The 16th Edition of Auto Expo 2023 - The Components Show marked the biennial exhibition’s return. Ashish Bhatia found the supplier exhibits a testimony to OEMs having capable partners to see through their zero-emissions strategy.
Varroc Group showcased a host of polymer, lighting and telematics-based solutions. Ashish Bhatia looks at the product-driven, focused strategy.
Sona Comstar continues to deliver enhanced performance on its components systems. Ashish Bhatia looks at the new products and iterations from the company.
BorgWarner has put in place key elements of the emobility ecosystem. Ashish Bhatia looks at the plug-andplay capability making it easier to lead.
THE 13TH EDITION OF APOLLO CV AWARDS 2022 HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH APOLLO TYRES RECOGNISED THE EFFORTS OF THE CV INDUSTRY IN 2022. EVERY STAKEHOLDER BOTH FROM THE FLEET AND NON-FLEET ECOSYSTEM IMPRESSED THE JURORS WITH THEIR INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION TO MODERNISING THE CV INDUSTRY.
AWARD 2023
COMPONENTS
08
Newscast
l BorgWarner IPEC
30
Upfront | Exclusive
l The Ideal Mix Is Coexistence
34 Ancillaries
l Pursuing Scale In Fasteners
l Sundram Fasteners bags EV contract
l Statiq fast charging station
38
l New Linde air separation facility
l EXZOD expansion in Hyderabad
l Revfin appoints Sushil Kumar
l JK Tyres at ICOTY and IMOTY
l Bridgestone partners Blume Ventures
l Continental Tires CPD stores
l Organisational changes roll at ZF Group
l SBS launches environment-friendly pads
l Sensing The Change
Trending
Union Budget 2023 - The Sweet Spot For Components Suppliers
41 #Trendsmap
Social Media Highlights
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By the time you read this, I am sure, somewhere, another B2B exhibition might seek your attention and exhaust your resources. Having said that, the return of Auto Expo 2023 - The Components Show can’t be forgotten just as yet. It has set the tone and the direction the component suppliers and the automotive industry at large will take. Beyond the periphery of Pragati Maidan, boardrooms continue to resonate with developments on coexisting technologies, exhibited this year, and the resource allocation for clean mobility solutions where there is headroom for growth. The supplier community has many tier suppliers leading this transition. With the groundwork for a five-year technology road map at the least, each has committed to a zero-emissions time line. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that I spoke to are happy to see the component suppliers and drivers of their clean mobility strategy walk the talk. Speaking the same language of progression, and more importantly ready to go-to-market. Congratulations to ACMA, CII and SIAM for a successful outing. The February issue dives deeper into the strategy of leading suppliers beyond just drawing your attention to their cutting-edge exhibits. Given that there were over 800 exhibitors, you may expect the specially curated coverage put together by Team ACI to spill into our upcoming issues. On the eve of the Union Budget 2023, the industry as a whole seeks consistency in policy-making, support and significant incentives from the government to back it up as they play their part in growing the nation’s manufacturing economy. Next month, we return with the 9th Anniversary Special.
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Editor Ashish BhatiaOriginal Equipment Manufacturers that I spoke to are happy to see the component suppliers and drivers of their clean mobility strategy walk the talk. Speaking the same language of progression, and more importantly ready to go-tomarket.
BorgWarner inaugurated a new 95,000 sq. ft. electric propulsion engineering centre at Whitefield, in Bengaluru. The centre will have the team work on inverters, DC/DC converters, onboard chargers, Integrated Drive Modules (IDMs), Battery Management Systems (BMS) and propulsion controllers. Citing the ‘Charging Forward’ strategy known to have accelerated electrification efforts at the company, he said, “We plan to grow electric vehicle revenues to around 45 per cent of the company’s sales by
Centre we are establishing in Bengaluru will play a vital role in achieving these ambitious targets globally while setting up the foundation for future growth in electric mobility.” “The tech centre will focus on electric propulsion systems, software and electronics hardware capabilities including functional safety and cyber security in India to drive the global platforms of BorgWarner,” he added. The new centre will employ more than 550 people in 2023.
Sundram Fasteners has won its biggest EV contract in over six decades of its existence. The USD 250 mn contract from a leading global Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is for the supply of sub-assemblies for its EV platform. The company in its outlay has earmarked ~ Rs.200 crore to support the new orders following a six-year-long purchase package. This involves the supply of input and stator shaft sub-assemblies and drive gear sub-assemblies. The subassemblies will be used in the EV models like MHEV/PHEV/ BEV, covering various segments including mid-size trucks. SFL will use special processes such as axial forming technology known to withstand extreme temperatures and rigorous durability tests besides meeting high torque requirements and silent operations. To fulfil the order, the company has worked out the supply chain such that parts will be shipped from its powertrain divisions located at the Mahindra World City in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, and Sri City in Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. The parts will be serviced from the company’s warehouse in North America. By 2026, the company hopes to supply 1.5 mn transmission sub-assemblies per annum.
EV charging network provider Statiq together with Nexus Malls has launched its first EV charging station in Amritsar at the Nexus Mall. Equipped with two fast EV DC Chargers of 60 kW each to charge all kinds of electric vehicles. Claimed to charge up to 80 per cent in about 40 minutes, the association marks the launch of 17 EV charging hubs across 13 cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Udaipur, Mangalore, Chandigarh, Mysuru, and Indore. The charging hubs will offer a combination of both slow and fast chargers to meet the charging needs of electric two, three and fourwheeler owners.
Linde India Ltd. commenced the mechanical construction work at its upcoming air separation unit at Ludhiana, in Punjab. At the Hi-Tech Cycle Valley venue of the site, in presence of Invest Punjab officials, representatives of the key industrial and
healthcare customers, Moloy Banerjee, Head – South Asia and ASEAN, Linde, Abhijit
Pallet manufacturer EXZOD India is setting up a manufacturing plant in Hyderabad aimed at serving its Southern India clients. After Punjab, Maharashtra and Haryana the new plant will be equipped with state-of-theart automatic pallet manufacturing machines. Nitin Kalla, Founder and Managing Director, of EXZOD India, said, “With this new plant we would be able to meet the increased demand from the South and our value chain for supplying pallets is complete. This would make us a dependable company for buying pallets for both large brands and 4PL warehousing players in the country.” Classifying itself as an organised pallet manufacturing company in India with automated pallet manufacturing, the company has so far delivered more than 7,00,000 plus pallets for its clients for industries like logistics, Industrials, retail, petrochemicals and automotive and 4 PL logistic players. Technologyembedded AMC is the company’s forte.
Banerjee, Managing Director - Linde India Ltd. and other Linde officials. The second
plant in North India, after Selaqui, Uttarakhand, is expected to start operations by end of 2023. Moloy Banerjee, stated, “By building additional capacity, we will cater to the industrial market besides the healthcare market in the region.”
