Safety and emission reduction, though not paramount, are gaining traction in the Indian commercial vehicles space. Wabco India, which has been acquired by ZF, is bullish on the market which is being driven by regulations and trends. According to P Kaniappan, Managing Director, WABCO India Ltd, the new independent Commercial Vehicle Control Systems division with ZF will offer better value and service to the Indian customers in the local context. The company keeps focusing on bringing its global capabilities to cater to new regulations and demand for advanced driver assistance, braking, stability control, suspension, transmission automation and aerodynamics to improve safety, efficiency and connectivity of commercial vehicles.

ZF Friedrichshafen completed its USD 7 billion acquisition of commercial vehicle technology supplier Wabco Holdings amid the pandemic last year. The integration is still underway and is expected to finish in early 2022. As part of the process, the company’s initial focus was to ensure seamless business continuity with customers and to assure employees that the acquisition is another part of the business. “From day one, we had communication with all our employees, giving them the rationale and logic of this merger with the customer centricity approach for which we are known in India and globally,” said P Kaniappan, Managing Director, WABCO India Ltd.

The acquisition is expected to create a powerhouse in the commercial vehicle space, offering better value and service, catering to demand for safety, dynamics controls, air suspension systems, fuel efficiency, emission reduction, fleet management and connectivity.

Wabco, which will be the 10th division of the Germany-based technology company, will operate as the independent Commercial Vehicle Control Systems division within ZF.

“We are updating our customers on the integration process, which is taking place at a global level. The integration process is very structured and professionally aligned internally,” added Kaniappan.

Wabco is the leading global supplier of braking control systems and other advanced technologies that improve commercial vehicles’ safety, efficiency and connectivity. Wabco is present in India for more than 60 years. Powered by its vision for accident-free driving and greener transportation solutions, Wabco India provides industry-leading solutions in the autonomous, connected and electric (ACE) domains to the commercial vehicle industry in India.

Currently, Wabco India Limited is a world-class manufacturer and local market leader in advanced braking systems, conventional braking products and related air assisted technologies and systems in India. Headquartered in Chennai, Wabco India has five manufacturing facilities, an advanced technology development centre, a vehicle testing facility and a nationwide aftermarket distribution and services network. Wabco India is committed to the long-term success of its customers by leveraging Wabco’s robust global technology portfolio.

Though Kaniappan agrees that the integration would have been a smoother ride if the pandemics had not caused subsequent lockdowns, he said the employees’ safety and health have always been paramount for the company. “Yes, the focus could have been much more intense (on the integration), and the timeline could have been shorter. But by the time we started the integration, the pandemic was already affecting the world. So that’s the reason we had to stretch the integration deadline.”

Wabco is betting high on all its product range considering the new regulations related to safety, emission, fuel economy and total cost of ownership. According to Kaniappan, Wabco braking system will remain the main growth driver for the company. India has been traditionally the drum brake system market. However, with the growing emphasis on safety and new mobility, the Indian auto industry is slowly moving on to the air disc brake (ADB), which offers better safety, service, comfort and overall cost. The ADB offers a shorter stopping distance, consistent brake performance and very high mechanical efficiency. The prime advantage of ADB is in weight reduction; the single-piston allows to deliver the same performance with a significantly lower number of components, which in turn minimises parts failure. The company launched disc brake systems for the bus segment, mainly for the front axle. “Within our brake system, the company also aims to improve the efficiency of the braking system that consumes energy,” added Kaniappan.

He also added that the increased axle load norm demands improvement in the braking system. As a result, the company has upgraded all its braking system products to support the customers, which involves upsizing the compressors or optimising the size of the compressors, upgrading the air management system products, and in some cases, changing the actuators and other elements of the braking system to handle the higher axle load requirement.

Commercial vehicles, trucks, buses and multi-axle vehicles account for a third of road accidents in India. About 84 percent of accidents occur owing to loss of control.

India is also in the process of making electronic stability control (ESC) mandatory soon. The draft notification has been issued for the ESC for buses, which is expected to come into force by April 2023. It aims to achieve higher standards of safety for all categories of vehicles. Wabco India has already been supplying Electronic Stability Control (ESCsmart) for trucks and buses. The ESCsmart improves vehicle stability during highly dynamic driving manoeuvres. ESCsmart provides yaw control on low friction road conditions and roll stability control on high-friction road conditions. It operates independently of driving and load conditions and delivers outstanding control quality due to self-adapting capabilities on the road.

In addition, Indian customers are now testing and evaluating some advanced emergency braking systems for collision avoidance, which immediately assists and alerts the driver. The Wabco executive expects autonomous emergency braking (AEB), which has collision warning systems and collision mitigation systems, will soon be introduced in India. “The technologies available with both companies are to be localised at an appropriate time,” he added.

