VOL-4 • ISSUE-9 • JUNE 2014 • 100
INDIA
PULSE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE BUSINESS WORLD
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FREE E 2014 VOL-4 • ISSUE-9 • JUN MOTOWN INDIA LAUNCH PAD ENCLOSED
INDIA Dr irst
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NARENDRA DAMODARDAS MODI 15th Prime Minister of India
INDIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
Modi has to sprint
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ROLLA ALTIS 2014 TOYOTA CO
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BMW X5
CASE STUDY: Hindustan Motors | Omax trucks | Millers Oils-Caterham deal | Interview: N. Raja, Toyota Kirloskar Motor
GREEN SPECIAL REPORT PAGES 24 - 30
National Engineering Industries Ltd., Khatipura Road, Jaipur – 302006 CIN: L29130WB1946PLC013643 | Phone: +91 141 222 3221 | Fax: +91 141 222 1926 | E-mail: neisales@nbcbearings.in
EDITOR’S NOTE
T
he Indian people heaved a sigh of relief when the general election results were announced. Narendra Modi had won hands down and his party had managed an absolute majority in Parliament. The National Democratic Alliance won 336 seats with the BJP alone winning 282 seats. It was after
a long time that a government at Centre was formed without crony coalition parties supporting it. That meant, Modi now had the power to change the fortunes of the country. The Congress with Dr. Manmohan Singh as its Prime Minister had done a relatively good job for the Indian auto industry in the ten years it was in power. But the run up to the 2014 elections was miserable with the government hardly budging from its seat to initiate reforms of any kind. It was obvious that the coalition parties like DMK, TMC, NCP and others were not allowing Dr. Singh to continue with his reforms. Industry suffered big time because of this. Dr. Singh, instead of resigning and standing by his proreforms stance, bowed before the coalition parties. The result was catastrophic. The Indian automobile industry bled for almost three years. Corruption and lack of reforms sent the auto companies into a tailspin. Without any major infrastructure boost, the sale of commercial vehicles hit rock bottom. The cover story is on the Indian auto industry and what Modi needs to do. Reactions and suggestions from industry leaders have been incorporated. Mahindra & Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra is among the several industrialists who has shown his delight in Modi coming to power. The auto industry now is in the hope mode. Major economic reforms are expected to follow. It is to be seen how soon the industry emerges out of the woods. P. Tharyan ptharyan@motownindia.com ptharyan@gmail.com
Cover picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi courtesy: www.namobrigade.in www.motownindia.com
EDITOR P. Tharyan -------------------------News Coordinator & Design Head Jisha P Senior Photographer Mohd. Nasir Sr. Correspondents Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul Correspondents S. Madhavan, Rahul Kapoor, Tripti Singh, Jasbeer Kohli -------------------------For Editorial, contact (editorial@motownindia.com editorial.motown@gmail.com) -------------------------For Marketing & Sales contact Anuj Srivastava (sales@motownindia.com +91-9958125645) -------------------------For Accounts Contact Ankit Sharma (ankit@motownindia.com +91-9654005547) -------------------------For Circulation & Subscription Contact Dalip Singh Bagdwal (subscription@motownindia.com +91-9811305822) -------------------------EDITORIAL DELHI OFFICE 145 B/9, First Floor, Kishangarh, Next to United Free Church, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Tel: 011-26122758/59, Tele Fax: 011-26122757 -------------------------DISTRIBUTED BY Central News Agency, New Delhi -------------------------EDITORIAL CONTENT The publisher makes every effort to ensure that the contents in the magazine are correct. However, he can accept no responsibility for any effects from errors or omissions. Any unauthorised reproduction of Motown India content is strictly forbidden. -------------------------Motown India is printed, published, edited and owned by Punnoose Tharyan and published from 4058 / D-4, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi-110070. Printed at Pearl Printers, C-105, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi. This issue of Motown India magazine contains 60 pages including both covers and a 32-page booklet.
June 2014
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CONTENTS INDIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
MODI HAS TO SPRINT The run up to election year in 2014 was terrible for the Indian auto industry. Stagnation led to frustration and Modi played the Pied Piper who promised to rid the country of economic stagnation. For almost three years, the government was not able to perk up demand for vehicles, despite the fact that a lot of policy decisions were taken to encourage domestic vehicle sales as well as exports. According to a note prepared by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the automobile industry has made investments worth 35,000 crore in the last three financial years and as a result the current production capacity for four-wheelers is of over 6.6 million. The current production of four wheelers is only 4 million. Thus the vehicle industry in India is currently carrying over 65pc surplus capacity.
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HIGHLIGHTS
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Indian Motorcycle gets its first dealership in Gurgaon Tata Movus launched; Costs 6.99 lakh onwards
TÊTE-À-TÊTE N.Raja, Senior Vice President & Director, Marketing & Sales Division, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Ltd.
SAFE raises concerns of road fatalities
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ARO Equipments partners with Horn Group for Tecalemit products Triumph Motorcycles sells 450 units in first six months Force Gurkha sales to commence from September 2014
24 INDIA REPORT
Mahindra expands footprint in US with GenZe
CASE STUDY: Hindustan Motors is down but not out
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44 GREEN SPECIAL REPORT
By 2023, India the largest market for pickups: Isuzu 6
June 2014
Green is not just a fad, it’s a commitment
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HIGHLIGHTS
Triumph Motorcycles sells 450 units in first six months Report: Rahul Kapoor, Photography: Mohd. Nasir UK based iconic motorcycle manufacturer Triumph Motorcycles was able to sell 450 units in the country through it six dealerships in the country in the first six months of its operations. The company started operations in India by later November 2013. In his presentation, Vimal Sumbly, Managing Director of Triumph India said that while the company sold 100 units in the first 60 days of operations, it was able to sell 450 units in six months. Sumbly made this presentation to journalists at the inauguration of the seventh Triumph dealership (Triumph Delhi) in the country at Vasant Kunj in South West Delhi. This is the first dealership in North India. Incidentally, the dealership in Delhi has already got 30 booking since morning before it could be officially inaugurated. Triumph will also be launching its 8th dealership in Chennai on June 7 and its 9th in Kolkata on July 14, 2014. Sumbly also mentioned that there is a five-month wait on the Adventure series bikes, Tiger 800XC and Tiger Explorer. Like every Triumph Global dealership, the one in Vasant Kunj also has a ‘Build your own Bike’ station where one can customise any bike to one’s liking with accessories on an iPad before they place an order. Triumph Motorcycles entered the Indian market with the launch
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of 10 global brands in the following categories; Classics, Roadsters, Adventure, Cruisers and Super sports. The lineup includes the Iconic Bonneville and Bonneville T100, the cool café racer the Thruxton, the legendary Speed Triple, the class leading Street Triple, , the go anywhere Tiger 800 XC and Tiger Explorer, the stripped back and black Thunderbird Storm, the largest production motorcycle the Rocket III Roadster and the king of super sports bikes, the Daytona 675R. The 670 was launched during the Auto Expo early this year. The company has tied up with HDFC bank for financing these motorcycle purchases. The price range of the motorcycle is from 5.7 lakh to 20 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi),
Vimal Sumbly, Managing Director, Triumph India
Sumbly said that his company will be extending a comprehensive suite of after sales services and support along with merchandise to its brand lovers. The Delhi dealership is designed upon the global signature Triumph Motorcycles layout with consultation lounge, sales and after sales desks all being close
to the display area. The dealership in Delhi has a showroom integrated with an after-sales service facility featuring service bays and a spare parts inventory which is located in the lower ground floor of the Vasant Square mall where the dealership is located. The Triumph Delhi will feature a variety of official branded
merchandise including the Steve McQueen Line which includes riding gear, accessories and memorabilia and will bring the same international standards of sales, service, spare parts and systems to the Indian market. Triumph also provides a 24x7 roadside assistance and also pick and drop service for all customers.
Curious boys at the new Triumph dealership in New Delhi
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HIGHLIGHTS
Force Gurkha sales to commence from September 2014 The Force Gurkha extreme off-roader from Force Motors will finally be available from September 2014. Customers will be able to test drive and book the off-roader across its personal vehicles dealerships at that time. Motown India tested the Gurkha several months back. The vehicle proved its tough abilities on some very rough terrains. The Gurkha is unique in several ways. It is the only vehicle that comes equipped with Differential Locks on both front and rear axles. This helps the vehicle to get out of some of the most difficult terrains without much effort. It also has a distinctive air intake “Snorkel” in sparkling chrome finish that ensures ample supply of fresh air to the engine even while water wading. Thus, this vehicle is ideal to drive even
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when roads are inundated with water. With best in class ground clearance, hard top with air conditioning and power steering, one can comfortably and effortlessly negotiate extreme terrains in extreme weather. The Gurkha vehicle is powered by the 2.6 litre Mercedes OM 616 derived turbo charged intercooled engine mated to a 5 speed synchromesh transmission and 4WD with Hi - Lo option. The crawler feature on the Gurkha enables it to climb up steep gradients without even stepping on the accelerator. The ECU within the vehicle senses the terrain and supplies fuel accordingly. The reinforced tubular chassis of the Gurkha enables it to withstand extreme torsional stresses the vehicle gets subjected to in off-road
situations. Another feature is the Spring-over-Axle, distinctive to Gurkha, that gives it improved clearance and off-roading capabilities. Force Motors Managing Director, Prasan Firodia said, “The feedback received from auto experts and select group of users during test drives has helped us further fine tune the Force Gurkha into an extremely capable off roader.” The Gurkha comes with a warranty of three years or 3,00,000km and is available in 3 colours and 2 variants viz hard top and soft top. It will be sold through the company’s dealerships and would be backed by not only trained technicians but also ample stocks of parts. Force Motors (formerly known as Bajaj Tempo) is known for its
iconic brands like the Tempo, the Matador and the Traveller. Its range includes Trump small commercial vehicles, Trax multiutility and cross country vehicles, Traveller light commercial vehicles and the Balwan range of Agricultural Tractors. In August 2011, the company entered into the personal vehicles arena with the launch of Force One sports utility vehicle. The Force Gurkha is the second vehicle launched under the Personal Vehicles Division. Apart from these vehicles, Force Motors has also supplied Mercedes-Benz over 42,000 engines. This business has grown to a substantial size as axles (both front and rear) of the C, E, S class passenger cars and the M and GL class SUVs made in India have also been added to the portfolio.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Bajaj Pulsars with two tone colours
Bharat Forge global subsidiary wins Euro 250m contract
Motorcycle major Bajaj Auto has launched Pulsar motorcycles with a new range of two-tone colours. The colours now make the motorcycles more sporty. The new colours have been introduced in the Pulsar 150, 180 and 220. The choice for the customer now includes three colours: Pearl Metallic White, Sapphire Blue and Cocktail Wine Red. These new colours come at no additional cost. Bajaj Auto, Vice President (Marketing) Sumeet Narang noted that Pulsar has been India’s No1 sports bike for more than a decade now. He said the company had earlier introduced vibrant two-tones in the Pulsar 200NS and received an overwhelming response from its customers. Following this success, the company has extended the concept on the entire range of Pulsars. He said his company was confident that the Pulsars with the new colours will appeal to the new age biker. Bajaj Auto recently witnessed a strike threat at its Chakan plant but a tough call by the management deterred the workers from going ahead with their threat. The Pulsar is among the several motorcycles manufactured at the Chakan plant in Maharashtra.
Bharat Forge Limited announced that its German Subsidiary Bharat Forge Aluminumtechnik GmbH & Co KG (BFAT) has won a multiyear contract approximately worth Euro 250 million ( 2058.6 crore approx.) from a German OEM for supply of suspension components based on unique technology industrialised by BFAT over the past few years. The industrialisation of this unique technology has put BFAT at the forefront of aluminium component industry witnessing huge demand globally. To create capacity for this additional business, BFAT is increasing its capacity by adding a new press line with all auxiliary equipment including melting which will be commissioned in Jan 2015, said a company statement. This plant is being set up in the state of Saxony at Brand-Erbisdorf at cost of Euro 31 million funded by way of internal accruals, debt & state
subsidies. Commenting on the order win, Baba N Kalyani, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Forge Ltd., said “This is a proud moment for our German aluminum forging business and for the Bharat Forge Group. This win has been made possible because of continuous focus on innovation, technology adaptation and execution track record of BFAT and will enhance our presence in the fast growing aluminum components business which is finding increasing use in passenger vehicles for weight reduction and high performance”.
Escorts Farmtrac Heritage Series for South Africa Tractor manufacturer Escorts Limited has announced the launch of its most effective Farmtrac Heritage range at South Africa’s biggest agriculture show, NAMPO 2014. The Heritage range, after receiving good response in last year’s “Agritechnica” at Hanover (Europe), is now being introduced in South Africa. The tractors range between 50 HP to 75 HP. The ergonomically engineered Farmtrac Heritage series (6050, 6060, 6075) available both in 2WD as well as 4WD variants, are the most fuel efficient tractors in their class, according to a
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company statement. South African tractor industry today stands at 6000 units a year which includes tractors up to 450HP. Out of these, Indian tractors in operation range between 35 to 90HP category. Escorts Limited aims to leverage this segment by their new Farmtrac Heritage product line. The sub 80 HP segment has a total market of roughly 70,000 tractors annually and with Farmtrac, Escorts aims to acquire 10pc of market share by 2020. Rajesh Kumar, Chief International Business, Escorts
Agri Machinery said, “We are delighted to have launched our futuristic Farmtrac Heritage line in South Africa. We believe in innovative engineering to bring about dynamic changes in the farm sector all across the globe and aspire to become the leaders in designing tractors in sub 80 HP segment. South Africa is poised to be a trend setter for other African countries and it is a key market area for us. The new age farmer in South Africa will find the Heritage line extremely alluring”. Sanjay Kapote, Chief Strategy - International Business, Escorts
Agri Machinery said, “By launching the Farmtrac Heritage range, Escorts showcases its strong footprint in this segment in South Africa. Looking at the evolving market and customer inclination towards auxiliary category, we are confident that the potential buyers will invest in our tractor. Our machines are a perfect mix of advanced technology and affordable pricing. Going forward we would continue to bring more market apt products that will ensure greater prosperity for farmers in the African region.”
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HIGHLIGHTS
Mahindra SsangYong Rexton ‘RX6’ for 19.96 lakh Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M) has announced the launch of a new model of the SsangYong Rexton, the ‘RX6’ with manual transmission. The cost of the vehicle is 19.96 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The new model RX6 will be an addition to the existing model range of Rexton. According to a company statement, the Rexton was the No. 2 selling brand in the high-end SUV segment in FY 2013-14. The SsangYong Rexton by Mahindra is currently available in two models - RX5 and RX7. The RX5 is an entry level manual transmission model and the RX7 is the top end model with E-tronic automatic transmission with Mercedes BenzTM technology. The new Rexton RX6 uses a 2.7 litre RX270 XDi engine (5 cylinder common rail, turbo diesel engine) which produces 162 Bhp power and 340 Nm torque. The 5-speed manual gearbox also offers an intelligent and efficient 4X4 system – Torque on Demand (TOD) with a low ratio for serious offroading. The high end features of the vehicle includes premium leather upholstery, electrical sunroof, 8-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with memory function, automatic headlights, rain sensing wipers and intelligent 4x4 Torque on Demand (TOD) system. Speaking on the launch of the ‘RX6’ model of the SsangYong Rexton, Vivek Nayer, Chief Marketing Officer, Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. noted, “As a customer-centric organisation, we continuously take feedback from consumers and update our products to cater to their evolving needs. One such feedback from customers was the need for high end and luxurious features in a manual transmission model. The launch of the Rexton RX6 is a step in this direction and will give driving enthusiasts a manual transmission with 4x4 capabilities, along with high end features.” The 3rd generation Rexton was launched in October 2012 in India and is available in over 206 dealer outlets across 150 cities. The Rexton in India is manufactured and assembled at Mahindra’s Chakan Plant near Pune by sourcing components from SsangYong Korea and from India.
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GM exports to begin with Left Hand Drive Beat to Chile General Motors’ Talegaon plant near Pune in Maharashtra will begin production of vehicles meant for exports in the second half of 2014. The company will commence exports of left hand drive version of the Chevrolet Beat to Chile in the first quarter of 2015. The small, compact city car is already being built and sold in many markets around the world. Arvind Saxena, the newly appointed GM India President and Managing Director stated that the start of Beat exports underlines GM’s commitment to India and demonstrates the quality of
the country’s growing supplier base. He further noted that the exports will create more employment opportunities within GM India and the supplier community while helping improve capacity utilisation at the Talegaon Plant. The Chevrolet Beat is currently available with petrol and diesel engines and is an extremely fuel-efficient hatchback and is also the company’s best-selling model. The car was introduced in the Indian market in 2010 and has since won several awards. At the heart of the diesel car is the Smartech diesel engine.
