The mobility industry is going through one of the biggest transformations and the ‘CII West Tech Summit 2022 – Future Mobility’ drew attention to it.

Addressing several facets of mobility, the ‘West Tech Summit 2022 – Future Mobility’ organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) recently brought together prominent personalities from the automotive industry. It kicked-off with the inaugural session with the theme, ‘Future mobility’.

Sanjeev Fadnavis, CEO, Nitor Infotech, set the tone for the event and invited Sunil Chordia, Chairman and Managing Director, Rajratan Global Wire, to share his thoughts.

In his address, Chordia mentioned that people are looking for transportation solutions that make life easier. They are looking at solutions that use practical measures in cities and integrate seamlessly with their devices, improving road safety in the process and giving driving pleasure and freedom.

Stating that urban areas are expanding, and traffic congestion is growing, Chordia said, “There is a greater need to find ecological solutions for the rising air and sound pollution. People want to optimise their transportation through on-demand solutions, vehicle sharing and low-cost options.”

Expressing that autonomous vehicles are transforming the way people and goods travel from point A to point B, Chordia averred, “Public and private partnerships are being enforced to help communities become cleaner, more pedestrian-friendly and less dependent on private transportation. This shift will not only affect automakers, but also industries from insurance to healthcare to the media, who should reconsider how they create value in this emerging environment.” He stressed that the major trends for more environment-friendly mobility is electric mobility. Quiet and efficient, battery-powered electric cars have already brought about a change, particularly in private transport, and represent an alternative to commercial engines.

Commenting that an electric car can be charged at home and depending on the model, pure electric cars are offering a range of over 700 kilometres already on one charge, Chordia explained, “In the field of micro-mobility, e-scooters and e-bikes have established themselves, as have electric buses and trucks in the commercial vehicle sector. What’s more, connected mobility or the networking of smart devices via the Internet supports these goals. It enables digital data-driven mobility solutions.”

Changing habits and thoughts
Of the opinion that advances in transportation will make mobility faster and easier to plan, benefitting supply chains and industrial production, Chordia emphasised that by 2030, less parking and more infrastructure to cater to scooters, bikes and other new modes of transportation will be seen. He expressed that the future of mobility will require compromises and change in habits as well as thoughts. Factors such as comfort, time, cost and personal willingness will play a significant role. They will determine the choice of transport means.

Highlighting the shift from hardware to software, which means that cars will operate more like smartphones, Chordia said, “Connected vehicles will account for 100 percent of the market by 2035. EVs will account for 35 percent of new car sales in 2035. With electric vehicles gaining viability as solutions that settle the pollution problem, industry investments will expand the range of EVs by boosting the power and reducing the cost of electric batteries.”

Respect the air we breathe
Of the opinion that future mobility will see a lot of regulations, new technologies and disruptive changes, Alakesh Roy, Managing Director and CEO, Bolt Cargo India, said that these will have to be addressed at the same time. He commented that there will be expectations regarding future technologies and business models because there will be an urgent need to double transformation. “We will have to build businesses that are crisis-resistant,” Roy expressed.

Emphasising the need to choose a technology that is sustainable and can benefit in the long run, Roy said, “Technology is getting smaller as people have it in the palm of their hands.” On the need to reduce traffic congestion, he quipped, “We need to respect the air we breathe in. If we don't respect the air we breathe, then we are leaving behind something bad for the future generations.”

Regarding autonomous vehicles, Roy expressed that there was a slow shift towards the vehicle driving us, than we driving it. A concept called Connected, Autonomous, Shared and Electric (CASE) is coming up, he informed.

Strong national development and the need to curb pollution
Of the opinion that the challenge regarding mobility in India is because of development that is happening in bits and pockets, Sriram Narayanan, Managing Director, Endress+Hauser (India) – Automation Instrumentation, said, “That’s the reason why we have issues of traffic jams in cities like Mumbai and Pune. Imagine if we could have vehicles in cities that could jump over a distance. It would be a dream.”

