AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA January 2019 by Next Gen Publishing Pvt Ltd

www.autocomponentsindia.com Vol 5 Issue 11

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January 2019

COMPONENTS

INDIA

VOICE OF THE AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLIERS

INDIA SET TO PLAY A KEY ROLE IN GLOBAL AUTOMOTIVE R&D

ACI AWARDS 2019

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Nissan to kick-start new chapter in India with the all new Kicks

E DITORIAL

CONTENTS

Volume 5 | Issue 11

JANUARY 2019

COVER STORY z India set to play a key role in global

automotive R&D z Valeo expands R&D team in India

to keep pace with disruptive automotive trends z

Apollo Tyres to set up design studio in Chennai to make it a world class facility

Impact 2.0 takes Tata Motors to another level of design philosophy: Pratap Bose

z Programmes under way to align

with new disruptions: Dinesh Tyagi z Gordon Murray bets big on

affordable iStream technology for major weight reduction

06 | NEWS ExxonMobil launches Super Moto Range of two-wheeler engine oils IAC launches vehicle tracking device JK Tyre launches â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;MINE Championâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

TVS Motor rolls out 50,000th unit of BMW 310cc series motorcycle TVS Tyres launches new scooter tyre patterns Trelleborg inks JV with Indian partner to produce two-wheeler tyres

14| CORPORATE Shell brings OX flat-pack truck to India

47 | OEM Lumax DK Auto merges with Lumax Auto Ravindra is new CHRO of Tata Motors

John Deere rolls out small tractors to promote farm enterprises Nissan to kick-start new chapter in India with the all new Kicks

HBM offers eDrive testing for 6-phase machines

Continious innovation helps Steelbird International to bring efficient filters

MTS System Corporation plans big for the Indian market

Major technical changes make Mahindra Blazo X more fuel efficient

India to play key role in future of automotive design, engineering

Maruti Suzuki Swift, RE Interceptor 650 wins ICOTY and IMOTY 2019

52| SPECIAL REPORT

Use of galvanized steel for cars to enhance durability, passenger safety

54 | BY INVITATION The Future of Powertrain

57 | EVENT Proposal to aggregate and build aftermarket brands ACMA Automechanika New Delhi to focus on digital innovations Cover image courtesy: Valeo

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E DITORIAL R&D IMPERATIVES

C AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA Mafatlal Chambers B, Ground Floor, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (E),Mumbai - 400 013 Tel +91 22 43525252, Email us at s.bhargav@nextgenpublishing.net Executive Editor Bhargav TS Editorial Advisory Board H. S. Billimoria, Aspi Bhathena Web Editor Ashish Bhatia Correspondent Sricharan R (Chennai) Gunjan D. Bidani (New Delhi) Head - Design & Production Ravi Parmar Asst Art Director Ajit Manjrekar Production Supervisor Dinesh Bhajnik Publisher Marzban Jasoomani General Manager – North & East Ellora Dasgupta General Manager – South Girish Shet Deputy General Manager – North & East Chanchal Arora (Delhi) Regional Marketing Manager Salma Jabbar (Chennai) Marketing Manager Minocher Parakh (Mumbai) Manager Circulation - North and East Kapil Kaushik (Delhi) Subscription Supervisor Sachin Kelkar Tel +91 22 43525220 Apple Newsstand & Magzter Queries: help@magzter.com Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation) Srinivas Gangula (Hyderabad) Cell +91 09000555756 Territory Sales Incharge (Circulation) Vidyasagar Gupta (Kolkata) Mob: 09804085683 REGIONAL MARKETING OFFICES Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Mafatlal Chambers B, Ground Floor, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (E), Mumbai - 400 013 Tel +91 22 43525252 26 B, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Okhla Phase III, New Delhi - 110020, India Tel +91 11 42346600/78, Fax +91 11 42346679 Unit No:509, 5th Floor, ‘B’ wing, Mittal Towers, MG Road, Bengaluru - 560001, India Tel +91 080 66110116/17, Fax +91 80 41472574