Hyundai Eon with1.0 L Kappa engine for 3,83,130 Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has introduced the 1.0 litre Kappa engine for the small car Eon. The new 1.0 litre Eon will be available along with the current 0.8 litre Eon. The Eon 1.0 Kappa engine will be available in Magna+ variant at an ex-showroom price (New Delhi) of 3,83,130. The Euro 5 ready 1.0 litre Kappa petrol engine is equipped with latest Dual VTVT technology and designed to deliver high engine performance, with enhanced fuel efficiency andlow emissions. The 1.0 Litre three-cylinder engine punches out 68bhp@6200 rpm of power and a peak torque at 94Nm@ 3500 rpm. Fuel efficiency is around 20.3Kmpl (ARAI Certified). In a press statement, BS Seo, Managing Director and CEO, HMIL said, “Hyundai Eon has been a trendsetter of style, performance, design and
finesse in its segment and has received good acceptability and appreciation from its customers. Hyundai consistently innovates to meet and exceed the demands of the customer and the 1.0 litre Kappa engine now offered in Eon is an extension of our modern-premium brand philosophy and will delight our customers with unparalleled driving experience and further consolidate Hyundai’s position in the domestic market.”
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HIGHLIGHTS
New Toyota Corolla Altis for 11.99 lakh onwards The much-awaited 11th generation all new Toyota Corolla Alits has been soft launched in India at a price of 11.99 lakh for the cheapest petrol mode. The prices for the petrol car range from 11.99 lakh to 16.89 lakh. The prices for the diesel version start at 13.07 lakh and goes up to 16.69 lakh. All prices are ex showroom Delhi. These are introductory prices. The car now comes with several external and internal changes but the engine and transmission continue to be carried forward from the earlier model. The petrol version also has an option of an automatic transmission. The new Corolla Altis was unveiled in February at the Auto Expo 2014 held at Greater Noida near New Delhi. The car boasts of several premium features, especially for a vehicle that is in the C segment. Thus with these offerings, the company hopes to attract both the D premium and the high-end B sedan customers. The company claims it is a value for money product. The company has also come out with a special accessory package “The Benchmark Collection” for the new Corolla ALtis. This collection has a unique set of premium accessories like daytime running lamp and chrome packages. Among the exterior features are new radiator grille, LED headlamps and clearance lamps, R 16 alloy wheels and rear chrome garnish. A new design wide rear LED combination lamps add to the looks of the car. Also, the vehicle height has been lowered by 5 mm that has resulted in improved balance and aerodynamics.
India-made Jaguar XJ Diesel priced at 92.1 lakh onwards
Jaguar has announced the price of the locally manufactured Jaguar XJ 3.0L Diesel starting from 92.1 lakhs (ex-showroom Mumbai, pre octroi). The XJ 3.0L Diesel will be available in two derivatives, the Premium Luxury and Portfolio, according to a press release. Rohit Suri, Vice President, Jaguar Land Rover, India said, “We are delighted to introduce the flagship of the Jaguar brand, the epitome of extraordinary luxury, the XJ as locally manufactured, at an extremely competitive price point in the luxury saloon segment in India.
The new 2014 XJ with new innovative features is bound to have an enhanced appeal for the discerning and successful individuals with a refined taste for elegant British style, luxury, design and sophistication.” Some of the new features include the upgraded rear seat comfort pack with three massage seat functions, increased rear headroom, electric rear side window blinds, LED reading lights, 25.9 cm (10.2) rear screens (Rear Seat Entertainment System) and a new rear business table.
Jaguar to build six Lightweight E-type cars Jaguar is to build six perfect reproductions of the original, race-bred Lightweight E-type that was created in 1963. The new cars are the ‘missing’ six vehicles from Jaguar’s Lightweight E-type project, which originally started in February 1963 with the objective of building 18 ‘Special GT E-type Cars’. Only 12 of the aluminium bodied Lightweight E-types were eventually built, the last in 1964, the remaining six designated chassis numbers having lain dormant, until now. The new cars will be hand-
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built in-house by Jaguar’s finest craftsmen. Each car will be constructed to the exact specifications of their original 1960s forebears - including the 3.8-litre straight-six engine, said a company statement. The Lightweight carried approximately 114kg less weight than a standard E-type, thanks to its all-aluminium body and engine block, a lack of interior trim and exterior chrome work and a host of further weightsaving features including lightweight, hand-operated side windows. Jaguar expects a high
demand for the six Lightweight E-types. Established Jaguar collectors, especially those with historic race car interests, will be prioritised amongst those potential customers who express interest. The E-type was produced between 1961 and 1975. Just over 72,500 were built. The Lightweight E-types were built in 1963 (one car being
delivered in 1964) by Jaguar’s competition department. Twelve complete cars were built in total - 11 are believed to survive today.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Mahindra expands footprint in US with GenZe Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder joined Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group in Ann Arbor, to inaugurate the Mahindra GenZe electric two-wheeler facility and the North American Technical Center in Southeast Michigan, US. According to a company statement, the Mahindra Group was also represented at this milestone event by Dr. Pawan Goenka, Executive Director and President - Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors. “Michigan provided us the perfect eco-system to step up our U.S. presence. We were able to draw on the terrific automotive engineering and manufacturing talent available in the state, to create industry leading initiatives for the United States,” said Mahindra. “The North American Technical Center and GenZe represent important disruptive product incubators for the Mahindra Group. Constant innovation focused on improving the lives of our consumers, employees and the communities they impact is at the core of Mahindra’s ‘Rise’ philosophy and we are delighted to see this come to fruition in the
United States,” he added. The Mahindra Group already has a substantial presence in the United States with IT companies, Tech Mahindra and Bristlecone and the world’s number one selling tractor brand based on volume, Mahindra USA. The new Technical Centre adds to this footprint and reflects the Group’s continued commitment to North America. “We welcome global leaders like Mahindra to Michigan and applaud them for their product and engineering leadership. Hi-tech green manufacturing & R&D has been the cornerstone of our partnership and job creation initiatives and we are pleased to have the Mahindra brand grow its U.S. presence from Michigan,” said Governor Rick Snyder. The GenZe by Mahindra is the first urban transportation vehicle to be offered by the Mahindra Group and the only twowheeled electric vehicle of its kind in the United States. The compact design provides consumers with exactly what they need - ease of travel, specialised storage and a range of 30 miles (48km approx.) with many industry first features. With the top speed set at 30 mph,
there is no need for a motorcycle license to operate the GenZe in most states. Mahindra GenZe selected Ann Arbor, Michigan for its manufacturing facility following a nationwide search. This facility has the capacity to assemble up to 9,000 vehicles per year, with the ability to ramp up to 20,000 vehicles if needed. “We are excited to unveil the GenZe by Mahindra as the first electric urban two-wheeler designed
and manufactured in the United States,” said Vish Palekar, CEO, Mahindra GenZe. “The GenZe is conceived for students and urban commuters who are desperate to break free from congestion tired of increasing gas prices, and the lack of convenient parking. With industry leading utility and connectivity features including the ability to charge anywhere on the go, the GenZe is the perfect lifestyle empowering vehicle for the American consumer.”
Honda recalls 15,623 Brio and 15,603 Amaze models Recalls seem to the flavour of the season. But all in all, it also goes to prove that car companies are openly acknowledging the fact that critical repairs need to be carried out and there is no point being shy about it. After the spate of recalls from Maruti Suzuki, Toyota Kirloskar, it is now time for Honda Cars to recall two of their models-Brio and Amaze. In a press release issued on May5, 2014, Honda Cars India Ltd (HCIL) announced that it would carry out inspection of Proportioning Valve of 15,623
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units of non-ABS variants of Brio and 15,603 units of nonABS variants of Petrol Amaze manufactured from February 28, 2013 to January 16, January 2014. “There is possibility that in some of these cars there is mis-assembly of Proportioning Valve. However no complaint related to this part has been reported. HCIL will voluntarily replace the Proportioning Valve after inspection, if required. The inspection and replacement would be carried out free of cost at HCIL dealerships across
India, and the owners will be contacted individually in a phased manner,” the company statement said. Proportioning Valve is the part of Brake system which adjusts brake distribution pressure to the wheels. Proportioning valve is not a part of braking system for ABS variants and therefore the ABS variants of Brio & Petrol Amaze and all variants of Diesel Amaze do not require any inspection, the company clarified. A special microsite has been created on the
company’s website (www. hondacarindia.com) which enables the customers to check whether their car will be covered under this inspection campaign by submitting their 17 character alpha-numeric Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
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HIGHLIGHTS
By 2023, India the largest market for pickups: Isuzu Report: P.Tharyan Isuzu Motors India is hopeful that India would not only be a great market for pickups in the years to come but would also offer opportunities for exporting these vehicles out of India. Besides, the company would also explore that possibility of sourcing components out of India. This was stated by senior Isuzu officials during the launch of the Isuzu D-MAX in Gurgaon, in the outskirts of Delhi. D-Max, one of the largest selling pickup trucks in the world, comprises of three models – two cabin options and two deck
options. The D-Max Single cab will be available in flat deck and the D-MAX Space Cab will be available in both flat deck and arched deck variants. The D-MAX Single Cab is priced at 5,89,000. The D-MAX Space Cab flat deck is priced at 6,09,000, while the arched deck variant is priced at 6,99,000. All prices are ex-showroom National Capital Region(NCR). Takashi Kikuchi, Managing Director, Isuzu Motors India noted that the company would be opening outlets in Gurgaon, Noida, Jaipur, Ludhiana by this
year. Within a year it would also open outlets in Chandigarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Lucknow, Kanpur and Udaipur so as to cover the entire Northern region. The company opened its first northern India outlet in New Delhi. Kikuchi noted that North India is an important region for his company, contributing to approximately 30pc of the total pickup sales in the country. He said its being observed that Indian customers are beginning to prefer pickups to small commercial vehicles, accounting to 35pc of the total CV market.
Shigeru Wakabayashi, Deputy Managing Director, Isuzu Motors India said that by 2023 the 1 tonne pickup segment in India is expected to grow to 8 lakh units. India, he said, would become the world’s largest pickup market. The D-Max is powered by a 2499cc, 4-cylinder intercooled turbocharged diesel engine. The engine is mated with a 5-speed manual transmission. The engine delivers 134hp power @ 3600rpm and 294 Nm torque @ 1800-3200 rpm range. This ensures that the D-Max is able to carry a payload of 1.2 ton with ease.
Toyota Etios Cross prices start at 5.76 lakh Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd. (TKM) launched the new Etios at a price of 5.76 lakh for the petrol variant. The new Etios Cross will further expand the Etios family along with its existing models Etios & Liva. The petrol variants will cost: V (1.5L engine) 7,35,000/- (ex-showroom Delhi), G (1.2L engine) 5,76,000/-
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(ex-showroom Delhi). The diesel variants will cost: VD (1.4L engine) 7,40,640/(ex-showroom Delhi), GD (1.4 L engine) 6,90,432/(ex-showroom Delhi) The vehicle is extremely popular in Brazil where it was first launched. The new Etios Cross will also be exported from
India, according to a company statement. The new Etios Cross combines the rugged looks of an SUV with the easy drive, fuel efficiency and maneuverability of a hatch. The vehicle will be available in three powerful engine options 1.5 L & 1.2 L Petrol engine and 1.4L D-4D Diesel engine
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HIGHLIGHTS
Indian Motorcycle gets its first dealership in Gurgaon
Leading ATV manufacturer Polaris India Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Polaris Industries Inc., has inaugurated the country’s first Indian Motorcycle showroom in Gurgaon, Haryana. The entire range of the Indian Motorcycle models---Indian Chief Classic, Indian Chief Vintage and Indian Chieftain models will be available at the Gurgaon dealership. This world-class showroom was inaugurated by Bennett J. Morgan, Global Chief Operating Officer, Polaris Industries Inc. and Pankaj
Dubey, Managing Director, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd. along with Sandeep Bansil, Dealer Principal, Indian Motorcycle. Indian Motorcycle is an iconic brand that gained immense popularity across world geography. In April 2011, Polaris Industries acquired Indian Motorcycle and in August 2013, it unveiled the allnew range of Indian motorcycles in the USA. “With a showroom design inspired by the original home of the Indian Motorcycle in
Springfield Massachusetts, dealers and consumers will experience the brand as never before. Motorcycles, apparel, and accessories will be displayed in a retail environment that is both premium and approachable. It will become a destination for riders and they will want to spend time interacting with the brand as well as the store,” said Morgan. “The very first showroom to display and retail the legendary Indian Motorcycle holds great importance for us. It is the first
interface where we are giving an opportunity to biking enthusiasts to own a slice of history with a contemporary twist. The start of the Indian Motorcycle’s dealer network in India reinforces the company’s serious commitment towards growing its footprint in the country and reaching out to Indian Motorcycle fans. This year we intend to open two dealerships in India,” said Pankaj Dubey, Managing Director, Polaris India Pvt. Ltd.
Maruti Suzuki Alto crosses 2.5 million sales The best seller car in India from the Maruti Suzuki stable, the Alto, has crossed the 2.5 million sales milestone. Manohar Bhat, Vice President (Marketing), Maruti Suzuki, commenting on this, noted, “Launched in 2000, the Alto has attained the 25 lakh milestone in less than 14 years, fastest by any brand; we are overwhelmed and humbled by its popularity. Alto continues to be India’s favourite car thanks to its value proposition and low cost of ownership. We thank our
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patrons for recognising this and supporting Alto to make it a powerful brand in the automobile industry.” The 25 lakh club now has two brands - the legendary Maruti 800 and now the Alto. After Alto’s continuous success for 10 years, in August 2010, Maruti Suzuki launched a 1000cc version of the car – Alto K10. Alto K10 has been hugely popular as well, selling more than 4 Lakh cars in less than 4 years. Adding to Alto’s popularity,
Maruti Suzuki introduced the all new Alto 800, in October 2012, which sported a fresh new look. Within 124 days of its launch, the new Alto 800 attained the milestone of selling 100,000 units (another first). The biggest draw was its fuel efficiency of 22.74kmpl which was 15pc up over previous Alto. Similarly, the CNG powered by the patented intelligent Gas Port Injection (i-GPI) technology returned a fuel efficiency of 30.46 km/
kg on the new Alto 800 Green. In addition, Maruti Suzuki has exported over 2.85 lakh units of Alto to many countries. The Alto range now has 8 variants, starting at the price of 2.41 lakh.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Tata Movus launched; Costs 6.99 lakh onwards Tata Motors has launched the all-new Movus utility vehicle. The all-new Movus is an entry-level UV. The vehicle is powered by the 2.2L Varicor engine that delivers a maximum power of 118bhp and torque of 250 Nm. It delivers a mileage of 15.16kmpl. The starting price of the all-new Movus is 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi) and comes with an enhanced 3-year or 150,000 kms engine warranty (whichever is earlier). The vehicle is available in Porcelain White, Meteor Silver in its two variants CX &LX. The vehicle is fitted with Independent Double Wishbone with coil springs in the front and Parabolic Leaf Spring-type suspension for the rear wheels. The vehicle also has a large fuel tank of 65 litres and high load carrying capability. The Movus has a ground clearance of 180mm. Designed with a long wheelbase of 2550 mm, the vehicle is comfortable and spacious with three row seating, available with flexible seating options in the 7, 8 and 9 configuration with front facing, sidefacing and Captain seats. The vehicle’s low-turning radius of 5.35 meters, with a tiltable power steering system, makes it easy to drive in traffic conditions. Announcing the introduction of the all-new Tata Movus, Ranjit Yadav , President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “The all-new Movus is a great proposition for large families as it is spacious, easy to maintain, economical for both short and long distances, delivering great value without compromising on comfort. As an entrylevel UV, the all-new Movus, a big and reliable vehicle comes at a price point which will provide our customers with best-in-class ride quality, making it a perfect partner for every journey. The vehicle is commercially available at dealerships located in metros and select cities.”
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Tata Motors launches Prima heavy trucks in Qatar Tata Motors has launched three new next-generation heavy trucks from its Prima range of commercial vehicles in Qatar, along with its partners, Al-Hamad Automobiles. Having been extensively tested to confirm with standards of the Gulf region in terms of power, durability, payload, emissions and safety, these next-generation worldclass trucks from Tata Motors, will continue to offer the Tata Motors advantage of lowest total cost of ownership to customers, according to a company statement. Tata Motors conceived the Tata Prima in 2008. Tata Prima has been built with technical inputs from across the world – an Italian cab design, engine technology from the USA and Europe, gearbox expertise from Germany, chassis frame know-how from Mexico, sheet metal dies from Japan and Korea, combined with Swedish precision on a robotic weld line, hence is also referred to as the ‘World’ truck. The models introduced in Qatar are –Tata Prima 4438S (4X2) tractor head, Tata Prima 4038K (6X4) Construction
tipper and Tata Prima 4738K (8X4) On & Off Road tipper Ravindra Pisharody, Executive Director, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors, “The launch of the Tata Prima brand in Qatar, is an important milestone in Tata Motors’ continued expansion in the Qatar market and the GCC region. A new next-generation range of commercial vehicles by Tata Motors, the Tata Prima brand is shaped by technology, knowhow and expertise from across the globe. The range being launched today is world-class in every sense, giving the Qatari customer competitive business advantages, with the trusted credentials of the Tata Motors brand.”