Wabco India also offers solutions to make air suspension intelligent. The company’s air suspension with electronic control air suspension technology (ECAS) is an alternative to the steel-spring suspension. It improves fuel economy, increases ride comfort, enhances passenger safety and improves vehicular stability. With this technology, the vehicle can sense the road and distribute the load, and the whole system can be raised or lowered to give reduced drag and roll-over protection. Usually, on bumpy roads, air depletes in the suspension; however, ECAS can ignore small humps on the road and air depletion will occur only during the heavy bumps. “With the ECAS, we can reduce air consumption, resulting in saving fuel. As every vehicle goes through a bumpy road, the air depletes. Our electronic control can programme the system so that it does not deplete, and it improves the fine balance of the compressor running. Plus, it can also raise and lower the height of the vehicle’s suspension. This fuel-saving technology will find its place due to CAFÉ norms. This technology is also progressively coming into the Indian market, and we are working with some customers,” added Kaniappan.

Tyres are the only component that touch the road, which influences the safety and fuel efficiency of the vehicle as well. Inappropriately aired tyres impact the fuel economy and tyres’ life and could also cause accidents. As per a report, over 30 percent of truck breakdowns were caused by tyre failure. Wabco India’s OptiTire, tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), helps maintain tyre pressure at the recommended level and detects slow punctures early. This also helps in improving fuel efficiency, rolling resistance and reduction in CO2 emission. The company is also working on getting TMPS sensors localised to make the technology competitive in the country.

The AIS 140, standards published by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), mandates a vehicle-tracking device and an emergency button in all existing and new public-service and commercial vehicles. Wabco India also finds business opportunities in the vehicle tracking space.

Fleet management is also another area where Wabco sees more considerable opportunities as the fleets are now realising the importance of the total cost of ownership through such programmes. In addition, Wabco offers its connected vehicle programme for OEMs.

Wabco India also launched fleet management solutions or connected vehicle programme. The company has already strengthened its connected vehicle solutions after the acquisition of Transics. The company has developed a solution in India for the Indian market in the local context. It has partnered with a few customers and is powering its connected vehicle solutions by providing end-to-end solutions from hardware, firmware and software. This includes advanced fuel management, uptime monitoring, trip monitoring and route management, vehicle diagnostics, track and trace of fleets, helping improve fleet logistical efficiency and the safety and comfort of passengers and drivers.

For the aftermarket, WABCO acquired AssetTrackr. Asset Trackr offers global capabilities with a value proposition for the Indian market. The company is now leveraging its aftermarket and using the aftermarket network, service centres to promote Asset Trackr as another significant new revenue stream.

Demand for OE commercial vehicles has been slackening for two years. In FY20, commercial vehicle sales plunged 29 percent , followed by over 20 percent in FY21. As a result, the company is banking on its reach and product offering in the aftermarket business. Wabco India’s aftermarket business grew over 50 percent in the first three months of this calendar year.

Taking a lesson from the pandemic that has severely impacted commodity prices, Wabco explores the chances to procure steel, aluminium from the prime producers in the local market to have stability in supply. “We have learned a lot during recent times. We can anticipate the things in a much better way and can have better preparedness, flexibility and agility which will help us to face any potential headwinds that are going to come,” added Kaniappan. (MT)

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Sona BLW Precision Forgings has signed definitive agreements with DENSO Corporation to establish two joint ventures aimed at developing, manufacturing and marketing electric and hybrid powertrain systems.

The partnership involves two strategic joint ventures tailored to different vehicle segments. The first joint venture focuses on high-voltage liquid-cooled traction inverters, traction motors and generators for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles, with DENSO holding a 51 percent equity stake and management control and Sona Comstar holding 49 percent.

The second joint venture targets air-cooled traction inverters, traction motors, generators and e-axles for two-wheelers and three-wheelers, where Sona Comstar retains a 51 percent stake and management control and DENSO acquires 49 percent through a subsidiary structure.

Vivek Vikram Singh, MD and Group CEO, Sona Comstar, said, “We have always believed that the future of mobility will be defined by companies that continuously invest in innovation, product development and industrialization of advanced technologies. This partnership marks an historic milestone in Sona Comstar’s journey as a mobility technology company and reflects the capabilities we have built across advanced electric powertrain systems over the years. DENSO is a company we have immense respect for, as they have been at the forefront of automotive innovation globally for decades with deep expertise in electrification technologies. We are honored and delighted to partner with DENSO to bring together the complementary strengths of both companies and build advanced electric and hybrid powertrain solutions for four-wheelers and larger vehicle applications. This partnership will also accelerate the growth of our existing electric powertrain business for two and three-wheelers by strengthening our capabilities across the powertrain value chain and enabling us to serve a broader set of customers.”