Digital consumer lending platform Revfin has appointed Sushil Kumar Jain as its National Head of Collections. In his new role, he will spearhead the national collection portfolio of all Revfin’s products to expand the company’s footprints in the EV financing domain. Kumar brings to the table an experience spanning over two decades including in auto loans, business loans, commercial vehicles, construction equipment and tractor portfolio. He brings along experiences with organisations like Toyota Financial, TVS Credit, Shriram City, Magma Fincorp and Satin Credit care. The fintech platform, currently has a nationwide presence in more than 15 states, including in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab, Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam.
The coveted, 18th edition of Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY), promoted by JK Tyres concluded with a gala event in New Delhi. This year was testimony to the highest level of automotive performance and was attended by leading businessmen, automobile fanatics, and visionaries involving leading automobile journalists. KIA Carens was adjudged the ‘Indian Car of the Year 2023’ in recognition of its speed, mileage, and strong performance while the Royal Enfield Hunter, was awarded the ‘Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2023’. Catering to the increasing popularity, acceptance and availability of a vast range of cars from various manufacturers of the Premium Car category, in the Indian Market, ICOTY Jury instituted the ‘Premium Car Award’ under the ICOTY aegis in 2019. Mercedes EQS 580 won the Premium Car Award 2023. With the growing popularity of electric vehicles and strong initiatives undertaken by the Government, the jury of ICOTY introduced the ‘Green Car Award’ in 2021 intending to recognise the contribution of manufacturers towards the future of mobility. KIA EV6 was awarded the Green Car 2023. The awards were presented by Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman & Managing Director, of JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., along with Dhruv Behl, Chairman, of ICOTY 2023, Bertrand Dsouza, Chairman, of IMOTY 2023, and other jury members. Addressing the gathering, Dr Raghupati Singhania said, “I would like to congratulate all the winners for making the best in the segment and honouring the excellence in the automotive industry. ICOTY and IMOTY are the most integral
part of the Indian Auto Industry as they bring innovation to the industry.” “The foundation of JK Tyre stands for innovation, development, growth, technology, and transparency and these awards are the testimony of brilliance. I am sure it has been a rewarding and successful journey for everyone and this will continue to be so for years ahead. These awards motivate us all to come together and make the Indian Auto Industry renowned globally,” he mentioned. The entries were judged basis of multiple customer-centric criteria such as vehicle price, fuel efficiency, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, technical innovation, value for money, and suitability for Indian driving conditions while deciding on the winner and conferring the awards. “This is a well-deserved recognition for the brand Kia and speaks volumes for our technological prowess, capabilities and understanding of the Indian market, expressed Tae-Jin Park, Managing Director & CEO, of Kia India. Siddhartha Lal, Managing Director & CEO, of Eicher Motors Ltd. said, “This is our third award in five years and
we are delighted to have won this. We thank the jury and JK Tyre for recognising us. The Hunter is our most accessible motorcycle in this range, and we are very happy for the love it has received.” On winning the Premium Car Award 2023, Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, of Mercedes-Benz India said, “The Made in India EQS 580 is a benchmark for sustainable luxury motoring. The very fact that it’s India’s first locally manufactured luxury EV also highlights the global competencies of our colleagues producing this car at MercedesBenz India.” Congratulating the ICOTY award winners, Dhruv Behl, Chairman, ICOTY 2023, said, “ICOTY has grown to become the most coveted award in India. We assess which vehicles have made the most impact and which are the most suitable for the Indian market.” Bertrand Dsouza, Chairman, of IMOTY 2023, said, “In 2023 Indian motorcycles were oddly contested, it was a very tough competition. What is interesting to see is that most of the contenders were not entirely meant for the commuter segment and this proves that motorcycling in India has matured.”
Bridgestone India partnered with Blume Ventures in a bid to leverage the start-up ecosystem of India. Focused on the mobility solutions space, the partnership is aimed at joining the ‘Start-up India’ initiative and partnering with the ecosystem for nurturing innovation and start-ups in the mobility space. Blume Ventures is known to back entrepreneurs. The diverse mandate extends from FinTech, Commerce and Consumer internet among other realms to Deep-Tech, AI SaaS and enterprise software in the latter category. The focus is on earlystage, innovative technology-led
start-ups. “The corporate venture partnership will allow us to accelerate our strategy of exploring new and disruptive models in the mobility ecosystem. As a partner, Bridgestone brings its global leadership position to the Indian market and India’s growing start-up space,” said Parag Satpute, Managing Director of Bridgestone India. Sanjay Nath, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Blume Ventures said “Thanks to an increasing reality of IPO and M&A exits, there is a huge resurgence of founders and operators. We’re excited for Blume to become the preferred seed partner of choice for both these categories.”
Continental Tires launched a new flagship Conti Premium Drive (CPD) store in Bengaluru. Spread across 1200 sq. ft., the store incorporates several key brand features including a brand experiential zone. The CPD stores hold products for the PLT, LCV, 4x4, SUV, and TT segments, as well as the Continental Tires latest key pattern: UltraContact UC6, ComfortContact CC6, and the AX6 to cater to the ever growing need for SUV tyres. Apart from retailing Continental’s range of premium passenger vehicle tyres for cars and SUVs, the newly launched CPD store brings an advanced workshop equipped with the latest machinery and technologies to handle all tyre and vehiclerelated services. Located
at Bhattarahalli, Thambu Chetty Palya, the flagship store, as per Rajnish Kochgave, Head of Sales
and Marketing PLT RE, Continental Tires India, will help the company reach its customers with quality
products in Karnataka. The flagship store will be managed by Shiva Sai Enterprises.
At ZF, the newly formed Board of Management team has Dr Holger Klein as the Chief Executive Officer of the company with effect, January 01, 2023. Michael Frick, Chief Financial Officer, and Dr Peter Laier, in charge of Commercial Vehicle and Industrial Technology, are new members of the Board, reduced from seven to six members previously. At its first major appearance of the year, ZF presented its products for the software-defined vehicle and the next generation of autonomous transport systems at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) tech event in Las Vegas. Dr Klein mentioned, “Climate protection and digitalisation, transforming markets, and the increasingly unstable economic environment require anticipation and speedy reactions. We feel confident –after all, for the last 108 years, ZF has proven that we know how to transform!”
Dr Klein is responsible for Corporate Sales, Research and Development, the System House of Autonomous Mobility Systems, and the Aftermarket division. Michael Frick and Dr Peter Laier assumed their Board of Management functions at the same time as Dr Klein. Dr Laier is responsible for Commercial Vehicle and Industrial Technology, the Corporate Production department and the region of India. Mr Frick, who joined ZF in December 2022, has been Chief Financial
Officer since January 01 and is also Head of M&A, IT and Digitalisation. As a member of the Board of Management, Dr Martin Fischer now also heads the Car Chassis Technology Division in addition to his previous responsibilities (Active Safety Systems, Passive Safety Systems, Electronics and ADAS divisions, North and South America regions, Corporate Quality) at his office in the U.S. Asia-Pacific region and the Materials Management department will – in addition to the Electrified Powertrain Technologies division – be managed by Stephan von Schuckmann from Asia.