All-new Tata Ultra trucks for 10.53 lakh onwards Tata Motors’ Commercial Vehicle Division has launched the new Intermediate and Light Commercial Vehicle (ILCV) range of trucks christened ‘Ultra, which offers superior technology and design that ensures lowest total cost of ownership through higher uptime because of increased driver comfort, superior aggregates and customised requirements. The Tata Ultra 812 and Tata Ultra 912 are the first two models from the Ultra range which will be available across all authorised Tata Motors Commercial Vehicle dealerships, starting from 10.53 lakh, ex-showroom Chennai for Tata Ultra 812 and from 10.94 lakh, ex-showroom Chennai, for Tata Ultra 912. The Ultra variants will be available in four colours -- Sardinia Red, Arctic White, Arizona Blue and Yellow.
The Ultra range of commercial vehicles was conceived as a modern platform that will serve the needs of new generation trucks and buses. The Starbus range based on the Ultra platform was launched in 2011 and boasts of better passenger and driver comfort, improved NVH, fuel efficiency, resulting in lowest total cost of ownership. The new trucks will come in several variants with payload capacity between 5 and 15 tonnes. With its contemporary design, the Ultra range comes packed with new generation aggregates like the reliable Tata engine, gearbox and clutch and pioneering driver-centric features like disc brakes, radial tyres, spacious world-class cabin, suspended seats, HVAC option.
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HIGHLIGHTS
ACMA meet on polymer composites
SAFE raises concerns of road fatalities
To address the usage of advanced, high performance composites used in making vehicles lighter, safer and more fuel-efficient in synch with the existing global standards, the Auto Components Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) organised a National Conference on Polymer Composites & New Age Materials. This was stated in a press release from ACMA. In his inaugural address Ambuj Sharma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises said, “Polymer Composites today have found ways to move beyond, what may be termed as ‘traditional applications’, in the automotive industry. Such materials are not only finding usage in the conventional interiors and exteriors of the vehicle but are also being considered ideal for a range of specialty applications. However, he added, there is an immediate need for the industry to seize business opportunities both in the domestic market and those available overseas. Further, the industry must proactively scale-up operations, invest in R&D and further up-grade technology matching the existing global standards.” Addressing the participants, Ms Shradha Suri Marwah, Chairperson, Raw Materials Committee, ACMA & Managing Director, Subros said, “Plastics, elastomer materials and polymer fibres have made their way into the Indian automotive sector by playing an important role in enhancing the vehicle performance. ACMA continuously endeavours to educate members on new developments in material applications. The conference on polymer composites is a step further in this direction.” Presentation by speakers deliberated on application of polymer composites vis-à-vis metals with process relevance that have scope for weight reduction by as much as 20-25 kg/vehicle. These high performance polymer grades offer various advantages like reduction in CO2 emission, elimination of paints on the material, high impact strength, good flow ability, chemical resistance and high heat tolerances. A number of products like front end modules, bumper beams, foot rests, battery trays, gear shifter adapters, bus seat assemblies and panel replacements in LCVs were finding increasing usage of polymer composites, short and long fibres and injection moulded applications. The conference focused on new age materials like Poly-olefins, special polypropylene composites, long fibre composites, thermoplastic composites and engineering plastics. Speakers represented some of the key material supplying companies like DSM, DuPont, Essem Polyalloys, Indian Oil Corporation, SABIC, Styrolution ABS and TIPCO.
Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE), a SIAM initiative in association with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Transport (L-R) Dr. Venkat Srinivas, Vikram S Kirloskar, Ambuj Sharma, Department, Sreenivasachary, Suderson, Amaranarayana Government of Karnataka and the All India Federation of Motor President, SIAM along with P. N Vehicle Department organised its Sreenivasachary, Principal Secretary, annual convention in Bangalore. This Transport, Government of Karnataka, year’s theme set the thrust on ‘’Road Amaranarayana K, Transport Safety: Bringing Policy & Practice Commissioner, Government of Together’’ to share the best practices Karnataka; S V Suderson, President, adopted by government and private SAFE and Dr Venkat Srinivas, Vice organisation in the area of vehicular President, SAFE safety, technology innovations, Speaking at the convention, S.V. enforcement for enhancing road safety. Suderson, President, SAFE noted, ‘’The The convention aimed at addressing issue of road safety is very crucial in rising concerns of road fatalities, India. Loss of life is not only huge in with traffic collisions on Indian roads terms of numbers, but majority of numbered amongst the highest in the people affected are from the younger world. According to a National Crime age brackets. We have a long way to Records Bureau (NCRB) report, more go before our roads become safe for than 1,35,000 traffic collision-related all users.” deaths occur in India every year. The “Understanding the complex International Road Federation (IRF) in problems is the first step. Physical and 2012 estimated that traffic collision mental health of motorists, their vehicle results in an annual monetary loss of condition and pedestrians’ behaviour $20 billion (short scale) in India. This are some of the key factors. We need figure includes expenses associated to address each of thesestakeholders with the accident victim, property to raise the overall standard of road damage and administration expenses. safety”he added The inaugural session was Kirloskar expressed his happiness addressed by Vikram S Kiroloskar, about the efforts put in by SAFE over the last one year, saying “Community education is crucial to improve the road safety. SAFE has worked along with government authorities and regulators to raise awareness through an innovative and collaborative approach and have conducted several activities to take the mission forward. I wish them all the best for their future endeavours’’ The convention went on to hold Vikram S Kirloskar, President SIAM & three focussed sessions which threw Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor light on various aspects related to road Addressing the Annual Convention safety. 2014
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HIGHLIGHTS
ARO Equipments partners with Horn group for Tecalemit products ARO Equipments Pvt Ltd, a leading automobile equipment manufacturer and supplier headquarted in Gurgaon in North India has recently entered into a strategic partnership with the HORN Group for supplying its Tecalemit range of products. The HORN Group is built of three brands HORN Tecalemit (Ger), Tecalemit (USA) and PCL (UK). The Tecalemit products include oil management systems, garage equipment and truck line products. Oil management systems include products for dispensing oil / lubricants to the pit stops as well as integrating the same with dealer management systems. Garage equipment includes dispensing station, drum and process pump, filling level, flow measurement etc.
ARO products cater to HCV, LCV, Cars and two wheeler segment. The product range covers tyre service, engine diagnostics, lube service, electrical service, AC maintenance, tools and lifting equipment. The company has in the past inked distributorship deals with leading automotive equipment brands like Corghi, Tecna, Car-O-Liner, Cebora, Waeco and Kawasaki Air Tools among others in India. ARO products have been approved by leading OEMs including Maruti Suzuki, Ford, Toyota, Mahindra, and Hyundai. Tyre majors like JK Tyre, MRF, Bridgestone, Michelin, Apollo, Pirelli, Good Year, Dunlop and Continental also use Aro Equipments products. HORN, founded in 1944, is a
well-known brand name and is a specialist for pumps - mainly for diesel, fuel, oil and other lubricants. In the year 2000, HORN acquired the Deutsche Tecalemit 2000 GmbH & Co. KG including all patents and trademarks and has successfully integrated their product range into its own portfolio. The new brand HORN Tecalemit was born. “We would like to be always in the forefront in brining new technologies and solutions to the Indian automotive industry. In terms of revenues, we should be tripling our revenues by 2020. And I would like to see ARO to be the most favoured company by the OEMs across the country,“ stated Virender Malik, Managing Director, ARO Equipments Pvt. Ltd. in an interview with Motown India recently.
Karcher products gain popularity in India For Karcher, the Germanybased global leader in cleaning technology, India is beginning to become a crucial market with sales increasing steadily. The ease with which the products can be operated, has enabled Karcher to reach out to customers beyond the world of automobiles. Pressure cleaners have now found acceptance in homes, gardens, offices, factories and vehicle dealerships. Karcher products not only clean vehicles but also garages, bathrooms, rooms and every other space that requires a touch of cleaning. Their product range consists of pressure washers, vacuums, steam cleaners, electric brooms, window cleaners and more. They also have bigger advanced options for professional scales of requirements. For cleaning purposes,
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the company also offers a wide range of accessories like rotating wash brush and car shampoos, to name a few. Karcher also recommends a step-by –step approach to cleaning using their products. For example, before a powerful water stream is used on a car, a detergent solution should first be applied from bottom to top, using a low pressure. Most pressure washers can suck in cleaning agent or have a tank filled before use. For cars, “The most effective way is to work with a flat stream and at a distance of 10 to 30 centimetres”, explains a Karcher spokesperson. “Those who approach the task in this way
do not need to worry about damage to tyres, seals or to the fabric roof of a convertible. If you prefer a wash brush, this can also be connected to the pressure washer. Before this, however, the car should be sprayed off completely using high pressure, so that stones and other dirt are not able to scratch the paint,” the spokesperson adds. Kärcher opened its India subsidiary recently after a decade of selling its products in the country through its dealer.
1st Anniversary edition of GM Enjoy General Motors India Chevrolet Enjoy MPV has completed one year and the company has brought out its 1st Anniversary edition. Launching the anniversary edition, GM India President and Managing Director Arvind Saxena said “Chevrolet Enjoy has completed a very successful ‘Year of Enjoyment’ on Indian roads. It has given our customers a spacious multi-purpose vehicle and a luxurious drive that is enabling them to enjoy life with their families and friends.” Since its launch in May 2013, the Enjoy has sold close to 20,000 units. It has taken on the toughest competition in the newly created MPV-B segment, he added.
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GREEN SPECIAL REPORT
Green is not just a fad, it’s a commitment Report: Avdesh Kumar, Seema Paul & S. Madhavan
I
f ‘Sex’ is the most searched word on Google, then the word ‘Green’ is the most abused word in the English dictionary. Abused? Yes, because while it is always good to talk about everything Green, it’s seldom taken seriously, at least in the Indian context. Using frivolous reasoning to block construction of roads and other infrastructure, on the pretext of protecting the environment, green lobbyists have in the past harmed progress more than encouraging it. The automotive industry has been at the receiving end for decades for polluting the environment,
yet the fact is that without automobiles, economic progress may come to a grinding halt. Loathe it or love it, automobiles are here to stay. The question is, what is the automobile industry doing to reduce the carbon footprint? A lot has already been done and a lot has still to be done. By coming out with the different stages of pollution norms for the Indian automobile industry, the Indian government showed its seriousness towards controlling pollution. But then that is just one small part of the green initiative. On January 9, 2013 former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh launched the National
Electric Mobility Plan (NEMMP) 2020 which is basically a road map for progressive induction and expansion of efficient and environmentally friendly electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. As per the NEMMP 2020 projection, co-ordinated efforts are required by the government and industry which would eventually result, by the year 2020, 6 to 7 million units of new vehicle sales of the full range of electric vehicles, along with resultant liquid fuel savings of 2.2 to 2.5 million tonnes. This will also result in substantial lowering of vehicular emissions and decrease in carbon
di-oxide emissions by 1.3pc to 1.5pc in 2020, the Plan envisaged. The government will also need to facilitate automotive R&D and put in place charging infrastructure. “It is expected that the government will need to provide support to the tune of 13,000- 14,000 crore over the next five to six years,” the Plan said. Modalities of the Plan are still to be worked out. Again, this is yet one more small part of the green initiative. While Indian automobiles are far behind when it comes to meeting global emission norms, in the developed world it’s mandatory to be squeaking
clean when it comes to pollution free products. While in India, Bharat Stage IV emission norms have yet to be made mandatory across the country for all vehicles, in the West, the emission norms are far more stringent.
AUTOMOTIVE PLAYERS AND THEIR GREEN INITIATIVE By Green it does not mean putting into production only hybrid and electric vehicles. Green also signifies cleaner production processes, energy saving products, effective ways to dispose of wastes, encouraging the process of recycling, adopting
BMW car port. Picture coutesy: BMW
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GREEN SPECIAL REPORT Picture coutesy: Continental effective and efficient ways of production, use of environment friendly material in making of vehicles, new technology lighting for vehicles etc. The end result should all lead to reduction in the carbon footprint. That, in short, signifies a Green initiative. Hugging a tree and stalling economic development is not the answer to a green initiative. The person doing so seldom realises that by stalling a major road project, for example, results in choked roads and traffic congestion in turn resulting in waste of precious bio fuels generation of electricity, and increased pollution. high-grade glass-on-glass Sacrificing a few trees solar modules are used. would have mitigated that. These are translucent and Drawing a Green Balance very durable, as well as is also equally important. generating a high energy Today, almost all yield. For the panels used automotive manufacturers in Europe, the manufacturer are encouraging a green offers a 30-year guarantee. initiative. This article will The solar carport not touch upon a few scattered global efforts, reflecting the only guarantees the supply of green power green seriousness among but furthermore allows global players. for energy self-sufficiency, BMW carport concept so that customers remain generates power from independent of electricity the sun prices. In conjunction BMW will globally launch with the BMW i Wallbox the BMW i8 in Los Angeles. Pro, the car can be It will also be presenting specifically charged with a solar carport concept solar electricity from the developed by BMW Group carport. The Wallbox also DesignworksUSA for the indicates the amount of use of renewable energy. solar energy that goes into It combines high-grade the car and provides an technology for generating analysis of recent charging electricity from solar power processes which shows the with an innovative design respective proportions of that perfectly complements solar and grid power. If the the BMW i models. solar panels provide energy In addition to the carbon beyond the requirements elements on the side of of the vehicle, this surplus the carport, the principal solar power can be put to material used is bamboo domestic use. in the form of struts. Generating private Thanks to its rapid growth, electricity with the aid of bamboo is considered a solar collectors and feeding particularly sustainable this CO2-free energy via raw material. For the the BMW i Wallbox into
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the vehicle’s high-voltage battery further optimises of the life cycle assessment of the BMW i models. Regularly hooking up the high-voltage battery to the Wallbox connected to the solar carport enables a high degree of CO2neutral usage of the BMW i8. With a fully charged high-voltage battery, the plug-in hybrid sports car
has a range of around 37 kilometres (22 miles) in allelectric mode.
Continental in-tyre sensors read tread depth Future tyre pressure sensors will be able to detect when a tyre change is necessary due to insufficient tread depth. This new development
has come from leading automotive company Continental. The new feature is tentatively slated to be available as of 2017 in new vehicle models equipped with direct tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) from Continental (electronic Tire Information System, eTIS). Explaining the importance of regular tread depth monitoring, Andreas Wolf, head of the Body & Security business unit, Continental points out, “It’s not for nothing that legislators all over the world have defined a minimum tyre tread depth for safe driving. We are delighted that we will, in future, be able to conveniently read tread depth electronically with the aid of sensors embedded in the tyres.” Intelligent software makes the new feature possible. According to a company statement, the software deduces tread depth from gradual changes in tyre rolling characteristics. The in-tyre pressure sensor infers running characteristics from the variations in tyre deformation. The secret behind tread depth detection. By ensuring that the vehicles are run on good tyres, one can ensure better fuel efficiency and also better safety for the occupants in the vehicle!
Cummins global plan to cut environmental footprint
Tom Linebarger, Chairman & CEO Cummins Inc.
Chairman and CEO Tom Linebarger of Cummins Inc., a global power leader, has outlined the company’s most extensive plan to date for environmental sustainability, including specific goals for reducing waste, water and energy.
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GREEN SPECIAL REPORT The three companies have jointly built a new demonstration test house in Saitama City, Japan, and have begun verification of the advanced lifestyle with their information technologies, personal mobility and energy management technologies designed to realise comprehensive control over supply and demand of energy for houses, mobility products and community. Cummins Inc., a global power leader, is a corporation of complementary business units that design, manufacture, distribute and service diesel and natural gas engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission solutions and electrical power generation systems. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, (USA) A core part of the company’s mission is demanding that everything Cummins does leads to a cleaner, healthier and safer environment, which has also proven to be a business advantage, says a company press statement. Cummins has been working hard to reduce its environmental footprint for years. Late in the 1990’s Cummins began to view its technical expertise as a key competitive advantage to meet increasingly stringent regulations. This is playing out around the world as countries continue to implement stricter air pollution standards, and Cummins is able to deliver products that not only comply but also provide the renowned power and reliability that customers depend on. “Customers depend on us to help them achieve success and improve their bottom line while consumers rely on us to power the trucks, trains
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and ships that deliver their goods and services,” said Linebarger, adding, “We also understand we have many stakeholders and we make every effort to deliver economic value to each of them. Equally important is delivering on our environmental mission and making a positive impact on communities around the world. Providing efficient and clean power is a win for our Company, a win for our customers, and a win for the environment.” The plan Linebarger discussed came together after nearly two years of study and builds on the positive work that the Company has accomplished over past decades. The plan for the first time brings together stakeholders from all corners of the company to execute a coordinated approach to the environment. Cummins examined its environmental footprint, putting special focus on water, waste and energy and greenhouse gases (GHGs). It prioritises actions for the company to address
its biggest environmental opportunities -- from the materials it buys to the emissions of its products. A top priority for Cummins is its products. The company will continue to develop innovative designs for the efficient use of fuel and raw materials, building on successes like the Cummins-Peterbilt “SuperTruck,” praised by the President of the United States in February for achieving a 75pc improvement in fuel economy compared to a typical truck on the road today. “With millions of engines and generators in service, and customers in 190 countries and territories, there’s no question that Cummins has the global reach to make a positive impact on the environment,” Linebarger continued. “And, as a company, this is the right thing to do,” he noted.
