Auto parts asia april 2017 by mimimi946

Vol No 2 | Issue No 11 | April 2017

ISSUE

IN THIS

Gupta Is Senior VP Of Renault-Nissan LCV Unit

Allison Aligns Transmissions With Market Demand

PEOPLE

INTERVIEW

COVER STORY

- IT, Telematics To Drive Future Vehicles - Tata Elxsi Works On Futuristic Vehicles - Continental Leads In New Mobility Technologies - BMW On Course Of Digital Shift - Bosch Makes Self-Driving Cars Smart - ESI Brings Serious Fun To Work! - MapmyIndia To Facilitate Autonomous Driving - Telematics Transforms Insurance Industry

IMPRESSIONS

EDITORIAL

TRAILBLAZING TRENDS

PEOPLE

CORPORATE

INTERVIEW

SPECIAL REPORT

- The March Of Innovations

- Lynn Vojvodich Elected To Ford Board - Arora Appointed MD Of FAG Bearings - Nissan Europe Appoints New Sales, Marketing Sr VP - Satish Sharma Is New ATMA Chairman - New CEO For Amara Raja Batteries - Nielsen Appointed CEO Of DTNA - Gupta Is Senior VP Of Renault-Nissan LCV Unit - Misra To Lead NNG Business In India

- JCB Bid To Be Road Solutions Brand In India - Ford India To Export to North America

- Allison Aligns Transmissions With Market Demand - Gestamp To Reshape Metal Stamping In India - MG Group Makes Passion Statement With ‘Columbus’

- BASF Augments Mobile Emissions Catalysts Plant In Chennai

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PERSPECTIVE

INSIGHTS

- Triaxial Shaker Testing For Automotive Parts

IoT Transforms Automotive industry

FEATURES

EVENT

GLEANINGS India

- Automotive Mission Plan For TN MSMEs Under Way

- ZF Launches Openmatics In India

- Indian Aftermarket To Reach $13 Billion By 2020

- Tenneco To Launch New Aftermarket Brands

GLEANINGS International

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

- BMW Group Wins iF Design Awards - Magna Brings Carbon Fibre Composites Into Vehicle Structure - JLR, Getty Images Partnership To Project Women In Car Business - Tata Motors Signs MoU with VW, Skoda For Product Development - Renault Opens Innovation Lab In Paris For Future Mobility - IAM Roadsmart Endorses UK Report On Readiness For Autonomous Cars - GKN Wins Orders For AWD Disconnect System

ANALYSIS

- Marginal Rise In Automotive Sales In February 2017

PREVIEW

- MCVE 2017 Opens Doors

/AutoPartAsia Read AutoParts Asia Digital Edition on

/AutoParts_Asia

/AutoPartsAsia

AUTO LAUGH

- Brainy Exercise

COVER PHOTO Courtesy: Bosch, Continental and Valeo AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 3

Corporate sponsor:

Organised by

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Asia's biggest tyre industry event – Asian Tyre & Rubber Conference (ATRC) – is all set to return to Chennai, the hub of Indian automobile industry. It's time to join the league of the best in the industry for the most high profile global gathering. Share ideas and engage in networking. { REGISTER BEFORE 31ST MARCH TO AVAIL EARLY BIRD RATE } Contact: Antony Powath | Email: asp@abm.net.in | Mobile: +91 9833 901586 | www.atrc.in

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SUPERIOR TECHNOLOGY, SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE. Each bearing that rolls out of our plants passes under the lens of quality, precision and safety. Our Engineers adhere to the Total Quality Management norms to make one precise bearing. No wonder, we are Dependable Partners of many manufacturers across the globe. And, also the recipient of the prestigious Deming Grand Prize 2015, the highest in TQM Processes.

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IMPRESSIONS

ABM’s CEO John Powath Passes Away

ith immense grief, we announce the sad demise of Mr John Powath, CEO of Asian Business Media (ABM), on March 28, 2017, in Kochi, Kerala, India. As a veteran leader of the Indian and world rubber industry, Powath had a wide circle of friends and admirers across the globe. His untimely demise is a great loss to the industry. He was associated with All India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA) for decades and played a crucial role in the growth of the Association and its flagship event, India Rubber Expo (IRE). As CEO of ABM, he took Rubber Asia, its 30 year old flagship publication, to enviable heights.

Today, it is Asia’s premier and largest rubber industry magazine. It was under his vibrant initiative ABM launched the other two internationally acclaimed publications: Tyre Asia, and AutoParts Asia. Powath was the founder of the international events like India Rubber Summit & Dinner (IRSD), Asian Tyre and Rubber Conference (ATRC), Asian Latex Conference (ALC) and Asian Retread Conference (ARC) held in Malaysia, and their driving force. He was a trusted consultant of major industry players both at home and abroad, especially for expanding their business and for striking crucial deals.

The John I know

y association with John began three years ago with a phone call from him. But its impact on me is more than of three decades. We met for the first time at his residence in Kochi. Today’s telematics that guides people to their destination cannot match John’s way of explaining the route to a new place, including his house. His mail for my first visit had a detailed explanation of the route with the prominent points of interest that none can miss, very clear and accurate. He had this clarity in all his communications. I still keep his first descriptive mail. John’s first and the last conversations with me were almost identical – caring, no-frills talk, getting straight to the business, and rich in content and humour. Always he enquired about me, my family, and the journey to his place. This was his constant style of beginning even a hard core business discussion with me. His humility, meticulous planning, pragmatism and excellent execution skills had taken him to greater heights. He was very thorough with the nuances of the

6 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

publication industry. He systematically applied his knowledge every time and continually built upon it. What I admire in him the most is his detailed planning for every day and more so for every travel – domestic or international. John used to say that “I live out of a suitcase”, as he had to keep pace with the growing global footprint of ABM publications and was a frequent traveller. His itinerary included nothing but business, from the time he landed to flying to his next destination. John had a winning view point on everything. Together with his networking in the rubber industry, this made him a person to reckon with in the global industry on any issue, including finding a right candidate for a particular job. He knew the rubber industry - its entire value chain, from being a plant, an input for a multitude of products, the final product and its use until it goes back to a plant for recycling and reuse. His networking skills were matchless and his sense of humour helped him make friends and retain them. His witticism was not whimsical

but critical and thought-provoking. For AutoParts Asia, John was the man behind. It is his brainchild. He was inspired to start a magazine on automotive industry by the Automechanika show in Dubai in 2014. After visiting a few halls in the show, he called his colleagues in India and told them that, “The next title (magazine) for our company is ready; it’s AutoParts Asia. It will be a global magazine; let us launch it in this same show next year.” John started the countdown then itself and AutoParts Asia was launched at Automechanika Dubai 2015. John was a multi-faceted personality. His acumen in sales and marketing was incomparable. He was also a very good writer, and his monthly column ‘Auto Laugh’ vouches for that. With his inimitable sense of humour and the style of its presentation, John’s columns were widely acclaimed. I salute him for his wit and wisdom. AutoParts Asia team joins me and we pray for the repose of his soul. May his soul Rest in Peace. -

T Murrali

lobal car sales continue to show positive growth from the beginning of 2017. Auto sales in China dipped primarily owing to an increase in sales tax on small vehicles. The North American companies are gaining with strong purchases in Canada and the annualised sales were above two million units for the second consecutive month in February. Automakers there will ramp up production in the second quarter supported by favourable industry fundamentals. These trends are an indication of the improving economic scenario across the world. Automotive sales in India grew just 0.94 percent in February in comparison with the same month last year. Though the reasons for slower sales could be many, hopes are rising on the expectation of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) by the Union Government. It will be good if GST is rolled out at the earliest as planned as it can spur economic activity and increase vehicle sales. GST will also enable the auto component sector to achieve the Automotive Mission Plan 2026 turnover of US$ 200 billion. The current indirect tax regime in India is very complex on account of multiplicity of taxes, complicated compliance obligations and tax cascading. Though this affects every industrial segment, the automotive industry is unique with its own complexities like longer gestation period between investment and production, market volatility, model failures etc. GST is a single tax imposed on all goods and services in the country and will replace all forms of indirect taxes. At present, the excise duty for vehicles is in four slabs. The lowest tax rate is for the small cars. With the GST implementation, all the Central Taxes, and the State-level taxes like sales tax, road and registration tax and the like would be merged into one. Therefore, there will be rationalisation of prices of vehicles across the country. It is still not clear whether there would be dual tax structure for small and big cars. GST is expected to decrease the overall compliance burden and bring lot more efficiency in operations. GST, without CST, will help reduce multiplicity and complexity of taxes under different heads. This will also spur economic activity and generate demand for vehicles across categories. The Cover Story of this issue is on a topical subject--IT and Telematics. There are also interesting interviews and features on Allison Transmission, Gestamp and JCB.

E D IT OR IAL

Good Days Are Back Again?

Kurian Abraham Editor-in-Chief Editor-in-Chief: Kurian Abraham | Chief Executive Officer: John S Powath | President: Antony Powath |Editor: Murrali Thalor | Associate Editor: KS Nayar Executive Editor: P Raghav Varma | Assistant Editors: Prof T N Kalamani, A Saj Mathews, P Venugopal | Correspondent: Sharad P Matade | Contributor: ShamPrasad. Regd/Marketing Office: Asian Business Media LLP : 501/502, Imperial Plaza, Corner of 27th & 30th Road, Near Nilgiri Garden, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050, INDIA Phone: +91-22-2640-0829, 2640-0735, Fax: +91-22-2641-1894 Email: mail@abm.net.in, asp@abm.net.in

April 2017 | Vol. 2 | Issue No. 11

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Printed, Published and Owned by Asian Business Media LLP and Printed at Five Star Offset Printers, Building No. 1/151, A.B & C, Nettoor, Maradu Municipality, Ernakulam Dt, Kerala State and Published at 501 / 502 Imperial Plaza, Corner of 27th & 30th Road, Near Nilgiri Garden, Bandra (West), Mumbai – 400 050. Editor: Murrali Thalor

Editorial /Marketing Offices: KOCHI: #39/3993- B7, Ground Floor, Vantage Point, V.R.M. Road, Ravipuram, Kochi-682016, INDIA, Email: mail@abm. net.in, Tel: +91 484-2356284, +91 484-4016284. CHENNAI: # 22/37, 1st Floor, Karpaga Vinayagar Koil Street, Alandur, Chennai - 600 016 INDIA, Phone: +91-44-42641425,+91-9841274461,+91 9940172323, Email: deva@abm.net.in, tm@abm.net.in, DELHI: Anil Nair Email: lugenterprises@gmail. com +91-9810525069. Vice President (Marketing): Vijay Kurian Abraham (vj@abm.net.in) | VP - International Marketing: Harish Kamat| National Head-Marketing: R C Devakumar (deva@abm.net.in) | Asst. Marketing Managers: Anil Panicker, Praveen Manchal. US Correspondent: Dr Louis P Rumao, 621 Lockmoore Court, Rochester Hills, Michigan +1 48307-4229, Tel: +1 248 747 7201, Email: louis.rumao@ yahoo.com | China: Ella Liu (Liu Ting)/Terry Yin (Yin Tian), China United Rubber (Group) Corporation, Beijing, Tel +86-13911580967, +86-10-5377 9793, Fax: +86-10-5377 9608, E-mail:liut@chrubber.com, expo@chrubber.com | South America: Ms. Carina Bini Fernandes, Atman Filmes e Criacoes, SCLN 215, Bloco B, Sala 114, Asa Norte – Brasilia – DF, Brazil, CEP 70874–520, Tel: +55 61 3033 8007, +55 6181497800 (Brasil), +91 9895555281 (India), E mail: carina.bini@gmail.com European Representative: John Stone, 73 Chaney Road, Wivenhoe Essex, CO79RR, England. Sapphire Media, Tel: +44 (0) 1206 822320, Mob: + 44 7769 675232, Email: john.stone@sapphire-media.co.uk | Australia: Jacob Cherian, Ausker Pacific Pty. Ltd., Suite 1, 1401 Burke Road, East Kew Vic 3102, Melbourne Australia, Tel: +61 3 9859 8922, Email:ausker@auskergroup.com.au | Japan: Shinichi Kato, Shinichi Kato Office Co., Ltd., 11-7 Nihonbashikabutochou, Chuoku, Tokyo 103-0026, Japan. Tel: +81 3-5645-8670, Fax: +81 3-5645-8671, Email: shinichi.kato@rubberstation.com South East Asia: A. Divakaran A.D. Nair, 33, Jalan PJU 1A/43F, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, 47301 Selangor, Malaysia. Tel: +60 3 78454608, Mobile: +60 12 3985357, Email: aaps_avico@yahoo.com | Thailand: Ms Somruetai Patana-anek (Mott), Managing Director, Busgum Co. Ltd., 1093/115, 21st Floor, Central City Tower, Bangna-Trad Road (K.M.3), Bangna, Bangkok 10260, Thailand, Tel: +66-2-3993946, 399-4374, 399-3896, Mob: +66-1-8429105, Email: mott@busgum.com | Sri Lanka: P P Perera, No.20, 4th Cross Lane, Borupana Road, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka. Tel: +94 11 4863529, Mob: +94 772 972571, Email: ppperera1946@gmail.com |Middle East: Dubai, UAE - Markose Chenthitta, Email: 101@ hotmail.com & Varghese Philip, Tel: +971 4 2276825, Mob: +971 50 7480984, Email: vp39386@gmail.com, Iran: Ms.Azita Eftekhary, International Business Development Manager, RIERCO, Karaj Highway-Pajouhesh Blvd. – Iran Rubber Industries Researches Institute, TEHRAN-IRAN, ZipCode: 1497716365, P.O.Box: 15875-5981

AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 7

TRAILBLAZING TRENDS

The March Of Innovations

here seems to be some connection between the month of March and France, and innovation. It was On March 20, 1888 the first stage of the Eiffel Tower, the pinnacle of innovative thinking and action, was completed. In the beginning it was criticised for faulty design by the then leading French artists. Later, Eiffel Tower became a cultural icon of France and a most reputed innovative structure in the world. When France was devastated after the liberation, De Gaule, the Head of French Government, on March 2, 1945 gave a call for “ascension vers la puissance” in the Assembly. This meant ascension to power. France did ascend with innovation during 1944-74, the Glorious 30 years in its history. Now Paris is ranked fourth among the most attractive world capitals for investors, and a city of advanced technology and innovation. True to its legacy, many are the innovative initiatives in France in March 2017. The French automotive major Renault opened on March 13, 2017 its Innovation Lab – Le Square, in the midst of start-ups and university research organisations. After Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv, the company chose France as the location for the third Renault Innovation Lab because the country already has 228 business incubators and 49 accelerators. The Ile de France region alone has over 3,000 startups. Le Square aims to define new ways of working and to explore the future of mobility by opening up the company’s boundaries and encouraging cooperation between new kinds of business

8 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

organisation and actors from the French ecosystem. The company that has been making cars for over 100 years, wants to align itself with the rapidly changing world and to innovate by working on new technologies, connected cars and electric vehicles. Bosch reopened on March 28, 2017 its 118-year old French headquarters in Saint-Ouen as an innovation campus for its future development. At the partially redesigned location on the northern edge of Paris, a bridge leads from the old building to a new and bigger main building for greater knowledge sharing. The 5,000 sqm of floor space built with an investment of Euro 19 million will accommodate 300 of its local 1,300 associates from its subsidiary Bosch Engineering GmbH. The sales team from BSH Hausgeräte GmbH will join them very soon. The building is also green and consumes 25 percent less energy than the current French standards. Vehicle Manufacturer Scania in March has pledged, for Earth Hour 2017, that it will utilise fossil-free electricity wherever possible. All electricity supplied for its operations in Denmark, France, Norway, Poland and Sweden is already fossil-free. Scania’s with the shift to sustainable transport systems is streamlining the company’s own energy usage. Meritor WABCO is planning to host a series of webinars from May 2017 on the benefit of equipping new tractor-trailers with SmartTrac Stability Control which integrates with sensors within anti-lock braking (ABS) and steering systems to predict impending slide or rollover. It uses braking of individual wheels and reduced engine torque to assist

By T Murrali the driver to be in control during critical driving situations such as spinouts, plough-outs and rollovers. The key feature of the SmartTrac Stability Control is the ‘self-learning’ capability that automatically adapts to changes in vehicle characteristics and wear. The US mandate on stability control will be effective from August 2017. By requiring electronic stability control systems such as SmartTrac on trucks and large buses, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates the new mandate will prevent up to 2,329 crashes, 60 fatalities and hundreds of injuries annually. It is a good move as the stability control has been an impressive success story in Europe and is acknowledged as a significant contributor to an 11 percent reduction in fatal crashes involving trucks since 2014. Lastly, I would like to share a little bit about the recently-concluded Geneva Motor Show during March 9-19, 2017. Some 180 companies were present at the 10-day exposition. It was the biggest annual car show with luxury and crossover vehicles that will comply with the European standards of 2021. Automakers failing to meet the CO2 targets - capping petrol consumption to 4.1 litres per 100 km and diesel to 3.6 litres - will have to pay Euro 95 (USD 100) for every extra CO2 gm emitted by each car. This is expected to add up to tens of millions of euros as fines. Therefore, innovation will be taller than the Eiffel Tower in the coming years. See you next month with more Trailblazing Trends . . .

PEOPLE

Lynn Vojvodich Elected To Ford Board

APA Bureau

ord Motor Company has elected Lynn Vojvodich to the company’s Board of Directors. Vojvodich, 49, is a global technology executive who has built, grown and transformed businesses for more than 20 years. She works with venture capital firms as an advisor to pre-IPO and start-up companies. From 2013 to February 2017, Vojvodich was Executive Vice-president and Chief Marketing Officer of Salesforce, the world’s fourth largest enterprise software company and the global leader in customer relationship management. “Lynn is a proven marketing leader and an entrepreneur with a wealth of experience in transforming customer relationships,” Executive Chairman Bill Ford said. “With deep experience, particularly in the software industry, she brings a unique perspective to the board that will help guide our strategy and evolving customer experience, ” he added.