The responsibilities of Sabine Jaskula, Chief Human Resources Officer in charge of Human Resources, Sustainability, Legal and Compliance, remain unchanged. At the first global executive management meeting of the new year in Friedrichshafen, Dr Klein emphasised that ZF has achieved a lot even in difficult times and the company has further developed strategically. At the annual press conference in Friedrichshafen, scheduled for March 16, CEO Klein and CFO Frick will review the fiscal year 2022 and give an outlook on the current year and the strategic course for ZF.
SBS Friction A/S, a Danish manufacturer of brake pads for motorcycles, ATVs, SxS, and special applications, is executing on its 2021 strategy. Aspiring to be the first brake pad production centre in the industry, to fully embrace a sustainable proof-of-business both in production and in output, the company has introduced
the first aftermarket brake pads claimed to have both been refined and optimised for improved brake performance. The SBS Better Brakes series, available from January 01, 2023, will have the SBS HF, SP, HS, and MS ranges transition. This accounts for 70 per cent of the brake pads sold by SBS. The transition of HF, SP, HS, and MS compounds is expected to
be completed by Q3-2023. The range will be enforced with NUCAP NRS, the advanced mechanical friction material bonding technology. Here key friction materials, including copper, nickel, and antimony are removed with thorough testing and engineering in compliance with OEM development procedures as per Esben Juul Sørensen, Head of R&D.
16th Edition of Auto Expo 2023 - The Components Show marked the biennial exhibition’s return. Ashish Bhatia found the supplier exhibits a testimony to OEMs having capable partners to see through their zero-emissions strategy.
Pragati Maidan in Delhi was back to its glorious best after a three-year Covid-19-induced hiatus. The exhibition centre was back to halls full of automotive suppliers and aftermarket players as they showed up in full strength. The sentiment was upbeat, having registered a record turnover in FY22 and sustaining the growth momentum. As leading-tier suppliers occupied 60,000 sq. m. of the display area, they set aside masks and so the fears of a resurgence of Covid that plagued China, and was feared to impact the show. It
didn’t and so it paved the way for a successful, return edition of the marquee, biennial expo. The call for attaining zero emissions with market-ready solutions was stronger than before. Nearly 800 plus exhibitors held the fort for over four days between January 12-15, 2023 and drew in a footfall of over 1.15 lakh visitors. The exhibition found a strong representation from seven international pavilions including from the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Poland and South Korea. It was a show of global technology and innovation and set the tone
for localisation with India as the global manufacturing front.
The automotive component industry was anticipated to introduce a wide range of innovations. It did, and to a mind-numbing extent! From cuttingedge technologies in both the passenger vehicle and the commercial vehicle segments, suppliers and aftermarket players addressed several white spaces to emerge at the top of their game. The proof of concept stage in several instances was surpassed with adequate ease and replaced by market-ready business proposals that drew customer interest and business leads from several
of the leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) who had decisionmakers doing the rounds of the booths. This has been and continues to be the show of partnership of the Auto Expo, since its inception much to the delight of the organisers, Automotive Components Manufacturer Association of India (ACMA), Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). Accredited by the International Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d’Automobiles (OICA).
With a strong focus on zeroemissions technology supporting
modular powertrains, reliant on Natural Gas (NG) and electrification, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) and Hydrogen ICE, the exhibition had suppliers outlining their range of products to support a myriad of custom, customer requirements. It spanned Connected, Autonomous, Safe and Electric (CASE) and went beyond. The well-to-wheel approach for a circular economy and sustainable development was high priority. The product mix covered a lot of ground, from groundup developments to plug-and-play options being showcased this year. The solutions deployed in developed and
the advanced markets seemed to be on the cusp of finding a business case with potential for attaining Economies of Scale (EoS) at an unprecedented rate. The whole is greater than the sum of parts and there were no two ways that the suppliers partnering with OEMs at an early stage of development has led to an influx of superior and sophisticated products making their way into India. This in turn has resulted into potential for exports to global markets from the same assembly line that up until now fed the domestic market. The graduation of parts suppliers to technology solution providers, some visibly capable of offering a vehicle as a
whole was there for all to see this year.
Along with the REA Pavilion, a focused pavilion was planned to showcase ACMA innovation, ACMA Safer Drive, Bearing, Garage Equipment, EV Components, and Start-ups. The Auto Expo - The Components show continued in its interactive vein with engaging forums as the highlight. Many held beyond the confines of the expo. Taking a cue from its annual calendar of events, the event this year, scaled up with a conference put in place together with a buyer-seller meet up and matchmaking activities to maximise the event from a commercial perspective given the B2B appeal.
Driven by Technovation, suppliers made a beeline to make a stronger case for India to serve as a global hub for innovation and cutting-edge technology. The event exhibited the most recent innovations in automotive components for cars, trucks, electric vehicles, bearings, garage equipment, and spare parts in many markets. The innovative and advanced technologies in the components sector, in both greener and cleaner energy-saving formats, also reflected at the Auto Expo 2023 - The Motor Show where the whole (in this case the vehicle) made good use of the strong aggregates made available by the components manufacturers. ACI
The Varroc Group put in a stellar team show to assert the competencies of its different verticals. The tier supplier showcased the next generation of product iterations, an outcome of the group having been in action all through the pandemic marred fiscal year 2020 to date. The three year time line meant that the vast exhibit spanned product categories like mirrors, lighting solutions, polymer chemistries, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and from the ‘Varroc Connect’, telematics business unit of the group. Averred Arjun Jain, President, Electrical-Electronics Business & Whole-time Director, Varroc Engineering Ltd., the company is very bullish on the future. Emerging relatively unscathed from the challenges of Covid-19 that were worsened by the supply-chain bottlenecks that followed,
Varroc Group showcased a host of polymer, lighting and telematics-based solutions. Ashish Bhatia looks at the product-driven, focused strategy.
it is far more secure in its prospects. The fundamental demand reduction in the developed world has only helped, he mentioned. Since 2018, the company is focused on its strategy of growing content per vehicle, successfully.
The two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments presented a huge opportunity for the group. Therein the demand for LED lighting was the bigger opportunity that had to be tapped in. Drawing attention to the growth in EV exhibits, Jain admitted to the opportunity resulting out of the emobility segment as being very significant. He stressed how the company was not looking to enter emobility but already supplying to meet the demands of the segment. From Fuel Injection (FI) systems to fully LED head
lamps supplied for the XUV7OO, said to be high on localisation and performance to the EV components portfolio has the company mass producing. It is apt that the company, from hereon, builds on the early mover advantage it has gained, explained Jain. Independent of the Total Industry Volume (TIV) and the pace of EV transition versus ICE, the company in the words of Jain is well-positioned and welldiversified to grow.