Tsuneo Maebara, Head of Powertrain Systems Business Group, DENSO Corporation, said, “The electrification of mobility represents a major transformation that will continue to evolve in response to the diverse needs of customers and society across the world. India, in particular, is an important region where diverse forms of mobility coexist and electrification is advancing at significant scale. Sona Comstar is a mobility technology company with a global business presence, serving a broad range of customers, and having boldly transformed itself alongside the rapid evolution of the mobility market – from conventional vehicle technologies to solutions for both two- and three-wheelers and passenger electric vehicles. Through this partnership, we will bring together the respective strengths that both companies have built over the years to provide electrification solutions that address the diverse needs of customers in India. By harnessing new competitive strengths created through synergies across the two companies’ products, technologies and business foundations, DENSO will further advance and accelerate its electrification business. We will also build on the outcomes achieved in India to deliver value that meets a broader range of customer needs in the future.”

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Mumbai-headquartered JSW Group looks to double down on its ambition to become a formidable player in the Indian automotive industry with plans to acquire a majority stake in Volkswagen for its operations in the country, says a Bloomberg report.

It is no secret that despite investing billions in India, Volkswagen has been struggling to find a strong foothold in the country and has been aiming to attain a 3-5 percent market share without much success.

In FY2026, passenger vehicle sales in India touched 4.64 million units. During the same period, Volkswagen India and Skoda Auto India sold a total of 37,576 units and 75,556 units, respectively, translating to a combined market share of 2.5 percent.

The report further stated that the partners are in advanced discussions, wherein JSW will pick up a significant stake in Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, with the announcement expected in the coming few weeks.

For the unversed, Volkswagen has been scouting for a suitable partner in India, with previous reports indicating a potential partnership with Mahindra Group and Tata Motors, among others.

Interestingly, JSW Group has been aggressively looking to expand its presence and grab a meaningful share in the Indian automotive industry. It already has a presence in the passenger vehicle segment, being the largest shareholder in JSW MG Group India, in addition to its newly established JSW Motors, with the first model set to be introduced in the next few months.

As per media reports, the European automaker has also scaled down its investment plans from the earlier planned EUR 1 billion to EUR 700 million, as it looks to narrow down losses in the country.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company is optimistic about delivering above-industry growth in the coming quarters, supported by robust structural demand drivers, replacement needs, improving affordability, and accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

In a post-earnings call, K N Radhakrishnan, Director and Chief Executive Officer, TVS Motor Company, said, “Structural demand drivers, replacement demand, affordability, and continued EV adoption. All these are going to be supportive and I’m pretty confident that TVS will do much better than the industry growth.”

The company continues to see strong momentum in its electric vehicle segment. Following the milestone of crossing one million iQube sales, EV penetration exceeded 10.6 percent in June.

TVS Motor Co’s manufacturing capacity for electric two-wheelers is being scaled from 40,000 units towards more than 50,000 units, while three-wheeler EV capacity is expanding to approximately 30,000 units.

Radhakrishnan sees demand for internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheelers to remain solid in the domestic market, with the company’s scooter portfolio — including the Jupiter, Ntorq and Scooty ranges — registering robust retail offtake. This has been supported by targeted product upgrades and disciplined inventory management, with dealer stock levels maintained below 30 days.

TVS Apache Crosses 7 Million Sales Milestone, Launches Tu Race Laga Campaign

On the international front, TVS Motor achieved record Q1 sales of 4.68 million units, a 33 percent YoY increase. Growth was driven by a recovery in Africa, expansion in Latin America and strong demand for the HLX series. The company is targeting an increase in total two-wheeler capacity to 8.3 million units.

Despite commodity price volatility and supply chain challenges in April, TVS Motor delivered a healthy operating EBITDA margin of 12.8 percent through strategic price adjustments of approximately 1.5 percent in Q1, ongoing cost optimisation and benefits from scale.

With the festive season approaching in October and November, the company expects sustained momentum across both domestic and international markets, supported by new product introductions and an expanding global footprint.

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European auto major Stellantis has announced leadership changes for the Ram and Jeep brands. Matt VanDyke has been appointed CEO of the Ram brand, effective 20 July, succeeding Tim Kuniskis. Branden Cote has been named CEO of the Jeep brand, effective 3 August, succeeding Bob Broderdorf, who is taking medical leave and will assume a new role upon his return. Both executives will report to Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, North America Marketing and Retail strategy, Stellantis North America.

VanDyke joins Ram following roles as President of Shift Digital, CEO of FordDirect and leadership positions at Ford Motor Company. Cote joins Jeep with industry experience across OEM and dealer retail operations, including roles with AutoNation, Aston Martin Lagonda, Canoo and Mercedes-Benz USA.

Tim Kuniskis, said, “Matt and Branden are proven leaders who will build on our successes and take these iconic American brands to the next level. Their skills and deep industry experience align with our simple – but very important – customer-centric objective: to provide people with the brands and products they love and trust. I also want to thank Bob Broderdorf for his exceptional leadership of Jeep. Bob is a dedicated and valued colleague, and a friend to many across the Company. I look forward to continuing our work together when he takes on his new role.”

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