Stressing on the need for intelligent maps that would indicate the right time to travel, Roy spoke about balance between travel and working from home. “Work and business were managed for two to three years without travelling. Mobility is something that is also related to the way we have to work, which influences sustainability.”

Of the opinion that a lot of development is happening in terms of infrastructure, Roy said, “When it comes to autonomous vehicles, it is my personal belief that human beings are the most intelligent. Autonomous driving is needed in the western region because there is a lack of population over there. However, taking autonomous driving ahead in India will be a challenge. Human life is the most precious thing. So, keeping this in mind, we should focus on how safe we can make our vehicles.”

Commenting that autonomous driving will bring enormous safety, Arvind Goel, Managing Director and CEO, Tata AutoComp Systems, cited the death of about 450 people in road accidents every day. He expressed further, “This is a reportable number. Therefore, if we look at this from the future mobility point of view, then we need to cater in terms of both, safety and environment. About 990 million metric tonnes of equivalent oil consumption takes place in India today. Irrespective of what happens with electric vehicles, the oil consumption is still going to go up. We are not going to convert every vehicle into an EV.”

Of the opinion that there are huge opportunities in India from a business point of view regarding technological developments in EVs, Goel remarked, “Areas like power electronics and software development show a lot of opportunities for the country. When it comes to power electronics, we have a lot of good engineering strength in India. As for software development, the battery needs a battery management system (BMS), and a management system is fully software-driven. Plus, huge requirements are coming in India for supplying ICE engine parts.”

In the first plenary session with the theme ‘Green mobility and autonomous vehicles’ moderated by Dr Prashant Pansare, Managing Director, Inteliment Technologies, Dr Yogesh Dadke, APAC IT Leader, Adient India, asserted that Industry 4.0 is creating a digital footprint of basic product structures like automotive seats where adjustments happen on a digital platform and are based on the sensors fitted in it.

Stressing on industry-institute interaction and how the real-life problem is discipline-agnostic, Dr Siddharth Jabade, Vice Chancellor, Vishwakarma University, said, “A solution is needed without thinking in terms of mechanical, IT or AI. It has to be a team of students doing it with well-defined milestones and variables. One of our strengths is data. We need to see how we can create data sets in the context of India and put them to use. Another factor we need to look into is what could be the sensor fusion technologies. And lastly, how we can convert existing vehicles into autonomous vehicles.”

Of the opinion that Industry 4.0 is not a fancy statement anymore in terms of future mobility, J P Govindarajan, Managing Director and General Manager (India), Garrett Motion Technologies (India), stressed on the need to digitalise. “The moment you digitalise, almost 15-20 percent of hidden capacity is exposed,” he quipped. He explained that if the level of complexities in India could be handled, an industry or enterprise can succeed anywhere in the world. There is a great opportunity for start-ups and smaller enterprises to develop AR/VR-based training bodies as this will not only bring experience but will enable to seek the best out of solutions, he said.

Sustainable mobility
Commenting that future mobility is about being sustainable, Abhijeet Deshmukh, Leader Engineering and Technology, Danfoss Power Solutions, mentioned that electric batteries may not be the only solution. Stating that mobility covers three modes – air, road and water – in a broader way, he drew attention to zero emission policies in cities like London. “The biggest change is that the main noise-creating parameter – the engine – has calmed down, because we have batteries. Thus, apart from the emissions, another very important requirement from the society that we are taking care of is the reduction in noise,” said Deshmukh. Referring to the need to look at the kilowatt-hour charge that can be supplied in a single chare cycle, he expressed, “The industry is looking at energy-efficient solutions that can run for at least a day shift, without interruptions.”

Drawing attention to the cost of transport by water being one third of that by land, Deshmukh said that the future of India is not about step-to-step evolution, but about taking a leap. The Indian government is focusing on electrification of marine highways where Danfoss is playing a big role, he informed.