Arya To Head CII Haryana

APA Bureau

ishant Arya, Executive Director, JBM Group, has been elected as the Chairman of the Haryana Chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He was the Vice Chairman for 2016-17. The focus of the agenda last year was on the emerging and high growth sectors like aerospace and defence, competitiveness building, development of MSMEs, sustainability, social development, infrastructure development, etc. across various industry sectors in Haryana. Arya is also the Co-chairman of ACMA’s STDC (Sustainable Technology Development Committee), India, and is an Executive Council Member of CII, SIAM and ACMA – Young Business Leaders Forum. He is also on Board of various JBM Group companies and Chairman of Tesco Go SpA, Europe.Arya is credited with multiple recognitions for his contribution to the JBM Group and the automotive industry. Under his stewardship, the flagship company of JBM Group, JBM Auto Ltd., has been recognised among the `Elite set of 10 greatest value creators in the Fortune India 500 companies’. 10 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Arora Appointed MD Of FAG Bearings APA Bureau

harmesh Arora has been appointed as the Managing Director of FAG Bearings India Limited. He is the President and CEO of the Schaeffler Group in India (parent company of FAG Bearings India Ltd), a position that he will continue to hold. He will also continue to be the Managing Director of INA Bearings India Pvt Ltd, another group company of Schaeffler in India. Arora replaced Rajendra Anandpara, who has left the company for personal reasons. “Arora is a veteran of Automotive Industry having worked with Maruti Suzuki, General Motors and with Schaeffler Group in

various leadership positions across geographic regions of the world. We welcome him to this new position to steer the organization to greater heights,” Avinash Gandhi, Chairman of FAG Bearings India Ltd., said. FAG Bearings India Ltd together with INA Bearings India Pvt Ltd and LuK India Pvt Ltd forms Schaeffler Group in India.

Nissan Europe Appoints New Sales, Marketing Sr VP

issan Europe has announced the appointment of Philippe Saillard as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, a promotion from his current role as Vice President for Nissan Europe Sales. Saillard, 51, succeeds Guillaume Cartier, 49, who has been appointed Corporate Vice President, Division General Manager, for Mitsubishi Motors Corp, based in Tokyo. Mitsubishi joined the Renault-Nissan Alliance in October 2016 when Nissan took a 34 percent stake in the Japanese automaker. James Wright, Vice President, Nissan Europe

APA Bureau East, is appointed Divisional Vice President, Nissan Europe East. In this new role, he will be responsible for the business performance of Russia, Ukraine, Central Eastern Europe and the Datsun Business Unit, among other entities. Both Saillard and Wright, 56, will report to Paul Willcox, Nissan Europe’s Chairman. “With their solid track records in sales and marketing across Europe, I have no doubt that both Philippe Saillard and James Wright will continue the outstanding work of Guillaume Cartier and help us meet our goal of becoming the most desirable Asian car brand by 2020,” Willcox said.

PEOPLE

Satish Sharma Is New ATMA Chairman APA Bureau

he Automotive Tyre

Manufacturers’ Association (ATMA), the apex body of the Indian tyre industry, has elected Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA), Apollo Tyres Ltd, as the next Chairman. Having completed two decades at Apollo Tyres, Satish has held important portfolios including that of Chief Marketing Officer and Chief of Indian Operations, before being appointed as the President, APMEA in 2014. He is also a member of the company’s Management Board. ATMA is a key link between the tyre manufacturers and the Government and assists in relevant policy formulation on the tyre industry. It regularly publishes industry data and brings out status notes on various industry issues.

New CEO For Amara Raja Batteries

APA Bureau

mara Raja Batteries has appointed S Vijayanand as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company with effect from April 1, 2017. He will handle day-to-day operations and expansion projects of the company and report to Jayadev Galla, Vice Chairman and Managing Director. Vijayanand started his career in 1990 with a brief stint in Hindustan Unilever as a Research Scientist and joined Amara Raja Batteries in 1992. He held various positions across the company in the areas of business leadership, strategic planning, new business development initiatives, technology development, project management, etc.

Nielsen Appointed CEO Of DTNA

APA Bureau

oger Nielsen has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) and its affiliate companies, Freightliner Trucks, Western Star Trucks, Thomas Built Buses, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation and Detroit Diesel Corporation, effective from April 1, 2017. He succeeds Martin Daum who became Member of the Board of Management of Daimler

AG responsible for Daimler Trucks and Buses on March 1, 2017. “Roger Nielsen brings a rock solid product, manufacturing and sales background to this position paired with a razor-sharp focus on technology, quality and customer service. He has an excellent track record as an influential leader in the industry. Having worked closely with Roger for so many years, I am certain that DTNA, its people and all its brands are in the best hands,” Martin Daum said.

Gupta Is Senior VP Of Renault-Nissan LCV Unit APA Bureau

he Renault-Nissan Alliance is creating a light commercial vehicle business unit to expand its global presence in this growing segment. Ashwani Gupta is appointed as the Senior Vice President of the Renault-Nissan LCV Business Unit. He will report to Alliance Chairman and CEO, Carlos Ghosn. This move is expected to expand light commercial vehicle market leadership under a single business unit and boost sales by unleashing the full potential of Renault’s van expertise and Nissan’s truck knowhow in key markets. “The combination of Renault, Nissan

and the early collaboration with Mitsubishi Motors in a single Alliance LCV Business Unit will boost sales and deliver greater synergies. With this move, we plan to expand our market leadership by accelerating our performance in current and new, highgrowth markets, based on each company’s core products and market knowledge, and driven by customer needs,” Ghosn said. The Unit will continue to maximize cross-development and crossmanufacturing and is expected to deliver further synergies in costs and technology. Renault and Nissan have established cross-production of vans and trucks over the last several years. The new RenaultNissan LCV Business Unit will also handle Nissan’s bodyon-frame SUVs, including the Nissan Armada and Nissan Patrol.

Misra To Lead NNG Business In India

APA Bureau

NG LLC, an industryleading supplier of automotive navigation software, content, and services, has named Prabhaker Misra as India Country Manager, effective January 1, 2017. He brings with him over a decade of experience in sales and business

development across sectors. Based in Gurgaon, Misra will be overseeing India business for the organization. Misra had earlier worked with organizations like Bharti Airtel, Tata Teleservices, Research In Motion and HERE Solutions. NNG is a leading navigation provider for top automotive brands. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 11

CORPORATE

JCB Bid To Be Road Solutions Brand In India J By Sharad Matade

CB India, a leading manufacturer of earthmoving and construction equipment in the country, provides full solution of products, training, monitoring, parts, and service, backed by a large distribution network. JCB India wants to be a road solutions company from being a road construction products making and repairing company. Started in early 1980’s with a small plant, JCB India is now re-aligning its products with the consumer needs. From a recent consumer expectations

survey, JCB India has realised that product support was the most soughtafter demand from the consumers.

JCB has introduced specifically designed ‘Premier Line Solutions’ to give maximum value to its customers through a comprehensive range of customised support packages. The products under this package are the JCB 220LC Xtra, the JCB 305LC, the JCB 370, the 455ZX wheeled-loader and the JCB116 soil compactor.

Another customer-oriented technology is JCB Livelink. It is an innovative telematics technology that enables users to monitor the machines remotely. It maximises productivity of the machines by providing real time alerts on service, operation and security benefits to the owners. JCB Livelink keeps customers in constant touch with the machine, and informs them on their smart phones about the running time, fuel consumption, status and location of the machine.

Vipin Sondhi

12 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

JCB India recently organised ‘The Road Construction Solutions Day,’ a one-day event, at its Pune-plant to demonstrate its latest models of excavators, compactors, rollers, loaders, generators and its technical support system.

On the sidelines of the event, Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director and CEO, JCB India, said, “Roads and highways continue to be a major driver for infrastructure growth in India. The government’s focus is evident in the significant outlay it has made for this sector in successive national budgets.”

“JCB’s machines have been contributing to the development of India’s infrastructure for about four decades. Now through its premier road construction solutions, it is committed to contributing and expediting the building of roads and highways in both rural and urban India,” he said. JCB India estimates 10-11 percent growth in infrastructure sector in the current quarter. “There has not been much happening in real estate, urban rejuvenation, irrigation and Railways sectors. I think, given the emphasis on the infrastructure sector in the country, the growth should have been better,” Sondhi said. The Indian earthmoving and construction equipment industry had 40 percent growth in 2016, compared to 2015, mainly owing to a stable government, improvement in micro economy, good monsoon, and an impressive revival in the road and highway sectors, according to

Jasmeet Singh, Head, Corporate Communications and External Affairs, JCB India. “However, the industry is yet to see the pick of 2011”, he said. “Under the project Bharat Mala, the government is building 44 highways, stretching over 27,000 km and we believe, JCB India will be a key player in such projects,” Singh said. The government has allocated Rs 64,980 crore for road and highways for 2017-18, an increase of 11.94 percent from the previous financial year, and Rs 19,000 crore for the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. “The proposal for the development of 2,000 km coastal road is an emerging segment,” he said. JCB has five plants in India, one in Ballabgarh, two in Pune and two in Jaipur, and 650 dealer outlets. It employs over 5,000 people. The JCB India CEO said, except for the new Jaipur plant, other four plants have utilisation rate of 85 percent of their respective capacities. JCB India exports to Middle East, Africa, South East Asia, and of late, to Russia.

More Models JCB India has plans to bring out more models in the current product range with continuous technical improvement. Its in-house design centre in Pune has been at the forefront of its innovation programmes. Several new models of machines developed by the centre were exhibited and demonstrated at ‘The Road Construction Solutions Day’ event. “Many of them are also exported,” Sondhi said. The company

organised live demonstrations of these machines to highlight their utility in the construction of roads. In the large excavator category, the JS 205LC (20 tonne tracked excavator), the JCB 220LC Xtra (22 tonne tracked excavator) and the JCB 305LC (30 tonne tracked excavator) were shown live in action. According to the company, with 10 percent improved fuel efficiency, JS 205LC saves up to Rs 1.3 lakh a year and its special filtration system extends hydraulic life by up to 5,000 hrs, with the hydraulic main return filter change intervals of 1000 hrs, which reduces maintenance costs. JCB 220LC Xtra, designed to maximise performance, productivity, delivers better operating efficiencies and has the ability to manage the toughest terrains. JCB 220LC Xtra’snew H+ mode increases hydraulic power and output by seven percent and its 14,360 kg of bucket helps in high output even in tough strata with power boost mode. The new JCB305LC is a multi-use 31 tonne Excavator that builds upon the lineage of the hugely successful JS205LC for even larger projects. The new JCB305LC is a simple to use mechanical machine that complements a host of innovations. Compactors play a vital role in crushing rocks to achieve better density. In the compactor range, the recently-introduced JCB116 (11 tonne soil compactor) comes with a single drum and was launched in December last year. “With vibrating drum, we achieve density to make roads

durable,” a company executive said. It has been designed in such a way that all its parts are accessible for service. VMT860eco (9 tonne tandem roller) is robust and fuel efficient and it has state-of-the-art JCB engine and in-house JCB service support. The VMT330 (3.3 tonne mini tandem roller) has the high drum thickness of 13.5 mm leads to better stability of drum during operations and longer life. The high drum thinness leads to more output in less number of passes. The JCB 455ZX, the 5.5 tonne wheeled loader, which is primarily used for bulk material loading was also part of this activity which had 12 machines in all. JCB’s world class ecoXcellence Backhoe Loader – the 3DX Xtra, the 3 tonne mini excavator – JCB 30Plus and the class leading range of material handling product solutions which include the tele-handler and the skid steer loader were also part of the demonstration activities at the work site. The utility of JCB’s GQ100Kva diesel genset and the leading range of attachments such as man basket, auger, rock breaker, pallet fork and sweeper collector, etc, were also showcased at the event. All these products are backed by an industry-leading product support network. These outlets are spread across India, employing over 6,000 trained professionals to cater to different customer requirements, Sondhi said.

JCB VM116 - 11Tonne Soil Compactor in action at JCB’s Road Construction Solution Day

AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 13

CORPORATE

Ford India To Export To North America APA Bureau making business sense. As of today, the Indian OEMs are looking at the design in the rest of the world; there is much that is happening in terms of development. Radhakrishnan said, “We believe that if the government assists us with infrastructure support and subsidies, Balasundaram Radhakrishnan it will really help. The upcoming Global ord India is planning to export Automotive Research the made-in-India Ecosport to Centre at Oragadam, which is part of North American markets. The NATRiP, is a great step forward. It will company has been working be better if the government is able on this project for some time now to invest in creating infrastructure, and the first shipment will be during whether it is for the cars to ply or for the end of this calendar, according an effective supply chain.” to Balasundaram Radhakrishnan, To a question on how the company Executive Director, Manufacturing, tackles the challenge in shortening Ford India. manufacturing time and reducing Radhakrishnan said India will quality issues, Radhakrishnan said, emerge as a major hub for Ford. “We have an advantage in the level Commencement of exports to the of competence and capability of US will mark a significant milestone our people. The people who set up in Ford’s Make in India journey, and the plant in Chennai were able to boost India’s credentials as a worldoffer expertise and set up plants in class manufacturing hub. Sanand in Gujarat, and in China and There is lot of buying power for the Taiwan also. Labour costs are fairly people in the emerging markets. For good. Due to the cost advantage we instance, in India the number of cars have been exporting cars to Europe per 1000 people has reached 50 and will soon be exporting to North from about 18 to 20 a decade ago. America, he said. “This is clearly Therefore, there is much potential indicating in terms of buying power; at the that we are same time technology is changing competitive. I and so it is important for the R&D see India has to work in tandem with the change, the ability to Radhakrishnan said. export.”

On the changing tastes and aspirations of the customers, he said, “in the past we used to look at individual customers. Now we are looking at the big players such as fleet owners and cab aggregators.” As the customers always wanted to get more for less, he said, it is necessary to look at frugal engineering to address the requirements while also 14 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Last November Ford had announced its plan for a new global technology and business centre in Chennai investing Rs1,300 crore.

It will serve as a hub for product development, mobility solutions and business services for India and export markets. The centre on 28 acres in Sholinganallur, about 35km south of Chennai, will be operational in early 2019. With this facility Ford India will add another 3,000 employees in Chennai having a staff strength of 12,000. Radhakrishnan said the upcoming engineering centre will have everything, finance, accounting, engineering, material planning, logistics, and product development, under one roof. Ford will transfer people from its IT hub in Taramani to the new campus in Sholinganallur, and will also recruit more people. Hiring and training has started. Ford India, from the basic and mid-level engineering activities will move shortly to the advanced level of engineering and designing of the entire car, he said. These initiatives make big sense since the belief that if a product is designed and developed in India, it can work anywhere in the world. “It is great that we are going to have an engineering centre in India that will develop products for a tough market in India; it is going to be an easy piece of cake for other markets. Chennai will be an important hub for Ford India,” he said.

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INTERVIEW

Allison Aligns Transmissions With Market Demand The US-based Allison Transmission is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial-duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison Transmission India Pvt Ltd has its manufacturing facility at Oragadam, near Chennai. It is also a base for exports to Japan, SE Asia, China, Australia and Europe. Consistently for over a century Allison has been developing and delivering transmissions with its core values of quality, reliability and durability. In an exclusive interview, Salil Gupta, CEO, Allison Transmission India, told T Murrali that “we have been focusing on automatics for buses with substantial presence in more than 30 cities in India. Now we are supplying them for military trucks and tippers also; in a few months there will be some more launches in the marketplace”. The excerpts: Q: How do you try to improve your working in India? A: The same way as we do around the world, with the core values that a customer can get from an Allison product - unrivalled reliability and durability- while helping to protect the vehicle driveline. That is the difference an automatic brings to the vehicle, far more than any other transmission system. For example, the first batch of DTC buses with automatics was sold in late 2007. Some of these buses have run about 600,000 km. Still the automatics continue to deliver exceptional reliability. The buses continue to leave the depot every morning for their city duty, with reliability and frequency. That is the way we improve. Another example is a fire truck with an automatic – it can reach the site of an emergency, faster than a truck with a manual, automated manual 16 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Salil Gupta

transmission (AMT) or any other transmission system. If you reach the rescue site faster you would probably save a few more lives. In an airport the truck has to reach the emergency site on the runway within 40 seconds; Automatic is the easiest to drive and the fastest to reach. The driver need not worry about shifting gears, he has only to focus on the road. Q: How has been the journey for Allison Transmission in India? A: It has been a robust journey. We have been focusing on buses with substantial presence in more than 30 cities in the country. Now we are focusing very much on military trucks and tippers; in a few months you will hear about some launches in the marketplace. Globally we have good business in military trucks and CVs – now we are starting to get into that in India.

Q: On an average how many transmissions are at work in India? A: There is a wide range. About 10,000 buses, in more than 30-35 cities and about 10,000 in off-highway dump trucks and energy segment. We started direct sales in India only from 2008 but much before that the global OEMs were already selling through direct imports into the country. We also had a licensed manufacturer, AVTEC, which sold a lot of Allison Automatics at that time. So we do have a very large number in operation today. In the oil sector, cementing rigs are used by ONGC in Bombay High, Gujarat, Arunachal, the North East and many other places – in the energy segment a lot of automatic transmissions are used for pumping and drilling. Q: What has been the perception of customers about automatics? What makes them to look at it?

Allison India Manufacturing Faclility

A: Customer perception has been changing very rapidly due to the very high reliability of automatics. Customers who see buses operating in the big cities like Mumbai and Delhi are saying that if automatic transmissions can live so long without any problem, then this is the right technology to use in other types of buses and trucks too. People are beginning to recognise that these transmissions have less hassles and longer productive life, for which they are now willing to invest. OEMs too are seriously considering automatics as they contribute a lot of reliability and productivity to their vehicles. Q: Some fleet operators feel that automatics affect productivity. Is this is a myth and how do you clear it for them? A: Myths are only cleared by experience or by hearing from somebody trustworthy like a friend or business leader. We are already seeing this happening. Even private players, who are sensitive to cost, now buy automatics as they recognise its inherent value. So it is definitely going to happen over a wider range. When you think about why customers invest significant amounts to buy a premium truck/ tipper for mining application, reliability is a very important factor in their decision-making. It is extremely important to deliver positive experience to the first few customers, who then become your ambassadors for other potential customers. That is

how perceptions change, supported by positive experience. We are also delivering superlative experiences to our customers, which is resulting in their increased confidence in us. Q: Do you still see pain points in India for Allison to take-off in a big way? A: Indian engines are still to come up to the level of sophistication prevalent worldwide. Our products work with the latest engines around the world. We have very sophisticated capabilities of software integration between the transmission and engine. The software packages available to enhance vehicle performance and

fuel efficiency are of a very high degree, which calls for engines with extensive communication capabilities. Such engines are not easily available in India, but this is steadily changing with the BS IV standards. Q: How do you overcome this? A: It certainly takes time and consistent effort. We keep educating the OEMs that make plans linked to a time frame and we keep in touch with them to upgrade step by step. Q: Do you see any other challenges? A: In India, value for money is very important to customers. But the sensitivity to initial acquisition price

Allison Transmission AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 17

INTERVIEW (vehicle purchase price) is substantially higher than sensitivity to ‘Life Cycle Value.’ But in recent days, with increasing understanding of application specific requirements, this is changing for the better, and customers are willing to invest in better products. Q: I’m sure you will be convincing them on the Return on Investment (RoI) factor / how to amortize etc. Is there any case study this? A: We do work on case studies. Customers do refer to experiences of others but always like to make their assessment based on their own operational parameters. Q: What will be the RoI for the incremental cost? A: Based on the application, you will recover the investment put in for an automatic transmission in about two to three years. And then, consider the immense benefits over the long- term, the remaining life of the vehicle. Q: Coming to manufacturing, you have a plant in Oragadam - how many varieties do you make? A: In the Chennai plant, we make Allison 1000 and 2000 series transmissions, for the domestic market as well as exports. Our plant is a large export base. We ship from here to Japan, SE Asia, China, Australia and Europe.

