The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) in partnership with the Alloy Steel Producers Association (ASPA) conducted the 3rd Automotive Raw Materials Conclave and Exhibition in Delhi recently. Held under the theme ‘New Age Materials - Challenges And Opportunities’, the conclave brought together key stakeholders to discuss the transformative potential of advanced materials in the automotive industry. 

Providing insights on how efficiencies can be brough in and how sustainability and circularity could be deployed in case of next-generation materials, the event focused on cutting-edge materials in context with vehicle design, safety and sustainability. It also focused on challenges such as commodity price fluctuations, geo-political instability and geographic material concentration in terms of the transition from traditional raw materials to the new age materials. While a PwC Report presented at the conclave stressed on the above factors, the conference saw experts and industry leaders speak about the convergence of multiple factors like improved vehicle performance and enhanced safety standards in terms of new material choices in components for automotive applications. 

Gopalakrishnan Ganesan, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Steel, Government of India, said, “We've witnessed remarkable progress in the automotive and steel industries over two decades, complementing each other and aligning with government goals. The PLI Scheme for Steel has been a driving force, especially for alloy steel in fostering innovation. The Government, the Steel Industry and the Automotive industry, together need to forge a self-reliant innovative future, creating ground-breaking products in advancing the nation.” 

Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, expressed, “In this era of rapid technological evolution and environmental consciousness, the automotive sector finds itself at a critical juncture. The convergence of electrification, autonomous driving, and the pressing need for eco-friendly transportation necessitates a radical rethinking of raw materials.” “At ACMA, we firmly believe that challenges are opportunities in disguise. The complexities that lie ahead, from securing a stable supply of critical minerals to scaling up the production of new-age materials, present us with opportunities to innovate, collaborate, and create lasting impact. This conclave provides us with an ideal platform to forge partnerships, share knowledge, and collectively shape a sustainable roadmap for the industry,” he added.  

The key themes explored during the 3rd Automotive Raw Materials Conclave and Exhibition were, 

Advancements in lightweight materials and their impact on fuel efficiency and environmental sustainability.

High tensile strength alloys and their contributions to vehicle safety and performance.

Sustainable manufacturing practices and their role in reducing the automotive industry's ecological footprint.

Emerging trends and innovations in automotive materials, presenting opportunities for growth and competitiveness.

Sunil Kakkar, Senior Executive Director, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., and the chief guest of the event averred, “In the rapidly transforming automotive industry, we see significant challenges and opportunities. The regulatory environment in India is aligning with global norms, and trends like connected, autonomous, shared, and electric mobility are shaping the industry’s future. Despite the pandemic, the industry has shown resilience, and our unsaturated market offers vast growth potential. Collaboration between steelmakers and the automotive industry is crucial to meet the safety, emission, and light-weighting needs of the industry. We are committed to a greener, safer, and more innovative future, embracing ESG measures for a sustainable ecosystem.” 

Several alloy steel manufacturers also displayed their next-generation products at the event.

German technology company ZF has upgraded its ProAI high-performance computer to support optical multi-gigabit Ethernet for automotive applications, complying with the IEEE 802.3cz standard.

The system uses automotive-grade optical fibres, enabling data transmission speeds of 2.5 to 50 Gbit/s over distances up to 40 metres. The series production could begin as early as 2025.

Oliver Briemle, Head of Cross-Domain Computing at ZF, said, “Ultra-fast optical transmission is critical for software-defined vehicles. This technology supports high-bandwidth applications like autonomous driving and infotainment.”

The company claims that the key advantages of optical multi-gigabit ethernet include – 

• Higher Speeds – Supports 25G/50G data rates, essential for ADAS and IVI systems.
• Extended Range – Reliable transmission up to 40 metres in vehicles.
• Weight Reduction – Fiber optics are lighter than copper, improving efficiency.
• EMI Immunity – Immune to electromagnetic interference, ensuring stable performance.
• Energy Efficiency – Lower power consumption than copper-based systems.
• Scalability – Future upgrades won’t require cabling changes.
• Cost-Effective – Uses mass-produced OM3 fibres and VCSEL laser diodes.
• Low Latency – Simplified signal processing reduces delays.