Citing that his company is in the business to be at the top and to transform itself into an ecosystem that is self-sustainable, Dr Dadke said that the move from ICEs to EVs highlights a prominent difference of weight. The industry should concentrate on this so that lightweight vehicles can be made without compromising safety, he added.

Embracing new technologies and tech mobility
In the second session with the theme ‘Mobility and future of work’, Yashwant Desai, Founder and Managing Director, Perennial Technologies, remarked that the biggest challenge in mobility will be about handling material mobility. “The intelligent ecosystem will work around three basic technologies – energy technology, mining technology and information technology. With the new way of working, we need to see how people will embrace the new technologies. Moreover, command and control centres will come into the picture,” he said.

Dr Sadashib Padhee, Vice President, HR, IEHS and MarCom, Kirloskar Pneumatic Company, averred, “Tech mobility has really helped each one of us deliver better. Also, Gen Z likes work from anywhere and doesn’t want to go back to office.”
 

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The European Union voted in favour of imposing extra tariffs on China-made EVs by up to 45 percent on 4 October 2024. Threatening a broader trade conflict with a country that has already vowed to protect its companies and is considered as the factory of the world, the move has been criticised by the auto industry and various EU member states.

With growing demand for EU and China resolving their differences through dialogue, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade is known to express that it is opposed to be the move.

With the technical teams from China and the EU set to resume talks on 7 October 2024, the situation in EU as far as the auto OEMs like Volkswagen Group, Stellantis and BMW Group are concerned, there have been instances of profit warnings.  

Weak demand, rising costs, global competition, trade wars, geopolitical situations, subsidies and company-specific factors are among the reasons being underlined for the profit warnings by European automakers.

Receiving necessary support with 10 members backing the tariffs, 12 abstaining and five members – including Germany – voting against, the European Union, claim sources aware of the development, has been urged by the auto industry to negotiate with China for better terms and conditions rather than to reach the level were a trader war looks eminent.

Present in the China market for a decade or more, many European automakers seem to fear if the tariffs imposed on Chinese EVs will lead to negative consequences in that market for them.

Volkswagen is known to have said that the tariffs are ‘the wrong approach’. There is a need for the two sides to negotiate and find the middle way, mentioned an industry source in Germany in response to the tariffs by EU.

Image courtesy: EmDee (Wikipedia)

The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the apex body representing the forging industry in the country has announced its new officer bearers for 2024-26. 

The committee has elected Yash Munot as the new President of AIFI, while S.  Ravishankar was elected as the Vice-President.

Munot, who succeeds Vikas Bajaj, had previously served as Vice-President of AIFI from 2020 to 2024, is now also the youngest to be appointed as the President in the organisation's history. 

He currently serves as the CEO at Varsha Forgings and the Managing Director at KCTR Varsha Automotive. Munot begun his journey in the forging industry in 2005 joining his family business - Varsha Forgings. He was also instrumental in organising major industry events like IFC 2011, Forgetech  India 2016, Asia Forge 2019 and ForgeTech India 2023. He has served as the Western Region Chairman from 2018 to 2020. 

“The forging sector in India is at a pivotal juncture, with tremendous opportunities for innovation and growth. Our focus will be on fostering collaboration within the industry, driving technological advancements and promoting sustainable practices. I am committed to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that our industry not only thrives domestically but also strengthens and enhances its global footprint. Together, we will build on the strong foundation laid by my predecessors and strive for excellence in every aspect of our work," said Munot.

S Ravishankar added, “I will strive for advancing our industry’s progress and tackling the challenges presented by a rapidly changing global landscape. Our priorities will include boosting competitiveness, driving innovation and equipping our members for future opportunities. I look forward to embracing the exciting prospects ahead and contributing to AIFI’s continued success during this transformative era”

He (Ravishankar) currently serves as the MD at Super Auto Forge and has over 25 years of experience in the auto component manufacturing industry. He is a Manufacturing Engineer with Bachelors degree from Annamalai University and Masters degree from The Ohio State University.