Honda’s technology apt even for smart homes There is no end to what
Honda Smart home. Picture courtesy: Honda
technology can accomplish, be it the worlds of information technology, personal mobility or energy management. And when these worlds come together, the end result is surprising, as has been the case when Sekisui House, Ltd., Toshiba Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. came together. The three companies have jointly built a new demonstration test house in Saitama City, Japan, and have begun verification of the advanced lifestyle with their information technologies, personal mobility and energy management technologies designed to realise comprehensive control over supply and demand of energy for houses, mobility products and community. The new demonstration test house is a fully livable two-family house designed to further advance technologies in real world that will support future life by testing new technological challenges such as the mutual supply of electricity and hot water generated in the two households, non-contact recharging of an electric vehicle, electric supply from the vehicles to the home and community, and the creation of the residential space that enhances the usability of personal mobility products. For example, surplus electricity by photovoltaic generation in one of the two
households can be used in another household. Striving to realise a future where people can enjoy a safer, more comfortable, more convenient and more fun lifestyle, the three companies have been proactive players in the area of promoting the realisation of a smart community. Under a brand vision of “Slow & Smart,” Sekisui House has been promoting various initiatives to utilise advanced technologies for a comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle. While envisioning popularisation of “net zero-energy” houses in 2020, Sekisui House has been offering a smart house, under the brand name of “Green First Zero,” which is equipped with various energy creation and saving technologies optimally controlled by HEMS (home energy management system). In order to accomplish a stable energy supply and creation of comfortable and efficient living space, Toshiba has been offering solutions that combine energy devices, smart home appliances and cloud services. Such solutions have been provided in a broad range of forms from household appliances for a household to the “demandresponse*1” demonstration for a community which connect houses and the community. Striving to realise “the joy and freedom of
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Growing With Green Ideas
Filters & Lubricants
GREEN SPECIAL REPORT A key component of Toyota’s environmental initiatives is future sustainability. The Afforestation Area and the fact that Toyota has been a zero waste to landfill facility since 2005 are a couple of examples of these sustainable actions. mobility” and “a sustainable society where people can enjoy life,” Honda built two demonstration test houses in Saitama City in April 2012 and Honda Smart Home US in California earlier this year, and has been verifying the effectiveness of its energy management technologies which enable in-house energy production and consumption. Honda also has been studying the ideal future of personal mobility.
Toyota reaches environmental milestone Aside from being a great place to work and producing world-class vehicles, Toyota Indiana strives to be a leader in its environmental efforts. The plant in the United States has shown 100,000 reasons why its environmental efforts are gaining traction. Recently Toyota announced it received the Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. EPA for continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency, said a company statement. “Our Environmental Affairs team and Production team members have collaborated throughout the years to implement many innovative ways to reduce energy consumption,” said John Stevens, Manager, Plant Engineering & Environmental, adding, “From wastewater sludge reduction to our focused
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recycling efforts, teamwork has made it all possible.” In May 2008, Toyota’s Environmental Affairs team implemented its Afforestation Area. The plan called for planting native species of trees on many of the 1,160 acres of land that the automaker calls home. Fast forward six years – today Toyota Indiana President, Norm Bafunno, gathered children from the Toyota Children’s Center to share a special announcement. Last month, the 100,000th tree in the Afforestation Area was planted. That number equates to more than 20 trees planted for each of the company’s 4,700 team members. Overall, more than 130,000 trees have been planted in the Afforestation Area. The area has become a thriving habitat for area wildlife, including whitetailed deer, red-tailed hawks and even bobcats to live and reproduce in. “I know that our plant will be around for many years to come,” said Bafunno. “It is my wish that many of these young
children will grow to be our future team members – and as they grow, these trees will be growing with them.” A key component of Toyota’s environmental initiatives is future sustainability. The Afforestation Area and the fact that Toyota has been a zero waste to landfill facility since 2005 are a couple of examples of these sustainable actions.
Air inside a Volvo Car is cleaner than what is outside Volvo cars available all over the world including India are made differently. Volvo is not only meets stringent global safety norms but goes into minute details even when it comes to the quality of air inside the cabin. You can be sure that air you breathe inside a Volvo Car will definitely be cleaner that what you breathe outside. And outside can be any part of India. Volvo Cars have for long developed two systems, Interior Air Quality System (IAQS) and Clean Zone
Interior of a Volvo car. Picture courtesy: Volvo cars
Interior Package (CZIP), with the sole objective to make the environment inside the cabin cleaner than the air outside. This includes the air entering via the climate system as well as the emissions from the materials inside the cabin. “Interest in a clean in-cabin environment is growing among customers as well as among decision makers,” says Andreas Andersson, who is in charge of clean cabins at Volvo Cars in Sweden. “Several Asian markets have taken this issue to a new level, with China, Japan and Korea indicating that they would like to set new legal requirements. Customer interest is also growing both in Europe and in the United States,” he said Volvo Cars began testing in the mid-1990s in order to create an environment inside the car that is safe for hypersensitive people. The Volvo S80, introduced in 1998, was the first model in which this work was clearly noticeable. Volvo Car Group’s systematic work in this area has resulted in the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association now recommending seven Volvo models: the S80, XC60, S60 and V40. Work with the interior environment can be divided into two main areas: air quality and contact allergies. To counteract contact allergies, the amount of nickel released from metallic surfaces is minimised and the leather is tanned in a chrome-free
process. IAQS monitors the quality of the incoming air and automatically closes the air vents if the levels of harmful substances become too high. A multifilter removes particulates and pollen but also uses a layer of active charcoal to remove odours and ground-level ozone. The system automatically closes the air vents, for example, when driving through a tunnel. The CZIP technology ensures that the air in the car is automatically vented out within one minute from the time the car is unlocked with the remote control. The CZIP system is recommended by the Swedish Asthma and Allergy Association. What is known as the ‘new car smell’ is actually low levels of emissions from materials. The levels do not present a danger but on hot days, concentrations that irritate hypersensitive people may occur. These substances are quickly vented out of the cabin. Volvo Cars’ objective is to avoid these odours completely.
TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED LIGHTING IS ALSO GREEN The three major technologies used in automotive lighting are halogen, xenon/HID, and LED of which halogen is the most widely used technology. Of late, Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lighting systems
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GREEN SPECIAL REPORT are the norm, not just for automobiles but for use at homes and offices too. Although LED lamps that have been applied to high-end car models, they are slowly making inroads into lower-end models as well. Ever since Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) were are made compulsory in
Europe from 2011, the automotive LED market has been growing in terms of acceptance and design and have also getting more affordable. LEDs are eco-friendly light sources that match the current green trends and meeting customer needs for high fuel efficiency. Since LEDs provide high power efficiency, they can contribute to improving fuel efficiency, reducing power consumption compared with halogen lamps. Magneti Marelli Automotive Lighting developed in 2007 the world’s first mass-produced full-LED headlamp. It’s the headlamp producer for the Audi R8, which consequently became the first car on which all lighting functions – low beam, high beam, turn signal, Day Running Light and parking light – were developed with LED technology. The greatest advantage offered by white LEDs lies in the colour of their light, which is also known as the colour temperature. Reaching approximately 6,000 Kelvin, the intensity of their light is just about the same as the quality of daylight. The human eye perceives the road and the edge of the roadway
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Audi R8 LMX
at night in their natural colour, and can distinguish contrasts much more easily. In addition, the average useful life of the LEDs in all functions exceeds that of vehicles. On the one hand, this diminishes the possibility of breakdowns at night and, on the other, it eliminates the need for complicated light bulb changes. The global automotive lighting market revenue is estimated to reach $25.36 billion by 2018, according to a report published earlier. Key players in the lighting industry include the likes of Koito (Japan), Valeo (France), Hella (Germany), Magneti Marelli (Italy), and Stanley Electric ( japan). According to a report by Frost & Sullivan, an international consultancy firm, the European automotive lighting technologies market is gearing up for technological and competitive overhaul. Innovative light source technologies are expected to offer safer, more economical, and efficient automotive lighting products. By 2015, the European automotive lighting market (front, rear, and indicators) is
forecast to reach EUR 3.3 billion, with growth derived mainly from new products such as active front lighting systems (AFS) and night vision systems. Already, bending light and advanced front lighting system (AFS), along with improved light sources such as light emitting diodes (LED) and high intensity discharge (HID) are enhancing driver and pedestrian safety and reducing the number of accidents. Vehicle manufacturers (are also wielding such safety promoting, technologically advanced products as a tool of competitive differentiation. With their comprehensive product portfolios, Valeo, Hella and Automotive Lighting dominate the market. Visteon, Delphi, Denso, Koito and Ichikoh are other major participants.
Audi R8 LMX comes with laser high beams The Audi R8 LMX generates a brute power of 570 hp, accelerates from 0 to 100 km in flat 3.4 seconds. It consumes 12.9 litres of fuel per 100km. The limitededition car is the first production car in the world to come equipped with
laser high beams. According to a company statement, in 2008, the Audi R8 became the first production car in the world to boast all-LED headlights; this was followed in 2012 by dynamic turn signals. Audi launched a new chapter in automotive lighting with the Matrix LED headlights, which debuted in the updated A8 in 2013. Now the brand with the four rings is igniting the next stage in the R8 LMX: the laser spot for the high beams. It increases the range substantially, which is ideal for a supercar like the R8 LMX. The Audi engineers work very closely with their racing colleagues on the development of lighting technologies. The combination of LED and laser high beams, for example, will be used for the first time on the new Audi R18 e-tron quattro at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on June 14 and 15, 2014. The premium brand is thus continuing its tradition of using racing to test new technologies destined for production. “Audi has long dominated the most important 24-hour race. In
addition to the outstanding TDI drive technology, a maximum light yield gives our pilots a major advantage, and with night racing in particular is a key factor to our success,” says Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg. “The transfer of the laser headlight to the Audi R8 LMX underscores our leading position in lighting technology. The safety benefit this provides to the customer truly represents Vorsprung durch Technik,” says Audi’s AG’s Board Member for Development. With the new laser high beams, one laser module per headlight generates a cone of light with twice the range of the all-LED headlight. Each module comprises four high-power laser diodes. With a diameter of just 300 micrometers, these generate a blue laser beam with a wavelength of 450 nanometers. A phosphor converter transforms this into roadworthy white light with a colour temperature of 5,500 Kelvin – ideal conditions for the human eye that enable the driver to recognise contrast more easily and help prevent fatigue. The laser spot, which is active at speeds
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GREEN SPECIAL REPORT of 60 km/h and above, supplements the LED high beam in the R8 LMX and greatly enhances visibility and safety. An intelligent camera-based sensor system detects other road users and actively adjusts the light pattern to exclude them.
BMW lights the way into future With the new BMW Laserlights that are now making their debut in a production model, BMW is taking the development of cutting-edge lighting technologies into a whole new era. BMW Laserlights will be celebrating their world premiere as of September 2014. This highly efficient light source is arriving in a production car for the first time to provide the high beam in the BMW i8 headlight. Boasting an extremely long, unmatched range, the BMW Laserlights system completely redefines standards for safety, efficiency and design. In the laser headlight, the beams of light are bundled together to attain a luminous intensity 10 times greater than conventional light sources, such as halogen, xenon
or LED. BMW Laserlights have a visual range of up to 600 metres, twice that of a headlight with conventional light technology. The light-emitting surface area of a laser diode is one hundred times smaller than that of a conventional LED, which measures one square millimetre. Consequently, a far smaller reflector is needed for laser light. In the case of the BMW i8, a diameter of less than 30 millimetres is sufficient, saving valuable installation space in the vehicle and opening up the potential for significant weight savings, too. By way of comparison: xenon light requires a reflector/lens diameter of around 70 millimetres and halogen light 120 millimetres in order to achieve an adequate light output and range for the respective lighting technology. Another highly beneficial characteristic is the laser light’s excellent efficiency, with a reduction in energy consumption of some 30 per cent. Laser light therefore helps to improve the vehicle’s overall efficiency as well as lowering CO2 emissions. Moreover, the compact
construction also opens up new scope in terms of design, while the flat form lends itself to optimum vehicle aerodynamics. BMW Organic Light – OLEDs open up new avenues for styling. Organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs, are innovative, efficient and sustainable light sources that BMW will be fitting in its vehicles in the near future under the name BMW Organic Light. In OLEDs, the light is emitted by wafer-thin semiconductive layers made from organic materials. OLEDs work very efficiently by design and generate very little heat as a result. BMW Organic Light thus helps to further reduce CO2 emissions. Rather than being emitted in the form of points, the light generated by OLEDs shines out over a relatively large area compared to LEDs and is extremely homogeneous in appearance. Consequently, OLEDs are suitable for use in exterior lighting functions that are primarily designed for being seen. Rather than replacing conventional LEDs, however, OLEDs will complement them. Initial
applications in production cars could see OLEDs taking over the function of the tail light as part of a so-called hybrid light, while brake lights and turn signals continue to employ LEDs. In the medium term, the efficiency and luminance of OLEDs will increase to the extent that other lighting functions can also be carried out by organic LEDs. Inside the vehicle, meanwhile, BMW Organic Light can be used to create pleasant and stylish lighting effects. The fact that they can be shaped in so many different ways means that organic light-emitting diodes offer designers brand new possibilities for styling. The pleasant light produced by organic light-emitting diodes is given off over their entire surface with an extremely homogeneous effect. This characteristic is down to their special design. In contrast to conventional LEDs, where the light is produced in semiconductor crystals, the light in OLEDs is generated in extremely thin semi-conductive layers made from organic materials, mostly polymers. Together with the conducting layers, these
are hermetically sealed between two thin glass plates or plastic films. The entire set of active, light emitting layers measures a mere 400 nanometres or so in height (one nanometre is equal to one millionth of a millimetre). That is some 150 times thinner than a human hair, which measures around 0.06 millimetres across on average. The complete component is about 0.8 to 1.5 millimetres in height overall. Due to the very low power consumption and weight of OLEDs, BMW Organic Light also helps to reduce the fuel consumption of vehicles with combustion engines, extend the range of electric cars and, as a result, cut CO2 pollution. The sustainability of this technology represents a further major benefit. The manufacture of organic light-emitting diodes does not involve any costly and scarce raw materials such as “rare earths”. What’s more, the quantity of organic substances and metals used is so low that it will be possible to simply dispose of OLEDs in the waste glass container at the end of their service life.
Picture courtesy: BMW
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COVER REPORT
NARENDRA DAMODARDAS MODI 15th Prime Minister of India Picture coutesy: www.namobrigade.in 32
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File photo: Honda Tapukara plant in Rajasthan. Picture for representation only
COVER REPORT
INDIAN AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
MODI HAS TO SPRINT www.motownindia.com
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Report: P. Tharyan, Photography: Mohd. Nasir here were two primary reasons that led to the downfall of Dr. Manmohan and his men in the 2014 general elections. One was the unabated corruption in the country, within the official machinery. Two, the people were shocked at the tardy pace of decision making by the government to build India. The new man at the helm affairs Narendra Damodardas Modi promises to check corruption and also build India at a war footing. Dr. Singh and his team took several steps to encourage the Indian auto Industry for the period they were in power from 2004 to 2014. But closer to 2014, they lost steam. Modi has come at a time when India is impatient. He has to conjure up some fascinating ideas to push the pace of economic reforms. In short, Modi has to sprint. When that happens, India will rebuild itself. There will be an increase of wealth in the hands of people across the country that will have its positive impact on the demand for cars, motorcycles, scooters, trucks and buses. Dr.
President Pranab Mukherjee administering the oath of office of the Prime Minister to Narendra Modi at a Swearing-in Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on May 26, 2014. Picture courtesy: PIB Singh, an economist himself, failed the country when it came to building India...at a faster pace. To be fair to him, the UPA coalition partners simply gagged him.
INDIAN AUTO INDUSTRY FROM 2004 TO 2014 It was in 2004 that Dr. Manmohan Singh took over as India’s 14th Prime Minister. For a man so
erudite and having held some very important posts in the government including that of Finance Minister in Narasimha Rao’s cabinet, a lot was expected of him. Among the Prime Ministers India had, none was as educated like him. He had studied both at Cambridge as well as Oxford. By the end of March 31, 2004, the year Dr. Manmohan took
over as India’s Prime Minister, the total domestic sales of vehicles in India were around 6,794,812 units that included sales of passenger vehicles (Cars, UVs and MPVs), commercial vehicles (medium and heavy vehicles and LCVs), threewheelers and two-wheelers. For the financial year ended March 31, 2004, total exports stood at 479,350 units. Of the total domestic sales, total passenger
ANAND MAHINDRA’S TWEETS Congratulations Shri Modi, for your remarkable rise. India’s impatience to rise has put you on top. May you fulfill these great expectations. Speech by @narendramodi No TelePrompTer, no notes, quotable quotes, appropriate emotions, appropriate sentiments. The man is a force of nature. We congratulate our new Prime Minister & his cabinet. The Mahindra Group pledges to put its collective shoulder to the wheel. Let’s get moving.
