tail look that provides the rider a distinct road presence. But how is it on what matters most? We find out.

Embracing Modernisation to Enhance Manufacturing of Precision Products

Machine tools serve as the backbone of various processes in the manufacturing of critical components for various industries. The automotive industry (OEMs and suppliers) extensively uses such machines for production of precision components that make up the pieces for larger products or modules. Bharat Fritz Werner Ltd (BFW) has been operating in machine tool-building space for over half a century. Auto Tech Review met up with Ravi Raghavan, Managing Director, Bharat Fritz Werner Ltd to understand its journey in this automotive ancillary business, its manufacturing prowess, unique offerings and steps taken to stay relevant in the market.

2018 Supra SAE India – Creating A Winning Formula For Students

Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever’. These famous lines were spoken by none other than the father of our nation – Mahatma Gandhi, and we consider it rare to witness this coming true. A stroll through the pit garages at the Maruti Supra SAEINDIA 2018 and one could see sagacious students huddled around their student formula cars giving their best shot like there is no tomorrow.

Two Well-Endowed Sedans Slug It Out On The Open Road

The C segment sedan space in India has been dominated (in terms of sales) by Hyundai Verna, Honda City and Maruti Ciaz for some years now. Taking on the troika was never going to be easy, but Toyota has introduced the Yaris sedan, in what it hopes will tilt the scales in its favour. Toyota has surely been late to the party but has seemingly given it its best shot with the Yaris. The company’s strategy has been simple and somewhere matches with that of Hyundai, ‘pack in features that would set it apart from the crowd’. The Yaris is definitely unique in many ways, but does it have enough to dethrone the Verna? Auto Tech Review finds out.

Connected - Automated - Autonomous - Where Does The Truth Lie?

Autonomous vehicles have been the biggest buzz in the auto industry for several years, but recent crashes have brought sensationalist tabloid headlines, too. Where does the truth lie, and when will self-driving cars become reality? A Ricardo whitepaper takes a deep dive into the whole complex subject and comes up with some surprising answers.

Influence Of Dirt On Glare-Free High Beam Systems

Dirt on glare-free high beam systems can reduce the driver’s visibility and at the same time, cause increased glare for other road users. A field test was carried out at the Laboratory of Lighting Technology of the Technical University of Darmstadt that investigates the influence of dirt on glare-free high beam systems. By comparing the dirty and cleaned headlamps, it is possible to draw conclusions about the influence of pollution on the glare for other road users, as well as the detection of objects.

Minda Kosei Aluminium Wheels Help Make Vehicles Safer, Fuel-Efficient

Rapidly changing customer demands are prompting companies to come up with innovative car wheel designs. Set-up with an initial capacity to roll out 90,000 units per month in 2016, Minda Kosei Aluminium Wheels underwent a capacity ramp-up last year to serve the growing alloy wheel demand in India. Auto Tech Review recently visited the company’s Bawal facility to know more about its manufacturing capabilities.

Lithium Batteries For Cvs – Workhorses Among Energy Storage Units

Lithium-ion batteries for commercial vehicles have to differ from accumulators for passenger cars. This is due to higher power, longer service life and a multitude of smaller charge increases. Akasol demonstrates further differences and explains advantages of a liquid cooling system in comparison to purely passive concept and active air cooling system at different current rates.

Fisita 2018 Deliberates On Sustainable Mobility Solutions

The 37th FISITA World Automotive Congress at Chennai served as a platform for the automotive engineering community to deliberate on the changing dynamics, opportunities and challenges in the global automotive industry that is undergoing significant transformations owing to the rapidly changing customer preferences and stringent regulatory requirements.

What's Needed To Push For E2W Peneration In India

Two-wheeler vehicles, due to their comparatively lower costs and easy manoeuvrability in clogged traffic conditions, are extremely popular in India, China and other South East Asian nations. The ever enhancing market of two-wheelers in India is set for exponential growth in the future. The extensive popularity of two wheelers combined with an immediate need felt across the country to focus on sustainable energy resources seems to be the ideal scenario to nurture an electric vehicle culture in the country, with special emphasis on electric two-wheelers (e2w).