Allison India shopfloor

18 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Q: Transmission is a very sensitive piece of equipment that calls for utmost care in assembling, sourcing, etc. How have you developed your manufacturing and supply base at Tier-3 and 4 levels? A: Allison has such a strong name in the industry as we have developed this technology over the last hundred years – 101 to be precise. We have developed an extremely robust and trustworthy supplier base to cater to our manufacturing systems. Our checks and counter checks, error proofing, are of an extremely high order. We have very stringent guidelines on adding a new supplier; we will not allow any compromise on our build quality. This is essential for us to be able to deliver our core values of quality, reliability and durability. Q: Do you see scope for manufacturing the other series in Chennai? A: There is always scope and potential but when that will happen is very difficult to say. It depends on market growth, demand and other factors. Q: The concept of smart cities; how will it help companies like Allison to scale up in the future? A: When we talk of smart cities, it means there is a thrust to create more liveable, better cities; cities that are neat and

Allison India assembly operation

INTERVIEW evolve, people want products suitable for their environment - a customised product. Wherever you have frequent start-stops, safety issues, acceleration requirements or challenging terrains (off highway) with bad roads – wherever the manual system becomes difficult to operate and sustain, they will evaluate a switch from manual to an automatic.

Quality inspection

clean with better systems in place. When all aspects of the city starts improving then you also want to have a reliable and efficient transport system; which will then call for better aggregates that will provide a fillip to buses in general, and in turn bring up opportunities for products like ours. When you talk of Euro-6, it means that better engine management systems are going to come in that will work much better. Bharat Stage IV to be implemented soon is significant because a lot of vehicle sophistication and electronics would be introduced. Q: The present boundaries between the engine and transmission are getting blurred due to advances in technology. . . A: Yes. More so, because customers (vehicle operators) increasingly want

Allison shift selector - manual

20 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

a vehicle tailored to their duty-cycle, and are looking for solutions for their specific applications. Many customers do appreciate the value of high- powered engines, automatic transmissions, retarders, etc. Some examples of such applications are city buses, tarmac buses, Fire trucks, municipal trucks (refuse, sweeper), and Military trucks. Q: What are the other drivers for your growth? A: As I have mentioned, customers are becoming more conscious Allison ready for shipment about what they want in the vehicle for their job. And OEMs are responding to these emerging customers by bringing in new products designed for them. Take the example of Ahmedabad Janmarg BRT, which specifically asked for an automatic transmission in the BRT bus. Responding to the customer requirement, Tata Motors developed a bus for BRT operations. Given the value of a ‘BRT bus,’ other BRT operators have also purchased more of these buses. This is testimony to the value of designing a vehicle made for today’s emerging customers with specific operations. The niche areas are getting focused. As the Indian industry and customers

Q: Globally, how suitable are these transmissions for automated driving and autonomous vehicles? A: In my own opinion, the more autonomous you make a vehicle, the more essential an automatic will be. Q: Is there a way for it to be connected to IoT (Internet of Things) and still improve efficiency? How is Allison prepared to support this? A: Well, technology is something that can provide you with an answer to almost any need today. Engineers have all the tools in the tool box. The

real question to be asked is, what should be given that will make sense to the customer– at the right time, right place and the right price. For example, as a bus or truck runs, the automatic changes gears based on need. Now, should this information be communicated back to the owner on real time? Will it be of value to him? That is the point to be considered. Or will it be better to do a data download at the end of the journey or visit to workshop? Or may be temperature monitoring is something to be considered on a real time basis? So, technology is something you can do anything with, but the question is how to use it meaningfully and effectively.

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AutoParts Asia is a Global B2B magazine on Automotive Industry with an objective to connect suppliers globally. AutoParts Asia, under different sections, gives every month news and news trends on the entire gamut of the automobile industry right from Vehicle and Component Manufacturers to Aftermarket players. In addition, the magazine also covers the Allied Industries â&#x20AC;&#x201C; machine tools, pneumatics, hydraulics, automation, robotics, testing equipment, garage equipment, IT, software etc.

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INTERVIEW

Gestamp To Reshape Metal Stamping In India

Raman Nanda

Gestamp, a Spanish multinational company that designs, develops and manufactures metal components for the automotive industry, constantly innovates product designs to make safer, lighter, energy efficient and environment-friendly vehicles. Founded in 1997, the company, with 95 plants and 11 more under construction, is a global supplier of new products and technologies. Its hot stamping lines around the world have reduced the weight of a car body in white parts up to 30 percent. In India, Gestamp has three facilities and an R&D centre and is gearing up to provide hot stamping solutions to the domestic automotive industry, Raman Nanda, Country Head & President, Gestamp Services India, told T Murrali in an exclusive interview. Edited excerpts: 22 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Q: As you reduce vehicle weight the customers may want you to reduce the number of parts also; for crash repairs they want the parts to be easily available. In this setting, what are the solutions you plan to provide in the near future? A: Let me first say that we see a big focus on the body by the customers in the years to come mainly owing to the regulatory changes. New laws are coming in for crash test, fuel emission, efficiency, and NCAP (New Car Assessment Programme) rating, which is going to be notified. It is very clear for us at Gestamp that as a company we can help the automotive manufacturers meet their increasing requirements. At SIAT we had displayed four technologies. The first and most important one was hot stamping or forming, where we increase

the temperature of the blank to 930 degrees C and then form it. This helps to take out the stresses and form the part in many ways that cannot be done by cold forming. As the strength and hardness has gone up so much, we can reduce the thickness of the part and also the weight. For example, a 1.6mm thick sheet can be reduced to 1.3mm. This straightaway reduces the weight of the part and gives you better crash resistance of hot stamped parts. The second is the technology with patchwork blanks where we can locally strengthen an area at the blank stage before forming. Then we have the tailor-welded blanks with two different thicknesses depending on the need and the duty to be performed. The fourth one is roll forming, where, unlike

conventional roll forming of 500-600 MPA (mega pascal), we can do up to 1500 MPA. This throws up fascinating possibilities of giving much higher strength to a part with reduced weight. We are at the right time at the right place, with appropriate technologies that the customers are looking for. We have put up a plant for hot stamping where we can do all the blanks with Gestampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s portfolio of technologies. Q: What is in store for the future? Some companies have reduced the number of parts and reduced weight, without compromising on functionality? A: Let me talk about the future. Today, in Europe and the US, almost 38 percent of the body is made from hot forming. In India it is close to zero at this stage. In the next five to ten years we will make hot stamping well understood and accepted as the technology of the future for India. Based on the geometry of the parts, a huge range of solutions can be found for the customer. We have a bumper that was originally in seven parts - now it is just one piece. We can even design the whole body for the customer and shave off at least 50 to 75 kg (15-20 percent) from the

B-Pillar

Hot stamping line

Hot stamping in progress

total weight. It is a phenomenal change - a new era in body-making. We are investing in India ahead of the curve and we have the appropriate technologies that will be required by the customers in the next decade. We have the future charted out to a very large extent. Q: Will all this be done at your existing plants? A: We have four facilities in India - three are manufacturing and one is engineering and R&D. Gestamp has 12 R&D centres globally and one of them is in Pune; we are connected with all the centres. As the Indian market develops and converges to the global best practices, customers will come to us for full body development. Q: That makes sense because the time to market is coming down. But there is more variance without much growth in volumes. How do you manage cost? Is there any specific initiative? A: I shall answer in three different ways. First of all we are already a supplier to programmes like Nissan Micra and Sunny which are very costcompetitive. We also supply to Polo and Vento, Ford EcoSport, Renault Duster and Nissan Terrano. We are present in all the different price points; so we know what the Indian customer wants. Secondly, in hot stamping, you can reduce thickness, weight and the amount of steel. This saves cost for the customer; each geometrical design will have its own cost and price. When we work in India with these technologies, an eye on AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 23

INTERVIEW

Door ring

cost is already built in. Finally, the OEM and the consumer decide what needs to be incorporated in the car. For example, earlier there was no coated steel, now it has come; there was no ABS, now it is there. The OEM and the customer have to take a call but we believe we are giving real value for money. Globally 38 percent of hot stamping is used; slowly it will come to India. That is why we have invested heavily on this plant. Q: In India, do you see opportunities for aluminium parts? A: Yes, in the next three to five years aluminium is going to come because of weight issues; already some customers are talking to us about aluminium. This is something that is going to happen. Q: Will that call for a specific line in your factory? A: Yes, we are well equipped to add lines the customer needs. Q: Globally, people are looking at a multi-material approach where different kinds of materials are fused together. What is Gestampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s take on this? 24 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

A: Aluminium is going to be the next steel. We are also working on carbon fibre (to replace steel) globally, as well as plastics. This is a fascinating field bringing in new materials based on local conditions. We have a range of materials, technologies, processes and relationships with our customers to make it happen. Q: What are your initiatives to enhance yield ratio? A: This is something we have to take care of with India being a cost- sensitive market. There are two specific ways in which we do it. The first one is core development. Styling determines how the car looks, but after styling, a lot of inputs from detailed engineering can come from companies like us. We want the customer to look at parts and part design to maximise yield. The second one is using technologies like roll forming where you have a blank that is very close to the final product. So you can achieve more than 90 percent yield because your starting point is close to the final product â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is only a profile

change. It is working closely with the customer using the appropriate technology and bandwidth. Q: To what extent has the Indian market embraced tailor-welded blanks and where do you see the opportunities? A: It is picking up, though it is a chicken and egg situation. Technology has to be available and designers have to start using it so that other vehicle makers can see the use; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how it spreads. Today I would put the use at three to five percent for the B-pillar and a few other parts. Q: Have you got opportunities in the door and the roof? A: Not really, it is B pillar and a few internal parts that go for tailor-welded blanks; the usage is not much as of now; but it will increase. Q: Your PPM levels have been drastically reducing. I think it is 14 while the customer was expecting 50 or so. How did you achieve it? A: It is a question of focus for PPMs to be brought down further.

C-Pillar

It is always a cross functional theme, which helps. Your dies and equipment have to be in top condition with well-trained people backed by quality systems and a positive mentality. We have been working on all fronts to strengthen that culture to avoid missed deliveries. The automotive industry works on credibility and track record. We have to ensure success for our customers by giving them credible options to consider. Q: Can you tell us about your manufacturing facilities in India? A: We have three plants in India. The first one in Pune went into mass production in early 2010 and the one in Chennai started production in 2012. A new plant at Talegaon will be operational in MayJune this year. Q: You must have garnered many best practices that you will deploy across your plants. So what kind

of production enhancement capability will the Talegaon plant have? A: Our intention is to make the Talegaon plant the benchmark plant for hot stamping. We are quite clear on that, just like we have worked to make the Chakan plant for cold stamping and Chennai plant for high strength steel (HSS) and endwelding. At Talegaon we have started well by getting the best equipment and training for our people, introducing the culture of continuous improvement and by being sensitive to the customer requirements. We will bring in the best practices from our other plants in India which is linked to Indian conditions and the same domain. For example, in the Pune (Chakan) plant we have Gurukul for different segments of work, like press operations, quality control, packing, etc - how the

packing should be done for each part is itself a 15-20 page manual. We ensure there is theoretical training and practical training followed by an exam for each person before he is certified to do the job he has been given. This is a best practice that Talegaon is building towards. Another example, in hot stamping we have almost 80 lines globally; the best practices from there keep filtering to us from a team overseas that works on this. Q: Is there any lessons for the global plants from India? A: It is happening. In fact, two years ago, the Gurukul practice was selected as the best practice globally, to be adopted by all the other plants worldwide. I am sure there are many things in India that we can do very well, which our global colleagues will like to emulate.

Rear Mono Block Bumper AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 25

INTERVIEW

MG Group Makes Passion Statement With ‘Columbus’ MG Group, one of India’s largest bus building companies, has recently unveiled its first special application coach (tarmac coach) – ‘Columbus’ and the flagship premium coach ‘Mammoth’. Columbus is the first-of-its-kind, fully monocoque ultra-low flat-floor tarmac coach developed currently for international markets with a passenger entry floor height at as low as 290 mm (after kneeling). With its smartly designed cabin space, the coach offers swift passenger entry and exit with five passenger doors (three at LH side and two at RH side). The reliable drive line aggregates from ZF and Cummins, a fully composite and leak-proof roof panel and soothing interiors beautifully lit with LEDs, make it a product of global standards. MG Group forayed into bus building in 1996 with MG Automotives Pvt. Ltd. in Zaheerabad, Telangana, spread over 21,000 sq metres with an annual installed capacity of 12,000 buses. The company employs over 1100 people and its clientele include Mahindra & Mahindra (Truck and Bus Division) Ltd., Ashok Leyland Ltd., Tata Motors, APSRTC, TSRTC and others. Anil Kamat, Managing Director, MG Group, told AutoParts Asia about the new launches, their unique features and the company’s plans to market them globally. Q: What was the trigger to develop Columbus with a monocoque design? A: We were reaching the milestone of 20 years of operation in bus building and of the production of one lakh buses, a record in its own right. We wanted

Anil Kamat, Managing Director, MG Group

to commemorate this occasion in a manner that brought out our passion for this industry. As a medium-size company, we decided to select a niche, which would be affordable and globally relevant. The aviation segment seemed attractive and we chose to build our own tarmac coach. For building our own coach, it made sense to go in the monocoque route as it offered the flexibility in packaging the aggregates. It also made interior designing flexible in the way we wanted. That is where the monocoque thought came up. We were very clear that we needed a large wheel-base. Q. Why did you have to give a larger wheel-base? A: ‘Columbus’ has a wheel-base of 7450mm. We have given this expanse to optimise the passenger capacity. In one travel of the 12-meter coach to the aircraft and back, it is able to carry 70 passengers each, (eight seating and 62 standees). The coaches that ply now in India can carry about 45 people. Equipped with the latest technologies such as ECAS, ABS, and CAN bus systems, the new coach fully complies with the regulations of the Airport Handling Manual. Q: Will you make the aggregates fixed or will you give options to your customers? A: We will move up the ladder a little slowly; we have done a fairly good bid in body manufacturing by producing over one lakh buses, which is a sizeable number to prove our capability. The next thing for us is to integrate the coach and bring it to the level that we feel is truly international. We think that level-3 will

Interior of Columbus

26 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

probably be the situation where we allow the customers to customise aggregates. Q: Are you at level one or two or in between? A: We are at level two now. We don’t have the bandwidth for level four; but it will be manufacturing own aggregates. It is nowhere in the horizon. Q: Is `Columbus’ being targeted only for the domestic market? A: Actually `Columbus’ is not made only for the India market. We are pitching for the international markets as well. The bus is planned for diesel and CNG powertrain; but we intend to go electric. Q: Will you be looking at super capacitors as an option? A: I am not able to narrow down to that extent. So much is happening in this space – hybrids and electric vehicles. We really have to be very careful in the choice we finally make with respect to the electric powertrain. Q: Where did you get the inspiration for the interiors that give a new feel? A: It just came out of the intent to express our passion and taste. It is nothing but putting our heart in to it. Q: Tell us about the mass manufacturing of Columbus? A: We are going highly lean as far as manufacturing of this coach is concerned. It is designed in such a manner that it is easy to manufacture and assemble. In tarmac applications, there is no need to make thousands and thousands of coaches, as they cater to a very niche segment.

The tarmac coach requirements are about 50 units a year in India. The parc of these kinds of vehicle is around 800 now in India. This might go up gradually. Therefore, it may not need mass production. We have designed it in such a way that it can be manufactured very quickly.

Interior of Mammoth

Q: In a niche segment, would you not lose out on standardisation of aggregates? A: While we brought this product to life and made it ready for display to the customers, we were still taking feedback to move closer to the exact requirements of the customers. As we move along the phases of testing and homologation, we would also keep narrowing down on to our manufacturing strategy. Q: What are the unique features of Columbus in terms of materials? A: The roof is a single piece composite part made in-house. Other interesting aspect is the packaging of the air-conditioner at the rear end of the coach, unlike the roof-mounted stock. This gives a sleeker look. Q: How do you plan to market the new product? A: A lot of decisions in business, while they sound strategic, are made purely on gut feel. We know, of course, we need a marketing strategy to promote this product and get into the market. So far the whole focus has been on how to create the best product, which will be a live example of ‘Make in India’ initiative. We need map out the marketing strategy and we are at it. Q: Tell us about the 20-year journey of producing over a lakh of coaches?

Tarmac coach Columbus

A: The biggest honour that we hold is having earned the faith and trust of our esteemed customers such as Ashok Leyland, Mahindra & Mahindra, MAN, Tata Motors and VECV. We procure the chassis from them and

build the coach on it. It is unique for the MG Group to work with the industry giants in India. Q: Can you share some insights on the ‘Mammoth’ that you manufactured recently? A: This is the flagship premium coach built on MAN chassis. It is completely designed, engineered, developed and built by MG Group and certified by MAN Germany. While Columbus has engine at the rear, offering total flexibility, Mammoth is a front-engine bus where the degree of freedom is limited. The biggest challenge was to give the passenger the saloon space in the coach, without him realising whether the engine is in the front or the rear. The focus will shift to the ambience that we have provided inside the bus. Q: What are the unique features of this coach? A: It is ‘Made in India and Built to International Standards’. The chassis from MAN, Europe’s leading OEM Commercial Vehicle Manufacturers, is rugged and robust, which caters aptly to the Indian operating conditions with increased driving safety, while significantly reducing body movements for the best ride comforts. With eight emergency exits, the bus has various other safety measures such as no sharp corners, seat belts for every passenger and the ‘EM – Secure’ Rear Emergency Exit, which is patented by MG as the world’s first. Q: Why is the emergency exit for Mammoth at the rear? A: In an emergency situation, it would be horrific to break the glass panel of the emergency window. Besides, jumping out of the widow, which is about five feet above the ground level, will be traumatic. This was the reason for us to develop the ‘EM – Secure,’ having stairway and handrails. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 27

SPECIAL REPORT

BASF Augments Mobile Emissions Catalysts Plant In Chennai B APA Bureau

ASF Group’s Catalysts division, the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts, has inaugurated its new mobile emission catalysts manufacturing plant at BASF Catalysts India Private Limited, in Mahindra World City. Situated about 40 km south of Chennai, the new 47,000-sq.m production plant, which replaces a BASF plant in Chennai, is the culmination of a three-year expansion project. This has doubled the company’s catalyst manufacturing capacity in India. BASF generated sales of about €58 billion in 2016. The German conglomerate has invested about €300 million in manufacturing and R&D in India during the last four years and the new plant is part of the investment. Sanjeev Gandhi, Member of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE, responsible for Asia Pacific, said BASF will invest €3 billion in the Asia Pacific Region during 2017-2021 to build new capacities. India will get a fair share of the investment. However, the quantum of investment in India depends on the

28 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

competitiveness of the plans submitted by the Indian arm, he said.