apital expenditure by the domestic automotive components companies is expected to be around Rs 24,000 crore over the next 2 fiscals, about 20% more than the present investment in fixed assets, to meet the more stringent new regulations, research and development (R&D) requirements, and capacity expansion. It is estimated that strong balance sheets and better business prospects in fiscal 2020 will help them absorb the additional expenditure without risking credit profiles. The R&D spending by the auto component manufacturers grew 6.28% in 2017-18. While this is better than the -0.34% in FY17, it is still a far cry from the double-digit growth in the 3 previous years. This decline is despite record sales, and changing regulations which require more research and development spends. New advanced emission, fuel efficiency and safety rules are to take effect over the next 3 to 4 years. New regulations include transitioning to BS-VI fuel norms by April 2020, increase in truck axle loads, braking equipment for two-wheelers above 125cc, air-conditioned cabins for trucks, and crash tests. The complexity of the future technologies also means the very nature of R&D is set for an overhaul. Companies might want to co-create, collaborate or outsource, instead of doing it all themselves in-house. According to CRISIL, a global analytics company, about 225 automotive component firms (accounting for over 60% of sector revenue of Rs.3.2 lakh crore in fiscal 2018) increased their capex in fiscals 2017 and 2018 by more than 20% to nearly Rs 23,000 crore compared with the previous 2 fiscals. The low-cost and highly talented workforce is the key differentiator between India and the western countries. This helps India transform to a global automotive R&D hub as most of the global giants are entering the automotive and auto components sector. Having established itself as a small car hub the country is now becoming an R&D destination of choice. Wish you all A Happy New Year. Bhargav TS Executive Editor s.bhargav@nextgenpublishing.net

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Views and opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd. does not take responsibility for returning unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other material. All material published in Auto Components India is copyright and no part of the magazine may be reproduced in part or full without the express prior written permission of the publisher Printed by Marzban Jasoomani Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Mafatlal Chambers B, Ground Floor, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (E),Mumbai - 400 013. Published by Marzban Jasoomani on behalf of Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Mafatlal Chambers B, Ground Floor, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (E), Mumbai - 400 013. Printed at Spring Graphics, 215 & 238, Shah & Nahar Industrial Estate, Sun Mill Compund, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai 400013, India. Published at Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Mafatlal Chambers B, Ground Floor, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel (E),Mumbai - 400 013

All readers are recommended to make their own independent enquiries before sending money, incurring expenses or entering into commitments in relation to any advertisement appearing in the publication. Auto Components India does not vouch for any claims made by advertisers for their products and services. The editor, publisher, printer and employees of the publication shall not be held liable for any consequence in the events of such claims not being honoured by the advertisers. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai only.

Editor Bhargav TS

N EWS ExxonMobil launches Super Moto Range of two-wheeler engine oils

xxonMobil Lubricants has launched Mobil Super Moto, a range of premium technology lubricants specifically developed to provide exceptional cleaning and protection for the engine, transmission and clutch in all types of two-wheelers.

conditions, rough terrains and heavy traffic across all regions, it is critical to have products that maintain good performance and extend engine life. Mobil Super Moto is designed to deliver long engine life and protection that in turn transforms the way India travels.

Like the automobile industry, the twowheeler sector is evolving very fast and becoming extremely popular in every part of India because of the added advantage of affordability. With this growing demand and usage comes the attention towards engine maintenance for two-wheelers.

“India is one of the world’s largest two-wheeler markets, with an increased focus on convenience and affordability. We are proud to continue providing world-class lubricant solutions for the Indian market with our launch of Mobil Super Moto for bikes and scooters,” Deepankar Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer, ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt Ltd, said.

In a country like India with varied climate

Sharing further insight on the launch, Kapil Mittal, Director of market development, India for ExxonMobil Lubricants Pvt. Ltd. said, “Today, more than ever, consumers in India are focused on making their vehicles last longer. Mobil Super Moto’s ability to offer protection in a wide range of driving conditions and temperatures provides consumers peace of mind, day after day.” The Mobil Super Moto range is available for scooters and bikes. It consists of Mobil Super Moto 10W30, 10W40, 20W40 and 20W50, as well as a 10W30 product specifically for scooters. The range is priced between Rs 304 to Rs 434. ACI

IAC launches vehicle tracking device

elhi-based start-up, Indian Auto Company (IAC), which is working on offering automotive solutions in tracking, telematics, smart infotainment, rear seat infotainment and driver fatigue systems using IoT-enabled hardware and platform has added IAC 140 and IAC 140 CAN vehicle location tracking devices. The new offerings are both certified as per the AIS 140 standard by ARAI and ICAT.

driving and other important parameters. This in turn ensures correct driving practice thereby reducing wear and tear of the vehicle, improving fuel efficiency while also helping in overall safety of the driver, the passengers and other road users. The device also has additional ports for panic buttons and various other sensors which can be added as per requirements of the user. The same can also be used for safe transportation of children in school buses, while commuting to and from school.