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Modi has come at a time when India is impatient. He has to conjure up some fascinating ideas to push the pace of economic reforms. In short, Modi has to sprint. When that happens, India will rebuild itself. vehicles sold in the country was 900,752 units, total commercial vehicle sales were 260,345 and two-wheeler sales were 5,365,013 units Dr. Manmohan Singh’s government apparently found favour with the masses and the Congress party along with its allies under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) won the general elections that followed in 2009. The Indian automobile industry saw domestic sales of 9,723,391 units for the year ended March 31, 2009. This was a 43pc increase over a period of ten years! Exports for March end 2009 stood at 1,530,660 units, a 219pc increase, propelled mostly by increase in exports of two-wheelers. For the fiscal 2008-09, total passenger vehicle sales in the domestic market stood at 1,551,880 (a growth of 72.28pc in five years). As for CV domestic sales for the year ended March
31, 2009 it was 384,122 units (a growth of 47.54pc).The domestic sale of two-wheelers in the country was 7,437,670 units (38pc growth). For the Manmohan Singh government everything went well till 2009 when it was voted back to power. The Congress and its allies ruled the nation for another five years till 2014 and lost miserably. For fiscal 2013-14, the automobile industry recorded domestic sales of 18,421,538 units (an increase of 89pc), while overall exports stood at 31,07,893 units (103pc increase). For the year ended March 31, 2014, domestic sales of passenger vehicles were 2,503,685 units. Compare this to the 2009 figures, the sales grew by 61pc. Commercial vehicles sales in the domestic market stood at 6,32,738 units (64pc growth). Two wheeler domestic sales for March 2014 stood at 14,805,481 units (an increase of
99.06pc). On the face of it, the growth looks impressive. But when one analyses the few years before the crucial election year in 2014, the story changes its essence. When the Indian automobile industry recorded domestic sales of 18,421,538 units in April-March 2014, it had only grown by a mere 3.53pc over the previous year (April-March 2013). Sub segments like passenger cars, vans, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles, three wheelers and mopeds had recorded negative growth. Similarly, for the 12 months ended March 31, 2013, the overall domestic sales in the Indian automobile industry had grown by a mere 2.61pc to 17,815,618 units. The commercial vehicle industry had experienced negative growth. Passenger vehicle sales had increased by a mere 2.15pc only. In 2011-2012, the total industry had grown by
12.24pc to 17,376,624 units as compared to April-March 2011. Except for the three-wheeler passenger carrier segment, every other segment had recorded positive growth. In April-March 2011, the automobile industry had recorded even better growth at 26.17pc with total domestic sales touching 15,513,156 units. Not a single segment in the industry had recorded negative growth. The run up to election year in 2014 was terrible for the Indian auto industry. Stagnation led to frustration and Modi played the Pied Piper who promised to rid the country of economic stagnation. For almost three years, the government was not able to perk up demand for vehicles, despite the fact that a lot of policy decisions were taken to encourage domestic vehicle sales as well as exports. According to a note prepared by the Society of Indian
I always think it’s good to have change. I still have to see how they affect us. My wish is to have stable conditions and I am optimistic that they will have stable condition in the long term because the biggest enemy for the car industry is uncertainty. - Phillip von Sahr, President BMW India
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COVER REPORT It is extremely encouraging that we will have a stable government with a clear majority for the next five years. The infrastructure industry hopes that mechanisms will be put into place to ensure that the top 20 projects of national importance are implemented expeditiously. The need to remove the severe infrastructure deficit across the country is evident and imperative. We do hope effective and decisive leadership in the near future will have great impact on the creation of new jobs for the youth and ensure equitable distribution of wealth. - Vipin Sondhi, MD & CEO, JCB India Ltd. Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the automobile industry has made investments worth 35,000 crore in the last three financial years and as a result the current production capacity for four-wheelers is of over 6.6 million. The current production of four wheelers is only 4 million. Thus the vehicle industry in India is currently carrying over 65pc surplus capacity. “Due to unfavourable policy environment in the country where tax rates on vehicles are getting changed every year and government is negotiating FTAs
where custom duties are likely to come down, many international companies that had plans to enter the market have stalled the plan and are now considering other emerging markets such as China and Brazil,” the SIAM note prepared recently said.
UPA GOVERNMENT’S INITIATIVE Whether it was cut in excise duty on vehicles or taking policy initiatives to encourage the Indian automotive industry, there were several steps that were taken by the UPA government
to encourage the Indian auto industry. In 2006, the government tabled the Automotive Mission Plan 2006-2016 aimed at development of the Indian automotive industry. The vision statement of the Mission Plan was to emerge as the destination of choice in the world for design and manufacture of automobiles and auto components with output reaching a level of US $ 145 billion accounting for more than 10pc of GDP and providing additional employment to 25 million people by 2016.
Among the several recommendations of the Plan, it was decided that appropriate tariff policies needed to be framed especially when India was negotiating several Free trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) with several nations. It also called for investment support for the automotive industry through tax holidays etc. Special emphasis was also laid on infrastructure building, whether it was road, rail, port or power. World class infrastructure for testing, certification and homologation
Now that a new Government with a significant majority is being formed at the centre, we expect it to drive reforms and restore the confidence of the industry. The automotive sector, one of the key success stories of manufacturing industry, is going through one of the worst phases ever, it is critical that focussed attention be given to revival of the industry. This would entail continuation of the current excise duty, boosting infrastructure projects, GST implementation, labour reforms and a long-term stable policy for exports - Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, ACMA
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COVER REPORT The new government is being formed at a juncture when the entire country has been seeking a change. We expect that the new government, when assumes office, will be able to formulate a recovery plan to raise GDP and roll out developmental plans much needed in the country - Harish Lakshman, President, ACMA were created under the National Automotive Testing & R&D Infrastructure Development Project (Natrip). On January 9, 2013 Dr Singh launched the National Electric Mobility Plan (NEMMP) 2020 which was a road map for progressive induction and expansion of efficient and environmentally friendly electric and hybrid vehicles in the country. As per the NEMMP 2020 projection, co-ordinated efforts are required by the government and industry which would eventually result, by the year 2020, 6 to 7 million units of new vehicle sales of the full range of electric vehicles, along with resultant liquid fuel savings of 2.2 to 2.5 million tonnes. This will also result in substantial lowering of vehicular emissions and decrease in carbon
di-oxide emissions by 1.3pc to 1.5pc in 2020, the Plan envisaged. The government will also need to facilitate automotive R&D and put in place charging infrastructure. “It is expected that the government will need to provide support to the tune of 13,00014,000 crore over the next five to six years,” the Plan said. In late 2013, the then Minister of Heavy Industries and Public enterprises Praful Patel had in Parliament stated that the ultimate objective of NEMMP-2020 was to enhance the energy security of the country and reduce the impact of transportation on environment by progressive introduction of electric and hybrid vehicles. “The specific scheme for these interventions is being finalised for the consideration of National Board for Electric Mobility
(NBEM),” Patel said. The Indian automobile industry today contributes 25pc to the manufacturing GDP, 18pc to the excise revenues and there are around 19.5 million people employed in this sector both directly and indirectly.
EXPECTATIONS FROM MODI Narendra Damodardas Modi comes from an extremely humble background. At one point in his life he was a tea vendor at a railway platform. Unlike his predecessor Dr. Singh, he has no major academic qualifications from any foreign university. Yet, he is known as a man of action, having transformed his Gujarat state when he was its Chief Minister, with a slew of infrastructural projects. In October 2008, he managed
to get industrialist Ratan Tata to set up his Nano project in Sanand. The Nano project was at that time facing a lot of opposition from people in Singur, a place in West Bengal where it was originally planned to be built. This was a feather in the cap of Modi, a proindustrialist Chief Minister. Within weeks of the plant’s inauguration in June 2010, both Ford and Peugeot (Peugeot later stalled its plan for India) approached Gujarat, seeking plots to build their own factories. On the last count, Maruti Suzuki is setting up a plant to manufacture cars in the State. No sooner had Modi won the general elections, steering the BJP to a landslide victory, Mahindra & Mahindra Chairman Anand Mahindra tweeted “Congratulations Shri Modi, for your remarkable rise. India’s impatience to rise has
Finally looking forward to a strong and stable Narendra Modi led BJP Government with an absolute majority and no coalition pressures - Vijay Mallya, Owner, F1 Team
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COVER REPORT put you on top. May you fulfill these great expectations”. Later when Modi gave an emotional speech to his party men, Mahindra further tweeted, “Speech by @narendramodi No TelePrompTer, no notes, quotable quotes, appropriate emotions, appropriate sentiments. The man is a force of nature”. On March 27, 2014 when Modi was sworn in as India’s 15th Prime Minister, an excited Mahindra tweeted again, “On behalf of the Mahindra Group, I express enormous pride that Modiji chose our Made-in-India-withPride chariot to ride to Rashtrapati Bhavan We congratulate our new Prime Minister & his cabinet. The Mahindra Group pledges to put its collective shoulder to the wheel. Let’s get moving”. In these brilliant tweets, Mahindra not only congratulated the new Prime Minister, but also indirectly patted himself for Modi using a Scorpio to reach the venue of swearing-in. Another industrialist, a liquor baron and Formula One team owner Vijay Mallya tweeted after Modi’s win, “Finally looking forward to a strong and stable Narendra Modi led BJP Government with an absolute majority and no coalition pressures.” Phillip von Sahr, President BMW India said, “I always think it’s good to have change. I still have to see how they affect us. My wish is to have stable conditions and I am optimistic that they will have stable condition in the long term because the biggest enemy for the car industry is uncertainty.” Shishir Joshipura, Managing Director, SKF India Ltd noted “We expect the new government to revive the faltering growth through a positive and conducive investment policy formulation and implementation. We believe the new government will revive investment climate in the country and drive robust growth of manufacturing sector. The government should prioritise inflation control, simplify tax regime and create a climate conducive for investment . We believe this will help India grow and realise the potential”. Stated Vinnie Mehta, Executive Director, Automotive Components Manufacturers Association (ACMA), “Now that a new Government with a significant majority is being formed at the centre, we expect it to drive reforms and restore the confidence of the industry. The automotive sector, one of the key success stories of manufacturing industry, is going through one of the worst phases ever, it is critical that focussed attention be given to revival of the industry. This would entail continuation of the current excise duty, boosting infrastructure projects, Goods and Services Tax (GST) implementation, labour reforms and a long-term stable policy
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for exports”. ACMA in a press note stated that needless to say the auto industry In India has been experiencing one of the most challenging times ever; the industry hopes that the new government would adopt measures to bring the industry back on the growth path. Commenting on the occasion Harish Lakshman, President, ACMA said, “The new government is being formed at a juncture when the entire country has been seeking a change. We expect that the new government, when assumes office, will be able to formulate a recovery plan to raise GDP and roll out developmental plans much needed in the country”. Echoing the sentiments of the auto components industry, ACMA wished that the new government takes into consideration the following recommendations to foster growth in the automotive sector: Bring back footfalls to the auto dealerships: The recent excise rate cut in the interim budget needs to continue for some time, as also interest rates need to be brought down to make vehicle financing attractive for the consumers Introduce GST as it has been long pending: this single reform has the potential to revolutionise the entire manufacturing sector by eliminating the cascading effect of taxation and can overnight make ‘made in India’ products cost competitive Infrastructure deficit needs to be addressed immediately: One of the key areas that needs urgent attention is power deficit in the country. Further, the Government needs to accelerate the building of highways that will not only benefit the automotive Industry and improve connectivity, but also promote the social agenda of inclusive growth Ensure long-term stable export promotion schemes with a ten-year term or more: It is unfortunate that we are a net importing industry although our potential to service the global exports markets is immense. It is hard for us to place big bets in the global market without knowing whether the existing export promotion measures will stay or be changed. The last Export-Import policy has been beneficial to the auto component industry with several incentives introduces over the five-year period of its validity, these measures need to continue unabated Focus on labour reforms as it has been a sensitive subject: This unfortunately, no political party has addressed earlier. The labour laws in India are archaic and are not conducive to the growth & development of the industry; as a result the auto industry is constrained to employ significant number
With a new stable government in place, we expect early implementation of second generation economic reforms like Goods and Services Tax (GST) & Direct Taxes Code (DTC) and speeding up of stalled infrastructural projects to revive the economy. A clear leadership at the centre will give a much needed direction to the economy. Implementation of new labour reforms will lead to creation of jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector - P Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India.
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COVER REPORT We expect the new government to revive the faltering growth through a positive and conducive investment policy formulation and implementation. We believe the new government will revive investment climate in the country and drive robust growth of manufacturing sector. The government should prioritise inflation control, simplify tax regime and create a climate conducive for investment . We believe this will help India grow and realise the potential. - Shishir Joshipura, Managing Director, SKF India Ltd
of contractual labourers which is neither in the interest of the industry or even the labour. It is not that the industry and the labour unions are loggersheads on all the issues, there are several areas where there is a concurrence and as a first step we must bring about reforms in these. Vipin Sondhi, MD & CEO, JCB India Ltd. noted, “It is extremely encouraging that we will have a stable government with a clear majority for the next five years. The infrastructure industry hopes that mechanisms will be put into place to ensure that the top 20 projects of national importance are implemented expeditiously. The need to remove the severe infrastructure deficit across the country is evident and imperative. We do hope effective and decisive leadership in the near future will have great impact on the creation of new jobs for the youth and ensure equitable distribution of wealth.” Incidentally, JCB products are used extensively for every infrastructure development that
takes place world-wide! “With a new stable government in place, we expect early implementation of second generation economic reforms like GST & Direct Tax Code (DTC) and speeding up of stalled infrastructural projects to revive the economy. A clear leadership at the centre will give a much needed direction to the economy. Implementation of new labour reforms will lead to creation of jobs, especially in the manufacturing sector,” said P Balendran, Vice President, General Motors India. “Customer sentiment is expected to improve in the medium to long term with a new government at the center. We expect the excise duty cuts to be retained in June’s budget and interest rates to fall or remain at current levels for any chances of recovery for the automobile sector during second half of the year,” Balendran added. Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM group, noted that “No company should and would
stop at any point, at developing technology or any product, it’s very important that it goes at its own pace. Government policies just act as a booster to these efforts. Thus, if the government has a positive outlook, it would help the industry in terms of the local market as well as the international market.” The JBM Group, a leading auto components player in India recently forayed into the commercial vehicle segment. “I would say the Indian commercial vehicle market is at least about seven to eight years behind the international CV market. So there is a lot of catching up to do for us. Like the way China has caught up with the developed world and the way Brazil is catching up fast even though it’s an emerging economy,” he stated. “We want that the government understands and appreciates what the industry is doing. If the industry grows everybody grows,” he told Motown India. India’s premier trade body CII also complimented Modi. “The
outcome of the general elections reaffirms India’s vibrant and dynamic democracy and would greatly help to revive growth and investor sentiments,” stated Ajay Shriram, President, CII. “The economic reforms agenda can be taken forward with a stable political dispensation and a multidimensional tool-box of policy instruments is required to kick-start growth,” noted Shriram, adding that “With prudent macroeconomic management, CII expects that the economy could recover to 6.5pc GDP growth rate in 2014-15 as against an estimated 4.9pc in 2013-14. Continued reforms could take GDP growth rate to 8pc level in three years.” Now as the automotive industry looks at Modi with a lot of hope, the need of the hour for him is to sprint. He has to make up for the lost time and distance for which only Dr. Singh needs to be blamed.
(Inputs from Seema Paul, Tripti Singh)
No company should and would stop at any point, at developing technology or any product, it’s very important that it goes at its own pace. Government policies just act as a booster to these efforts. Thus, if the government has a positive outlook, it would help the industry in terms of the local market as well as the international market. - Nishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM group
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TÊTE-À-TÊTE
N.Raja Senior Vice President & Director, Marketing & Sales Division, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Ltd. Report: P. Tharyan, Photography: Mohd Nasir
TOYOTA KIRLOSKAR MOTOR PRIVATE LIMITED Toyota Kirloskar Motor Pvt. Ltd (TKMPL) established its first plant in India in 1997. Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan holds 89pc equity stake in TKMPL while the remaining 11pc is held by the Kirloskar Group. With around 6,400 employees, the company has an installed capacity of 3,10,000 units. The company has two plants in Bidadi near the suburbs of Bangalore in Karnataka. The first plant has an installed capacity of around 100,000 units where the Innova and Fortuner are manufactured. Models like the Prado, Land Cruiser and Prius are imported as CBUs. The second plant with an installed capacity of 2,10,000 units began production in December 2010. It makes the Corolla Altis, Etios, Etios Liva, Etios Cross, Camry and the Camry Hybrid.