Asia is the biggest chemicals market in the world and generates more than 50 percent of the global chemicals demand, he said. The company’s target in the mid-term and long-term is to exceed the chemicals market growth in Asia. The global chemicals market is estimated to grow about 3.4 percent next year, most of it in Asia.

India Strategy With BS IV being implemented from this month and BS VI is only less than four years away, the OEMs in India and the related suppliers are gearing up to address various issues while accomplishing their set targets. According to industry experts, BS VI

regulations can be adhered to only by managing the exhaust through high technology after-treatment methods. While doing so there could be a drop in fuel efficiency. Asked how BASF is going to add value to the OEMs to offset the fuel efficiency loss, through its solutions, Gandhi told AutoParts Asia, “The know-how in BS VI is Euro 6, which is something that has been catered to by BASF in Europe. We are bringing all those experience to India. The challenges being faced by the Indian OEMs were faced by European OEMs when they had to implement Euro 6. We understand where the levers are and we understand where the technical limitations are and we also understand that technical solutions to overcome this. However, every OEM is different. Therefore, we are progressing through a dialogue with every OEM in India. This is because everybody is different and everyone is into different niche and having different targets. So we are customising solutions with our development teams together with the OEMs to get the best cost benefit and performance ratio that they need. I cannot tell you more than this because this is competitive intelligence,” he said. About the value addition by BASF to the OEMs, over competition, Gandhi said, “Absolutely;

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SPECIAL REPORT heavy duty emission catalysts, which will allow us to serve better the fastgrowing automotive markets in India,” he added.

I think, given the fact that we are the most experienced supplier for Euro V, Euro VI and even for highperformance engines adhering to strictest emission norms, and that is why we are the global market leader, we bring all of the competence into India. We are also customising our catalyst solutions for the mid-scale and the small size cars”. “Around the Asia Pacific region, and especially here in India, mobility is ever more important. At the same time, more and more vehicles are being manufactured locally in India. To meet the demands of this growth, according to BASF’s Asia Pacific strategy and in support of Make in India and other government initiatives, we are expanding our local production network in the region,” Gandhi said. “With the expansion of our manufacturing capacity and capabilities in Chennai, BASF Catalysts is better positioned to respond to the increase in demand for advanced emissions control solutions in India. It will also help our customers meet increasingly stringent requirements such as the Indian government’s decision to advance from BS IV emissions norms to BS VI norms by 2020,” Dirk Demuth, Senior Vice President, Mobile Emissions Catalysts, BASF, said. “Furthermore, the new site will produce advanced

30 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

“With initiatives like Make in India, Smart Cities, Swachh Bharat, India is in the forefront of rapid and sustainable development. This offers significant opportunities for the chemical industry as well as BASF. We are investing actively in India to realize these opportunities. The expansion of our mobile emissions catalysts plant in Chennai is another example of our continued focus on investing in assets for growth,” Raman Ramachandran, Head of BASF operations in South Asia, said. “Through its local subsidiaries BASF India Limited, BASF Chemicals India Private Limited and BASF Catalysts India Private Limited, the BASF Group has invested approximately €300 million, over the past four years, in manufacturing and Research and Development,” he added.

and chemical properties and after clearance it is moved to the coating lines. The coating is done through vacuum application process where a measured quantity of slurry is charged on the catalyst and dried. There are several mistake-proofing techniques implemented to ensure flawless production. Depending up on the number of coating the process is repeated. The plant has an analytical lab, part of the quality control function of the plant. It analyses the physical properties, material content and performance. The material content is analysed by XRF lab. A pellet is made from the slurry and located on to the machine to get the material content. It is stored for about 13 years for future reference and also

Chennai Plant World-class manufacturing lines are housed in the new plant, producing a full range of catalyst solutions, including light duty, heavy duty and motorcycle emissions catalysts to meet the growing market demand and customer technology needs. The site produces BASF Emprotm emissions control solutions including the Three-Way Catalyst (TWC), Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC), Catalyzed Soot Filter (CSF) and Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Catalyst. The new plant makes catalysts for all the automotive applications using different fuels including LPG, gasoline, diesel and CNG, meeting the requirements of BS III, IV and Euro norms. The manufacturing of the catalyst is divided in the two steps – making the slurry and application of the slurry on the substrate, which is otherwise called coating. Slurry manufacturing is based on dispersion process where a set of precious metals and various base chemicals are dispersed in a tank and milled to achieve the required particle size. The slurry is tested for physical

to go to the genesis of the product. The finished product is tested for performance by putting through engine simulator. The CAEF -Catalyst Activity and Efficiency lab has a reactor with bottled gases supplied in the proper proportion as per the test protocol. It will be passed through the catalyst core in the reactor, to simulate exactly the conditions in the exhaust catalytic convertor. This substitutes an engine that can emit exhaust gas. This confirms the product quality as per the customers’ requirements. BASF Group’s Catalysts division is the world’s leading supplier of environmental and process catalysts. The division offers expertise in the development of technologies that protect the air, produce the fuels that power the world and ensure efficient production of a wide variety of chemicals, plastics and other products, including advanced battery materials. By leveraging its industryleading R&D platforms, passion for innovation and deep knowledge of precious and base metals, this division develops unique, proprietary solutions that drive customer success.

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Back for the third time, Asian Trucker invites you to be part of the largest dedicated exhibition for commercial vehicles in Southeast Asia. Co-organized by Asian Trucker Media, two highly successful commercial vehicle exhibitions were previously held in Malaysia. Following the success of the past event, we are returning with the show in May 2017 under a new, more inclusive name. MCVE, organised by Asian Trucker, will be held in the Mines International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 18th to 20 May 2017. Fringe programs, including the Asian Trucker Networking Night, will run concurrent. Please visit www.mcve.com.my for details and updates. Access is free of charge for delegates. To book your booth or to learn more, please contact Nicole Fong via nicole@asiantrucker.com or +6012 207 5528 Lot No 8-2, ( Level 2 ) Medan Klang Lama 28, Jalan Klang Lama, 58000 Kuala Lumpur

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COVER STORY

IT, Telematics To Drive

Future Vehicles

Connected Vehicles, Automated Driving and Autonomous Cars are the hot topics of current discussions in the automotive world. Driverless is the next big thing that many companies are working on internationally. The nerve centre of this digital transition is Information Technology (IT) and its visible offshoot â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Telematics. Digitization in the automotive sector will change the mobility landscape and transform the car into an element of connected living solution. The connected car will reduce the cognitive load on the driver and ensure less distraction while driving and less accidents. Researchers and leading suppliers believe that automated driving will

make roads safer as it will depend on artificial intelligence, which is the backbone connecting sensors and making them act. It makes things happen in a vehicle by analysing road and traffic conditions and by manoeuvring it safely on the roads. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have been operational in different forms in vehicles, enabling different road users to ward off accidents and their consequences. Further development of this technology will ensure safety and reduce fatal accidents. Initiatives in these directions by companies like BMW, Bosch, Continental, MapmyIndia and Tata Elxsi are described in the following pages. APA Bureau

AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 33

COVER STORY

Tata Elxsi Works On

Futuristic Vehicles By ShamPrasad

In India, the company is ready to test driverless cars for the first time. It has applied for the required licence and is waiting for the government approval. Several sensors, like stereoscopic cameras, radar, ultrasonic sensors, will be installed in a driverless vehicle which will send inputs to the self-driving stack that the company has developed. The software systems will direct the car accordingly, including navigating, braking and accelerating.

lobal design and technology service provider for the automotive industry, Tata Elxsi, has been working on five major fronts, design, autonomous driving, electrification of vehicles, infotainment systems and car connectivity, to stay ahead in the development of futuristic vehicles. This Tata Group Company deploys its artificial intelligence and computer science knowledge to create vehicles. It is working towards design and other technological changes that happen with the changing vehicle dynamics such as infotainment systems, autonomous cars, connectivity and safety features. 34 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

In order to prototype rapidly the advanced HMI, which seamlessly transitions with the target systems such as instrument clusters, infotainment head units, RearSeat Entertainment, ADAS, connected car application interfaces and across SoC platforms, Tata Elxsi has partnered with DiSTI Corporation Florida, USA. DiSTI is the creator of user interface tool, GL Studio, for delivering highend HMI design, and innovative and appealing visual content for futuristic displays in vehicles. As a first step of this partnership, Tata Elxsi has developed an integrated e-cockpit solution with IVI, IC, HUD, and ADAS features, all integrated on a single Renesas R-Car H3 platform with the UX, developed completely using DiSTI’s GL Studio. The company will also hire European talent to work for the India market in the near future, according to Sondur.

Driverless is the next big thing that International Markets many companies Tata Elxsi has developed the entire are working towards seat module software, including internationally. application base software, integration, Automotive major and testing for an OEM customer. The Anil Sondur Nissan was also company helped create a common in news recently architecture, which can be used for for receiving an multiple variants and programmes, approval from the UK government resulting in significant cost savings to start trials for this technology in and complete ownership of the London. “Transportation industry software. is going through exciting changes. Apart from the automobile giants, many technology Tata Elxsi is ready to test driverless cars companies like for the first time. It has applied for the Apple, Google, Uber required licence and is waiting for the and Tesla have been government approval. working to develop and master this technology”, Anil Sondur, Executive Vice President, The company also designed and Industrial Design (ID) and Key developed the HMI software for Accounts (Automotive), Tata Elxsi, an OEM’s next-generation display told AutoParts Asia. system. The HMI is developed for

Tata Elxsi, Trivandrum office

reducing driver distraction and offers new features to the global market. It provides differentiated user experience by enabling the user to switch between vehicle and entertainment specific features with ease. Tata Elxsi is working directly with suppliers for developing innovative and futuristic infotainment, cockpit and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems which will be used by multiple OEMs. “We are directly involved in the full software development, HMI design and validation of these advanced systems. We have designed and developed an in-car app concept for smart homes which enables the driver in the car to monitor and control various smart apps ranging from security, energy management to controlling devices at home,” Sondur said. He added that digitization in the automotive sector is set to change the mobility landscape and transform the car into an element of connected living solution in the future. “Keeping this trend in mind, our HMI design and technology implementation

team has designed a fully integrated e-cockpit solution which is innovative and reduces cognitive load of the driver and ensures less distraction while driving. The high-end complete HMI design solution (for HUD, Instrument Cluster and Infotainment system) is for future vehicles,” he said.

options are many, affecting the overall package and architecture, seating and display and input systems. We are looking at the way this will change design proportions, volume and surface detailing of interior and exterior,” he added.

Virtual Reality

Tata Elxsi has the Augmented and The automotive and transportation Virtual Reality expertise for the designers of the company have been automotive sector and it is applying involved in the conceptual and vision projects for both the exterior and interior Tata Elxsi helps create a common archiof futuristic vehicles, tecture, which can be used for multiple not just related to cars, but also for variants and programmes, resulting in rail vehicles, light significant cost savings and complete delivery and long ownership of the software. distance trucks/ commercial vehicles and also some twoHoloLens-based Augmented and wheeler concepts. Mixed Reality experiences for this “We are of course exploring the sector. changes that will come to automotive Apart from that, Oculus touch-based design as we move towards fully immersive reality apps are also being electric and self-driving vehicles, developed for the automotive sector. as well as future materials and It also contributes extensively to technologies that will drive the way design the experience centres for the users experience transport. The automotive industry.

R&D And Design Centres Tata Elxsi, which has a design studio in London, in addition to the centres in Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai , plans to open more design and research centres in Japan, the US and other APAC countries. The design studios help customers develop enduring brands and products by using design as a strategic tool for business success. Its turnkey expertise extends across consumer insight, branding, industrial design, AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 35

COVER STORY

Joins DiSTI For e-Cockpit Demonstrator The DiSTI Corporation, a leading provider of graphical user interface software and customized 3D virtual maintenance training solutions, has delivered its GL Studio UI products to Tata Elxsi to develop its e-Cockpit demonstrator using its software services. The demonstrator highlights how GL Studio can seamlessly handle high performance graphics across multiple displays on a single embedded target, and the quality design and software implementation capabilities of Tata Elxsi. Tata Elxsi has joined DiSTI’s partner programme as a seasoned global development group of UI content creation and implementation professionals. Tata Elxsi adopted GL Studio for its e-Cockpit demonstrator for the development of the Infotainment, Cluster and

transportation design, visual design &amp; merchandising, design engineering to manufacturing support. “We have supported the launch of over 50 brands and products across the world and have won several international awards and patents for design and innovation. There will be a thrust on international centres. We want to have global design and technology workforce. We will look for talent in many countries. The roadmap for us is to do extensive work in areas of design, technology,

36 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

HUD. Throughout the development process, DiSTI provided UI support for the GL Studio UI Designer. The hardware used for the demonstrator is the Renesas R-Car H3 Salvatore-X board. “This partnership highlights the versatility of the GL Studio software suite and our commitment to our partners’ and customers’ success. DiSTI is honoured to collaborate with Tata Elxsi on this project, and we look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with them,” Chris Giordano, DiSTI Vice President, Automotive Division, said.

and embedded software for transportation industry which includes automotive, rail and airways,” Sondur said.

“With more and more driver assistance happening in automobiles through multiple displays, HMI and Graphics are going to play a major role and Tata Elxsi, along with DiSTI, is investigating futuristic ways of UX and UI implementations in vehicles”, Tony K John, Global Head of Marketing, Partnerships and Alliances, Automotive Business Unit, Tata Elxsi, said.

The roadmap for Tata Elxsi is to carry out extensive work in areas of design, technology, and embedded software for transportation industry, which includes automotive, rail and airways.

Tata Elxsi, being a fully integrated global design and technology company, has strong focus on innovation. “Headquartered in Bangalore, we have our R&D centres across. We have our own incubation division called Incub@TE where aspiring start-ups are provided space and technology guidance to fuel innovation. We are one of the very few engineering services companies that offer innovation for customers by driving an extended team beyond the traditional work packages

where we bring out new ideas, develop concepts and convert them to features which will go into production,” the company spokesperson said.

Challenges In India The automotive industry in India is growing at a fast pace and is expected to be one of the top three in the world in terms of engineering, manufacturing and exports of vehicles and auto components, according to the vision statement of the Automotive Mission Plan 2026. “The biggest problem is that most business is overseas,” Sondur said. Firstly, this restricts the opportunities to implement the design and technology innovations done by any company on Indian products. Secondly, the talent pool available in India does not have the right exposure.

COVER STORY

Continental Leads In New Mobility Technologies APA Bureau

Elmar Degenhart

ontinental, which develops intelligent technologies for transporting people and their goods, has extended its leading position in the rapidly growing market for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and clean, intelligent, and connected vehicles. The company is working on making 3D Flash LIDAR technology ready for production. In a similar way to an echo sounding, this technology uses laser pulses to deliver a highly accurate and distortion-free map of the surroundings. Continental intends to start making this highly efficient technology available for mass production of vehicles from 2020. This step represents a crucial requirement for the market launch of automated and autonomous driving. Before the end of 2017, Continental will start production of an interior camera that will help vehicles to detect whether the driver is noticing relevant information and reacting accordingly.

“Today we are developing and producing trendsetting technologies for transporting people and their goods. In the future, we will increasingly earn money with mobility services,” Elmar Degenhart, Continental’s Chairman of the Executive Board, said at the presentation of the preliminary figures for fiscal 2016 in Hanover, Germany, recently. “Continental has a sound financial basis and a strong technological position. We are fit

for the future,” he said. Continental CFO Wolfgang Schäfer said, “The automotive industry is undergoing a transformation. We are among the front-runners when it comes to new, intelligent mobility concepts and services. The higher requirements for software for this result in more development expenses, but these are offset by lower investments in property, plant and equipment. Past experience has shown that this does not have a negative impact on our earning margins in the Automotive Group and that the resulting value creation increases.” As at the end of 2016, Continental had liquidity reserves totalling €6 billion, consisting of cash and cash equivalents of €2.1 billion and committed, unutilised credit lines totalling €3.9 billion. This represented an increase in liquidity of €762 million in comparison to the end of 2015. “The available funds give us flexibility and a strong capacity to react to changes,” Schäfer said.

Leadership In ADAS Continental continues with its technology leadership in advanced driver assistance systems and had incoming orders worth more than €3 billion with related sensor technology and software in 2016. On a cumulative basis, the technology company has invested around €1 billion for the development of this technology and software over the past five years. “Our goal is to make road accidents a thing of the past for the future generations. Advanced driver assistance systems are already helping to protect millions of road users around the world from accidents and their consequences. With the further development of key sensor technologies for better vehicle surroundings monitoring, we will take a big step toward more automation and safety

in road traffic,” Degenhart said.

Clean, Intelligent, Connected Continental believes that clean, intelligent, and connected vehicles are the future. “By 2050, more than two-thirds of all people are expected to be living in cities. Rough estimates indicate that the majority of the vehicles in these cities will then be operated by mobility service providers and fleet managers. They will probably have an electric drive system, be fully connected, and drive autonomously. This gives rise to new, additional business areas for us. In addition to today’s products, Continental’s core business will therefore also include smart mobility services in the future,” Degenhart said. Continental was already among the front-runners in the field of electric mobility, he said. “Over the past years, we have invested more than €1 billion in electric mobility. We are currently working on orders from all of the world’s major markets. But a leap forward in battery technology is still required before the major breakthrough. We do not expect this to happen before 2024, and perhaps even a few years later,” he said. Continental sees trendsetting changes in the field of intelligent interconnectivity of mobility. “In the future, vehicles will communicate more with each other and with infrastructure. Direct communication between vehicles and their drivers will help avoid even more accidents in the future”, Degenhart said.

AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 37

COVER STORY

BMW On Course Of Digital Shift

he iNEXT is the next innovation spearhead for BMW. As with project i, BMW i will be a key element within its strategy. “With our Strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT, we are steering a clear course through these uncertain times. And we will continue to be open-minded and flexible. This strategy has been designed for adaptability, serving as both a vision and a dynamic roadmap that evolves as we progress. Our top priority is electrification. Next is connectivity and autonomous driving. As part of this digital shift we are expanding our services. We are expanding our know-how in selected areas through strategic cooperation with partners from our own industry and technology leaders from other sectors,” Harald Krüger, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, told the annual accounts press conference 2017. “The iNEXT project will develop modular kits for our electrification offensive across all brands and segments. Digitalisation will open up totally new possibilities for customers. The car will become a living space which is fully integrated into the customer’s life and learns from its driver. At the CES in Las Vegas, we provided a glimpse of the operating

APA Bureau system and interior of the future. We want to make fast progress in autonomous driving,” he said. As part of this strategy, BMW will be concentrating all its expertise in this area at its new Research and Development Centre for Autonomous Driving near Munich. Later this year, the company will begin testing highly-automated driving in city centres with a test fleet of 40 computer-operated cars. “Digitalisation is bringing new providers and their business models into the automotive sector. There is a strong reason for this: Individual mobility is an attractive area for future business opportunities. More than ever, a digitally connected world demands strategic cooperation. With our Strategy, we made clear decisions regarding: What we should continue to do ourselves, and where we can benefit from partnerships,” Krüger said. The BMW chairman has labelled this strategy as focus on ACES: Autonomous driving; Connectivity; Electrification; and Services. For Autonomous driving, BMW, together with the other German premium car companies, had acquired in 2015 the map service HERE. “Since 2016, we have been cooperating successfully with Intel and Mobileye. Intel is now also a partner of the HERE open platform for real-time navigation. Intel’s acquisition of Mobileye shows that we have the right partners. Our non-exclusive platform offering will be even more attractive”, he said. For Connectivity, BMW is relying on an OEM backend. All aspects of data security and customer privacy are its top priority.” Beyond that, we collaborate with and invest in innovative start-ups in selected areas,” Krüger said. For Electrification, BMW has the in-house expertise to develop drivetrains. “We support projects to

38 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

create public charging infrastructure worldwide. In Europe, we are involved with other companies in setting up a network of rapid charging stations. On fuel cells, we continue to work with our partner Toyota”, he said. In the field of services, BMW is expanding its offering through the NOW family. This represents a holistic approach to the big issues of urban mobility: Parking, charging, and air quality. DriveNow is BMW’s carsharing programme with more than 800,000 customers in 11 European cities. The all-electric BMW i3 makes up one-fifth of the fleet. ChargeNow already comprises 65,000 charging points in 29 countries. The plan is to open it up to other OEMs. ParkNow is already integrated into the new BMW 5 Series and the BMW Connected app. The service is also available to any driver via internet and app. ReachNow has been its on-demand Mobility Service in the US since 2016. This is a completely new service offering. In Beijing also it is testing ReachNow. “Alongside key performance indicators, our reputation as a company also includes sustainability as well as our attractiveness as a global employer. This helps us attract the young talent we need for digitalisation across all our business segments,” he said.

COVER STORY

Bosch Makes Self-Driving Cars Smart APA Bureau

osch is creating the brain for the self-driving cars of the future. At the international Bosch Connected World 2017 conference recently in Berlin, the supplier of technology and services presented an onboard computer for automated vehicles. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), the computer can apply machine learning methods. The AI-onboard computer is expected to guide self-driving cars through complex traffic situations, or even those new to the car. “We are teaching the car how to manoeuvre through road traffic by itself,” Volkmar Denner, Chairman of the Bosch Board of Management, told the international industry conference on the internet of things. Cars use the Bosch sensors to monitor their surroundings. Using AI, they will also be able to interpret those readings to make predictions about the behaviour of other road users. “Automated driving makes roads safer, and artificial intelligence is the key to making that happen. We are making the car smart,” he said. For building the core onboard computer, Bosch plans to collaborate with the US technology company Nvidia. It will supply Bosch a chip that stores algorithms, generated with machine learning methods. The AIonboard computer is expected to go into production by the beginning of the next decade at the latest.

Part Of Daily Life Bosch’s AI-on-board computer can recognise pedestrians or cyclists. Besides this ability, known as object

recognition, artificial intelligence also makes it easier for automated vehicles to assess a situation. For instance, cars that have their signals on are more likely to change lanes than those that do not. As a result, a self-driving car with AI can recognise and assess complex traffic situations, such as when an oncoming vehicle executes a turn, and factor them into its own driving. The computer stores whatever it learns while driving in artificial neural networks. Experts review this knowledge in the lab for accuracy. Following further testing on the road, the artificially generated knowledge structures can be transmitted to any number of other AI-onboard computers in an update. “We want automated driving to be possible in every situation. As early as the next decade, driverless cars will be also a part of everyday life. Bosch is advancing automated driving on all technological fronts. We aim to assume a leading role in the field of AI also,” Denner said. AI would play a key role in all areas of business at Bosch, not just mobility, he said. “Just 10 years from now, it will be virtually impossible to conceive of a Bosch product that does not involve AI in some way. The products will either have it or be created with its help,” he said.

Secure Data Sharing Along with AI and the cloud, another Bosch innovation is ‘blockchain’ technology, Denner said. This allows consumers to securely share data online without involving a third party. They can conclude agreements and contracts online and securely transact payments, and the technology

ensures that the data are anonymous. A blockchain is based on a kind of decentralised database, which distributes information entered into it across thousands of computers. This makes it impossible to falsify the data, and consumers are less dependent on one single computing centre.

Bosch, TÜV collaboration Denner highlighted one practical use for a blockchain with a live demonstration in cooperation with the German certification authority TÜV Rheinland. It promises to put an end to the widespread practice of odometer fraud. In Germany alone, manipulated odometers in vehicles cause some six billion euros in damage. The idea is to combat this fraudulent practice with a digital logbook distributed across many computers. Cars will send their odometer readings to these computers via a simple connector. With a smartphone app, car owners can check the actual mileage at any time and compare it to the in-vehicle display.

Link To Repair Shop These Bosch innovations that make a self-driving car smart, will impact a car driver’s daily life. Denner highlighted how this could be. A stone flies through the air and cracks the car’s side window. The repair shop receives an automatic notification via the cloud and can prepare to make the necessary repairs. The driver can get back the car after a brief wait, with no need to come back to pick it up the next day and no need for a costly alternative in the meantime. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 39

COVER STORY

ESI Brings Serious Fun To Work! APA Bureau

he ESI Group is a leading innovator in Virtual Prototyping software and services. Specialists in material physics, ESI has developed proficiency to help industrial Sheetalchandra Hukkeri manufacturers replace physical prototypes by virtually replicating the fabrication, assembly and testing of products in different environments. Coupled with Virtual Reality, animated by systems models, and benefiting from data analytics, Virtual Prototyping is immersive and interactive. ESI’s clients can bring their products to life with reliable performance, serviceability and maintainability. ESI expertise in Virtual Prototyping is spread across many industries. Its products and services are developed to support the unique simulation requirements of each. Many CAD designers, CAE engineers, analysts and professors from leading companies and institutions from around the world use ESI simulation software to develop digital prototypes by virtually fabricating, building and testing the product in coherent progressive stages: part by part, component by component and of assembly, concurrently across multiple domains.

than a monitor. “At ESI we have been applying Virtual Reality to industrial uses for years. Traditionally used to drive the 3D projection system like Power-walls or CAVE systems, our latest release will be applied to these consumer and professional class HMD,” Sheetalchandra Hukkeri, Director India Sales Operations, ESI Software (India) Pvt Ltd, said. With ESI IC.IDO 11.0, a new ‘Immersive Desktop’ application delivers ‘Virtual Reality for Engineering.’ With this HMD bundle, IC.IDO users are now able to conduct 3D immersive design reviews of assembly, disassembly, packaging, serviceability, and accessibility of their products at true 1:1 scale. “ESI helps Virtual Integration Engineers create Virtual Prototypes, to aid early CAD design reviews, as built, with the inclusion of physics-based Kinematics and elastic behaviour. With IC.IDO Virtual Reality suite one can experience 3D immersive interaction with the product, in real time, enabling cross functional reviews among stake holders to GET IT RIGHT first time, reducing the need for physical prototypes. Thus allowing informed decisions on Time/ Quality /Cost tradeoffs, IC.IDO implementation on HMD becomes affordable to masses,” he said. Engineers now have the power to import CAD files and simulate their models using real time physics and computed solid mechanics. They can interact with their models naturally using their virtual arms and hands — not just their mouse and keyboard.

A Virtual Manufacturing system provides design flexibility for process development teams. Through virtual simulation software, engineers can anticipate and solve process-related issues before even building processes. The manufacturer can cut cost by creating components, via simulation, for testing and quality assurance. ‘Virtual Reality’ is the most innovative technological trend of our times. Coming from the video gaming industry, Virtual Reality is opening new doors for interactive entertainment. It is taking over the business of manufacturing. The first impression of Virtual Reality most likely involves the iconic Head-Mounted Displays (HMD), those kind of headsets which are popular for virtually enjoying ‘the experience of one’s life’. HMDs are not only promising the ultimate fun-filled experience, they also provide a serious use for the working environment: ‘Engineering at its best.’ Many CAD providers are racing to find a way to leverage technology. Many end up making something a little more 40 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

IC.IDO HMD bundle will enable users to experience their CAD models in 3D immersive environment on HMD; interact with their designs in 3D immersive virtual reality using virtual hands and arms from a first-person view; simulate multi-body (or) kinematic behaviour in real time, with continuous simulation; visualize collisions between rigid and elastic objects during interactive assembly, disassembly, packaging or service; create immersive Virtual Reality animations, as content for playback in future immersive sessions and participate in multi-site reviews of shared immersive sessions among other departments / locations.

COVER STORY

MapmyIndia To Facilitate Autonomous Driving By ShamPrasad

he rapid pace of digitalisation, which brings about a paradigm shift in safety and automation in the automotive industry, creates several opportunities for players in the fields of navigation and telematics. MapmyIndia, which builds and provides the most advanced maps of India and the best GPS-based IoT (‘Internet of Things’) devices optimised for in-vehicle and personal navigation and tracking, plans to expand its horizon to take advantage of these emerging opportunities. “For the last 10 years we have been driving forward in technology around navigation and the telematics,” Rohan Verma, Executive Director & Chief Technical Officer of MapmyIndia, said. The Gurgaon-based company is looking at safety and autonomous driving as the key growth drivers. “Autonomous driving is the big thing in the automotive industry. And that cannot be achieved without mapping the country with high resolution technology,” Verma said. One needs to have the real view – 360 degree, 3D vision of the roads, with obstacles, curvature and everything else – to execute the vision of safety and autonomy, he said. The company, which works with leading OEMs such as BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Mahindra, Tata and Maruti is making efforts to exploit the potential in the fleet ownership segment. With the rise of e-commerce, logistics, car and bike rental services, the need to track vehicles have grown. This has unleashed immense opportunities in

MapmyIndia DriveMate

the area of telematics, according to Verma. “Individual ownership of vehicle is expected to go down. Majority of growth is expected from the commercial industry,” he said. The necessity for a vehicle owner to know the whereabouts, health and diagnosis of wear and tear has been the growth driver for telematics in the automotive sector.

Rover Bike In line with this emerging sector, MapmyIndia recently launched Rover Bike, an IoT device for motorbikes. It is a comprehensive solution that offers a connected biking experience. This GPS tracker for bike is powered by MapmyIndia’s proprietary maps and location technologies and comes equipped with built-in GPS and internet connectivity. Users get a free accompanying mobile app that keeps them connected with the bike. Owners can get live locations of the motorbike on a map, down to building-level detail, with direction as well as speed. The drives are continuously and securely monitored and recorded. They get also the option of the animated replay of their previous rides. This security system ensures safety, security, compliance and maintenance of the motorbike. It alerts and provides information related to ignition on/off, overspeeding, idling, breach of geo-fence (leaving from or arriving at a particular location), servicing, pollution, insurance expiry date etc. through the mobile app, email and SMS. Users can store important documents, Driving License, Registration Certificate, Insurance Policy and Pollution Certificate etc, electronically in their app. They can also see the expected time of arrival, get turn- byturn directions to their bike when they are away or have parked it, share the current location of the vehicle, and

Rohan Verma

simultaneously monitor multiple bikes - location and movement on the map.

Car Tracking Device DriveMate, a plug-and-play car tracking device, launched by the company last year, connects to the car via the vehicles OBD-II port which is usually found beneath the steering wheel. It has built-in GPS and Internet connectivity, which works in conjunction with MapmyIndia’s maps and monitors the car’s location and transmits it to the owner’s smartphone via a Drivemate app available across Android, iOS, Windows and web platforms. It can also be integrated with a range of third party apps. The system records driver behaviour such as harsh braking, acceleration, over-speeding and vehicle misuse and alerts the owner via the app. Additionally, it provides information about the car’s insurance expiry and service schedules. Owners can use this device to monitor multiple cars on their mobile phone. Apart from the automotive industry the company has services for FMCG, telecom and other sectors. The company has recently devised a Digital Address System that replaces the postal address with a unique, verified, six-character alphanumeric code. Known as eLoc, MapmyIndia has fed 20 million eLoc on the map and is being used by government agencies. The firm expects a five-fold increase in revenue touching Rs 1,000 crore over the next five years. “In 2017-18 we will focus on getting to adopt more and more products,” Verma said. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 41

COVER STORY

Telematics Transforms Insurance Industry By Louis Rumao The New Model Usage-Based Insurance (UBI) is a recent innovation by auto insurers that more closely aligns driving behaviours with premium rates for insurance. Insurance telematics collects driver and vehicle behavior, analyzes that data, and use them to improve policyholder risk modeling, reduce costs, and better attract and retain policyholders.

elematics, the interdisciplinary field that covers telecommunications, vehicular technologies, road transportation, road safety, electrical engineering which includes sensors, instrumentation, wireless communications, etc., is transforming the relationship between consumers and automotive insurance industry. The century-old automotive industry has been deploying innovations to make vehicles faster, safer, and more comfortable. However, the automotive insurance industry started to evolve only recently. Drivers buy auto insurance, mostly because it is mandatory, to protect themselves against damage to their vehicles and to cover liability for damage caused to others. In the US, it costs about $1200 a year for insurance coverage for an average sedan. Of course, that price tag varies based on the driver’s record, the type of car and even where the driver lives.

Pricing: Traditional Model Determining how much one pays for auto insurance is complicated – 42 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

probably like determining airfares! Traditional auto insurance relies on actuarial studies of aggregated historical data to produce rating factors that include driving record, credit-based insurance score, personal characteristics (age, gender, and marital status), vehicle type, garage location, vehicle use, previous claims, liability limits, and deductibles. In general, the following categories tend to influence car insurance premium the most:•

Driving record and accident history

•

Age, gender, and marital status

•

Location of residence (city vs. suburb vs. rural)

•

Make and model of vehicle

One’s financial credit worthiness, how one uses the vehicle and the prior insurance history, though to a lesser extent, are also factors that affect insurance premiums. This is a static or reactionary model of setting insurance premiums, and may be unfair to some drivers.

Mileage and driving behaviors are tracked using odometer readings or in-vehicle telecommunication devices (telematics) that are usually self-installed into a special vehicle port or already integrated into the original equipment installed by car manufactures. The basis of telematics auto insurance is that a driver’s behavior is monitored directly while the person drives. These telematics devices measure a number of elements of interest to underwriters: Miles driven; time of day; where the vehicle is driven (GPS); rapid acceleration; hard braking; hard cornering; and airbag deployment. The level of data collected generally reflects the telematics technology employed and the policyholder’s willingness to share personal data. The insurance company then assesses the data and charges insurance premiums accordingly. For example, a driver who drives long distance at high speed will be charged a higher rate than a driver who drives short distances at slower speeds. With UBI, premiums are collected using a variety of methods, including, debit accounts, direct billing and smart card systems. The first UBI programme surfaced in the US about a decade ago, when some insurance companies began to offer mileage-linked discounts through combined GPS technology

and cellular systems that tracked miles driven. These discounts are often combined with ancillary benefits like roadside assistance and vehicle theft recovery. Recent accelerations in technology have increased the effectiveness and reduced the cost of using telematics, enabling insurers to capture not just how many miles people drive, but how and when they drive too. Telematics devices collect many driving behavior data points and the list grows daily as the telematics features improve. The number and variety of data points available to insurers to optimize pricing models expands as telematics devices evolve. Common data points include: Location; speed; cornering and braking severity; trip duration; road type; distance and direction. The data collected are only useful if they can be translated into actionable insights an insurer can use to improve business outcomes. The collected vehicle data are analyzed to identify driving behaviors that indicate risk. A score can be assigned to signify to an insurer the relative risk of each driver. Telematics suppliers translate available data into actionable information the insurers can use to identify risky behavior. Common risky behaviors include: Night driving; frequent driving; frequent hard breaking or acceleration and distracted driving. Event Data Recorder (EDR) Black Boxes, which could be built-in, or supplied by insurance companies, collect the data.

Pricing Through UBI The pricing scheme for UBI deviates greatly from that of traditional auto insurance. UBI has the advantage of utilizing individual and current driving behaviuors, rather than relying on aggregated statistics and driving records that are based on past trends and events, to make premium pricing more individualized and precise. UBI programmes offer many advantages to insurers, consumers and society. According to Rob Martin, North American Operations Director, Octo Telematics, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Insurance companies can improve their profitability by 20 percent, while most drivers can enjoy up to 30 percent reduction in their premiums, while reducing typical claim processing time from 25-30 days to less than 15 daysâ&#x20AC;?. This increases affordability for lowerrisk drivers, many of whom are also lower-income drivers. It also gives consumers the ability to control their premium costs by encouraging them to reduce miles driven and adopt safer driving habits. Less miles and safer driving also aid in reducing accidents, congestion, and vehicle emissions, which benefit society. The use of telematics helps insurers more accurately estimate accident damages and reduce fraud by enabling them to analyze the driving data (such as hard braking, speed, and time) during an accident. Additionally, the ancillary safety benefits offered in conjunction with many telematics-based UBI programmes also help lower accident

and vehicle theft-related costs by improving accident response time, allowing for stolen vehicles to be tracked and recovered, and monitoring driver safety. Telematics also allow fleet to determine the most efficient routes, saving them costs related to personnel, gas, and maintenance.

The Challenges The practice of tracking mileage and behavior information in UBI programmes has raised privacy concerns. As a result, some States have enacted legislation requiring disclosure of tracking practices and devices. Additionally, some insurers limit the data they collect. Although not for everyone, acceptance of information sharing is growing as more mainstream technology devices (such as smartphones, tablets, and GPS devices) and social media networks (such as Facebook and Twitter) enter the market. Implementing a UBI programme, particularly one that utilizes telematics, can be costly and resource-intensive to the insurer. Insurers must also manage regulatory requirements within the States that they do business. Many States require insurers to obtain approval for the use of new rating plans.

The Future UBI is poised for rapid growth in the US. About 70 percent of all auto insurance carriers are expected to use telematics UBI by 2020. Telematicsbased UBI growth is being propelled by technology advances, which continue to improve the cost, convenience, and effectiveness of using telematics devices. It is through the use of telematics that insurers are able to collect driving data that better enable them to link more closely a driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s individual risk with premium. Through the UBI programmes, insurers are able to differentiate products, gain competitive advantage, and encourage safe driving. Recognition of the social benefits and growing consumer acceptance of personal data collection will only serve to increase demand for telematicsbased UBI products in the future. NB: Photos are representational.

AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 43

PERSPECTIVE

IoT Transforms Automotive industry By Ashish Gulati

he Indian automotive industry is one of the largest in the world and it accounts for 7.1 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). According to Brand Equity Foundation the twowheeler segment is the leader in the Indian Automotive market with 81 per cent market share owing to a growing middle class and a young population. The overall Passenger Vehicle (PV) segment accounts for 13 per cent market share. India is also a prominent vehicle exporter and has strong export growth expectations. In April-January 2016, exports of commercial vehicles registered a growth of 18.36 per cent over AprilJanuary 2015. As per the Indian Brand Equity Foundation, several initiatives by the Government of India and the major automobile players in the Indian market are expected to make India a global leader in the twowheeler (2W) and four-wheeler (4W) segments by 2020. Globally, companies are pouring money into the Internet of Things, and one area of particular interest to investors is “IoT Connected cars”. According to the Business Insider, automakers have been noticing the growing trends with significant business opportunities for connecting their cars. It is expected that 381 million connected cars would be on the roads by 2020. This is up from 36 million in 2015. Connected cars will generate $8.1 trillion worth of revenues between 2015 and 2020. Nowadays automakers connect their vehicles in two different ways: First is Embedded connections i.e cars use a built-in antenna and chipset. Second one is Tethered connections which are used in hardware to allow drivers to connect to their cars via their smart phones. Furthermore, app integration is becoming commonplace in today’s vehicles. Google Maps and other navigation tools have begun 44 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

to replace built-in GPS systems. As per Markets and Market, the automotive IoT market is expected to grow from USD 15.87 Billion in 2015 to USD 82.79 billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 26.75 percent during the forecast period The connected vehicle has been the most visible and familiar example of the IoT technology. But as cars become increasingly software-driven, the real IoT developments in the auto industry are behind the scenes, as automakers and software providers both lay claim to the driver’s seat. Gartner predicts that by 2020, more than 250 million vehicles will be connected globally, with the number of installed connectivity units in vehicles worldwide increasing by 67 percent and with consumer spend on in-vehicle connectivity doubling. Deloitte’s consumer research suggests that drivers of the next generation want their cars to act as smart phones on wheels. They would like to remain connected and productive while on the go, consider fully connected vehicles among the most beneficial futuristic technologies. Moreover, they would be ready to pay a sizeable amount for a vehicle that meets all their technology needs and wants. As IoT technologies and services transform the automobile ecosystem, this ecosystem is witnessing a steady influx of new players and a continued evolution in the roles of key stakeholders and the balance of power among them. Of particular interest is the evolving relationship between automakers and software providers. Each has a viable claim on the driver’s seat in the rapidly changing auto-industry ecosystem, even as each new generation of services promises to throw into question just how long one might have their hands on the wheel and can keep them there.

Ashish Gulati

In India the Government encourages foreign investment in the automobile sector and allows 100 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) under the automatic route. The Government aims to make automobile manufacturing the main driver of the `Make in India’ initiative, as it expects the passenger vehicles market to triple to 9.4 million units by 2026, as highlighted in the Auto Mission Plan (AMP) 2016-26. The government has formulated a Scheme for Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric and Hybrid vehicles in India, under the National Electric Mobility Mission 2020, to encourage the progressive introduction of reliable, affordable, and efficient electric and hybrid vehicles into the country. The Future of IoT will become increasingly important in transportation and logistics in the next several years, especially as selfdriving cars hit the road in increasing numbers. But this is just one area that IoT will totally transform according to Business Insider intelligence. Nearly all sectors across industries would be impacted by the IoT revolution and we have to see how this revolution transforms our day-today lives in the near future. Ashish Gulati is the Country Head of Telit India; views expressed are personal.

PREVIEW

MCVE 2017 Opens Doors

ith a stellar line-up of exhibitors and a well-rounded fringe programme, Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Exhibition 2017(MCVE 2017) is set to be true to be the largest commercial vehicle exhibition in South-East Asia. The main attraction of the event, during May 18-20, 2017, will be the exhibitors who will showcase their latest technology and products. Filling the entire 8,000 square meters of the main halls, there are over 60 exhibitors vying for the attention of delegates from Malaysia and surrounding countries. Some have even opted to display additional products outside the halls. We are happy with the turnout in terms of exhibitor participation as we have managed to assemble the top brands of the industry for the show.

Connected Mobility M2M communication, GPS and other gadgets now allow for self-driving vehicles. Numerous countries are conducting trials and there is also truck platooning. In summary, we are heading towards exciting times and our expo will be a ground for participating companies to showcase their innovations and thoughts. Following the success of the past events, many have returned, some of whom with increased space for their booths. Meanwhile, others have joined the existing list of exhibitors

By Stefan Pertz to make use of the exhibition to meet new customers, refresh connections and to mix and mingle. We are happy to say that the event is a sell-out and we would like to thank the industry for the support.

Fringe Programme Besides the exhibition, we have a fringe programme which sees various components again. The Scania Driver Competition MCVE Edition and Scania Driver’s Lounge will be back and we encourage everyone to participate in the competition. It is also the seventh year for the annual Asian Trucker Networking Night. Here we have the support of MAN Truck and Bus Malaysia, which allowed us to put together a programme including performances, music and a lot of fun. For business discussions and for Rest & Recreation we are offering an R & R themed area where we serve free food and coffee. Guardian South-East Asia, experts in the field of Fatigue Detection, is the sponsor for the R & R. Back again is the Best Booth Design award, whereby delegates can cast their votes for the nicest exhibition spaces. Last year’s winners for the bare space donated their prize money to charities.

Scania Driver Competition The biannual Scania Driver Competition (SDC) is now officially on and, as with every edition, it is now more challenging than before with tougher rules and scenarios that are designed to make Scania truck and bus drivers better equipped 46 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

with skills to match the demands of the commercial vehicle industry. Just like in the previous editions, a mini SDC will be held and this time it will be at the Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Expo 2017, Mines Exhibition and Convention Centre, May 18-20, 2017. Open to the public, anyone with a standard car driving license can experience what it is like to face the challenge of a bus or truck driver in a secured and enclosed environment. The purpose of this test & drive is to generate public appreciation of the challenging environment that the truck and bus drivers face every day. Participants of the SDC-SEA can also test and practice their skills before the main event to win prizes.

Asian Trucker Drivers Club Offering a platform to meet other drivers, exchange ideas and to connect with other industry players, the Asian Trucker Drivers Club will host a lunch for its members. The lunch is scheduled for Saturday, May 20, 2017 and will take place inside the Exhibition Centre. This is an exclusive event for members only. Those wanting to join but haven’t registered as members may sign up for the club during the day itself. This gathering for members of our club is sponsored by Volvo Trucks and Giti Tires. NB: Photos are from the last edition of MCVE (Stefan Pertz, Editor – Asian Trucker Malaysia & Asian Business, is the Organizer of MCVE 2017)

The largest international trade exhibition for the automotive service industry in the wider Middle East

7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9 May 2017

Be part of the 15th edition to meet and trade with thousands of manufacturers, distributors and suppliers from across the world. A visit is highly recommended. To be part of this edition, pre-register at www.automechanikaDubai.com/ABM

ANALYSIS

Marginal Rise In Automotive Sales In February 2017 APA Bureau

utomotive sales in India grew 0.94 percent in February 2017 to 17, 19,699 units from 17,03,736 units in the same month a year ago, according to the latest report by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM). Buoyed by new launches, especially in the utility vehicle segment, such

With sales of 9,002 units, the compact Automotive exports from India in FebruSUV accounted ary grew 11.8 percent to 285,265 units for nearly a fifth of this. The February 1 Union Budget newly launched City, the company has positively impacted customers’ posted a 9.4 percent increase in disposable income and the overall monthly volumes to 14,249 units. business sentiment. Footfalls and Yoichiro Ueno, President and Chief conversions at showrooms have Executive Officer, HCIL, said, “The improved, Rakesh Srivastava, Senior market has shown positive sentiment Vice President, during February and HCIL has also Sales and benefitted from it. This month’s Car makers sold 2,56,342 units in Marketing, said. sales growth has been driven by an February, up from 2,34,154 in the Led by the refreshed excellent response to the new Honda year-ago period City 2017, which has received over Fortuner and 10,000 bookings so far.” Mahindra Innova , Toyota’s & Mahindra’s volumes slipped 13 February sales rose as Maruti Suzuki’s Vitara Brezza, percent to 20,605 units. 12 percent to 11,543 units . “The passenger vehicle sales increased recovery in the market is led by new Commercial vehicle segment grew 9.5 percent in February. According launches, especially in the utility seven percent in 2017 to 66,939 units to the SIAM report, car makers sold vehicle segment. We sold the highestfrom 62,359 units sold in the same 2,56,342 units in February, up from ever numbers of the Fortuner in month a year ago. Three wheeler 2,34,154 in the year-ago period. February. The Innova Crysta too has segment continued to reel under Utility Vehicle segment registered 21 a waiting of up to six weeks,“ N Raja, pressure as its sales fell 21 percent in percent growth in February by selling Senior Vice President of Sales and 65,877 units as against 54,089 units in Marketing, Toyota the same month a year ago. Kirloskar Motor, Utility Vehicle segment registered 21 said. Maruti Suzuki continued to fare percent growth in February by selling well, reporting 11.5 percent rise in The car maker’s 65,877 units domestic sales to 1,20,599 units. domestic volumes Though the sales of small cars surged 52 percent like Alto and WagonR declined 6.8 to 8,338 units last percent to 33,079 units, those of February to 35,356 units from 44,956 month as it sold more EcoSport compacts such as the Swift, Ignis, units sold in the same month a year models. Renault’s volumes rose 27 Celerio, Baleno and DZire rose 9.4 ago. The major dip came from the percent to 11,198 units thanks to percent to 47,002 units. Sales of the passenger carrier segment which the Kwid, which accounted for 9,600 Ciaz sedan rose 14 percent to 5,886 declined 29 percent. units. units. Led by Vitara Brezza, demand Tata Motors continued to thrive on the Exports in the utility vehicle segment more newly launched Tiago and Hexa. The than doubled to 17,863 units. Automotive exports from India in homegrown auto major’s wholesale February grew 11.8 percent to Hyundai Motor India enjoyed strong volumes last month increased 12 285,265 units from 255,076 shipped demand for the Creta with overall percent to 12,272 units. out of India in February a year sales up four percent to 42,327 units. ago. Two-wheeler exports grew Honda Cars India 19.29 percent in the same month (HCIL), which to 197,531units. Passenger vehicle struggled to Commercial vehicle segment grew exports grew 7.43 percent to 62,319 boost sales last seven percent in 2017 to 66,939 units units in February. Commercial vehicle year, benefitted from 62,359 units sold in the same month and three-wheeler exports declined from the upswing a year ago 6.40 percent and 23.88 percent, in sentiment. respectively. Buoyed by the

48 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

EVENT

Automotive Mission Plan For TN MSMEs Under Way APA Bureau

amil Nadu will introduce an automotive mission plan to encourage and accelerate the growth of MSMEs. The ‘mission plan’ will be to make the national automotive policies statespecific, and to promote technology, R&D, and skill development programmes, according to Ambuj Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary/ Industries Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu. He was inaugurating a conference on ‘Automotive R&D Trends,’ 9th Edition, with the theme; ‘Strategizing R&D: Products for India and the Global Market’. The event was organised by the Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Centre of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). About the role of the Government and of the consumers in the automotive industry, Sharma said that the regulatory standards set the tone for the society’s expectations and the goals for industry. He traced the journey of the Indian automotive industry since the economic liberalisation, and emphasised the need for global technical standards and for meeting the local imperatives. “Merely setting the standards is not enough. The Government also provides the infrastructure or base for achieving the standards by setting up labs and testing facilities,” Sharma said. He urged the industry to make use of the R&D infrastructure of the Government institutions, where services are available at less rates than the similar international ones.

“Tamil Nadu has always been among the top manufacturing hubs in the country, and has encouraged the automotive industry. Time has come for us to invest in R&D in a big way, through collaborative research among industry players, and the support of major mobility users such as cab aggregators. From the Government’s side, we will offer policy interventions, financial assistance, and built-up space for enterprises,” Sharma said. A panel discussion on ‘Make in India – Manufacturing Capital for Emerging Markets,’ focussed on the current scenario of automotive R&D, challenges ahead and attempts to project the future of research and development in India in comparison with global trends and the views of the stakeholders on global standards. Plenary sessions were on: ‘Automotive R&D Mega Trends – Global Perspective and Indian Standpoint’; ‘Safety and Integrated mobility;’ ‘Affordability and Competitiveness’; and ‘Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 Impact on Automotive sector.’ Vikram Kirloskar, Conference Chairman, and Deputy Chairman, CII southern region (at the time of conference) and Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Ltd, underlined the importance of R &D for sustainable growth that works towards enhanced fuel efficiency, and gradual reduction of CO2 emissions in the entire chain of automotive industry, without disrupting the current ecosystem. “Designs play a crucial role in bringing changes to the automotive industry. India has many young, talented designers who will shape

the future of the vehicles, by bringing in innovative designs to cater to the evolving needs of the consumer,” he said. Technology advances are blurring the boundaries between the digital and physical worlds. Intelligent, interconnected systems now seamlessly support activities along the entire value chain, Kirloskar said. R Balasundaram, Executive Director (Manufacturing), Ford India Private Ltd, spoke about the three trends affecting the automotive industry in India, viz. regulations, exports, and R&D. On ‘Automotive R&D Megatrends - Global Perspectives & India Standpoint,’ Nagesh Basavanhalli, Managing Director and CEO, Greaves Cotton Ltd, said that the automotive world is staring at several and simultaneous disruptions, with the future moving towards electric, digital and shared solutions. “How are R&D teams preparing to work on multiple and simultaneous disruptions? Will industry collaboration be the mantra for survival? Can start-ups be the solution for challenges facing the industry?” he asked. In his view, the top six trends impacting R&D are: Energy transformation, connectivity software and digital, material science, autonomous vehicles, safety, and asymmetric competition. While China is investing substantial resources in new age materials to push electrification further, India is only taking baby steps in traditional R&D. The emerging areas include powertrain and vehicle design, he said. “There is an opportunity for India to be an innovator with frugal spend. Reimagining and agility of business model are key to growth of companies. Intuitively creating solutions fulfilling customer desires is expected to drive competitive edge,” Basavanhalli said. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 49

EVENT

550 Exhibitors At ACMA Automechanika Delhi

Indian Aftermarket To Reach $13 Billion By 2020 APA Bureau

he Indian automotive aftermarket was worth Rs 56,098 crore (US$ 8.4 billion) in 2016-17. It will reach Rs 75,705 crore (US$ 13 billion) by 201920, says a study titled ‘Automotive Aftermarket – The Road Ahead’, by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA). The study highlights the key trends that impact the future of the industry and covers areas such as vehicle telematics, alternate fuels, vehicle servicing, e-retailing, and also GST and supply chain practices. The ACMA Aftermarket study was released at the third edition of the automotive aftermarket trade fair, ACMA Automechanika Delhi 2017, organised by ACMA and Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, during March 21-24, 2017. Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, said, “The Indian automotive aftermarket stood at Rs 56,098 crore in 2016-17, having a total vehicle parc of 228.7 million across the country. With a CAGR of 10.5 percent it will be Rs 75,705 crore by 2019-20.”

Over 550 Exhibitors The ACMA Automechanika Delhi 2017 had over 550 exhibitors from 17 countries and showcased the latest products and processes for the aftermarket. Spread across 19,500 sqm, the biennial event which offered an effective networking platform for wholesalers, distributors, traders and component manufacturers, gave also access to global technology culture for future synergies and partnerships. The event focussed on three key themes: Convergence of Technologies in the Automotive 50 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Plant; Skilling India for Industry 4.0; and on Surface Engineering in Automotive Industry through a series of specialised workshops and conferences. Regarded as one of the most influential for the aftermarket business in India, the trade fair was held at Pragati Maidan and saw an increase in the number of exhibitors from 280 in the first edition to 550 this year. International participation also increased 40 percent with contingents from China, Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, the UAE, and the US. The fair had 28 percent increase in exhibitors and 25 percent increase in exhibition space. Leading technology players, including Banner Engineering India, Dow Corning India, Faro Business Technologies India, ifm electronic

India, Keysight Technologies India, Leuze Electronic, Micro-Epsilon India, MSC Software Corporation India, and SAP partner Cogniscient Business Solutions, showcased technologies for lowering costs and optimizing performance in vehicle and component manufacturing at this three-day exhibition. Raj Manek, Managing Director and Director at Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India, attributed the success of the fair to India’s growing popularity as a sourcing hub. “The government’s message of making India a manufacturing hub has gone around in the last two years improving quality. This, together with the timing and reforms in policies, has helped the show.” However, he was sceptical about the condition of the trade fair venue in New Delhi, the Pragati Maidan. “My question is what will be ready in

Pragati Maidan by the end of 2018. They told me it will be ready but I am not sure, I fully believe them,” he said.

consumption, while the tractor segment has the highest consumption of U-parts at 40 percent.

ACMA Aftermarket Study

Maharashtra has the highest number of registered two-wheelers, threewheelers and commercial vehicles. The National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest population of passenger cars, with Maharashtra ranking second. The NCR and Greater Chennai have the highest population of two- wheelers at 6.1 million and 5.1 million, respectively.

According to the ACMA study, passenger vehicle segment, the genuine OE spares account for around 40 percent of the total components consumption while the remaining 60 percent is split evenly between IAM (Independent After Market) branded parts, and U-parts (Parts from Unorganised segment). The IAM branded parts consumption is highest in the CV segment, estimated at 50 percent of the total

Greater Mumbai has the highest number of three-wheeler registrations at 3,65,500. The highest commercial vehicle registrations are noted in the

NCR region, Greater Hyderabad, Greater Mumbai and Bengaluru. Bhatinda and Ferozpur have the highest tractor populations at 72, 900 and 71,000 units, respectively. Of the total Indian aftermarket, two and three-wheeler segments account for around Rs 12,038 crore, the passenger car segment accounts for Rs 18,970 Crore, commercial vehicles Rs 19, 748 crore and tractor Rs 5,342 crore. The penetration of counterfeit auto components has come down from 36 percent in 2010-11 to five percent in 2016-17. However their place has been taken over by U-parts.