The company says the new product will be available through its network spread across 22 states and more than 70 cities in India. IAC looks to gear-up for the demand from public transport and national permit vehicles, which are mandated to have a location tracking device from January 1, 2019, as per the notification by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The device also enables to monitor driver

behaviour such as over speeding, harsh acceleration, braking, cornering, night

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In addition to this product, IAC products include tracking solutions for two-and four-wheelers, electric vehicles, assets and personal tracking. IAC also offers state of the art, DVR (in dash camera), Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS), Driver State Monitoring Systems (DSM). ACI

N EWS JK Tyre launches ‘MINE Champion’

K Tyre & Industries Ltd has launched 14.00-25 36 PR Mine Champion E4/ L4 OTR tyre at the ‘bauma CONEXPO INDIA 2018’. The new premium tyre has been specifically developed for the newage tipper trucks and wheel loaders for mining applications. The new product was unveiled by Rajiv Prasad, President, India Operations, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd., at the JK Tyre pavilion. Vikram Malhotra, Marketing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd, was also present at the launch. “As one of the leading tyre manufacturers in India, we have the desired expertise to serve the growing requirements of the Indian mining and infrastructure sectors. We have been developing customised product solutions for industrial applications and the MINE Champion is the latest addition to our highly robust OTR product portfolio. With its best-in-class features, we are confident that the MINE Champion will act as a highly efficient partner in tough mining applications,” Prasad said.

casing strength. The new product joins JK Tyre’s comprehensive OTR segment product range that is highly efficient for application in Industrial and Mining segments.

The MINE Champion offers excellent strength and durability with its bestin-class load carrying capacity and

This new premium product comes equipped with a distinct tread pattern that provides excellent traction,

flushing and contact pressure distribution. The strong nylon construction gives excellent casing strength and reliability during rigorous applications. The new-age SILICAbased dual tread compound results in excellent cut resistance and cooler running, during hauling operations. ACI

Lumax DK Auto merges with Lumax Auto

umax DK Auto, manufacturer of lighting module and integrated plastic moulds, has announced its merger with its parent company, Lumax Auto Technologies. According to Lumax Auto, the merger is to achieve business and administrative synergies. Through this merger, they aim to consolidate and simplify the Group

structure, improve cost savings through rationalisation, standardisation and simplification of business processes. The company claims that the pooling of financial resources would lead to improved organizational capability. Hence, this would avoid unnecessary duplication of costs of administration, distribution, selling and marketing

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and reduction in legal and regulatory compliances. Lumax Auto technologies is a Pune-based company that manufactures lighting modulo, frame chassis, swing arms, integrated plastic moulds, seat frames and more. The company also caters to the aftermarket lighting system. ACI

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NEWS

Ravindra is new CHRO of Tata Motors

avindra Kumar G P is appointed as the President and Chief Human Resources Officer CHRO) of Tata Motors. Ravindra will oversee all the human resource operations of the company. He will report to Guenter Butschek, CEO, Tata Motors, and will be a member of the Executive Committee. “Ravindra’s vast experience at GE and Asian Paints will further strengthen our resolve towards building an employee-focused

organisation. We are extremely confident that his energy will help further drive the turnaround culture and the Tata ethos,” Butschek said. An alumnus of Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Ravindra brings with him rich global experience of over 20 years. In his most recent role, Ravindra Kumar was CHRO, GE, South Asia, and prior to GE, he worked with Asian Paints where he began his career in 1998. ACI

TVS Motor rolls out 50,000th unit of BMW 310cc series motorcycle

VS Motor Company has rolled out the 50,000th unit of the BMW 310cc motorcycle from the Hosur plant. In April 2013, TVS Motor Company and BMW Motorrad signed a long-term strategic partnership to manufacture sub-500cc motorcycles for the globe. This collaboration has resulted in the launch of 3 products on the 310cc platform namely BMW G 310 R, BMW 310 GS and TVS Motor Company’s TVS Apache RR 310. “Over the course of this 6 year partnership, we have had an opportunity to create a common learning platform for both the companies resulting in the creation of aspirational products for the global market. It is heartening to see BMW’s foray into sub-500cc segment meet with positive response across the globe. We are delighted to be a part of this success story,” KN Radhakrishnan, Director and CEO, TVS Motor Company said. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad said, “Six years ago, we took a crucial step with the decision to enter into the sub-500cc category in

partnership with TVS Motor Company. In it, we found a perfect partner who has always stood for high quality. This reaffirms our decision to offer BMW Motorrad quality-led premium products for the sub-500cc segment.”