It was in 1997, after working in Detroit for two years, Ravishankar returned to India and joined his family business at Super Auto Forge. He has been instrumental in developing the international business of SAF and led the initiative to establish marketing offices in Detroit in 2001, followed by Belgium in 2011. He has been the Chairman of Indo American Chamber of Commerce for the period 2008 – 2009 – Tamil Nadu Branch and currently serves on the Southern Regional Committee of ACMA since 2021.

Automechanika Frankfurt has cemented its position as the leading international trade fair for the automotive industry with the successful conclusion of Automechanika Frankfurt 2024. 

The slogan of this year’s Automechanika was ‘Driving Transformation’, with topics such as electrification, vehicle connectivity, driver assistance systems and digitalisation taking the centre stage. The fair was held from 10 to 14 September 2024 and saw 4,200 companies from 80 countries displaying their products and solutions for retail, workshops and industry. Spread over an area of 320,000 square metres and 26 hall levels, the event witnessed a total of 108,000 visitors from 172 countries.

Visitors had the chance to see cars with alternative drive systems up close, such as electric, hydrogen, and hybrid models, and even take a ride in the Future Mobility Park and the related expert forum Innovation4Mobility. For even more highlights, there were brand-new event types available, such as an exhilarating rally. Ninety-four percent of attendees, 70 percent of whom were foreign visitors, expressed satisfaction with the event, not just with the trade fair's offerings but also with their aims being met.

An emphasis on sustainable technologies, products and solutions was highlighted at Automechanika this year. Several talks on remanufacturing and circular economy tactics were held on the stage in the new Sustainability Court in Hall 5.0. This year also saw the opening of ‘Ambition’, a dedicated Gen Z section in Hall 3.1 with live acts, panel discussions and succinct, fascinating presentations to pique the interest of young people in the automotive professions. This action was taken as a result of the well-known lack of qualified workers in the automobile sector.

Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of Messe Frankfurt, commented, “Even in the midst of the digital transformation, the industry once again demonstrated its wealth of innovation, providing countless highlights over the course of the five-day event. Together with our exhibitors, we were able to find the right players to present the most important topics – including alternative drive systems, sustainability and the use of AI and robotics in the automotive aftermarket – on the stages and in the exhibition halls. We are also delighted by growing demand from both German and international visitors.”

Michael Johannes, Vice President Mobility & Logistics, Messe Frankfurt, said “Never before has Automechanika in Frankfurt had a supporting programme and range of events like this. Our roster of presentations and practical workshops covered a wide range of topics, including bodywork and paintwork, electric vehicles, commercial vehicles, caravan repair, 3D printing, detailing and much else besides. These were very well received by the professionals, and students and pupils took advantage of the opportunities on offer to find out for themselves what some of the automotive trades and professions are like. One of this year’s new additions was a programme and area devoted especially to Generation Z. We wanted to draw their attention to the professional opportunities that are available in the fascinating world of the automotive industry – and we were very successful.”

Castrol India, a leading lubricant manufacturer, has announced that it has achieved a significant sustainability milestone by increasing recycled content in its high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bottles to 50 percent. 

With this, the company aims to achieve 2,600 metric tonnes of annual recycled plastic usage in its packaging portfolio by 2024.

The step builds upon its previous actions to help make its packaging more sustainable, including the commercialisation of 100 percent recycled bottles for POWER1 range in 2022 and the incorporation of 30 percent recycled content across its entire bottle packaging in 2023.

This latest change aligns seamlessly with Castrol’s global PATH360 strategy, which aims to reduce its plastic footprint by half by 2030.

Sandeep Sangwan, MD, Castrol India said, “We are proud to announce this milestone in our journey towards more sustainable packaging. This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, who have overcome challenges to develop packaging solutions that meet our high standards for quality and aesthetics.”

In addition to packaging, Castrol India aims to have more sustainable manufacturing practices. The company’s production facilities utilise energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources to seek to reduce its operational greenhouse gas emissions.