‘Quality Of The Show Has Improved’ Says, Michael Johannes, Vice President, Brand Management Automechanika, MesseFrankfurt Exhibition GmbH. Q: There is a lot of buzz on the first day itself. How do you assess ACMA Automechanika 2017? A: I am extremely happy. You can certainly see the improvements if you compare this show with that in 2015. Not only that it is bigger in size, it is bigger in international participation and in the number of pavilions. Really the quality of the show has improved. The increasing number of foreign visitors indicates that India is becoming more and more a sourcing platform for the aftermarket industry and everybody can be very happy in India, if this is the case. We see a lot of potential for the aftermarket in the upcoming years. My team did a fantastic job and we have very good co-operation with ACMA. Things are moving in the right direction. Q: What are the key drivers for this growth; is it a greater recognition for the 3rd edition?

A: I think the aftermarket industry has improved because a lot of companies - international and local see the huge potential for India in the upcoming years. This means there is more development. The quality is getting better and this might be the reason for having so many international visitors here. Q: Any other reason that you see for the increase in response? A: You have ‘Made in India’ products. The Indian companies have gone out into the different markets, the 17 different Automechanika platforms around the world. I think now the buyers recognise that there are a lot of good quality products in India. Q: Going forward where do you see ACMA Automechanika, especially in terms of growth, of space occupied, exhibitors or visitors or all these put together?

AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 51

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A: I am convinced that we will have a bigger show and more visitors. I think it is obvious that technology is moving very fast. This will have impact for aftermarket also. There is a huge demand for information, especially at this time and if you talk about industry 4.0 India has to get ready for this as well. Therefore, I think there is a lot of movement in the demand of information, and business is moving very fast. Q: Which are the fast growing Automechanika editions? A: I think it has a lot to do with the rules and regulations of the governments. The development in different markets will have a different pace. About the Shanghai edition, China has bigger volumes than India. Here in India roads are not in the best condition. Still the average number of cars is increasing. These are good things for aftermarket. Q: Which is next to Shangai? A: I would say Frankfurt is the number one. From the concept of Automechanika, Dubai is different because in Dubai we are talking

a lot of import-export. We have a very strong show coming up in May in Dubai. We have other markets like Istanbul, Mexico, and Chicago where we combine two shows. Q: How is digitalisation influencing Messe Frankfurt? A: I think we have to be prepared. We invented last year, during Automechanika Frankfurt, for the first time, the concept of connected mobility which we then brought to Shanghai also. Connected mobility, and internet of things will become more and more important. We as a company have invented a new show which will take place in November and will display intelligent transport systems in Frankfurt. Everybody has to be prepared for the coming years. When we display this show in November it will be all about how to connect the road, the rail, the sea and the air. We will be talking about supply chain management, mobility concept, what will happen to new cars, electric cars, and autonomous cars etc. I think always we will have to find out the most important

topics and how we can put our shows in place. Q: In conducting Automechanika which is a brick and mortar show and established for ages, how are you trying to leverage digital technology for its growth? A: I think it is all about content; we try to bring a lot of content as well. It is a lot about digitisation and how this will affect the aftermarket in the future. Therefore, we have to take care of these topics and exchange information. There is a huge demand from exhibitors, buyers, and visitors to get to know in which direction the whole thing will go. Q: What are your immediate plans? A: There is nothing for the moment which can be shared. We are in discussion with the customers about what would be interesting to them. We are doing a lot of research at the moment to find out in which market to be in the coming years. We are happy and stable and it is important for us to deliver quality of the show rather than expand.

Accent On Quality Accelerates Sourcing Raj Manek, Executive Director, and Member of Board, Messe Frankfurt Asia Holdings Ltd., told AutoParts Asia that the message of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Make In Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has improved quality of products and increased international sourcing. This has made the third edition of ACMA Automechanika 2017 very successful.

52 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Q: What worked for the third edition? A: May be the size. The first and second editions were also successful. The show happens every two years and the response has become better and better. The exhibition has grown 28 percent in space, 25 percent in the number of exhibitors and 40 percent in international participation. Q: What is the key driver for this metamorphosis? A: I think it is the Automechanika brand which has a huge amount of value and it is the third edition. There is also the strength of 20,000 sq mts. Secondly, the government message of `Make in Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; has been getting to everybody, not only in India but also elsewhere. The international participants are looking for sourcing in India as quality has gone up. So a combination of all these has helped the show. In exhibitions the first two editions

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do not matter much however good they are. The third edition is always the benchmark for any exhibition. Q: So you have crossed the threshold limit? A: Exactly, we are crossing the threshold limit. Now we can say that we have a show which is strongly established in the market. It is the one show for aftermarket and it is the number one show. Q: Is the next edition going to be phenomenal? A: Yes, and if India continues to go the way it is going, then the next will be bigger. Now my biggest question is what will be ready in the Pragati Maidan in 2019 and will it be ready? Q: Do you have some other venue? A: Of course we have a back-up plan. But I am just trying to get some idea about what is the reality. Q: Your topic, Digitization, for the seminar, was fantastic. How do you leverage digitization

for the exhibition? A: We can do it for India, because we can take each market for where it stands. Today here in India it is knowledge, so we have to create knowledge platforms. Here they are craving for knowledge, even the seminar we are holding for the skill set requirement, so in doing this we are creating the knowledge platform to get ready for the digitization age or industry 4.0. Q: Lastly, there are some specific display areas in Frankfurt and Shanghai where demonstrations happen. That’s not quiet here. Is there any impediment?

A: The demand for the show area is so much that we have no other space. There is space constraint. There were a couple of features that we wanted to try. Like we have 15 product launches here. It would have been great to have a product launch area. But we could not find space. Of course all these things will come in. I think, with extra space coming in we will be able to do more things.

Innovations For Shop Floor APA Bureau

ndia’s leading technology players, including Banner Engineering, Dow Corning, Faro Business Technologies, ifm electronic India, Keysight Technologies India, Leuze Electronic, Micro-Epsilon India, MSC Software, SAP partner Cogniscient Business Solutions and others, showcased the latest in automotive manufacturing technologies at the recently- concluded Automotive Engineering Show, organised along with ACMA Automechanika Delhi 2017. The co-located platforms targeting automotive manufacturing and aftermarket opened new doors for business, networking and sourcing cost-efficient automobile factory solutions. The automotive industry is at the core of India’s manufacturing economy with India positioned to become one of the world’s most attractive automotive AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 53

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markets for both manufacturers and consumers. Focussing on future-oriented innovations for the shop floor, Automotive Engineering Show presented some important technological highlights such as a single software platform for all types of CMM machines and 3D Scanners integrating Automotive OEM inspection practices by PolyWorks India; The turboSPEED DZ140, an eddy current-based revolution counter for turbochargers by MicroEpsilon; A new Q4X Series of laser sensors by Banner which is a highperformance laser measurement sensor capable of exceptional levels of precision; Plastiform technology from France that creates sub-micron level replicas of components in less than six minutes by Bombay Tools; Measure coating thickness in smallest of areas, grooves etc with innovative probes and gauges from 54 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

Elektrophysik Germany by Bombay Tools; The FARO Cobalt Array Imager, an unlimited Multi-Imager Scanning Configuration which captures millions of high resolution 3D coordinate measurements in seconds. An industry first, the Cobalt Array Imager is equipped with dedicated on-board processors that can dramatically improve cycle time; The IO-Link, an Interface to Industry 4.0 by IFM Electronic; Flame detectors & High temperature heat detectors are specially designed to suit in fire protection by Agni Controls; and MITCORP, an advanced Videoborescope/ Endoscope used for Remote Visual Inspection in Automotive Industries, and a Miniscanner from Amsterdam Technology used for Spot/Laser weld Scanning by MAARG Technologies. With low-cost, reliable and

efficient technologies dedicated to engineering and design processes of automotive industries as well as target planning, shop floor and quality control technologies on display, the fair became an important stopover for any vehicle manufacturers planning to expand. Alongside the exhibition area, a specialised conference brought together delegates from top notch automotive OEMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Tier 1 and 2 component manufacturers, besides leading IT and technology solution providers. The high-profile gathering opened discussions on three key themes leading disruptive innovations in the industry such as: Convergence of Technologies in the Automotive Plant; Skilling India for Industry 4.0; Workshop on Surface Engineering in Automotive Industry.

INSIGHTS

Triaxial Shaker Testing For Automotive Parts R By Deepak Jariwala

igorous vibration testing of all automobile and truck parts and assemblies is a generally accepted product development paradigm. Vehicles that are expected to deliver 100,000 miles or more of satisfactory services are routinely subjected to various levels of shock and vibration over the course of their road life. In the past several decades it has become increasingly apparent that the road excitation of these vehicles is not one-dimensional. In fact we regularly see vibration and shock inputs coming to these vehicles from all 3 major axes, as well as some rotational excitations. Traditionally, laboratory simulations of real-world road excitations have been performed in serial fashion: First X-axis, then Y-axis, then Z-axis. However, more than 20 years ago, Himelblau and others showed the Aerospace community how the use of simultaneous X, Y, Z excitation could shorten testing time while providing increased potential fatigue damage of the articles under test. This same principle is now being used to test automotive and other vehicle assemblies with increasing success. There are many ways to configure multiple shakers for simultaneously exciting multiple Degrees of Freedom on a test article. In current configurations, around the world, this

plan. These include: The size of your test article, relative to the size of the test table; The required test level in g’s to be imparted to the test article, and The required frequency range of the test.

If these are all feasible and there is sufficient clearance from the test article to the shaker arrangement, your test may be a go. The photo shows a Front-end Accessory Drive Package from a diesel driven piece of construction equipment.

may involve anywhere from 2 to 12 independent Vibration Exciters. How these exciters are coupled to the Item under test is a critical consideration and can often be the difference between success and failure in achieving the desired results. Many test labs do not have the experience or staff to design a multiple degree-offreedom testing system. So they have chosen to purchase a `standard’ 3 DOF system of a size which will suit their testing requirements. Several shaker companies now offer 3-Dimensional Electrodynamic shaker systems with various sized platforms or working table dimensions. Typically these systems vary in Force rating from 3 to 5 tons per axis. For many components and assemblies used in autos and trucks this is more than sufficient. Still it is always good practice to check 3 essential parameters when embarking on a 3 DOF test

Several types of vibration tests can be performed on X, Y, Z systems like the one shown. These can include Broadband Random, Swept Sine, Narrowband Random on top of Broadband Random, Swept Sine Tones on top of Broadband Random, Transient excitation, Replication of Measured Field Vibration and various other combinations. Test article responses can be simultaneously measured and Limits applied to avoid excessive Force inputs or test levels. Although the excitation frequency range for many mechanical parts may be limited to several hundred Hertz, the increased use of electronics and computer modules in vehicles can often necessitate vibration excitations up to 2,000 Hz. Figure 2 shows the controlled X, Y, Z inputs to a test article being excited from 10 Hz to 1,024 Hz. The use of simultaneous X, Y, Z vibration excitation can significantly reduce project test times. At the same time, triaxial excitation can cause approximately twice as much fatigue damage as sequential uniaxial excitation and may precipitate failures not caused by sequential testing. NB: Deepak Jariwala is Regional Manager (SE Asia), Vibration and Shock Technologist, Spectral Dynamics, Inc. – USA. Views expressed are personal. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 55

GLEANINGS INDIA

ZF Launches Openmatics In India APA Bureau

F Aftermarket, the second largest supplier of parts, services and solutions in the global automotive aftermarket, launched Openmatics, a flexible, open telematics platform for vehicle applications, at ACMA Automechanika New Delhi 2017. The Openmatics system, with an onboard unit in the vehicle, records data for all the desired telematics applications. Outsourced servers take over the data conversion and storage. The users can access the data through a web portal on the computer, tablet PC or a smartphone. The different telematics services are offered as modular software applications, so that the fleet or vehicle operators can freely select and combine them as desired and customize the telematics solutions. The Openmatics Dashboard offers customers the scope to develop new ideas to enhance utility. Faster

processing of vehicle returns at rental car companies is one potential option. The app helps the rental company to see which vehicles have already been fully refuelled as they enter the parking garage. These vehicles are then directed for a quick checkout.

Flexible Solution Openmatics can be used by updating and upgrading its individual set of functions with selected basic apps or by adding or deleting them. Still all additional apps will be available for future use. Customers can also use individual apps, as Openmatics is a free platform. Another economic aspect of Openmatics is its simplicity. The users pay only for those telematics functions they use. The investment and installation costs are modest. They can use the device, transfer data, save them and the web portalmanaged services without buying.

Openmatics. Payments are monthly and the operability of the system is ensured for the entire contract period Vijay Khorgade, General Manager and Head of ZF Services India, said, intelligent connectivity is coming of age in India. It is a critical need given the pressure on the fleet operators to optimize performance. ZF’s Openmatics platform is a proven technology, which will help reduce the fleet management service providers’ downtime, improve efficiency and overall customer experience. We are extremely happy to share that technology.

Tenneco To Launch New Aftermarket Brands APA Bureau

Pankaj Kapoor

enneco will launch two new brands under its aftermarket brand – Monroe –OESpectrum and Matic Plus. These products were showcased at the recently- concluded ACMA Automechanika New Delhi show. The Deputy Managing Director of Tenneco India, Pankaj Kapoor, told 56 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

AutoParts Asia that OESpectrum is for consumers having three to four year old cars and who want their vehicles to provide superior ride in any driving condition. The shocks feature the revolutionary, patented Monroe R-TECH2 Rebound Valving Technology, which provides virtually instantaneous feedback and response to changing driving conditions for exceptional road-holding capability, a smoother ride and increased driver control and confidence. This technology is combined with the new high-speed Impact Control Valve. This, in turn, helps each OESpectrum unit deliver a unique blend of worldclass control and reduced noise, vibration and harshness. The shocks allow workshops and technicians to eliminate the compromise that has traditionally existed between precise vehicle control and unwanted ride harshness. The patented Monroe R-TECH Rebound Valving Technology utilizes two sets of precisely calibrated disks

separated by an eccentric “helical disk” to eliminate unwanted, abrupt changes in damping force. The more precise transition between damping control phases helps ensure more consistent control characteristics across a broader range of driving situations and conditions. Monroe Matic Plus is for slightly older cars and targets taxi segment. As this caters to the economy segment of cars, the product offers value to the customers, Kapoor said. There are different ranges for a wide category of vehicles. “In the next six month we will be launching the product in the Indian market.” In addition Tenneco has also showcased its range of steering system parts under Monroe brand, at the exhibition. “We are going to launch this range within this year. We are also expanding our range in to springs, gas springs and other peripheral parts for the suspension system,” he said.

GLEANINGS - International

BMW Group Wins iF Design Awards

APA Bureau

our BMW Group vehicles each received an “iF Award 2017”, bestowed by the renowned “International Forum Design”, in the category “Mobility / Professional Concept”. A high-class jury honoured the MINI VISION NEXT 100, the ROLLS-ROYCE VISION NEXT 100, the BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100 as well as the BMW Concept X2 for their innovative design and their future-oriented technologies. The coveted “iF Gold Award 2017” went to the BMW 5 Series Sedan in the category “Automobiles / Product”. With this prize, the jury affirmed yet again the outstanding work performed by BMW design. The jury comprising 58 international design experts decided that the “iF Gold Award 2017”, the highest accolade bestowed by the renowned “International Forum Design”, should go to the BMW 5 Series Sedan for

its innovative concept and dynamic, elegant design. In their judgement, the jury emphasised above all the clear precision of the sporty design, the brand-related recognisability of both interior and exterior as well as the balance between emotionality and visual presence. Five “iF Awards 2017” were bestowed on Designworks – A BMW Group Company - for products in the areas of mobility, lifestyle, user interaction and sport. The jury acknowledged the lifestyle shoe Puma X-CAT and the Revlon Pro Brushes, a series of ergonomic make-up brushes, and the tracked excavator 1050K Crawler, which was designed in collaboration with John Deere. Moreover, the BMW Racing Wheelchair, which was designed as a competition wheelchair for the Paralympics, and the concept BMW Vision Ride Helmet, a motorcycle helmet concept with

Head-Up Display, each received an iF Award. The accolades were awarded within the framework of the festive iF Design Awards Night 2017 at the BMW Welt in Munich. For many decades now the “iF Design Award” has been recognised as one of the world’s most significant design prizes and is acknowledged as a seal of quality for excellence in the field of design. In addition to the exterior appearance and shape of the product, the criteria of the renowned accolade, which has been awarded annually since 1953, also include the level of innovation, ergonomics, functionality and environmental aspects.

Magna Brings Carbon Fibre Composites Into Vehicle Structure

n pursuit of lower vehicle weight to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency, Magna International Inc., in cooperation with Ford Motor Company, has developed a prototype carbon fibre composite subframe which reduces mass by 34 percent compared to making a stamped steel equivalent. By replacing 45 steel parts with two moulded and four metallic parts, the prototype subframe achieves a dramatic 87 percent reduction in the number of parts. The mouldings are joined by adhesive bonding and structural rivets. The carbon fibre subframe is the result of a research and development project between Magna and Ford to investigate potential mass-reduction benefits and technical challenges of using carbon fibre-reinforced composites in chassis applications.

APA Bureau

The subframe is a key part of a vehicle’s structure, typically providing a place to attach the engine and wheels while also contributing rigidity and crash management. “When we are able to work in close partnership with a customer at the beginning of their design and engineering processes, it is an opportunity to bring our full Magna capabilities to fruition,” Grahame Burrow, President of Magna Exteriors, said in Paris. “We are able to take a clean-sheet approach with design, materials and processing, collaborate with the customer and within our product groups, and deliver a solution with the potential to really move the needle in terms of aggressive lightweighting without sacrificing styling or performance.” Magna’s engineering team – a collaborative effort between the

company’s body & chassis and exteriors product groups – combined its unique, full-vehicle knowledge on the design, materials and processing to address the challenge of reducing weight using composite materials and manufacturing processes. The design has passed all performance requirements based on computer-aided engineering (CAE) analyses. The prototype subframes are now being produced by Magna for component and vehicle-level testing at Ford. The testing phase will evaluate corrosion, stone chipping and bolt load retention, which are not currently measured by CAE. The project team will also develop a recommended design, manufacturing and assembly process with the experience gained during the prototype build and subsequent testing.

GLEANINGS - International

JLR, Getty Images Partnership To Project Women In Car Business

APA Bureau

aguar Land Rover and Getty Images have entered into a partnership on the International Women’s Day on March 8, 2017 to highlight the need for a more realistic visual representation of female engineers. More people than ever are searching images of women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) careers, yet results are often out-dated and do not reflect today’s exciting and varied roles. This partnership aims to change that. Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s largest car manufacturer, and Getty Images, a world leader in visual communication, have released pictures showing women at variety of STEM roles from aerodynamics to cyber and audio engineering. They are intended to encourage more women to apply for these jobs by accurately portraying the modern workplace. New data released by Getty Images show that web traffic for imagery showing women in engineering careers is significantly increasing. The number of people searching “women + STEM” imagery has risen by 526 per cent in the past year alone.