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The exports for these two BMW Motorrad models, BMW G 310 R and BMW 310 GS, commenced from December 2016 and today, they are being offered in more than 90 countries. ACI

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NEWS

TVS Tyres launches 2 new scooter tyre patterns

VS Tyres, one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of two-and three-wheeler tyres and off-highway tyres in India, has launched 2 new scooter tyre patterns, ‘JumboXT’ and ‘Pancer-II’, across the country. Jumbo-XT has been designed with cutting-edge technology and has a new bold, rugged block type tread design which provides excellent grip. The tyre also features a unique parallel groove design, which helps in expelling water quickly and provides better grip in wet conditions. To provide better grip while cornering, Jumbo-XT has a rounded shoulder profile. Pancer-II features a new aligned block type design and groove channels, which improves stability, delivering firm grip in wet as well as dry conditions while improving the overall mileage. The pattern has been designed to enhance water dispersion quickly enabling better riding during wet conditions. TVS Tyres

is the brand under which TVS Srichakra markets its tyre products. P Vijayaraghavan, Director, TVS Srichakra Ltd said, “We are proud to announce the launch Jmbo-XT and Pancer-II scooter tyre patterns. We believe the scooter segment in India is one of the primary drivers of growth in the domestic two-wheeler market and has witnessed a strong demand in the urban, semi-urban and rural

areas across the country. Jumbo-XT and Pancer-II are technologically superior products with highest quality standards and have been tested rigorously to suit the varying road conditions.” Both Jumbo-XT and Pancer-II will be available in 90/100 -10 53J TL sizes. The new scooter tyre patterns will be available across all cities and towns in the country. ACI

Trelleborg inks JV with Indian partner to produce two-wheeler tyres

weden-based engineering and polymer major, Trellborg has signed an agreement with Mahansaria family to form a joint venture in India for manufacturing tyres for two-wheelers. For Mahansaria family, this venture is a part of its strategy to enter the fast-growing two-wheeler tyre market in India. The JV will be owned by the Mahansaria family and Trelleborg, in the ratio of 76:24, respectively. At present, Trelleborg is focused on the European market for manufacturing of tyres for the two-wheelers. The JV is

expected to pave the way for Trelleborg to grow its business globally by gaining access to additional production capacity. The partners will establish a production site in western India, with deliveries targeted to begin by the end of 2020. According to sources, the JV will invest more than Rs 1,000 crore to establish the manufacturing facility. Commenting on the development, Yogesh Mahansaria said, “We known Trelleborg over the last 2 decades and deeply respect their progressive and entrepreneurial business spirit. Through

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this joint venture, we look forward to providing technologically advanced products of global standards to the ever-evolving Indian two-wheeler tyre market.” The Mahansaria family has over 30 years of experience in the tyre industry, having being leading stakeholders in two businesses - Balkrishna Industries and Alliance Tyre Group - in the field of Off-Highway Tires. The family along with other shareholders sold their stake in ATG to Yokohama Rubber Company, Japan in 2016. ACI

C ORPORATE Shell brings OX flat-pack truck to India Story & Photo: Bhargav TS

ocusing on bridging the mobility divide in India, Shell has unveiled the world’s first ‘flat-pack’ truck –The OX- an all-terrain vehicle for reaching remote areas. The OX is a simple to maintain truck, suitable for the diverse and rugged Indian terrain of deep sands, steep hills, marshy lands, and steep river banks in hardto-reach communities in developing regions. It can be assembled from a flat-pack kit in less than 12 hours and transported in greater numbers to where it is needed more quickly.