Having principally decided on the future direction, the gestation period, even if it were to be deemed longer than anticipated, has the company resorting to a disciplined approach. This expands to bringing out product iterations
most suited for market introduction.
The chosen direction, informed Jain, was only a logical progression of the company’s legacy products. “For instance, the company makes a traction motor and on ICE we are the market leaders in AC generators and starter motors,” he explained. This leverage has the company taking its electrical capability a step forward. This further applies to electronics where Varroc happens to be among the first electronic suppliers in India. On pure play volumes, the company, informed Jain, was perhaps the largest automotive PCB manufacturer in the country. Keeping EV supplies
aside, the company is credited as the only one driving the highly advanced FI systems. The ECU portfolio only expands further. This according to Jain is the fundamental building block for the company’s progression in EVs. The period of transition, therefore, is immaterial.
The focus remains on leading the next generation of its product portfolio. With LED head lamps making capability deemed imminent for a head lamp manufacturer in this era, the company has spread out to all electrical components that help it establish itself firmly as an electronics manufacturing company. Having commenced the work on its EV
portfolio, in 2016, the expected transition to EVs as of today, quipped Jain, has come in at a rate faster than anticipated and has got the group excited about the current and future prospects. The company is claimed to have closed in on previous peak volumes and is setting new benchmarks internally, Jain informed, the India business grew consistently all through the Covid-19 marred fiscals. And so, the company is confident of registering record revenues in FY23. The second quarter of FY23 (Q2-FY23) happened to be the record quarter in the history of Varroc India. Be it BSVI or the increasingly premium shift of vehicles, the company has focused long on such topics as an early mover of the industry. Despite the market volume being nowhere near the peaks of FY2018-19, the company continues to grow. Making a case in point, Jain gave the example of an LED headlamp priced 6x of the conventional bulb; FI priced at 4x the price of CRDi; digital/TFT cluster at five to 10x the price of an analogue cluster having worked in favour of the company. Today, the Varroc content in an EV is 10x the content of the company in an IC Engine platform. This translates to a productdriven, focused strategy at the company working to its advantage.
The company has contributed to India’s growing manufacturing footprint since its early days as a plastic moulding supplier in 1990. “As of today, the company, in moulding and painting of the two-wheeler segment, holds a ~40-50 per cent market share. This makes our India footprint already comprehensive,” mentioned Jain. The manufacturing footprint spans multiple automotive hubs connected to every major customer. This large footprint has given the company an upper hand in terms of giving it the choice to manufacture at a chosen core location in regions like Maharashtra and Pantnagar or for that matter giving it the leeway to decide on what component requires the supplier to be closer to the OE. The painting business requires proximity to the customer, for instance. Emphasised
Jain, it does not require the company to build its footprint ground up but expand on its existing footprint itself. This has given it an advantage of a high go-to-market speed. The company will continue to build on core capabilities like moulding, resin, electrical and electronics.
On the government interventions, the company looks up to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to deal with the finer nuances. “For any supplier, the government interventions trickle down to suppliers from what the OEMs decide to do and go ahead with,” opined Jain. Although it does imply that the company keep a close watch to decide on its R&D outflow, in Dollar terms for an example. The company continues to work in close quarters with the OEMs and is agile enough to be able to translate it into on ground results as may be desired. The company is well positioned on the export front too especially in the metallic business where it addresses multiple market segments from two-wheelers to commercial vehicles and the off-highway.
The focus continues to be on investing to attain a high degree of localisation in markets like India where it holds a definite advantage over scouting for new opportunities. The company hopes to capitalise on the tangible outcome of the plus one strategy as well. Fully aware of the macroeconomics, the company divested its Europe and North America as a nearterm way to hedge against a challenged developed world demand. India and China remain the focus markets barring the two-wheeler segment exposure which hasn’t suffered and has the global OEs turning to procurement from India. The company continues to manage investments and capacity augmentation judiciously. “Even for segments with similarities but different use cases, we are largely wellplaced with our core tech. We closely look at the requirements to make our highly engineered solutions work for the customer,” concluded Jain. ACI
A cloud-connected platform has the Varroc Group bringing end-to-end solutions through Varroc Connect. The combination of hardware and clientside mobile app. allow the customers to take advantage of big data-driven utilities like predictive analysis. This according to Chief Executive Officer, Sagar Apte, will help the vehicle evolve from being a black box earlier to a travel companion. It will allow the end user to manage multiple aspects, he mentioned. The platform, over a decade old, has proven its stability to both domestic and international sets of customers. Taking it many notches higher from a track-and-trace solution to being an analytic platform, it leverages the 4G and 5G networks to relay inputs from connected sub-systems. This in turn paves the way for critical, decision-making. Offering unlimited cloud processing capability, the data management platform target at OEMs is expected to influence integration. The data exchange, for instance, will allow OEMs to share data with insurance companies. With a focus on dumbing down data, especially in a complex world like automotive, data selection (automotive interpreter) is the platform’s USP. With 4G as the tipping point for turning customers into data consumers, the company hopes to leverage 5G capabilities. The features can be expanded to the vehicle handling large chunks of data. The electrification of vehicles is mandating the use of such platforms to track key performance metric like State of Charge (SoC) making it a must-have. The platform boasts of deployment on over ~400,000 connected vehicles. The next biggest tipping point continues to be data exchange which will help customers overcome security vulnerabilities. The company will leverage audit processes with insurance companies and has had in place, dedicated roles like Chief Security Officer (CSO) since 2016, in a forward looking strategy. The key aspects of considerations include OTA updates that are encrypted with digital certificate management at an enterprise, scalable and graded platform. Driven by RoI, the company goes on to help fleet operators to improve upon the safety, fuel theft, and misuse of vehicles in a time bound manner. The company hand holds customers and the penetration is higher and led by commercial vehicles. The company counts OEs like Nissan India, to name few amongst its clientele.
hile pursuing multiple strategic collaborations to become a one-stop automotive technology solutions provider for domestic as well as global markets, Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd. (Sona Comstar), is banking on new products and iterations. The company, at the Auto Expo 2023The Components Show showcased innovations it has been working on to deliver an even more enhanced performance in the segments of interest.
Averred Vivek Vikram Singh, Managing Director and Group Chief
Sona Comstar continues to deliver enhanced performance on its components systems. Ashish Bhatia looks at the new products and iterations from the company.Ashish Bhatia @atashishbhatia
Executive Officer, said, “We are a purpose-led organisation aiming to play an important role in accelerating the transition to greener and safer mobility. We are positively impacting society through our innovative products and technologies, enabling low-carbon mobility, eliminating vehicular emissions, improving safety, enhancing automation and contributing to a more sustainable planet.”