Fiona Pargeter, Jaguar Land Rover Global PR Communications Director, said: “We have always championed women in the car business and are committed to inspiring more girls and women to consider careers in engineering and manufacturing. Our female workforce has grown from nine to 11 per cent over the past four years due to our focused STEM initiatives. But this is still far too low. Using realistic imagery is one of the many ways that we can attract the bright minds we need into STEM careers.” Rebecca Swift, Director Creative Insight at Getty Images, said: “We are a passionate advocate for the realistic representation of women through imagery and are proud to be leading the visual industry in the creation and promotion of powerful, relevant imagery which celebrates diversity and authenticity in every area of life. Michelle Mortiboys, Vehicle Line Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, said:

“Here at Jaguar Land Rover we need the diversity of skills that women bring to ensure we thrive and maintain our competitive edge for years to come. It is well known that gender diversification in business is not just healthy culturally but also propels progressiveness and innovation. Our partnership with Getty Images is not just about recruiting women into engineering, it is a small part of the work that needs to be done to upscale female employees in the automotive sector as a whole.” Jaguar Land Rover has called for other leading manufacturers to follow suit by reassessing and updating their visual portrayal of women in STEM careers, in a bid to increase the number of women applying for STEM jobs.

Jaguar Unleashes First EV

aguar has unleashed its first electric vehicle – the Jaguar I-PACE – onto the streets for the first time. Driving on the streets of London’s famous Olympic Park, the electric performance SUV concept previews Jaguar’s first electric vehicle, the Jaguar I-PACE, which will be revealed in late 2017 and will be on the road in the second half of 2018. “The feedback on the I-PACE Concept has been fantastic. With the I-PACE Concept we have torn up the rule book to create a vehicle with supercar inspired aesthetics, sports car performance and SUV space, in one electric package. It has surprised people 58 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

APA Bureau

and the enthusiasm for our first electric vehicle has been beyond all my expectations”, Ian Callum, Director of Design, Jaguar, said. “Driving the concept on the streets is really important for the design team. It is very special to put the car outside and in the real-world. You can see the true value of the I-PACE’s dramatic silhouette and powerful proportions when you see it on the road, against other cars. The I-PACE Concept represents the next generation of battery electric vehicle design. For me, the future of motoring has arrived,” the Director said.

The I-PACE will be a long distance sprinter that accelerates to 60 mph in around 4 seconds, with a range of more than 500km (NEDC cycle) from the 90kWh lithium-ion battery. Charging is easy and quick, with 80 per cent charge achieved in just 90 minutes using 50kW DC charging Compact, lightweight electric motors at the front and rear axles generate a combined output of 400PS and 700Nm of torque, with the all-weather benefits of all-wheel drive. The I-PACE will also deliver the agility, ride comfort and refinement that will set it apart from all other electric vehicles: it will be a true Jaguar and a true drivers’ car.

GLEANINGS - International

Tata Motors Signs MoU With VW, Skoda For Product Development APA Bureau development work and joint value-chain activities. Based on this joint work, Tata Motors plans to launch products in the Indian market from 2019.

ata Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a longterm partnership with Volkswagen Group and Skoda, to explore strategic alliance opportunity for joint development of products. The agreement has been signed by Guenter Butschek, CEO and Managing Director of Tata Motors, Matthias Mueller, CEO of Volkswagen AG, and Bernhard Maier, CEO of Skoda Auto. The document lays down the scope and objectives to reach agreement on the

modalities and terms of a long-term cooperation in identified areas of partnership. Skoda Auto will take the lead on behalf of the Volkswagen Group to drive forward work towards development of vehicle concepts in the economy segment. Tata Motors and SKODA Auto, representing the Volkswagen Group, will detail out the guiding principles and terms of cooperation in the next few months. Post successful completion of definitive agreements, the two companies will start joint

Announcing this strategic alliance opportunity, Butschek said, “We are delighted to announce our potential cooperation with Volkswagen Group and Skoda. We strongly believe that both the companies, by working together, can leverage from one another’s strengths to create synergies and develop smart innovative solutions for the Indian and overseas market. This is in alignment with Tata Motors’ efforts to make itself ‘FutuReady’ by embracing new technologies, fostering higher platform efficiency and offering solutions that connect with the aspirations of our customers.” “Our aim with the envisaged strategic

partnership with Tata Motors is to lay the foundations in the Group and the brands that will enable us to offer customer-oriented mobility solutions in the emerging, fast-growing automobile markets, as elsewhere. By offering the appropriate products, we intend to achieve sustainable and profitable growth in very different parts of the world. That is why we are systematically pursuing our regional growth strategy”, Müller said. “We are looking forward to the joint project with Tata Motors. Delegating project responsibility to ŠKODA underscores the great confidence of the Volkswagen Group in the ability of our brand. Together with Tata we will be specifying the concrete opportunities for collaboration over the coming months”, Maier said.

Motoplat Introduces Two New Test Devices APA Bureau

otoplat has added two new test devices: VC-014DS and VC203D. The Motoplat VC-014DS parts tester combines two devices, a stator winding tester and a rectifier tester. Once the stator is connected, the VC-014DS only take a few seconds to identify the phase connections and then checks the windings for any short circuits or connection failures. The rectifier test includes checking the circuit connections and measuring their operability.

The Motoplat VC-203D armature tester is a sturdy and easy to use device. To test the core of the armature, one should place it on the V-block, rest the metal strip on the core and slowly turn the armature around its axis. Possible short circuits are identified by small vibrations of the metal strip. All testers are developed according to the requirements of service stations and comply with the European regulations (CE). With distributors in three continents and representation in several countries, Motoplat provides

its customers equipment, technical services and advice. In 2012 Motoplat had returned to the market with two types of new and improved test benches, with the highest possible technology inside, still keeping their reliability, sturdy look and simplicity. Short after that, Motoplat developed new ranges of testers: Handheld testers, which can test alternators in combination with a conventional test bench or even when it is still mounted on a car, and bench top testers, which can upgrade any old test bench to a modern test device. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 59

GLEANINGS - International

Renault Opens Innovation Lab In Paris For Future Mobility

fter Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv, Renault has opened its third Renault Open Innovation Lab in Paris. The Renault Open Innovation Lab – Le Square, located at République in central Paris in the midst of start-ups and university research organisations, puts Renault’s internal teams in touch with external partners. It is an Open Innovation Lab focusing on the future of mobility. The lab aims to define new ways of working and exploring the future of mobility by opening up the company’s boundaries and encouraging cooperation around new

APA Bureau kinds of business organisation with actors from the French ecosystem. “Renault has been making cars for over 100 years”, says Pierrick Cornet, Alliance Global Director of Advanced Engineering. “But as our industry is changing very rapidly, we have to stay at the leading edge and continuously innovate by working on new technologies, connected cars and electric vehicles, defining the future of mobility so we can offer our customers the best service possible.” Renault Innovation Lab – Le Square has been designed as a truly experimental laboratory, open to its business environment and close to the Renault and RenaultNissan Alliance teams to make the proliferation of ideas easier. Managed jointly by Renault’s internal teams and external partners working towards a common goal, it will help to reinforce the innovation strategy of Renault and the Alliance. After Silicon Valley and Tel Aviv, Renault chose France as the location for the third Renault Open Innovation Lab because the country already has 228 business incubators and 49 accelerators. The Ile de France region alone has over 3,000 start-ups. Moreover, Paris is ranked fourth among the most attractive world capitals for investors, who consider the city conducive to advanced technology.

Open Innovation At Renault The establishment of Open Innovation Labs forms part of the culture and innovation 60 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

strategy of the Renault-Nissan Alliance: they enable opportunities for innovation to be cultivated on the basis of an open ecosystem (startups, universities, investors) and the local economy (local authorities, community organisations, customers, the market). These labs bring together under one roof the three pillars of open innovation: pooling knowledge (events, conferences, think tanks, meet-ups); creativity and innovative design methods (design thinking, Fablab); plus of course the levers of the new economy (start-up accelerators, cooperative and open methods, and platforms).

The Other Open Innovation Labs The Tel Aviv Open Innovation Lab in Israel, opened in June 2016, sets out to promote the electric vehicle and to encourage creativity focusing on the mobility of the future. It is located on the premises of the Porter School of Environmental Studies, Tel Aviv’s famous technological university, and is working in particular on the themes of the electric vehicle, aftersales, and internet security. This innovation laboratory is the result of cooperation between Renault, as part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance and the Tel Aviv Institute of Innovation in Transportation. The Silicon Valley Open Innovation Lab in the US, opened in 2011, was the first innovation initiative. It looked towards the ecosystem of worldwide start-ups and the Californian universities of Stanford and Berkeley. This lab is contributing to the research efforts of the Alliance into autonomous driving, and especially the development of Artificial Intelligence. It is developing innovative connected services in cooperation with Silicon Valley startups, and examining new approaches to mobility.

GLEANINGS - International

IAM Roadsmart Endorses UK Report On Readiness For Autonomous Cars APA Bureau

AM RoadSmart has expressed concern that cars with growing levels of autonomy could make motorists lazy and over reliant on gadgets – with far reaching implications for the potential reduction of people killed and seriously injured on the roads. IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity, strongly supports this conclusion from the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report, `Connected and Autonomous Vehicles: The future’. The report, released on March 15, 2017, sets out recommendations for the government to ensure it makes policy and investment decisions that enable the UK to receive maximum

economic and safety benefits from autonomous vehicles. IAM RoadSmart also added that there is widespread concern from the charity’s members about the ease with which a driverless car could be hacked – with research showing there are many places security could be breached in a modern vehicle on sale today. Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, said: “When it comes to driverless cars, IAM RoadSmart members are not keen to give up full control and are also very concerned about hacking, so we welcome the House of Lords Technology Committee’s view that cyber security is an important issue. “The implications for future driver competence and training as we

become more reliant on technology are still far from clear, and it is vital that the government supports the committee’s call for further research in this area. “IAM RoadSmart is already responding to this call by providing research grants and organising a conference in October on how we safely manage the transition to autonomous cars.” The House of Lords’ committee said in its report: “Autonomous cars could have negative implications for drivers’ competence, making drivers complacent and overly reliant on technology. This is of particular concern in emergency situations, where a driver may react slowly to taking back control of a vehicle.”

GKN Wins Orders For AWD Disconnect System

KN Driveline, a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems, continues to win new orders for its complete all-wheel drive (AWD) Disconnect system developed for small to medium-sized vehicles. GKN’s scalable system is featured in the all-new 2017 Jeep Compass, a global compact SUV delivering unsurpassed 4x4 capability, worldclass on-road driving dynamics, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains and premium styling. Phil Swash, Chief Executive Officer, GKN Driveline, said: “The success of GKN’s AWD Disconnect system for small to medium-sized vehicles demonstrates why automakers partner with GKN on driveline strategies for their global platforms. Consumers want AWD more than

APA Bureau ever – and GKN is the only supplier with the capability to develop all the hardware and software for the driveline, to manage the vehicle integration and optimize the on- and off-road characteristics.” GKN’s scalable AWD Disconnect system was first launched on the Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X. GKN builds the system at facilities in Europe, North America, Latin America and China to provide local sourcing to the global platform. GKN’s Disconnect function enables vehicles to combine the enhanced traction, dynamics and stability of allwheel drive with improved on-highway fuel efficiency. The system reacts to driver inputs and road conditions to seamlessly switch between twowheel drive and all-wheel drive. During steady state cruising, the clutch system disengages the rear section of the driveline, eliminating

rotating losses and improves highway fuel economy by up to four percent – compared to standard AWD. If the driver or conditions require more traction, the system reconnects within just 300 milliseconds. The AWD system is simpler to integrate into smaller vehicle platforms thanks to GKN’s advanced system architecture. With only minor hardware and software changes, the AWD Disconnect system can be scaled to suit vehicles of different sizes and dynamic requirements. GKN’s control software enables models with the same hardware to deliver the right driving characteristics for each brand. An active torque biasing function provides precise control of the distribution of torque between the front and rear wheels, optimising traction, stability and performance. AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017 | 61

CALENDAR INAPA – Indonesia 29 March -1 April 2017 GEM Indonesia Tel: +62 – 21 – 5435 8118 http://www.tyre-indonesia. net/#axzz4EQM0XVkQ Australian Auto Aftermarket Expo, Melbourne 6-8 April, 2017 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, Australian Automotive Aftermarket Association Email: auto@iecgroup.com.au www.aftermarketexpo.com.au/ New York International Auto Show 14-23 April 2017 Jacob Javits Convention Centre NYIAS http://www.autoshowny.com/ Automechanika Dubai 2017 7 – 9 May 2017 Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center Messe Frankfurt Middle East GmbH Tel: +971 4 389 45 00 E-Mail: automechanika@ uae.messefrankfurt.com www.automechanikadubai.com Transport India 10-12 May 2017 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Exhibitions India Group http://www.transportindiaexpo.com/ Commercial Vehicle Forum, Pune Second Edition 18th May 2017 Threefold Business Solutions +91 98453 88948 diksha@threefold.in http://www.cvforum.in Malaysia Commercial Vehicle Expo 2017 18-20 May 2017 Malaysia International Exhibition & Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur Asian Trucker Media Sdn Bhd Phone: +60 3 7770 8399 Email: info@asiantrucker.com Website: http://www.mcve.com.my Autopromotec, , Bologna, Italy 24 – 28 May 2017 Promotec S.r.l. Tel. +39/051.6424000 info@autopromotec.it https://www.autopromotec.com/en

62 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

INTEC, Coimbatore, India 1-5 June, 2017 Codissia Trade Fair Complex, Tel: +91 422 2222396 email: intec@codissia.com www.intec.codissia.com ATRC 2017 Asian Tyre & Rubber Conference 16 – 17 June 2017

Hyatt Regency, Chennai Asian Business Media Contact: Antony S Powath, VP Marketing +91 9833 901 586 asp@abm.net.in www.atrc.in Rapid.Tech International Trade Fair and Conference for Additive Manufacturing 20 - 22 June 2017

Exhibition Centre Erfurt, Germany Organizer: Messe Erfurt GmbH www.rapidtech.de Autonomous Vehicle Technology World Expo 2017 20-22 June 2017

Hall 3, Stuttgart Messe, Germany UKIP Media & Events Ltd http://www. autonomousvehicletechnology worldexpo.com/

Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2017 20-22 June 2017

Messe Stuttgart, Germany UKIP Media & Events Dominic Cundy, Sales & Marketing Director, +44 1306 743744, dominic.cundy@ukipme.com Global Automotive Components & Suppliers Expo 20-22 June 2017

Messe Stuttgart, Germany UKIP Media & Events www.globalautomotivecomponentsand suppliersexpo.com Inside 3D Printing Conference & Expo, Seoul, Korea 28-30 June 2017

Automation Expo 2017, Mumbai, India 9-12 Aug 2017

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Atlanta, Georgia USA North American Commercial Vehicle Partnership Tel. +49 511 89-34222 Email fabian.perschke @messe.de http://nacvshow.com/

Automotive Interiors Expo 2017 24-26 Oct 2017

The Suburban Collection Show Place,Novi, MI, USA UKIP Media & Events Ltd http://www.automotive-interiors-expo. com Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo - AAPEX Show, USA 31 Oct -2 Nov 2017

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AUTO LAUGH

Brainy Exercise

John S Powath He lives out of a suitcase. He keeps pace with the growing global footprint of Asian Business Media publications. John has a sense of humour whether engaging in business in Kuala Lumpur or Shanghai, Panama City or Akron. His anecdotal comments keep readers and executives in good humour

et us honestly face facts. IT-driven machines are as good or bad as we are. With artificial intelligence creeping into kitchens to surgical rooms, the algorithms that we humans write will determine the behavioural outcomes of the task we ask them to do. I am prompted to say this from the news of a high-speed crash last month in Arizona in which an Uber self-driving car was involved in an accident. The Volvo SUV had two engineers on board, on the front seats. They were not hurt but the car was damaged. While Google, BMW, Tesla, Audi, Nutonomy and Uber are working feverishly to be the first to roll out self-driving cars, I’m keen to cruise the highways on one of them. Those who want to join me, I would administer a test to measure, what I wish to call, the IT quotient. It is a set of brainy exercises that will assess your intelligence and skills and measure how tech-savvy you are. If you are still struggling to take a selfie on your smartphone, you are ruled out to join me. While kids and teens take technology as fish to water, it is assumed that the elderly are dumb enough to understand modern tech. Therefore, I want to brief my friends how they should start training themselves to be autonomous vehicle-friendly. Always keep two bank accounts, which I would call primary and secondary. I suggest you keep all your money in Primary and never use it for online transactions. In the same way never use Primary Debit card. The Secondary account is for spending and withdrawing money from ATMs. Transfer money from Primary account

64 | AutoPartsAsia | APRIL 2017

when needed and keep balance to avoid bank charges. Many of my friends raised eyebrows when I said one should use Credit Card as much as possible. In this case the liability is on the bank, but on debit cards, when you swipe, your money is gone. If a bank is hesitant to offer you a credit card, demonstrate your tech skills and open a fixed deposit online for Rs 25,000. The bank will be glad to give you a Credit Card against it. You must show your IT knowledge by telling the bank that you needed a chip-based card. Such cards cannot be duplicated easily. At ATMs, spend a few seconds to ensure there’s no skimmer in the slot, no camera or device watching you as you punch the PIN. When the machine gives you cash, count and put it inside your wallet or purse while being in the ATM itself. Don’t do so while coming out of the ATM or outside. Yes, you are gaining more skills.

Be On The Alert

personal device to access your bank account. Never click on links that arrive in text messages, emails, WhatsApp as some of them run scripts and can send all your info to the hacker. If a friend sends you link to check out something on an online story, it is better to go and search that thing yourself on the original site. Make sure your smartphone is locked and SMS that you get aren’t visible on the locked screen. If you do not take care of such things, having a twofactor authentication will lose its very purpose. Marauders can access your unlocked phone. Please don’t be lazy but reset your net-banking password and ATM PIN at

regular intervals. Always have separate banking passwords for your primary and secondary accounts. Ensure they are not similar. I think you have made progress with IT Quotient.

On smartphones and computers, only install apps from the official stores like Google Play or Apple Store. Avoid using any apps that you suspect is pirated or fake as they could be infected with adwares and spywares. Likewise always update your browsers, apps and antivirus definitions on your computer.

If you think you can deftly handle these simple tricks, book a seat with me on a driverless taxi and zip around. You will reach the destination safe and in one piece. The two engineers, who rode the Volvo, should be given a retest to measure their IT Quotient.

When you are online, check for HTTPS in your browser before you proceed with any transaction. Also never use any device other than your

Note from the Editor: This column was dictated by Mr John Powath from the hospital bed. This has turned out to be his last column as he passed away on March 28, 2017.

RNI No. MAHENG.2015/64732