Nitin Prasad, Chairman, Shell Companies in India, and Mike Brown, Advanced Product and Business Strategy Director, GMD, along with the OX Truck

Unveiled at the first edition of Shell’s `Make the Future’ festival in India, the OX truck is a global partnership among Shell, Gordon Murray Design (GMD), and the Global Vehicle Trust (GVT). It is an effort by Shell to empower communities living in the interiors of the country, by providing an effective transportation solution. Mike Brown, Advanced Product and Business Strategy Director, GMD,

said, “We have taken the engine, transmission, driveline, brakes and the off-the shelf steering box from the Ford Ranger and the electrical architecture is modified for the OX truck. We have the unique expansion chassis body structure but we have integrated even the fuel tank, air intake everything that goes along with that. They are packaged behind the driver seat to have a flexible architecture and to maximise the use of existing OEM components. It is the only way to get an affordable solution.” The flat-pack design makes OX the first-of-its-kind vehicle that is simple to maintain, having accessible components and fewer parts. It is ecologically sound, easy to manufacture, build and transport. Nitin Prasad, Chairman, Shell Companies in India said, “Limited mobility restricts access to basic amenities in remote areas. Shell is eager to contribute to developing and promoting effective mobility solutions thereby improving the quality of life of people in these areas. The OX is a very promising technology having immense potential to broaden access to transport possibilities. We are pleased to partner with GMD and GVT and hope this versatile vehicle will be instrumental in transforming lives and overcoming daily accessibility challenges.” The lightweight OX originated from the vision of one man – Sir Torquil Norman, the founder of GVT, and is based on GMD’s flexible iStream technology. It is specifically designed to carry a payload of 1900 kg or 8 44-gallon drums.

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“The body structure of OX is the key. It has our patented iStream Fibrelight composites, which reduce the weight of the body and allows to carry more load. Lightweighting means, effectively lower emissions and also helps with performance in terms of off-road capability. It also offers great ride due to the independent suspension. The vehicle is designed to be easy to assemble; basically the vehicle is packed into its own chassis, so it is completely flat. The focus has always been on the low investment and doing it affordably. Most of the truck components are commanaised, therefore it has low-cost of repair and low-cost of manufacture,” Brown said. The design for the OX is nothing short of revolutionary, and the flat-pack format fundamentally changes the way a vehicle can be bought and transported, providing specific advantages to lead times and overall unit cost. The Make the Future, featured also the `Shell Eco-marathon’, a competition event for students who are passionate about developing innovative mobility solutions. It challenges engineering, design, science and technology students to design, build and drive the world’s most energy efficient vehicle. Held for the first time in India, Make the Future event is a unique global platform for conversations, collaboration and innovations focused on world’s energy challenges. In India, the event focused on “Powering progress in mobility, together.” The four-day event was held at the Madras Motor Race Track, Chennai, during December 6-9, 2018. ACI

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C OVER STORY India set to play a key role in global automotive R&D ACI Bureau

nnovation, research and development in India are fast becoming buzzwords for the global automotive industry. But is India doing enough to capitalise on this positive mindset? The emergence of hybrid and electric vehicles, connected and autonomous cars, digital technologies as well as increasingly stringent emission and safety regulations are driving global R&D activities. Vehicle

manufacturers are looking to stay ahead of the curve by investing in new technologies and coming up with innovations. Given Indiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vast engineering skills and massive worker talent, can the country essay a key role in the future of automotive R&D? The world of automotive is at a crucial juncture in its development. Technologies spanning artificial intelligence and smart manufacturing are transforming the kind of products we can deliver to solve customer and production

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challenges. India has become an R&D hotbed and in keeping with the latest global R&D trend and the country is now a preferred destination for automotive R&D. The automotive sector, with its focus on creating differentiated offerings for global markets and appetite for investment, is an attractive industry. However, while cost arbitrage continues to be a key driver for R&D globalisation, there is a pressing need for the Indian MNC R&D companies to take on big technology bets to drive innovation

COVER STORY from here. Indian Automotive industry has seen a healthy year on year growth of 11.3% over AprilDecember, 2017. However the volatile regulatory environment has been a stiff challenge for the industry. By 2017, it also became apparent that technology change will hit the industry a lot sooner than initially expected. Safety and fuel efficiency became central issues with expected changes in regulations. The shift to BS-VI from BS-IV by 2020 is the steepest challenge for the industry. In this environment, the automotive industry is looking at the upcoming budget with hope and expectations. In line with its own announced priorities, the Government could focus on 3 elements to enable the automotive industry: Support for R&D, Clean vehicle technologies and Promote Safety. ICE-powered vehicles consist of more than 20,000 parts, while EVs feature only approximately 7,000 components, what has enormous impact on changes in operations of the motor industry and hence sub-suppliers who are being forced to switch to production that contributes to electrification of vehicles. The government’s support for the R&D sector in India is all set to witness some robust growth in the coming years. According to a study by the management consulting firm Zinnov, engineering and R&D market in India is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 14% to reach US$ 42 billion by 2020. The research ecosystem in India presents a significant opportunity for multinational corporations across the world due to its intellectual capital available in the country. The Indian engineers working across the globe highlight