While older automotive systems like MOST relied on polymer fibres, IEEE 802.3cz-2023 adopts glass fibres for higher bandwidth and lower signal loss.

ZF shared that its solution is validated for cars, trucks and buses, ensuring robustness across vehicle types. With automakers shifting toward software-defined architectures, ZF’s optical Ethernet technology aims to meet growing data demands while cutting weight and energy use.

Innovation and sustainability in design took centerstage at the 19th Styling & Design Conclave 2025 organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). The event saw participation from designers and professionals from organisation such as Hero MotoCorp, Maruti Suzuki India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Stratasys and Autodesk among others.

G Sathiyaseelan, Chairman, SIAM Styling and Design Group and Vice-President, Ashok Leyland, shared his views on empathetic, inspirational and innovative approach towards technology and design,

Anuj Prasad, CEO and Founder, Desmania, expressed confidence in the bright future for automotive designers.

The event saw speakers acknowledging that automotive styling has become an old word, while design and sustainability are the modern buzzwords that indicate the direction in which the automotive sector must head.

“The level of design happening in India holds tremendous potential. We are at the threshold of a new era in design and innovation. Today, international organisations are looking to India for designs that cater to both local and global markets. Automotive design will help build the nation in a responsible manner,” said Prasad.

Prashant Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM stated that “Indian automotive designs today are as good as Italian designs.”

Samarth Gupta, Senior Technical Specialist & Mobility Lead APAC, Autodesk, said, “Everyone wants to own a vehicle because it is an expression of independence. The urban population landscape is changing due to climate change. New developments in geopolitics and the evolution of consumers’ trends and preferences are impacting the mobility landscape. We will need to evolve our auto design thinking amidst disruptions.”

Teofilo Plaza Garcia, Industrial Studio Head, Hero MotoCorp, said “Motorsports-based designs can be used for road-based vehicles, as indicated through Hero XPulse 210. These vehicles will no longer be as expensive as before.”

Rahul Pandita, Regional Head, Stratasys, stated that 3D block printing is a useful technique that has helped companies like McLaren bring racing designs to life quickly. “As design processes such as 3D block printing decrease the time taken, companies can quickly decipher whether a design is feasible or not,” said Pandita.

Dinesh Raman, Director, Transportation Design, KISKA Shanghai, opined that “As the years go by, greater use of AI will be made for design, thereby freeing up time for creative pursuits by automotive designers.”

VS Deka, Group Manager, Royal Enfield, said, “AI innovation is coming into our lives and we need to adopt the evolving technology. AI can be customised through training and then be scaled up as per requirements.”

Ferdinand Klauser, Global Partner & MD, Asia, KISKA Shanghai said, “India has a lot of potential in bringing about the transformation in mobility designing landscape.”

He also mentioned that though the future is unpredictable, it is possible to plan for it by understanding that consumer needs are transforming faster than the market.

Professor Kaustuv Sengupta of NIFT Chennai, stated, “Colour represents around 20 percent of the design language. Every 300 miles in our country, you see a new colour context. Human beings see a small spectrum of colours. Colours affect us psychologically. We see what we want to see.”

Rajesh Gogu, Vice-President (Design), Maruti Suzuki India, revealed that the company decided to create a completely new design for the fourth generation of the Dzire. The design became a success despite a 55 percent market share for SUVs.

“The trends on the road are changing, as demand for sedans have reduced while that of SUVs have grown. Designing can reinvent declining segments or products to make them popular again. Innovation is not just about technology, it is also about shape, form, aerodynamics, performance and more. We can design our vehicles that can reduce the carbon footprint offering better fuel efficiency and value to customers,” averred Gogu.

