Auto industry bats for wide convergence

Strategic partnerships with universities and industry consortium will lead to culture of innovation

Industry veterans from the auto sector called for a greater convergence between policy-makers, technologists and consumers in the automotive research and development for real time changes in transportation and sustainable mobility.

In his address at the conference on ‘Automotive R&D Trends’ with the theme R&D Challenges for Sustainable Mobility, organised by the confederation of Indian Industry in Chennai today, V Sumantran, conference chairman and vice- chairman, Ashok Leyland Limited said “the policy-makers could guide the technology development. The merger of many factors of automotive technology was getting connected with the larger fabric of society”.

He said sustainability is now  a “circular economy” and it has been preparing the automotive industry in ways that would ensure that the future generations will have a better quality of life. The progress in this sector, especially in the reduction of carbon emission and fuel efficiency, had been staggering, he said. Globally, industry is now moving towards the East, especially towards India, he added.

“But all of these would be effective and result-oriented only if there were convergence of policies and policy-makers with the industry and consumers”, said Sumantran.

In his address Nagesh Basavanhalli, managing director, Fiat Chrysler India said shifts in innovation hub to Asia have given greater opportunity for countries like China and India and cities like Chennai, Bangalore and Pune, in India, have already gone through a services wave, with engineering services wave taking up R&D words for for both domestic and international. “To get to the next step the culture of innovation has to be driven by strategic partnerships with universities and industry consortium”, he said.

Friedrich Boecking,Regional President - Diesel Systems, Bosch Limited, India, said the rapid urbanization gave a huge opportunity for the automotive industry in India, which need to work on its infrastructure, not only on the highways and roads but also on mass transportation in megacities. “There should also be policies to support business and to reduce emission levels,” said Boecking, while stressing on greater co-operation with universities and research collaboration with industry.

He said expectation in India would be driven by low-cost ownership, fuel efficiency, safety, modern and contemporary design and hassle –free driving.