the highly-trained manpower available at competitive costs. Consequently, several MNCs have shifted or are shifting their research and development (R&D) base to India. These R&D bases either develop products to serve the local market or help the parent company overseas deliver new generation of products faster to the markets across the world. To sustain this transformation, Indian policy makers increasingly recognize the need for continuing economic reforms, new public investments in the nation’s infrastructure, and new policy initiatives and institutions to encourage innovation, expand the skills and knowledge base of its population, and facilitate entrepreneurship. The rapid shift in technology is putting a lot of pressure on the industry. It needs to invest heavily on research and development and get access to technology. The Government has initiated the phase-out of additional weighted R&D deduction from 200% in FY2017 to 100% by FY2020. However given the rapid impact

of technology the Government may consider reinstating the 200% weighted deduction of R&D investments at least until 2020. This will provide additional resources to the industry to prepare for the massive technology change. The Government may also consider further investments in automotive testing, validation and safety. The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are expected to struggle due to the technology shifts. Government could consider a technology access fund to help SMEs get access to advanced automotive technologies including – E-vehicles, safety, electronics and connected vehicles. India’s low-cost and highly talented pool of workforce is the key differentiator between India and western countries. India adds 6000 PhDs, 200,000 engineers, 300,000 non-engineering postgraduates, and 2,100,000 other graduates to its workforce annually. The business language used is english, which creates a comfortable environment for foreign firms to 17 17

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COVER STORY set up their base in the country. The cost of hiring a researcher in India is one-fifth of that in the US. Annual salary of a senior engineer in the US is in the range of USD150,000–200,000, while it is about USD30,000–40,000 in India. Moreover, Indian graduates work for longer hours than their US and German counterparts. India has highly acclaimed educational institutes such as the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and Indian Institute of Science (IISc). Most of these institutes conduct R&D in collaboration with central and state governments as well as industry players on a regular basis. These institutes, with highly qualified academicians and a set of talented students, can help propel India to become a global R&D hub. The sheer size of the market makes India a strategic location for large foreign firms to expand their operations. With the Indian consumers having varying product preferences when compared to developed nations, it becomes imperative for these companies to set up their local R&D centres to cater to the local market. It also reduces product development

costs and helps the company in achieving a faster time to the market. India is transforming into a global R&D hub for the automotive and auto components sectors as most auto giants are setting up R&D centres in the country. The country offers several key advantages to global auto majors: Lower R&D costs, availability of skilled human capital, and a potentially large domestic market that justifies the investment. Having established itself as a small car hub, India is now becoming a formidable choice for performing R&D activities. The focus on R&D has further scope for expansion in the country over the next decade. Tata Motors is making a difference in the market through its increased focus on vehicle design. According to Pratap Bose, Head of Design, Tata Motors, “ Now, we are moving to the next phase of Impact Design, which is called ‘Impact 2.0’ in which our new Harrier is designed under the Omega platform and it will be followed by our first product on our Alpha platform. These platforms give us more flexibility to come up with products faster and in different types, sizes and segments.”

One of the leading tyre manufacturers in India, Apollo Tyres is setting up a new design studio at its Global R&D facility in Chennai. The new studio will help the firm to visualise using various digital platforms and bring in better solutions. Incorporated in 1972, Apollo is now the 11th biggest tyre manufacturer in the world. The company markets its products under 2 brands; Apollo and Vredestein. These products are available across the globe through a vast network of branded, exclusive and multi-product outlets. The France-based global automotive supplier, Valeo, is planning to increase its members in R&D in India by 2023. This will make it one of the largest R&D centres of the group under one roof. Valeo, as an automotive supplier is partner to all automakers worldwide. As a technology company, Valeo proposes innovative products and systems that contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and to the development of intuitive driving. The group employs 111,600 people in 33 countries and has 184 production plants, 55 R&D centres and 15 distribution platforms. In India, the company was established in 1997 and has 7 manufacturing facilities including 4 in Chennai and one each in Pune, Sanand and Noida. Steelbird International, manufacturers of filters and rubber components, has come up with a better performing filter, charged with the improved dust holding capacity. Competing with the global R&D standards, Steelbird’s innovative filter will hold double the amount of dust it held before. As a result, the service interval of the filter has been doubled. The product is being tested in Germany and will come to the market in January. ACI