While describing the role of AI in automotive designing, Harikrishnan AK, Delivery Manager, TCS Design, said, “AI image generators can be used for inspiration, exploration and for happy accidents but there are challenges of confidentiality and originality. We need to harness the full potential of AI by customisation and fine-tuning.”

Speaking about designing in the commercial vehicle segment, Pravin Gaikwad, Head of CV Design, Tata Motors, said, “We have adopted multi-powertrain strategy. It is possible for the form to get you the trust of the customer. Form is actually helping us to define many ideas. We are leveraging tech intelligence like telematics to design something very unique.”

He shared an insight on how Tata Motors was using space intelligence as a new design direction for making Tata Prima trucks and a new space-saving concept called Tata YU.

The SIAM Styling and Design Conclave also presented automotive design students of MIT (Maharashtra Institute of Technology), ADYPU (Ajeenkya DY Patil University) and NID (National Institute of Design) an opportunity to present their design prototypes. Vedant Barve, a student at MIT, won the first prize for an electric cruiser scooter concept.

“When we began, India had only two design schools. Today, there are over 1,500 design schools producing a strong talent pool for automotive design. We need to be transformative and move toward defining automotive design that is human-centric and sustainable,” added Prasad of Desmania.

“To make India into a global design hub, change that helps India use aspects of its culture while competing at a global level is needed in the academic curriculum,” concluded Sumer Singh, Associate Professor, IIT Delhi.

German tier 1 supplier Continental has announced its latest solution for the automotive industry, the Ac2ated Sound display, a first-of-its-kind in the industry that uses a display surface to bring high-quality audio output.

The technology will not only enable space saving but also could enable significant weight reduction and allow for more innovative solutions to be integrated.

The Ac2ated system uses actuators installed behind the display surface and induce audible vibrations in the glass. The company stated that humans have an intuitive ability to identify the origin of a detected sound in a three-dimensional space, which is referred to ‘sound localisation’. In simple terms, humans, when hearing any sound, have a natural tendency to try and identify the source of the sound. In the automotive industry, the Ac2ated Sound display can create a more immersive experience as the display itself could be used like a sound box.

Given the smaller footprint of the actuators, the solution can be implemented in various flat components of the vehicle interiors.

Continental claims that Ac2ated Sound system requires up to 90 percent less space and can offer up to 40 kilograms of weight saving compared to conventional speaker systems.

Pavel Prouza, Head of User Experience (UX) Business Area, Continental, said, “By integrating actuators into the display, we have succeeded in using the entire display surface as a sound chamber to resonate sound within the vehicle – all in exceptional quality. Not only does this save valuable space in the vehicle interior, but it also reduces weight compared with traditional speakers. The system leverages our full expertise as a system integrator for the benefit of our customers – combining visual and audio output in a single package without compromising on quality.”

TVS Supply Chain Solutions, a global supply chain solutions provider, has announced changes to its leadership structure with the appointment of R Vaidhyanathan as its new Global Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective 1 April 2025. He succeeds Raviprakash Bhagavathula, who will transition to the new role of Head of Strategic Initiatives and move to Singapore.

At present, Vaidhyanathan serves as Deputy Global CFO and has held various positions in Finance within the organisation. He had joined the company in January 2019 and has worked across various leadership financial roles the position, and is credited to play a key role in significant enhancements to the productivity of the finance function.

Ravi Viswanathan, Managing Director, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, said, “We are delighted to appoint R Vaidhyanathan as our new Global CFO. His strong track record in driving financial performance, optimising cash flow, and fostering a culture of operational excellence has been instrumental in our growth journey. I am confident that his deep understanding of our business and his strategic vision will help us continue to innovate and scale as we move into the next phase of growth journey. We also express our sincere gratitude to Raviprakash Bhagavathula for his invaluable contributions since 2018 as CFO, especially for leading TVS SCS to a successful public listing. We look forward to his leadership in driving our strategic initiatives.”

Both Vaidhyanathan and Bhagavathula will report to Ravi Viswanathan, MD, TVS Supply Chain Solutions.