What prompted Toyota to launch the Etios Cross, rather than a full fledged compact SUV and what are your expectations from this car? Also, what has been the initial response for this vehicle once you announced its pricing? At Toyota, we believe in continuously improving our products and the new Etios Cross is one such unique offering from Toyota. The new Toyota Etios Cross is aimed towards targeting a whole new set of audiencepeople who seek individuality in
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TÊTE-À-TÊTE everything they do. Positioned as a youthful yet rugged offering, we believe the Etios Cross will further strengthen and stand a testimony to Toyota’s Quality Durability & Reliability (QDR) in India and continue to delight our customers. The initial response to the Etios Cross has been very positive. The price has been well accepted by customers and our bookings have further improved post the price announcement. Do you plan to also enter the compact SUV segment, where the likes of Ford, Renault, Mahindra are enjoying some good numbers? No, we have no such plans at the moment. Our focus right now is the Etios series including the new Etios Cross and its success in India. However, we will introduce facelifts to bring in newness and continuously incorporate customer’s valuable feedback and cater to the changing customer requirements as and when required. You have launched the 11th generation Corolla. What’s been the feedback on this premium sedan? As you had explained, this is our 11th generation of the Corolla, the best selling global product. In India also we have more than 45,000 happy customers. The feedback so far has been very positive on the looks of the car. The design element has been highly appreciated. Our new Toyota New Global Architecture Plan (TNGA) has been applied in the Corolla Altis also. Looking at customer convenience and comfort, the wheelbase has been extended, where more than 90pc has gone towards improving the rear seat comfort. The new first in the segment would be reclining rear seat. Other than that there are touch screen infotainment and rain sensing wipers features. Going by the response that we have had, Corolla has been on demand with the customers—The
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Corolla to a Corolla customer. The Corolla customer buying another Corolla is very common in our industry. On this front we have seen a lot of demand for our cars. We, on an average, have a waiting period between 45 to 60 days for this model. This is the situation on the bookings that we have. How stiff is competition for the Corolla in India? In India, the Corolla is classified as a C segment car. This C segment over the years, especially in the last two years, has been seeing a drop in the total number of cars sold. With more products coming into this segment, the C segment is bound to expand. In fact it’s been expanding in the past. This segment has been traditionally going strong. In between it saw a little bit of slowdown. Now it is expected to go up again, with new products coming in and also with the new Corolla Altis coming in. Again, is the Indian passenger car industry evolving big time? India is a sunrise industry for automobiles and as the market starts developing and when we transform from a developing to a developed nation, we will see a lot of new options coming in. We have traditionally been a small hatchback market, moving to a sedan and now moving up. In the last five to seven years you may have noticed, models have moved from a hatch to a larger hatch and from a sedan to a larger sedan. As things keep evolving, and the purchasing power of the customer increases, you will see a lot of changes like the way compact SUVs have suddenly increased in numbers. Similarly you will see extended sedans, caravan type vehicles, etc, all coming into the market. But is the Indian customer still very price sensitive? I wouldn’t describe it as price sensitive, rather Indian customers look for value for money. If they see value in the price, it doesn’t mean they look at a car priced
very low but for the value in the car. If the value equation matches what they are looking for, then price is not a point of discussion. If I have to add one more sentence, Toyota has always been strong when it comes to value for money. The customer is looking at the life cycle of the car. Maintenance, resale price of the car etc play an important role. Customers are very educated now. They understand every aspect of this, and we are seeing customers evolving and understanding this. They don’t look at a car saying initially that its very high priced. When they analyse factors like total maintenance cost of a car, its exchange price at a later date, etc, then we see a lot of people admiring and appreciating Toyota products. Are good cars with good features also becoming a necessity rather than a luxury? Surely it’s happening. There was a stage when Indian consumers would first think that he needs a job first, then needs to buy a house and then consider buying a car. The car was considered a luxury. But now cars have become an essential product that is used day in and day out. People are using cars as their as their second homes in life. There is also an increasing awareness on safety with customers considering features like airbags, side protection, ABS, etc before buying a car. A lot of infotainment is gaining importance because if one looks at the average time spent in the car, for example in the city of Bangalore, between going to office and back, a person spends as much as three to four hours in a day in the car travelling. Thus, they are now increasingly looking at additional features like Bluetooth, music player, etc. Infotainment in cars is gaining a lot of importance. Is safety a priority in India? In today’s situation safety is a factor which is gaining importance. Still, I wouldn’t say,
people are ready to pay for that safety. The market is evolving. It will take some time before customers start appreciating paying an additional price towards safety features. As you keep moving up the ladder in the car segment, the safety feature gains more importance. For a small car buyer spending 4 lakh or so on a car may hesitate if he or she were to be offered airbags and ABS at an additional cost of 40,000, for example. But if you were to look at the Corolla segment, the top line has always been in demand. The top line product usually offers all safety features like airbags etc. But again, with more government initiatives on safety norms, the car market will evolve in India and and other things coming, this will evolve the market from developing to developed. It’s not far away where you’ll see 100pc safety features coming in all cars. We have a new government in place with an absolute majority in Parliament. Are you now hopeful that things will progress economically? It’s really good news and the industry looks forward to it. The whole country has been waiting to see the election results and we are also very happy to see the results that have come. And we look forward to a positive approach from the government, which will help the automobile industry to move up from the current negative mood. We are looking at the government to give clear directions on growth policies. It is not that I look forward for something for the auto industry by way of excise and duty. The government has done that. What we want is more confidence building activity of growth happening, industries moving towards growth. With all the primary indicators moving positive, customers who are holding back cars purchases will come into the market and we will see positive growth. And we are very hopeful it will happen.
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Sri Krishnan Vice President, Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd. Report: P. Tharyan (An email interaction)
Very briefly, in a layman’s language, can you describe what you mean by open source In-Vehicle Infotainment applications and the ‘closed’ automotive domain? You can also give us a few simple examples to illustrate your point. Worldwide, what is the current position when it comes to in-vehicle infotainment technology? In product development, ‘Open Source’ means any component or part whose design or blueprint is freely accessible universally. The design is provided so that anyone can make subsequent improvements and redistribute the improved design. When we refer to software, the design or blueprint means the source code and optionally its documentation. ‘Closed’ automotive domain refers to a product development model where the design or blueprint is closely guarded as secret and made available only to insiders. Close guarding is done to prevent competitors from learning from the design. Closed systems may also result from isolated development where a design or blueprint is very specific to a company and is not of use, or of interest to another firm. To illustrate through an example, how an electronic control unit computes the time and quantity of fuel to be injected maybe an industry advantage and maybe kept as ‘Closed’ in commercial interest of the company. On the contrary, a web-browser that is used in head unit maybe very similar to that used in a smart phone and there may not be any commercial advantage in designing a browser
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specific to head units and keeping it a secret. It is much more commercially viable if the head unit used the same browser as a smart phone. Coming to the current position in in-vehicle infotainment technology, most systems use open source software components for standard and non-differentiating functionalities of the system. For example operating system, web-browser, media player, communication protocols that are standard etc. Closed source, or non-opensource or proprietary source code is employed wherever differentiators can lead to business advantage. Use of such open source components also
speed up the time to market. You have mentioned that General Motors and Bosch have joined forces to develop a new basis for automotive infotainment system. For how long has this been going on and I presume the end result is the Cadillac User Experience (CUE), the world’s first driver information system to work with an open-source operating technology. Can you tell us bit more about CUE? We get involved from concept stage itself. It takes about 18 to 24 months for a matured product to roll out. The actual product launch that is integrated in the
ROBERT BOSCH ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SOLUTIONS LTD. Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Ltd (RBEI) is a 100pc owned subsidiary of Robert Bosch GmbH, one of the world’s leading global supplier of technology and services, offering end-toend Engineering, IT and Business Solutions. With over 10,000+ associates, RBEI is the largest software development centre of Bosch, outside Germany. It has a global footprint with presence in US, Europe and the Asia Pacific region. It has seven state-ofthe-art facilities spread across Bangalore and Coimbatore in India and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. The company provides solutions for businesses in primarily three areas: Engineering Services, IT services and Business services. Its focal industries are the Automotive industry, Industrial Technology, and Consumer Goods and Building Technology. car takes about 2.5 years. The key features of the Cadillac User Experience are: • Apple-like touch-HMI • Natural language speech recognition • Full 3D-navigation graphics • Bluetooth-Audio, Rear View Camera • Application favourites • XM Realtime services • MyMedia (Media device content merging)
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TÊTE-À-TÊTE What are the current levels of adoption of open source in the auto industry and what benefits does it serve? Has this taken off in India by any means? Current adoption of open source in the automotive industry is limited to infotainment units, telematic units and development tools. Under-the-hood and safety critical applications are yet to commercialise open source based products. In India there are infotainment and telematics products already available in the market, that contain open source software. Now open source seems to have a lot of positive rub offs on the technology front. Thus, do we see it being adopted as a means of technology, beyond the infotainment industry? If yes, can you elaborate? Automotive sector including infotainment is rather a late entrant into the open source sphere. Open source thrives where accessibility is more. For example, standard hardware available to all and software architecture designed with inter-operability in mind. That is the reason why open source saw main adoption in the PC software market followed by smart phone market (which followed the PC application development model). Although there are open source embedded solutions based on AUTOSAR standard, adoption inside the automotive beyond infotainment devices is yet to be seen. How long did GM and Bosch take to come out with development of CUE? Are there more surprises down the line and can we look forward to many more innovations using this technology? We get involved from concept stage itself. It
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takes about 18 to 24 months for a matured product to roll out. The actual product launch that is integrated in the car takes about 2.5 years. Further development is ongoing with new features being added for new car lines and variant in line with market trends. Does this also throw up a new set of challenges to the component industry? If so, in what manner? Yes. The primary challenge is the change in landscape of infotainment suppliers. A few years back, a tier-1 supplier manufactured and supplied standalone infotainment devices to the OEM. The value chain is completely broken now. Today’s infotainment systems are made up of are multiple hardware boxes, supplied by different vendors, containing software supplied by tier-2 or tier-3 firms, open source software components from the community and all of these integrated together by an altogether different system integrator. Reliance on
a development community or a third party company becomes necessary to integrate varied open source components into one system. Another challenge in using open source components is that most of the open source software have explicit disclaimer for warranty, and this cannot be passed on to the OEM or the end user. Taking in a ‘no-warranty’ software and assuring product liability to the end user is one of the biggest challenges for the component industry. For adoption of open source in the auto industry, what are the immediate challenges that would be confronted by auto makers? First of all, the quality implications: An open source project may provide the source code with explicit warranty disclaimer, but for the OEM, a critical field defect could mean a recall. This means huge monetary loss and damage to reputation. Secondly, the legal implications: To use open source successfully,
one needs to be aware of the license terms and must fulfill the necessary obligations. Failure to do that will result in legal proceedings that can end in loss of intellectual property, monetary loss and damage to reputation. There are hundreds of various open source licenses. Understanding each one of them and fulfilling the obligations is a challenge. Lastly, automotive industries have been known for their extreme protection of intellectual property and trade secrets. Getting timely support from an open source community of developers is not easy for an industry with such background. Also the automakers have to move towards more standardization and collaboration. There are initiatives like “GENIVI”, which is a non-profit industry alliance committed to driving the broad adoption of an In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) open-source development platform. But it is a cultural change for the industry with a long heritage.
Interiors of Cadillac XTS. Picture for representation purpose only. Courtesy General Motors USA
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CASE STUDY
Hindustan Motors is down but not out
A
Report: P. Tharyan, Photography: Mohd. Nasir mbassador car manufacturer Hindustan Motors (HM) is down, yet again, but definitely not out. The company declared suspension of work at its Uttarpara Plant in India’s eastern state of West Bengal with effect from 6.00 AM of May 24, 2014. One of the reasons cited for this suspension was the “growing indiscipline” at the plant. West Bengal is notorious for its militant trade unionism. In a note to the stock exchange it said that the “Company has been transparent in sharing updates about the worsening
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conditions at its Uttarpara Plant which include very low productivity, growing indiscipline, critical shortage of funds, lack of demand for its core product the Ambassador and large accumulation of liabilities. Given the present circumstances it has no alternative but to declare a suspension of work at its Uttarpara Plant till further notice. The suspension of work will enable the Company in restricting mounting liabilities and restructure its organisation and finances and bring in a situation conducive to reopening of the plant.” According to news reports,
HM later paid a token amount of salary to around 2,500 workers. Obviously money had to be arranged by the company as it is not earning any money because of halt of production of Ambassador cars. It was also learnt that promoter C K Birla stepped down from the company’s board as chairman, followed by the resignation of CEO and MD of Hindustan Motors Uttam Bose. Moloy Chowdhury was appointed as acting CEO of Hindustan Motors. Hindustan Motors is almost as old as independent India. The Uttarpara plant started operations in 1948. Unfortunately, the state
is known more for its militant labour unions and rabble rousing political leaders than for its pro-industry investment climate. The plant currently produces the iconic Ambassador car (1500cc and 2000cc diesel, 1800cc petrol and CNG & LPG variants) in the passenger car segment and light commercial vehicle 1-tonne payload mini-truck HM Winner (2000cc diesel and CNG). In fact, the entire Uttarpara area is a sad state of a glory gone by and a despicable remnant of an industrial town that once buzzed with business activity. At the height of its glory, the company had on its rolls more than 20,000
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INDIA REPORT
workers. Now it is reduced to a mere 2500 or so. Even that is far too much in modern times when robots and machinery have replaced humans the world over. West Bengal does not encourage industrial growth. The industrial growth in the state is not much to write home about. Communist led parties have virtually destroyed the industrial landscape of states like West Bengal and Kerala in South India. In the recent past, West Bengal had booted out Tata Motors’ Nano project that was to come up at Singur. At the invitation of the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, Tata Motors moved to Sanand in Gujarat.
CK BIRLA GROUP, A SUCCESSFUL CONGLOMERATE HM is part of the CK Birla group.
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A media shy industrialist, Birla seldom gives interviews to journalists and prefers not to be in the limelight. His group companies like Avtec, NBC Bearings and Gmmco are virtual cash cows. Avtec Ltd is one of the largest independent manufacturer of ‘Powertrains & Precision Engineered Products’ and has plants in Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh and Hosur in Tamil Nadu. NBC based in Rajasthan is into bearings of all sizes and shapes for both automotive as well as non automotive applications. Gmmco has been engaged in the sale and support of construction and mining equipment as well as engine power systems for over four decades now. So what’s gone wrong with Hindustan Motors? While some would say, its lack of new product development and technology,
the right answer is the company’s labour force. The company has now gone on record to point out the “growing indiscipline” in the company, obviously referring to its largely militant work force. One should not forget the past when this plant was set up and the move of the government to establish a Hind Motor railway station. As the company says, the setting up this station “had a profound impact on the socioeconomic milieu of Uttarpara. A full-fledged township housing two schools, a hospital, shopping centres, ATM and bank, specialised sports academy, club, auditoria, lake, temples and other facilities provides the much needed amenities not only to the employees but also to residents of the entire locality. It is a live example of Hindustan Motors’
commitment to corporate social responsibility”. According to highly placed sources within the company, the HM management has tried everything to get rid of the dead wood in the plant but has not been able to rid itself of the worst of the employees. It had offered a Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) for its employees in 2011 but a lot of good people had left. Almost 1100 people opted for the VRS at that time. “A lot of incompetent people stayed back,” the source added. Hindustan Motors today not only manufactures the Ambassador car and the Winner commercial vehicle but also automotive and forged components. At its Pithampur plant, HM produces 1800 cc CNG and other variants of Winner here. Hindustan Motors’ components division comprises Accu Cast (casting unit) and Accu Forge (forging unit) which provide engines and transmission and axle components for HM vehicle business and also cater to established OEMs. Accu Cast was established primarily for HM’s internal consumption. Later on, it started catering to other well established OEMs. The manufacturing facility includes 2-tonne dual track induction furnace which can melt up to 1500 tonnes of metal per month. Moulding facilities include three pairs of ARPA 900 machines and three pairs of ARPA 450 machines which have capacity to mould 1200 tonnes of castings per month. Further, the unit possesses automated sand plant and facilities for fettling and machining. It also has a wellequipped laboratory with spectrometer apart from fullfledged testing facilities. The unit also possesses well established facility for machining, according to information on the company website. The unit currently manufactures all types of grey iron, SG iron, steel and aluminium pressure die castings for passenger cars, LCVs,
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HCV and tractor segments. Accu Cast specialises in manufacturing of intricate castings like 3-cylinder and 4-cylinder blocks, heads, gear box housings, manifolds, SG iron casings, cover, wheel hubs, aluminium gear box extension, steering arms etc. The unit can produce grey iron/ SG iron/ steel castings ranging from 5 kg to 500 kg unit weight and gravity die castings ranging from 1 kg to 25 kg unit weight. Accu Forge too was established primarily for the company’s own use. It has now started catering to well established OEM customers. The manufacturing facility includes 6000 T, 2500 T, 1300 T presses with induction furnace and 5” upsetter, and can, altogether, forge 1300 tonnes/ month. The unit has in house facility for heat treatment,
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lab with spectrometer and all other necessary facilities. The unit has excellent facility for design, simulation and model development. The unit has a well established die shop with VMCs and all dies are being developed in-house. The unit, currently, manufactures all types of profile forgings catering to passenger car, LCV, HCV and tractor segments and specialises in manufacturing intricate forgings like 2- cylinder, 3-cylinder, 4-cylinder crankshafts, camshafts, stub axles, spindles, draw hooks, all types of gears and shafts for reputed customers. The unit has the capacity to produce forgings ranging from 1 kg to 75 kg unit weight. Currently, HM has a technical collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors of Japan to produce
Mitsubishi models in India at HM’s Chennai Car Plant in Tiruvallur in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This tie started in 1998. As late as June 2013, the company also entered into a collaboration with Isuzu Motors India Pvt. Ltd for contract manufacturing of the Isuzu MU7 SUV and D-Max pickup truck. In the past HM has had its share of collaborations which did not do well. These include the one with OKA Motor Company of Australia in 1998, Isuzu Motors Ltd. Japan from 1983 –1993, Vauxhall Motors U.K. from 1980 – 1990 and Ricardo Consulting Engineers Ltd U.K. from 1989-1993. In addition to the above HML owned an Earth Moving Equipment Division (EED) in collaboration with Caterpillar U.S.A. for the manufacture of Dumpers and Excavators, Terex
for the manufacture of Dumpers, Loaders, Dozers and Fermac U.K. for the manufacture of Backhoe Loaders.