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C OVER STORY Valeo expands R&D team in India to keep pace with disruptive automotive trends Story by: Bhargav TS & Sricharan R

he France-based global automotive supplier, Valeo, is planning to increase its members in R&D in India by 2023. This will make it one of the largest R&D centres of the group under one roof. Valeo, as an automotive supplier is partner to all automakers worldwide. As a technology company, Valeo proposes innovative products and systems that contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions and to the development of intuitive driving. The group employs 111,600 people in 33 countries and has 184 production plants, 55 R&D centres and 15 distribution platforms. In India, the company was established in 1997 and has 7 manufacturing facilities including 4 in Chennai and one each in Pune, Sanand and Noida. Valeo has plans to expand its facilities in India. It will not be just

in the technology side but also in the new trends and products. The company has space in the Sanand facility where the expansion is likely to happen. There are also plans to convert one of the Chennai facilities into a centre of excellence for software development. The R&D division leverages the skill sets of immensely talented engineers in India to provide efficient support in the areas of Mechanical Design, Simulation, Embedded Software Development and Hardware and Functional Safety Design to Valeo’s global customers. In addition to providing support, the R&D division is also contributing significantly towards the global product development initiatives of Valeo. This is done mainly to use the strength of Indians and use it for the global as well as local needs. “Compared to its competitors Valeo does not have a long history in India. But, technology-wise it is far superior.

Valeo’s India R&D centre in Navalur, Chennai

Our customers are looking at us as a solution provider. We are getting there slowly. We see a disruptive trend in the global and Indian market. There are 3 revolutions are happening globally: electrification, digitalisation and autonomous. The best part is we are at the centre of all these and we will be able to leverage and take this as an advantage. So, we will be in a better position soon,” Ashok Belani, Group President and Managing Director, Valeo India Pvt. Ltd, told Auto Components India. “By 2012, Valeo started recognising the availability of the Indian talent, which can be groomed and leveraged for global needs. Today, we have a team of around 1200-1300 engineers. We have a clear roadmap that we have to go to 5000 by 2023. Our head office recognises the abundance of talents across India and we have started to ramp up. With this, a lot of new products are being developed both on the design and software side. When the expansion happens, we will become one of the largest R&D centres under one roof. We want to increase the numbers because of the cost-effective availability of talents and competencies. The frugal engineering mindset of the Indians is also a major attraction for the global team,” he said. Valeo has been in this field for around 95 years. In 2017, the firm was close to 18.5 billion Euro in size. Predominantly, the company is structured into 4 business groups; powertrain systems, visibility systems, thermal systems and comfort and driving assistance. Powertrain systems accounts of EUR 4.3 bn in sales, the share of thermal systems is

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COVER STORY around EUR 5.0 bn, visibility systems accounts for EUR 5.8 bn in sales and comfort & driving assistance systems is around 3.6 bn in sales as on end December 2017. Valeo Service is another division that supplies original equipment spares to automakers (OES Market) and replacement parts to the independent aftermarket (IAM). The automotive supplier firm is also a technology company and a solution provider. Around 12% of the original equipment sales is dedicated to R&D. Valeo started in India 20 years ago with 2 projects. One of them is a 50:50 joint venture with the Amalgamation group for making clutches, and the other is with the Anand group for friction facing for the clutches.

z Frugal Engineering About frugal engineering, Belani said, with the increase in demand for components there will be cost pressure and they have to be manufactured in a more costeffective way. With the frugal engineering mindset of the Indian engineers, people believe that this would be possible. “A lot of people believe that India is cheap but, what attracts is the simplification and frugality of the design. In the global market, the components that we produce are technically superior and they hold commercial sense,” he said.