With 73 per cent of the company’s net order book accounted for by EVs in the third quarter of Financial Year 2023 (Q3-FY2023), the tier 1 supplier of automotive systems and components to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) runs 41 EV programs across 25 different customers. Besides India, the company has its hands full in other Asian markets of interest, North America and Europe. The mix of programs in serial production, and on the order book, have the company supply geartrain components, traction motors, IMCM and PHEV starters and the e-axle. Highly focused on driving the electrification of vehicles by supplying a range of components and solutions for the Indian twowheeler and three-wheeler EV segments, Sona Comstar wants to
make a significant contribution and grow its content per vehicle.
The company showcased a range of components and solutions in line with its pursuit of growing content per vehicle. It displayed the 80-100V SRM Motor, with a peak power of 16.7 kW; PMSM HV - Traction Motor for buses with a peak rated power of 360 kW; PMSM Integrated Drive
Unit (IDU) with a peak power of 216 kW for passenger cars; HV Traction Motor Controller HV offering a 98 per cent efficiency and continuous power output of 220 kW backed by automotive validations. It displayed the Belt Starter Generator RC 440V which features a position sensor (Hall Sensor type) and an integrated eMachine and Inverter that is VDA320 qualified and IP6k9k/ IP67 compliant sealing. It supports multiple functions: start, generation and regeneration, and the engine assists with thermal derating and protection enabled for safe operation.
The SC145D2 Mid Drive Motor on display has a position sensor (resolver type) and offers liquid cooling. The IP67 compliant motor is claimed to be highly efficient and offers thermal protection for safe operation. The Liquid Cooled Controller from the company applies to the P2/P3/P4 topologies and EV passenger cars. It offers customers optional features like FuSa as per ISO 26262 and cyber security. Running on the FOC Algorithm, it weighs ~4.2 kg. The Controller Platform is based on the FOC algorithm as well and offers electrical protection, EMI/
EMC compliance, and operating temperature of 10 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius, a natural cooled method with IP67 protection. The company also drew in footfall courtesy its L5 e-axle for the L5 M/N category of vehicles. The independent axle type runs on wet lubrication and weighs 8.7 kg. Made available in 6.5:1 gear ratios, it is claimed to offer extended overloading and fatigue capacity. With axle noise under 70 dB, it is claimed to offer universal motor compatibility as a validated product. It also showcased an electronic locking differential assembly and L3 e-axle with an optimised brake assembly design also with universal motor compatibility.
The company reaffirmed its plans to drive long-term value for all stakeholders. The company is known to have adopted a strategic framework for ESG performance management and identified material sustainability issues. Under the framework, the company has defined incremental goals and targets under ESG materiality topics. These goals and targets are expected to help the company continuously strengthen how it operates and achieve more sustainable growth. The company has collaborated with the Foundation for Innovation and Technology Transfer (FITT), an industry interface of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad, to support innovation and start-ups. The objective is to create safe, convenient and eco - friendly mobility for everyone. Sunjay Kapur, Chairman of Sona Comstar, lauded all stakeholders for their collaboration, support and trust. “Together, we are leading the way to a sustainable future,” he stated in the company’s first sustainability report. ACI
orgWarner is in a position to accelerate the transition to emobility at large. In line with its electrification strategy ‘Charging Forward’, the company, at the Auto Expo 2023 - The Components Show showcased a range of emobility solutions. This included electrified powertrain components, high-energy battery systems and thermal management solutions. In a confident demonstration of how its innovative and sustainable products are helping Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) transition to emobility, the company showcased battery systems, charging stations, electric motors, Integrated Drive Modules (IDM), power electronics and high-performance thermal management products like the high-voltage coolant heater. Averred Sudhir Chawla, Managing Director at BorgWarner Emissions Systems India Pvt. Ltd., “The Auto Expo is a great opportunity for BorgWarner to highlight our product and system solutions as well as provide insights into our ‘Charging Forward’ global company strategy, which aims to accelerate electrification efforts and commits to attaining carbon neutrality by 2035.”
At its booth, the company attracted visible interest through a stackable, high-energy battery system known to feature a novel, flat module architecture. Offered in two form factors, it is said to adapt to the underbody of Light electric Commercial Vehicles (eLCVs) and buses. Designed especially for CV applications, its USPs include integrated
BorgWarner has put in place key elements of the emobility ecosystem. Ashish Bhatia looks at the plug-and-play capability making it easier to lead.Ashish Bhatia @atashishbhatia
battery system electronics and integrated liquid cooling. The pack weighs ~200 kg. At the far corner of the booth, a new, modular high-voltage eFan solution, and BorgWarner’s latest generation of inverters was proof that the company is go-to-market-ready and ahead of the curve with plug-and-play solutions successfully known to be deployed in global markets. The company is also geared to meet the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) evolution through combustion technologies like hydrogen fuel injection systems for commercial vehicles. It also showcased the key conventional propulsion solutions.
The DC Fast Charging stations it displayed are compatible with all types of vehicles. They are said to offer great flexibility, ease of use, robustness and cost-effectiveness. These are made available in an integrated architecture and a distributed architecture. The highpower eFan system combines a cooling fan, electric motor and inverter. The high air flow rates cool large demanding thermal systems continuously. With a continuous rating of 40 kW, it is claimed to efficiently cool components such as the fuel cell, traction e-motor, battery and electronics in electric CVs. The fan is designed for CV voltage ranges of 550850V. The high voltage coolant heaters are for battery and cabin heating in batteryelectric applications. The company also showcased the Gasoline EGR Modul,
with GDI Valve. It also brought along the EGR Module for CVs, eTurbo, HighEfficiency Turbocharger (HET), and rail with DI-CHG10 and DI-CHG15 Injector. In another section, the company showcased the Cam Torque Actuated Mid-Position Lock VCT CTA MPL and an electric cam phaser with Brushless DC Motor. The company displayed the EV charger model ZEVQC-7/600-P1 model. The USPs of the charger included a 6.6 kW power output, DC 200-600V charge voltage, rated IP30. The EV charger model ZECD-32-J-BQ with a 7 kW power output, IP54 rated, was also on display. The IDM-425, eXD electric Cross Differential, electric Torque Vectoring Disconnect (eTVD), and a Battery Management System (BMS) were also showcased. An Ultra High Energy Battery Module, High Voltage Single Inverter and Viper Power Module, Gen 5 size 9 Inverter, HVLP-20 Inverter and the Electric-Mechanical On-Demand Transfer Case (EMOD) also generated interest.