TRANSFER OF CHENNAI PLANT In early 2013, the company’s board approved the transfer of the Chennai plant from HM to Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation Limited (HMFCL). On March 30, 2014 HM handed over the possession of the Chennai Car Plant to HMFCL. An earlier plan to demerge the Chennai plant from the main Hindustan Motors company was unsuccessful. At this plant the company makes the Pajero Sport, Outlander and Montero sports utility vehicles and the Cedia sedan. The plant has a capacity to manufacture 12,000 vehicles
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INDIA REPORT
a year. The Chennai plant is one of the three divisions of HM. The primary division is the Uttarpara Division at Uttarpara in district Hooghly in West Bengal. The second division was the Chennai Car Plant . The third division comprises the Pithampur Plant in district Dhar in Madhya Pradesh which is engaged in the business of manufacture and sale of utility and commercial vehicles and spare parts of the same; and undertaking job contracts for other manufacturers. A part of the requirement of powertrains fitted in vehicles manufactured by the Uttarpara Division and Pithampur Plant are sourced from a common supplier, namely Avtec Limited, a group company. The Uttarpara Division of HML in turn supplies forgings
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and castings to such group company.
UTTARPARA HAS ONLY ITSELF TO BLAME Thus for a successful CK Birla Group to have one bad apple in its midst in the form of the Uttarpara plant, it has long been a matter of concern. Insiders told Motown India that it’s nothing to do with the relic car they are manufacturing or the technology they have in hand. It is simply the excess labour at the plant and there is nothing that can be done to remove them. Currently the HM plant in West Bengal has over 2500 employees and according to many, it’s simply not viable to run this plant with so many workers. Besides, a majority of the workers
are influenced by state run trade unions that have terrible track records when it comes to industrial unrest. “The Chennai plant and the Uttarpara plant have more or less similar turnovers, but while Chennai has only about 500 employees, the plant in Uttarpara has more than 2500 employees. It’s a clear case of viability. Not that the management has not tried easing this excess labour through VRS and other such schemes, but the tragedy is that good workers have left the plant, leaving a majority of incompetent and rebellious workers. There is no way the company can ever turn profitable with this number of workers,” a source noted. “The solution is simple for HM to turn the corner. All it has to do is to reduce the work force at the
Uttarpara plant to half of what it is at present, and bingo, you have a solution. The company will turn around and viability will not be an issue any more. If Uttarpara produces around 1000 odd Ambassador cars a month, it is good enough for the company to break even. New models and new technologies can only be introduced by the management when it thinks its money will not go waste. But with the present set of work force, that seems a distant dream,” says an HM insider. With the new government in place at the Centre with Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs, it is now the time to bring in a new labour policy and introduce reforms in this segment. Then, only then will Uttarpara once again buzz with the sound of industrial progress.
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INDIA REPORT
Omax Autos to assemble trucks With infrastructure segment expecting to get a major boost with Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs in India, Omax Autos Limited, a leading tier one supplier to OEMs in critical assemblies like frame assembly in CV segment, has got into assembling trucks. The company was recently awarded an initial order of 20 vehicle assemblies from a renowned truck OEM. The Omax Bangalore facility has rolled out its first truck assembly in March 2014 and has successfully forayed into the truck assembly segment. Omax Autos Ltd is a 1,200 crore group, with its presence in 2W, 3W, off-highway, passenger car, commercial vehicle and railways. Kishor Karnataki, President & CEO – PC & CV, Omax Autos said, “A focussed assembly cell has been created in Bangalore plant, where the truck is assembled in three stages starting from frame assembly, engine & power train dropping and third stage as cabin assembly with
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tuning. Upon completion of initial batch successfully, Omax will work with the customer to invest for developing, a focussed infrastructure for high volume assembly line. Omax is currently having two CV focussed plants in Lucknow and Pantnagar. Its Bangalore facility has expanded its CV business with more leading OEMs in south region adding to its prestigious customer base.” Devashish Mehta, Head Strategy & NBD Omax Autos Ltd. said, “Omax autos have been a major player in the auto component segment for the last 30 years. We started with motorcycle frames & accessories for major OEMS such as HMC, HMSI, TVS, Yamaha and many more and diversified into CV segment in 2007 by undertaking the complete chassis assembly for Tata Motors heavy commercial vehicles. “Currently Omax is the largest chassis assembly tier 1 manufacturer in India with a peak volume catering to
Devashish Mehta, Head Strategy & NBD Omax Autos Ltd. 45,000 vehicles per year. Our vision was to start making the complete truck assembly at our facility to showcase our engineering strengths & now we have taken a step towards that vision by undertaking the complete suspension, power train transmission & cabin assembly for a renowned global OEM from Bangalore manufacturing facility. We are targeting an annual volume of 10,000 vehicles in three
years.” “Even though the CV space has seen a significant dip in volume due to high interest rates & stagnant freight corridor rates, we are confident of an upswing this year & we will encash on this by targeting similar premium assemblies” added Devashish. Established in 1985, Omax Autos specialises in sheet metal components, tubular components and machined components. With a turnover of 1,300 crore in year 2012, more than 6500+ work force and several international accreditations, it features in the list of top 10 automotive component manufacturers in India. Starting with its first plant in Dharuhera, Haryana, today, the company has nine fully-functional manufacturing plants across India. The company has robust engineering process capabilities boasting a comprehensive range of modern machines and production facilities designed to give optimum output as per customers’ specifications. Omax has expanded its reach by providing a wide gamut of Assemblies, Sub-assemblies, Frames, Bus Structure Assemblies, Tools Fixtures and SPM. The range of products finds application in segments like Automotive (2W, 3W, PC & CV), homeware, off highway and railways & heavy fabrication.
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INDIA REPORT
Wabco opens application engineering centre in Pune Wabco, a leading global supplier of technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of commercial vehicle, announced the opening of a new Application Engineering Centre in Pune. The new centre, Wabco’s second of its kind in India, will allow its engineers to work closely with global commercial vehicle manufacturers in India to jointly develop customised products and solutions across a broad range of vehicle platforms, said a company statement. The Wabco team at the new Application Engineering Centre
will consist of application engineers and test engineers to provide custom-tailored support to its broad base of customers. This facility enables Wabco to further differentiate itself by providing on demand and on time support to all its OE customers. Wabco envisions deploying up to 15 engineers at the centre by the end of 2015. They will provide a wide range of system design, application engineering and project management support to help Wabco customers develop new commercial vehicle platforms and models.
“As a leader in the commercial vehicle industry, Tata Motors is engaged in development of advanced and innovative products with focus on quality, reliability and durability. We value Wabco’s outstanding support in partnering with us on joint product development projects,” said Dr. A. K Jindal, Head of Engineering for Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors Limited, who joined the opening ceremony of Wabco’s Application Engineering Centre. “Wabco’s design and implementation of this new facility has exceeded our
Technico enters into JV with Shiroki Corporation Shiroki Corporation of Japan and Technico India Pvt Ltd have formed a new joint venture company Shiroki Technico India Private Limited. Shiroki will have a 51pc stake in the new JV while Technico will have the remaining. The JV was formed with an investment outlay of 150 crore over the next two years. Shiroki Corporation (an affiliate of Toyota Motor Corp), one of the leading global players for interior and exterior components for automobiles had till recently a presence in India by way of holding minority stake in Technico Industries Limited (Technico), a Haryana based leading Indian auto component player engaged into manufacturing of window regulators, seat sliders, hinges and other auto components. The two companies have now executed binding agreements allowing them to
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exit the current relationship and hiving off Seat & Window Regulator Business into the new JV. The joint venture has been approved by the Board of both the companies and is expected to be operational in early 2015, after obtaining and subject to all necessary corporate, legal and regulatory approvals. Arun Gupta, Managing Director, Technico Industries Limited commented on this development and said, “We are Tier I to major OEMs, the new technology being introduced by Shiroki will help us achieve tremendous growth through new products for our customers. It will also help satisfy and cater quickly to the growing demand from other OEMs.” “The new JV Company is an important step for the Shiroki Corporation and represents strong intention of the Group to expand into the Indian market.
We value our long term partnership with Technico and will continue to leverage our partnership to invest in product developments and innovations for markets both in India and around the world” said by the representative of Shiroki Corporation As a result of this restructuring, both the Groups will focus on their respective core competencies to enhance the JV’s competitiveness in times to come. Support for sheet metal related operations will be provided by Technico and Shiroki shall be providing latest technology and design support. BMR Advisors acted as the transaction advisor to Shiroki and Global Advisors (Singapore) was the transaction advisor to Technico. BMR Legal acted as the legal advisor on the transaction.
expectations. Building on more than 50 years of vehicle application engineering capability in India, Wabco established a new Application Engineering Centre to further demonstrate our commitment to strengthen vital customer relationships through flexible technology collaborations,” said P. Kaniappan, Whole-time Director, Wabco India Limited. “We continue to differentiate ourselves as a partner of choice in India for globally operating manufacturers of commercial vehicles, ”he added.
Meritor & Brakes India sign expanded Agreement Meritor, Inc and Brakes India, Ltd. have announced the signing of a Licensing and Technology Assistance Agreement for the manufacture and sale of Meritor ELSA air disc brakes in India. According to a Meritor statement, the agreement, which expands on an existing licensing agreement for B-frame hydraulic disc brakes, air drum and air disc brakes, builds on the long-term, successful cooperation between both companies in the Indian market. More than 5 million Meritor ELSA brakes have been sold globally, demonstrating the markets’ confidence in this technology. In India, ELSA 225H air disc brakes have been operating on major fleets for several years and have gained acceptance as a costeffective and reliable safety improvement, particularly for buses and coaches. Brakes India Limited is the leading manufacturer of braking systems in India for the automotive industry with a sales turnover in excess of 3,000 crore or more than $500 million. Meritor, Inc. is a leading global supplier of drivetrain, mobility, braking and aftermarket solutions for commercial vehicle and industrial markets.
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GLOBAL REPORT
Mercedes AMG, Petronas extend partnership Things are only getting better for Mercedes AMG and Petronas as they win race after race in the F1 circuit. While Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG Petronas and his teammate Lewis Hamilton celebrated their latest wins at the Monaco Grand Prix, Mercedes AMG and Petronas announced their long-term extension of its title partnership. Petronas is a Malaysian national oil and gas company. The new agreement was unveiled in Monaco at a signing ceremony during the Grand Prix event. The ceremony was attended by Tan Sri Dato’ Shamsul Azhar Abbas, President & Group CEO
of Petronas, Dr Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of the Board of Management, Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Toto Wolff, Head of MercedesBenz Motorsport. The partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Petronas is very old, dating back to 2010, when the Silver Arrows works team joined the grid for the first time since 1955 and revived one of the most prestigious traditions in motorsport. In the meantime, the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team spent more than three years working closely with the Malaysian oil major to co-engineer a brand new
Picture courtesy: Daimler. For representation purpose only range of customised fuels and lubricants that help to provide a competitive edge on track in 2014 and beyond. The results are obviously showing! The characteristics of the all-new Petronas Primax fuel and the way it performs during combustion are key to an efficient, powerful and reliable engine operation. The Petronas Syntium lubricants play a crucial role ensuring reliable performance of
the Power Unit itself, especially in newly introduced features such as the turbocharger that has more demanding fluid requirements. Meeting these challenges has been achieved through Petronas Fluid Technology Solutions – an intelligent approach to fluid requirements that maximises performance through tailor-made product offerings and expert services, says a company press release.
BorgWarner tech drives 2014 world car winners 1.6- and 2.0-liter diesel models, A few weeks back the motoring BorgWarner produces glow plugs, world hailed the winners of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) the World Car of the Year, pipes, oil pipes and EGR valves. World Luxury Car and World As for the 2014 World Luxury Performance Car awards. Now Car: Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it’s time to hail the company that the company delivers ignition gave the technology to these cars. coils, EGR coolers, EGR valves US based BorgWarner Inc is and thermostats for a variety one company that is a product of gasoline-powered models, leader in highly engineered radiator identification sensors components and systems for powertrains around the Picture courtesy: Porsche. world. The company has For representation been supplying advanced purpose only technologies to winners of the 2014 World Car Awards, including the 2014 World Car of the Year: Audi A3. BorgWarner supplies GenV all-wheel drive couplings, chain timing systems for models powered by 1.8- and 2.0-liter DOHC I4 engines, ignition coils for 1.2- and 2.0-liter gasoline models, and dual-clutch and mechatronic modules for 6-speed dualclutch transmissions. For
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and friction plates for 7-speed automatic transmissions. For diesel models, BorgWarner supplies regulated two-stage (R2S) turbochargers, highpressure EGR valves, glow plug controllers for 2.2- and 3.0-litre models, and thermostats for 3.0-litre models. For the 2014 World Performance Car: Porsche 911
GT3, BorgWarner produces ignition coils and the new rotary sleeve thermostat for the GT3 Engine. For 12 of the 15 finalists in all categories, including the winners noted above, BorgWarner provides one or more advanced technologies, such as variable cam timing systems, chain timing systems, turbochargers, EGR coolers and valves, thermostats, ignition coils, glow plug controllers, cabin heaters, friction plates and GenV all-wheel drive couplings. “Designed to improve fuel economy, emissions and performance, BorgWarner’s advanced technologies drive a broad range of the world’s leading vehicles,” said James R. Verrier, President and Chief Executive Officer, BorgWarner. “We congratulate our customers for these distinguished industry honours,” he added.
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GLOBAL REPORT
Millers Oils signs deal with Caterham motorsport Specialist oil developer and producer Millers Oils has signed a deal to become the official oil technical partner for Caterham motorsport, from grassroots Academy level to the top Superlight R300 division during the 2014 season. This was stated in a company press release from Millers Oils. UK-based Millers Oils, founded in 1887, was the first to offer diesel specific engine oil for cars and continues to push boundaries to earn its place as a world leader in the technology of low friction. In January 2012, Millers Oils launched nanotechnology engine oils. The deal between Millers Oils
and Caterham demonstrates the latter’s acknowledgement of the durability and efficiency benefits provided by the innovative Nanodrive range, which reduces friction to increase the available power and reduce component wear without compromising film strength at lower viscosities. “We’re delighted to be a partner of Caterham Motorsport this season, it’s testament to our reputation within the industry as well the success of Nanodrive,” says Nevil Hall, Joint Managing Director, Millers Oils. “Our oils have been proven to provide excellent results in previous dyno tests, including providing an 8hp increase
on a Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 racing car, with nothing more than an oil change. This year will demonstrate Nanodrive’s capacity in a motorsport environment and Millers Oils is looking forward to seeing the improvement we can make to Caterham in the coming season,” he said. Originally developed for motorsport applications, Millers Oils’ award-winning Nanodrive range has received great acclaim since its launch for road-going applications in 2013. Nanodrive has been proven to reduce friction by up to 25pc and release up to 5pc more horsepower from
the engine while maintaining excellent oil film durability. This combination of reduced friction and increased film strength provides great benefits to motorsport companies including improved performance and proven longevity of engine and transmission components. Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer of Caterham Cars, says: “We are impressed by the reputation Millers Oils has built since its launch of the Nanodrive range and we are pleased to have them on board to support Caterham Motorsport’s acclaimed programme of domestic motorsport.” Picture courtesy: Caterham. For representation purpose only
Skoda hosts Presidents Milos Zeman & Joachim Gauck Czech President Miloš Zeman and the German President Joachim Gauck were guests on May7, 2014 at Skoda Auto. Several matters were discussed at the meeting with Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland and the Skoda Works Council KOVO MB chairman Jaroslav Povšík, including the successful partnership between the Czech car manufacturer and Volkswagen AG. The two Heads of State also exchanged ideas with students from the Skoda University and Skoda Vocational College, and visited Skoda’s main factory and the Skoda Museum in Mladá Boleslav. The connection between Skoda and the Volkswagen Group is one of the great success stories in automotive history, and represents the close ties between the Czech Republic and Germany. Volkswagen AG became a shareholder of Skoda Auto in April 1991. This partnership and the expertise and dedication of the Skoda workforce have since then brought the revival of one of the longest-established vehicle manufacturers in the world. Over the coming years, Skoda will continue to grow in close collaboration with the parent company, and increase worldwide deliveries to at least 1.5 million vehicles annually.