Citing how BorgWarner technical centres and research and development
role in achieving the ambitious goals defined under this initiative, Chawla drew attention to how the company extended support to local customers in meeting strict Indian emissions standards such as Bharat Stage VI (BSVI). The ‘Charging Forward’ strategy rests on pillars of organic EV growth, EV-focused Merger and Acquisition (M&A), and optimising the combustion portfolio. Taking us through the granular details, Jeans-Francois Savajols, VP - Of product strategy and Business DevelopmentEmissions, Thermal and Turbo Systems at Borgwarner Inc. explained that the execution was to tap opportunities in line with the internal projections. From less than or equal to three per cent in 2021 to greater than 25 per cent in 2025, the company expects EVs to account for over 45 per cent of sales by 2030. The company is marching ahead with ease, a testimony to it is the estimated USD 3.1 bn current booked status against the target of organic EV sales for 2025 set at USD 2.5 bn. The company has been able to select like-minded and capable partners in Akasol for battery packs and modules in 2021; Santrol for LV emotors and Rhombus and SSE for DC Fast Charging. Here, the SSE closing is expected to go through in the first quarter of Financial Year 2023 (Q1-FY2023) subject to satisfaction of the customer closing conditions, he informed. ACI
hriram Pistons and Rings Ltd. (SPRL) has its roots in IC Engines (ICE). The company commands an annual turnover of over 40 million pistons, 80 million engine valves, and 150 million piston rings as a testimony. To fuel its diversification strategy into cleaner mobility solutions on alternative powertrains, the company recently acquired EMF Innovations (EMF-I), a technology company. It is leveraging this acquisition for EV-specific components. Its display at Auto Expo, confirmed these will coexist in the product mix, The latter produces a range of components, including Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) hubs, and motor controllers. Krishnakumar Srinivasan, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at SPRL drew attention to the government cutting subsidies and localisation being the key for markets to be competitive. He mentioned, “This is one of the reasons why we have committed a major investment in a domestic company called EMF-I for an electric powertrain to be manufactured locally and eventually get a good hold in the EV market as well. ”The 100 per cent subsidiary company SPR Engineers Ltd. (SEL) helped acquire EMF-I, he informed.
SPRL and SEL put up a combined show of components and an advanced technology in line with the company strategy to offer customers clean mobility solutions. This showcase of capabilities encompassed new piston
Shriram Pistons & Rings reaffirmed a fuelagnostic approach.
Prateek Pardeshi outlines the strategy of pursuing a coexisting mix.@Prateek2101 Prateek Pardeshi
designs for hydrogen applications, engine valves with nitride hardened tips for offroad applications, cylinder liners, cylinder heads for air-cooled engines, and piston rings for heavy commercial vehicles besides a CNG application. The display was testimony to multiple group verticals working having synergies.
A cross-section piston with SFD analysis demonstrated how the piston goes through a stress test. Here red denotes a high level of stress and blue denotes low stress. To clearly understand the mechanics of the piston crankshaft movement, an in line, fourcylinder cross-section engine was displayed. On the EV front, SEL showcased the e-motor and motor controller (250 Watts-120kW). The IP67-rated hub motor with regenerating setup drew much attention at the booth. The motor was placed such that
it lie submerged in liquid and was left running at over 1000 rpm. This was to establish how the motors are completely waterproofed and suitable for use in the monsoon season. They are claimed to be power wash friendly too.
On the safety front, the company showcased its capabilities on Advanced
Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). It did so through a display of a Blind Spot Monitoring System (BSMS) based on radar. The system offers a combination of blind side detection, lane change alert, rear collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and door opening alerts. The radardetected signals are collated onto the ECU.
SPRL has a state-of-the-art factory in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh where IC Engines are manufactured in bulk and exported to over 45 countries. Looking at the global market switch to cleaner emission compliances ( including Euro7 ), claimed Krishnakumar, the company has gone a step further to future-proof its solutions. Despite the focus on EVs, the company is well aware of the under one per cent penetration and continues to focus on multiple, coexisting offerings for a customer turning to the company.
Sans economies of scale, EV products continue to be priced higher than their counterparts and the company, as per Krishnakumar, is striving to bring down unit costs. It is leveraging localisation for the vast portfolio of EV aggregates across segments. With varying rates of electrification across segments, the company is predicting that by 2030, EVs will mature to a 25-30 per cent penetration level. With this projection, the company is anticipating a CAGR of five-six per cent. Even then, it projects IC Engines to command a great deal of focus in its portfolio. Together with its partners like EMF-I, the company will build on capabilities across motor and controller design and manufacturing. Its capabilities like in the case of BLDC motors and controllers for e-mobility are expected to hold it in good stead. It can meet customer requirements from 5” 36V 250 W BLDC Hub Motor to 12” 60V 800 W BLDC hub motors. ACI
Shriram Pistons & Rings brings R&D to the table. In an upfront interaction, Krishnakumar Srinivasan spoke to Prateek Pardeshi on leveraging R&D to meet demands of coexisting technology.
Q. What is the significance of the lineup showcased at the Auto Expo 2023 - The Components Show?
A. We have showcased our entire ICE product lineup. This includes the new product lines we are entering into. We showcased pistons, piston rings, pins, and engine valves apart from some new technology aggregates such as hydrogen and green hydrogen. We also have solutions for e-mobility that include motors, and controllers for multiple applications, from e-bikes to CVs up to 200 kW.
Q. How are you aligning with the demand for an alternative drivetrain?
A. Many OEMs are trying alternative drivetrains. We have come to the conclusion that all of these will coexist. According to me, the demand for ICE will continue and be independent of the EV demand. We are prepared for green hydrogen, and flex-fuel and Natural Gas (NG) engines. As a manufacturer, today we are delivering piston pins for the majority of the players. Having a major market share in the industry we have to service an entire range. These applications need a completely new design, and the strength which we bring to the table is our R&D. We have been developing it for over a decade. We have an in-house engineering team that is well-equipped to align with emerging trends. As a testimony, we have in-house solutions for LNG and CNG.
Q. What is the R&D outlay? Are you considering higher degree of automation?
Automation will help us to manufacture an estimated 40 mn volume of pistons. On an annual basis, we make over 80 mn engine valves, and 150 mn piston rings, since we manufacture in bulk.
A. It is a phase-wise investment plan. We have invested three-to-six per cent of our revenue consistently almost. We have our test labs and other required setups on a huge scale. This set up is in our state-ofthe-art factory in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. We have been working on enhancing automation levels for a long time. We have also aligned with digitisation as a buzzword over the past six-to-eight years. Automation will help us to manufacture an estimated 40 mn volume of pistons. On an annual basis, we make over 80 mn engine valves, and 150 mn piston rings, since we manufacture in bulk. It is extremely important to automate and digitise the factory so that we have a fantastic flow in our supply chain and we can readily cater to market demand.
Q. Which of ICE and EV is driving your sales?
A. Well, the market is still more ICE. The EV penetration is less than one per cent. We have different market segments getting electrified in different ratios. We believe the EV penetration will be around 25-30 per cent
by 2030. It is equally important to understand why we are having this CAGR growth anywhere between five-six and per cent. We believe the IC Engines will remain at a fairly good number by 2030. We also have to look at how the subsidies will play out. The government is cutting subsidies. For the markets to be competitive localisation is the key. This is one of the reasons why we have committed a major investment in a domestic company called EMF-I for an electric powertrain to be manufactured locally and eventually get a good hold in the EV market as well.