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Skoda CEO Prof. Dr. h.c. Winfried Vahland (in the middle) with Czech President Miloš Zeman (Left) and the German President Joachim Gauck (Right)
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TECHNOLOGY
New Ford Technical Support Centre in US Ford has announced the opening of its new Ford Technical Support Centre in Concord, N.C. The centre will add an array of tools to develop future performance vehicles and help increase Ford’s overall success in motorsports. According to a company report, the centre will become fully operational soon and the 33,000-square-foot building will serve as a centre for Ford Racing technical support and for teams to develop and test their cars for competition. The location was selected because of its proximity to the Nascar research and development centre and a majority of race car team headquarters. “Motorsports and product development at
Ford are interlinked, and this new centre will house advanced tools that will serve both our race teams and the development of future Ford performance vehicles,” said Raj Nair, group vice president, Ford global product development. With its advanced simulation and measurement tools, the centre is just the latest investment by Ford in its pursuit to offer a profitable lineup of performance vehicles. The new infrastructure will allow swifter and smarter leverage of the latest in product development technology. From the growing popularity of its
Sport-branded models including the EcoBoost V6-powered Explorer Sport, to the awardwinning Fiesta ST and its Focus ST stablemate, Taurus SHO, to the SVT Mustang GT500 and F-150 SVT Raptor, to extreme performance RS derivatives, Ford provides true performance options throughout its model range. “Performance is a
critical and growing business for Ford,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president, global marketing, sales and service and Lincoln. “We recognise our customers want vehicles that offer great fuel economy, leading technology and a great driving experience. Our new technical centre is another tool that will help us continue to grow our performance vehicle
business around the world.” Initially, the facility will focus on supporting Nascar teams in all three major touring divisions, but will eventually expand to include other Ford Racing teams participating in other series. “This facility is an investment in advanced Ford Racing technical tools that will support our goal of winning races and championships,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing, adding “It also provides us with expansion capabilities as we support our broader array of Ford teams from Nascar, the Tudor United SportsCar Championship, IMSA, Rally and Global RallyCross, NHRA and other series.”
Bosch, IBM create engineering platform IBM and Robert Bosch GmbH announced a collaborative partnership to create a new, data-driven model to more efficiently and accurately develop intelligent, interconnected automotive products. According to a company statement, built on open standards and IBM design tools, the continuous engineering software platform can quickly scale to thousands of partners, clients, engineers and technicians. By engaging all relevant stakeholders in the automotive supply chain and elevating the right data from them, the standards-based platform will cornerstone Bosch’s long term vision for crossindustry collaboration to
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quickly deliver increasingly smarter and safer vehicles. Driven by innovation in consumer electronics technology, the automotive sector is under immense evolutionary pressure. Today’s vehicles are more connected than ever – containing as many as 100 computerised controllers and 10 million lines of software code. As vehicle complexity continues to rise, automotive suppliers must address pressures to reduce costs and to innovate quickly, while also managing the intense challenge of ensuring vehicle quality. Bosch recognised this need for standards-based integration between all engineering teams and
organizations in the supply chain. Additionally, an emerging generation of software engineers is increasingly demanding more transparent communication, flexibility and collaboration across the industry. By unlocking core engineering processes across teams and development partners, the IBM platform enables Bosch to achieve a key of efficient engineering by
establishing a strategic, transparent reuse approach. “Our aim is greater agility, accelerating product innovation and delivery,” said Dirk Hoheisel, Board Member at Robert Bosch GmbH, adding, “By implementing a software and systems design platform founded on integration and reuse, we’re able to improve our integration and increase
development quality – setting higher safety and quality standards not only for our company, but for the industry as a whole.” The IBM solution was selected for its ability to easily scale and become adopted by multiple disciplines and organisations across the company. Through this advantage, Bosch is able to execute its long term initiative of a standards-based platform for end-to-end efficiency and strategic reuse of engineering artifacts. As a result, the company will easily meet safety and maturity standards such as ISO26262, ASPICE, AUTOSAR and others as they continue to evolve.
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TECHNOLOGY
Continental division to boost systems competence Demand for complex vehicle functions and connected systems are growing rapidly. According to internal estimates by international automotive supplier Continental, the percentage of systems projects just for advanced driver assistance systems will grow from around 30pc to approximately 50pc in relation to components projects within the next three years. In order to meet the resultant demands of the market more effectively, the Chassis & Safety Division is raising its profile by strengthening its systems expertise and capacity. Such complex vehicle functions as emergency brake or crash-protection systems already increasingly demand a view of things that goes beyond the components perspective of individual business units, the company said in a statement. “This is something we
are seeing especially in the fast-growing market for advanced driver assistance systems,” said Frank Jourdan, Member of the Executive Board of Continental AG and President of the Chassis & Safety Division. There is a need here to cover the entire spectrum from environment sensing to active intervention in a driving situation, if necessary. Some current examples include emergency brake and emergency steering systems. Only if the division is capable of understanding and mastering complex context will it be able to properly define requirements for future vehicle components. “That is why we have taken action and expanded and reorganized the setup of our systems operations,” said Jourdan. The main objectives of the reorganization include a continual build
up of expertise and new resources. “On the one hand, we would like to improve the way that systems projects are managed by applying project management and augmenting the system concept, design, and the test & integration functions. On the other hand, we wish to identify additional systems business opportunities beyond the confines of our business units. This enables the
division to successfully market more complex Chassis & Safety solutions, all the while strengthening our components business,” said Jürgen Diebold, Head of the Chassis & Safety Systems within the Chassis & Safety Division. The development, production and marketing of highly advanced vehicle components will nevertheless remain the principal business model. “Strengthening our
systems business will help us to identify promising innovation potential at an early stage, will secure our components business and will also enable us, right from the start, to perform systems projects to our customers’ fullest satisfaction,” said Diebold, adding, “The only way you’ll know what the components of tomorrow will look like is if you have a thorough understanding of systems.”
Continental 5 inch TFT displays for Indian CVs Global automotive supplier Continental has introduced 5 inch TFT (thin-film transistor) display technology for the commercial vehicle segment in India. Displays using thin film transistor (TFT) technology are already the norm in vehicle cockpits. With Continental, this successful product now enters into the CV market, marking a new chapter in the company’s 111 year history of
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successful instrumentationproduction. According to a company statement, TFT technology is becoming increasingly appealing to commercial vehicle manufacturers worldwide, with its benefits ranging from navigation and vehicle user interfaces to entertainment. Continental’s 5 inch TFT display, specially designed for commercial vehicles, will facilitate better information management coupled
with high definition image quality while the vehicles are traveling or parked. Dr. Christian Neumann, Head of Business Unit Commercial Vehicles and Aftermarket (CVAM), India said, “The commercial vehicle industry in India is going through a major evolution, with technological advancement being one of the key drivers of growth. The availability of better information management solutions
will further drive this transformation. In India, the prevalence of smart phones has made TFT screens ubiquitous. From passenger cars to commercial vehicles – TFT technology is seeing a logical progression. Continental expects rapid adoption by OEs and fleet owners in the coming years.” By adopting advanced solutions like TFT, OEs are following a trend in the truck and bus market
towards larger displays with better color and higher definition. Another trend in commercial vehicle instrumentation is the inclusion of a secondary screen for displaying optional content like images from the ProViu camera system. While the global CV industry has witnessed these trends in the recent past, such technologies are making inroads into India at a faster pace than before.
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TECHNOLOGY
BMW uses Dassault Systemes Solutions for i3 electric car The emission-free BMW i3 electric car owes it to Dassault Systemes for its development. Dassault Systèmes is a world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions. The company announced that German car manufacturer BMW Group used Dassault Systèmes’ Catia Composites applications to develop its lightweight and emissionfree BMW i3 electric car. “BMW Group leveraged Dassault Systèmes’ comprehensive and integrated industry solution experiences for the design and manufacturing of composite parts and structures”, said Monica Menghini, Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy, Industry & Marketing, Dassault Systèmes in a press statement. “Utilising composite structures gives vehicle manufacturers the innovation space they need to create new mobility experiences while meeting ever more stringent regulatory targets,” said Philippe Laufer, CEO, CATIA, Dassault Systèmes. “We are proud that our long term investment in building integrated design and manufacturing solutions for composite materials, in partnership with industry leaders, helped BMW Group revolutionise mass production of composites structures in such an impressive way. This is yet another demonstration of our commitment to bring
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design into the Age of Experience with our Catia applications portfolio,” he added. With the Catia Composites Design applications composites manufacturing constraints can be embedded early in the conceptual stage, enabling increased design iteration and early collaboration between design and manufacturing. Designers and producers
are also able to realistically experience the manufacturing process, visualising the material fibre orientation. This helps detect any deformations that can compromise strength, quality and production due to a difference between the final product and the design intent. Dassault further stated
that Catia Composites applications provide a seamless experience with digital continuity, from design to manufacturing, predicting
manufacturability. The specific composite-related features of the Catia application allowed faster composites assemblies and components designs.
Delphi’s new Diesel Common Rail System family Designed to meet the significant market challenges faced by automakers around the world, Delphi Automotive is launching a new family of Diesel Common Rail systems including diesel solenoid injectors, fuel pumps, Engine Control Units (ECU) and rails for light- and medium-duty applications. According to a company statement, the new family of technologies, which will be available later this year on a new engine of a major European car manufacturer, was introduced during the 35th annual International Vienna Motor Symposium, held May 8-9, 2014 at the Congress Center in Hofburg, Austria. “This new highperformance, modular family of Diesel Common Rail Systems will help car manufacturers improve
fuel efficiency,” said John Fuerst, president Delphi Diesel Systems, adding, “Our engineers’ innovative concepts are dedicated to assisting our customers in meeting increasingly strict emissions standards, while maintaining the performance levels consumers expect.” Next generation technologies Delphi’s modular approach for its common rail systems allows robust design with a range of performances matching different engine needs. Integrated, innovative features offer new perspectives to diesel engine design and performance. “With Delphi’s approach, the OEMs won’t need to modify their engines to fit Delphi systems. The modular approach utilised for the development helps engine
manufacturers to integrate the technologies in their engine family with the possibility to optimise the injection performance in the same environment,” explained Fuerst. The new family of diesel fuel injection equipment offers improved performance through injection pressure increased up to 2,500 bar; leakage reduction; and increased multiple injection optimization, as the fuel injectors are capable of up to nine injections per cycle. These innovations translate into better injection control and better combustion, therefore reducing fuel consumption, CO2 and other emissions. “The fuel efficiency that diesel engines offer allows them to successfully penetrate both the passenger and commercial vehicles. “Their best-in-
class fuel economy will continue to ensure diesel engines are a popular choice across Europe and in many other markets,” said Fuerst. Benefits of Delphi’s new Diesel Common Rail systems family include: • Low fuel consumption and CO2 emissions through improved combustion; weight reduction; and hydraulic, mechanical and electrical efficiency • Cost-effective and flexible solutions through simpler, modular component features and optimized functions • Fun to drive and reliable through low combustion noise; high performance and worldwide diesel fuel robustness.
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TECHNOLOGY
Composites from Lanxess find new applications The continuous fibre-reinforced highperformance Tepex composites from Lanxess subsidiary BondLaminates are finding new applications in the area of automotive bodywork, says a company report. One example is the use of a variant of Tepex dynalite to provide engine compartment protection in the Mini John Cooper Works GP. “The extreme strength and toughness of our material work very much in its favour. These characteristics make the underbody protection, prone as it is to stone
hits and even grounding on poor roads, more robust and extremely resistant to impact,” says Harri Dittmar, lightweight design expert at BondLaminates. In addition, the regular alignment of the composite’s continuous glass fibres lends the component an attractive carbon-like appearance. The protector is manufactured using a compression moulding procedure that combines flow and forming processes. This involves compounding polypropylene with continuous glass fibre rovings and forming the component directly from
the resulting DLFT mass (DLFT = Direct Long Fibre Thermoplastic) in a compression mould. What is so special about the production process is the fact that two Tepex dynalite outer layers are also compressed at the same time so as to reinforce the specific area subjected to the greatest stress. This produces a sandwich component with a DLFT core and part of its surface made from the high-performance composite. “Compared to a solely polypropylene-based DLFT component, the outer skins made from
our material give the part three times the strength and energy absorption,” Dittmar says. The Tepex dynalite 104RG 601 consists of a polypropylene matrix embedded with a fabric containing 47 percent by volume continuous glass fibre rovings. Dittmar believes there is immense scope for using Tepex dynalite as underbody protection in cars – especially in vehicles destined for countries with poor roads that therefore require extra protection.
“Sandwich DLFT solutions can be up to 50 percent lighter than steel and 20 percent lighter than aluminum protection. Thermoplastic sandwich composites also provide more effective sound insulation from stone hits – in other words they demonstrate superior acoustic properties too,” Dittmar adds.
Wabco tests AMT at track in Chennai Wabco, a leading global supplier of CV technologies, has demonstrated its OptiDrive system, advanced automated manual transmission (AMT) technology for trucks and buses at its test track in Chennai. Wabco’s AMT systems are available from 5 to 16 speed applications, including its breakthrough OptiDrive modular AMT system, according to a company press release. “Wabco expects to
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satisfy growing market demand and to expand its base of customers for AMT systems in India, which currently includes original equipment manufacturers and fleets,” said P. Kaniappan, Managing Director, Wabco India, adding that “Wabco has been working on AMT programs in India with major commercial vehicle manufacturers for their respective truck and bus platforms, and we believe our industry in India
could benefit greatly from adopting this technology more broadly.” Wabco’s OptiDrive technology automatically engages the vehicle’s clutch and gear shift actuation. It takes into account the driver’s operation, engine torque, vehicle load and road inclination, resulting in optimised gear shifting, which increases fuel economy up to 5pc for trucks and buses in congested city traffic and on long hauls alike.
The AMT systems also free drivers from frequent shifting, reducing their stress and fatigue, while allowing drivers to further concentrate on traffic conditions. Optimized gear shifting improves driver effectiveness, particularly among less experienced drivers, and it enables more and better qualified drivers. “OptiDrive shows Wabco’s technology leadership in automated manual transmissions as it continues to gain
acceptance globally among makers of trucks, buses and transmissions, particularly in Asia and North America,” said Leon Liu, Wabco President, Asia. “Wabco pioneered our industry’s first AMT system in 1986 in Europe where today more than 60pc of trucks adopt AMT solutions, and Wabco is further differentiated as we still remain our industry’s only independent supplier of compressed airpowered AMT systems,” he further said.
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW PASSENGER VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - April 2014 = 1,70,582 Units) GM India 1.81%
Toyota Kirloskar Motor 2.24% Ford India 3% Tata Motors 3.49% Nissan Motor 4.24%
Others 1.41%
OTHERS • Skoda Auto India Pvt. Ltd. (0.59%) • Fiat India Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. (0.49%); • Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (0.17%) • Renault India Pvt. Ltd. (0.09%); • Hindustan Motors Ltd. (0.07%)
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. 42.59%
VW India 5.19%
Honda Cars 6.67% Hyundai Motor India 29.36%
UTILITY VEHICLES MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - April 2014 = 59,718 Units)
Toyota Kirloskar Motor 7.55%
GM India 3.70 %
Nissan India 2.68%
Others 1%
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. 33.09%
Tata Motors Ltd. 7.54 %
Renault India 8.07 %
Ford India 13.69%
OTHERS • Force Motors Ltd (0.38%) • Honda Cars India Ltd. (0.11%)
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Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. 22.68 % • Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (0.23%) • Ashok Leyland (0.05%)
• Hindustan Motors Finance Corp (0.20%) • Isuzu Motors (0.03%)
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW TWO WHEELER MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - April 2014 = 15,01,890 Units)
TVS Motor Company 12.19%
India Yamaha Motor 4.32%
Others 2.82%
Suzuki Motorcycle India 1.80% Hero MotoCorp 38.02 %
Bajaj Auto 19.95%
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India 20.90%
OTHERS • Royal Enfield (1.59%) • Piaggio Vehicles Pvt.Ltd. (0.15%)
• Mahindra Two Wheelers Ltd. (1.06%) • H-D Motor Company India Pvt. Ltd. (0.02%)
THREE WHEELERS IN INDIA
(Total Domestic Sales + Exports - April 2014 = 60,775 Units) Atul Auto 3.95% Mahindra & Mahindra 6.14%
Scooters India 0.66% Force Motors 0.07%
TVS Motor Company 12.35% Bajaj Auto 52.48%
Piaggio Vehicles 24.35%
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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW LIGHT COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA (Total Domestic Sales + Exports - April 2014 = 31,151 Units) Piaggio Vehicles (1.77%) VECVs - Eicher (3.80%)
SML Isuzu Ltd (1.13%)
Ashok Leyland (4.31%)
Tata Motors (44.50%)
Force Motors (5.48%)
Mahindra & Mahindra (39.01%)
MEDIUM & HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS IN INDIA (Total Domestic Sales + Exports - April 2014 = 17,676 Units)
Ashok Leyland (25.59%)
Tata Motors (54.21%)
VECVs - Eicher (12.73%)
VECVs - Volvo (0.39%) SML Isuzu Ltd. (3.16%)
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Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (1.99%)
Asia Motor Works Ltd. (1.93%)
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