Q. Are you supplying to EV startup, three-wheeler OEMs?
A. We cater to all segments equally, from two- and three-wheelers to M&HCVs. EMF-I already caters to two- and three-wheeler powertrain solutions. They make hub motors, and other aggregates depending on the application.
Q. Could you give us insights into the recent acquisition of SEL?
A. SPR Engineers Ltd. (SEL) will help us to focus on newer investment areas. It is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Shriram Pistons & Rings Ltd. The EMFI acquisition was shaped through the SEL engine. The latter will remain as a front-end engine for growth and we are looking forward to other possibilities in which we can invest.
Q. How are you aligned with the upcoming Euro7 norms?
A. There are challenges and we are equipped to overcome them, Euro7 will be an area which we can cater to easily and offer solutions on the table. Even when Euro6 came in we were the front runners. We are well prepared.
Q. Has it resulted in tangible demand on the order book from export markets?
A. SPR is a front-runner in exports. We export to nearly 45 countries and supply to major OEMs, and to the after markets on a large scale. We have marketready solutions with higher compliance than Euro7. ACI
Having a major market share in the industry we have to service an entire range. These applications need a completely new design, and the strength which we bring to the table is our R&D.
he Bollhoff Group through its Indian subsidiary Bollhoff Fastenings Pvt. Ltd. continued to pursue a three-year strategy it first revealed in 2020. The strategy to invest in sustainable mobility holds good even today as the company aligns with ‘The New Global’ strategy or Vision 2024 formulated in 2021. Going beyond, the company also hopes to attain carbon neutrality by 2030. The display of ICE and EV-based solutions for its customer base are a testimony. As per the company’s global sustainability report, Wilhelm A. Böllhoff, a Member of the Board of Management, states, “A key element of our corporate strategy for 2024 is the continuous improvement of our resilience, adaptability, and sustainability.” This is expected to help the company double or triple the volume of sales of its fastening solutions. Bollhoff Fastenings showcased joining solutions and assembly technologies. It showcased a wide range of fasteners, sub-assembly machines, quick releases, and thread inserts. The company drew attention with its thread technology, blind rivet technology, injection moulding technology, and mechanical joining technology. The portfolio encompasses a wide range of model products to meet assorted customer requirements. The RIVSET® Portable C on display is primarily used to join two or more sheets having an upper limit of five, having a total thickness of not more than six millimetres. The sheets are joined through the click of a button. It is a heat-retardant architecture. These machines are
The Bollhoff Group continues to pursue scale in fastening solutions. Prateek Pardeshi looks at the continual optimisation reciprocated through its exhibits.@Prateek2101 Prateek Pardeshi
used for industrial purposes, primarily in automotive besides applications in the medical field. This machine is claimed to score over the fixed iteration given that its battery-powered and replaces self-pierce rivet heads directly at the installation site. The machine resonates the OE interest in it, with representation from companies like JLR and JBM Auto at different ends of the automotive spectrum. Persistent trends such as electromobility or lightweight construction necessitate appropriate joining technology solutions that the company has come to offer.
Looking at the growing penetration of EVs and OE customers introducing a range of products, the company has found an addressable market. It is witnessing a pull for components like high-speed joining, riveting technology, sealing technology for battery packs among other EV components. In India, Bollhoff is following the Japanese term Dojo for a focussed approach based on the pillars of concentration and shared learning for its stakeholders. The idea behind these dojos is that only welltrained employees fully understand the processes and customer requirements
and in turn, deliver optimal product quality. This approach is known to drive the quality standards at the company. Bollhoff Fastenings, in India, supplies the AMTEC® inserts for thread creation in plastic components to various automotive tier 1 suppliers. Persistent trends such as electromobility or lightweight construction necessitate appropriate joining technology solutions and the decision makers at the supplier are of the strong belief that the renewed focus is on sustainability at a faster pace.
The company is working towards its vision plan 2024. Here resilience and the capacity to quickly and flexibly adapt to changing circumstances form the core of its strategy. The ‘New Global’ must be considered as per the company document. This line of thinking pro actively addresses rising transportation costs, increased protectionism, and the risk of trade wars. ACI
ensata Technologies has sensed the change in the mobility landscape and with it the evolving needs of its customers. With the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) offering cleaner transport solutions, the powertrains and auxiliary systems have advanced technology at the core. The company, known for its pressure and temperature sensors has diversified into a new line of products for the emerging shift to emobility. With the transition from Bharat Stage IV (BSIV) to Bharat Stage VI (BSVI) and the belief that Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) will continue to coexist, the company has aligned business to meet requirements pertaining to the high penetration of electronic content per vehicle. The company made a significant contribution to this transition with its pressure and temperature sensors deemed crucial to the emission norms compliance of BSVI.
The company takes pride in being the first to localise BSVI sensors under the ‘Make In India’ initiative, out of Pune, with an 80 per cent market share. The electronic content per vehicle has grown to an estimated 14-15 per cent with 17-20 small and big ECUs thrown into the mix. The increase of electronic content in ICE will continue to grow at drastic levels too. To monitor these systems and relay accurate data pointers for insightful analytic, a lot rests on the sensors that capture these. The global industrial technology company is banking on a broad portfolio of sensors, electrical protection components and sensorrich solutions. It is helping customers in turn, to address increasingly complex engineering and operating performance requirements as per Satish Borole, Director of Sales at the company.
The company, in its maiden appearance at the Auto Expo 2023 - The Components Show, showcased a broad portfolio to meet the needs of customers across automotive, heavy vehicle offroad besides in the industrial, and aerospace sectors. With 21,000 employees and global operations in 13 countries backing its goals and aspirations, the company drew attention to its capabilities as a sensor and electrical protection solutions supplier for Electric Vehicles (EVs). This included innovative exhibits to support electrification. The company displayed a broad range of “missioncritical” sensors and electrical protection solutions. Backed by a high level of quality, service, and technical support the company has a solid foundation with OEMs. Averred Borole, “Sensata is already an OEM’s preferred choice for mission-critical sensors for ICE based platforms on its global product expertise and local
Ashish Bhatia goes through the sensor-rich portfolio built onAshish Bhatia @atashishbhatia
support. The growing demand and government regulations in India’s automotive industry present a huge opportunity for Sensata, especially with the focus on shifting to EVs to curb emissions.” “We are wellpoised to help OEMs meet stringent electrical protection, motor, and battery management requirements for their EVs with our innovative and value-added solutions,” he said.
With claims of over 50 Sensata devices and systems found in automotive and heavyduty vehicles respectively worldwide, the company, as per Borole, is integral to supporting electrification and, in the engine, exhaust, transmission, cabin comfort, chassis, tyre pressure monitoring, and safety applications. The company is striving for a high degree of localisation
as among the first, for instance in the sensors used for the after treatment systems. The company also showcased a digital-based sensor. The delta pressure sensors used across SCR are used for flow measurement. The company also exhibited sensors for HVAC applications. To cater to the growing gasification, the company has developed sensors for CNG, Hydrogen (~500-600 bar pressure) and CRDi sensors, the latter expected to be an emerging trend. The mandatory requirement of the oil pressure sensor is also being met. In addition to providing for CVT, the company is also a single source for AMT applications. It also meets the requirements for braking applications. The company has also prepared for the upcoming Trem V legislation to be rolled out in 2024-25.
The company, under a new division, looks at the assimilation of fleet data and is responsible for monitoring the health of the vehicle. Be it data from tyres, exhaust and engine besides safety. The captured data is synced to the cloud for an in-depth analysis. It paves the way for fleet managers to enhance their efficiencies. At the fleet level, the company has put in place a subscription model. At the OEM level, the company also offers standard fitments. To ensure high sensor uptime, the company is banking on a “fit and forget” approach backed by globally-proven quality. The company has put in place a technology road map and checks in line to tackle any unprecedented developments to ensure unhindered growth. ACI
The attention has shifted to Union Budget 2023. While government interventions sought by the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) also represent the expectations of the auto components industry, tier suppliers and ancillaries have their own independent wish lists. The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman has her task cut out as she sets herself up on behalf of the BJP-led government to present in the parliament on February 01, 2023. Fresh from the demand to bring the sector under Goods and Services Tax (GST) sidelined by the Govt. last year at the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) Summit, the industry has taken developments since then in its stride. Having posted a record turnover and going strong in its objective of advancing technology to meet the current and future needs of the automotive sector.
The wish lists include the diversion of focus this year on providing the necessary infrastructure. Dinesh Patidar, Chairman and Managing Director of Shakti Pumps (India) Ltd. is batting for the adoption and expansion of electric vehicles by the government offering tax breaks and development incentives. “After the success of the first and second rounds of the Production Linked
The auto components suppliers are ready with their wish lists. Ashish
Bhatia runs through them as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2023.Ashish Bhatia @atashishbhatia
Incentive (PLI) scheme, the third round should also be announced to attract investment in Electric Vehicle (EV) component manufacturing by offering incentives to the nonautomotive investor and or startup equivalent to the incentive available to the existing automotive investor.” This was echoed by Arjun Sinha Roy, Co-Founder, iRasus Technologies. Drawing attention to the subsegments that need govt. support and push, Roy sided with the battery manufacturers, OEMs and other stakeholders of the EV ecosystem. “The budget should focus on ease of business and encourage more local players to enter the market. Areas like component localisation, access to components, etc., if addressed, then the Indian companies, big or small, can build competitive products at competitive prices. In 2000, India became a software hub. Maybe in the 2020s, India can become the EV hub of the world,” he expressed.
A key stakeholder of the charging infrastructure, Akshit Bansal, Founder and CEO of, Statiq says, “As a leading EV-charging network in the country, the government should re-examine its tax and tariff policies on not only EVs but also related component requirements for the e-mobility ecosystem.” Bansal pointed out that the GST rate of 18 per cent is applicable on battery components and other raw materials with a relatively modest five per cent on the purchase of EVs thereby creating a discrepancy in the market even leading to blockage of working capital for the industry. He added that at the same time, the government should also consider reducing customs duty on components being imported into the country. “
A few additional tax exemptions to individuals investing in the ecosystem like that for buying an EV. EV infrastructure needs to be classified as an asset which will give it the necessary impetus towards
institutional financing for such investments by individuals,” he mentioned. Looking to go beyond global dominance in sales, the industry seeks measures for India to become a manufacturing front for the globe and enhance its exports. “We expect rationalisation in GST rates to bring down the costs of EVs. Currently, five per cent GST is levied on the ex-showroom price of EVs but the makers are contributing 28 per cent GST for the spare parts. We want all EV parts to be included in the five per cent bracket to support the EV manufacturers. We are hopeful that this will find a mention in the Budget speech this year,” shared Samarth Kholkar, CEO and Co-Founder, of BLive.
Lauding the govt. for its initiatives in the last couple of years, Nirmal K Minda, CMD, Uno Minda Ltd. hailed the introduction of the PLI scheme and suggested that the govt. further, look into areas that would benefit the industry even more. “First, improving GST structure by bringing all components tax structure at standard 18 per cent to avoid dispute and ambiguities. Secondly, incentives for R&D in the by providing tax benefits, as the EV segment needs support, this will boost the Make In India and Atmanirbhar Bharat
vision.” Sanjeev Vasdev, Managing Director, FLASH also drew the FM’s attention to a paradigm shift towards emobility which is also a disruptive one for auto components suppliers. “One of the key expectations from the budget is a reduction in the GST rate, from 28 per cent to 18 per cent. It will greatly support the homegrown players to invest in newer technologies for enhanced mobility offerings, even at the global level. While, the government has been supporting the automotive industry through various schemes and incentives, the change in GST will offer huge assistance and boost to the fast-growing market.”
Rajeev Sharma, Chief Strategy Officer, Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt.Ltd. drew the attention of the FM to the infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. “I strongly believe that the Indian government will prioritise the policies that can benefit the infrastructure, and manufacturing sector and promote renewable energy allowing the country to realise its potential on a global scale. Manufacturing investments must be encouraged among technology providers to bring self-reliant solutions to the country.” “ The development of new-age manufacturing skills across the top and bottom of the pyramid must be enlightened which can be a game changer for further skill development,” he opined.
Speaking on behalf of the crucial ancillaries, Atul Bansal, CFO, of Yokohama Off-Highway Tires sought a remission of duties and taxes and inclusion under PLI. He said, “As we come to the budget, we are looking at
certain things in the tyre industry like, we would like remission of duties and taxes with relation to exports to apply both to SEZ and EOU. Second is, the PLI scheme to be introduced for tyres as we see a big opportunity over there for the growth.”
Expect the demand for aluminium, a versatile metal utilised in several
strategic industries and the second-most commonly used metal in the world today, to rise exponentially in India, moving from four MTPA at present to 10 MTPA by 2030, the Aluminium Association of India (AAI) has called for the removal of the high procurement cost of raw materials, proving to be a major hindrance in attracting fresh investments. Rahul Sharma, President of AAI, states, “Several key inputs for the sector, such as calcined pet coke, caustic soda lye and aluminium fluoride attract high duties of 7.5 per cent, which need to be removed completely, or rationalised to at least 2.5 per cent to boost cost competitiveness.” Govt. taxes account for 20 per cent of the taxes alone, he informed. He further requested the elimination of GST compensation cess and to ensure that the domestic market is not flooded with unchecked substandard imports in the form of scrap. ACI