Ashok Belani, Group President and Managing Director, Valeo India Pvt. Ltd

electrification and hybrids. We also see that beyond 2020 smaller diesel vehicles may not be there. This is because making such engines Euro-6 compliant may not be commercially and technically viable. So, they want to focus on gasoline. IC engines may still grow at 5-6% but, they will remain and our R&D department and manufacturing setup will keep supporting it,” he said. The second thing is that the Indian market is shifting as far as powertrain is concerned. Many firms are waiting for a long time for government announcements on policies. The government advice OEMs to reduce CO2 and how they do it is based on the technology they adopt. It can be CNG, ethanol etc. As the global standards keep changing, it does not stop at BS-VI and it keeps on improving. Having the built to print gone design is going to be critical and within the frame electronic and software are going to be more important.

z Components for electric vehicles Electrification of vehicles is an emerging trend in India also. Valeo feels that the first candidates for electrification would be the twoand three-wheelers. Sharing his

view on this, Belani said, “Threewheelers are something that will be used for the last mile connectivity and our team is working on it. This segment is close to a million three-wheelers a year and we see that by 2025 all of them will be fully electrified. This is because they can be easily charged even in remote areas. The next set will be the two-wheelers and then the fleet operators. Valeo is engaging with them to see what value addition we can bring. Here too, we see the market is not going to jump from IC engine to electrification but, will go through intermediate steps of mild hybrids and hybrids. Today, some OEMs have gone ahead and have such vehicles.”

z The future Moving towards the future, the company has plans to be part of 2 different areas. One is the IC engine. For this, the company will continue supporting conventional business with clutches, friction facing of the clutch, dual mass flywheel etc. And, for the electrical side, the company has alternators and starters.

The air intake module enables further engine downsising leading to CO2 emissions reduction

“In India, we believe, in 10 years we are not going to be 100% electrical. This means there will be a few percentage of vehicles moving to

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COVER STORY “Valeo Indian R&D team has converted an ICE three-wheeler into an electric three-wheeler using 48V, 4kW e-machine as a prime mover along with regen capability as a proof of concept,” he added. Every three-wheeler maker is working in this direction of electrification. Valeo has not acquired any business so far, but is in an advanced stage of discussion. The automotive supplier is also making components for the electric three-wheelers. The firm has motors which are of 4kWh, 8 kWh and are made in its Pune plant. The systems that will come on three-wheelers will be more of 48V. These are not made yet, but once the company has the business it will make it in the existing 12V line. Next is the motor, which should have a speed reducer. OEMs have own ideas for the gearboxes and they decide on the final product. The motor also needs an inverter and Valeo does it.

Valeo’s functional safety lab

For higher voltage requirement for trucks, Valeo plays a big part in electrification globally. But it is not the same case in India. This is because the European firms are in tremendous pressure to come up with e-cars with certain volumes and numbers. If they do not do it

within the time period they will be subjected to huge penalties. Valeo also has a JV with Siemens to bring out the high voltage machines. For low voltages, the components are made exclusively by Valeo. Speaking about the advantages of the motor, the India Head said, “We were the innovators of the start/stop systems. In Europe, if a car stops at a signal, the engine immediately stops and you are saving fuel here. As you press the pedal once the signal is green, the vehicle starts and moves. Second, when you are driving a combination of engine and motor, the motor gives you the extra boost, power etc. Third, when you brake the braking energy will be regenerated for powering your motor. These make our motor very unique, reliable and compact compared to other choices in the market.”

z Thermal division “We are probably the global number one in size for HVAC. Other than that, we do the engine cooling solutions, evaporator, condenser etc. Today, there is also a focus on clean air and the supplier firm has an efficient filter. In electrification, there is lithium ion battery where when you charge and discharge the battery

it heats up in both ways. Cooling is important here and we have a complete range of battery cooling systems that include cooling tubes, refrigerants etc. We are giving it to a prominent electric car firm too. We are also engaged with some of the OEMs in India for battery cooling solution, where we have done initial prototypes,” Belani revealed.

z Cost reduction Frugal engineering is what the company holds to make products with quality and less cost. They do the design to cost approach and they design with keeping the cost in mind etc. For example, the firm may already have a design in other markets. They take it, do a design to cost approach and bring it to levels what the OEMs require. The other major thing is that the company is focusing on localisation to bring the product cost down. They do it keeping in mind the quality and engineering standard. “The focus is on the carry-over. How much can I carry over from one program to other programs? This is where we bring value to our customers and is where we reduce cost also. Because there is a huge engineering and tool development cost, it helps us to challenge ourselves on cost and we are equally challenged by our customers also,” the MD said.

z On a light note Valeo is also the largest light manufacturer in the world. It owns a fully controlled firm called Ichiko. The firm is not just looking at LED and has gone beyond that for something called as the matric beam. Belani feels the LED price has to come down and there will even be a break-even point which will make all OEMs to go for it. There are also a lot of things coming up on the cabin lighting. Above all, lighting plays a major role in CO2 reduction too. ACI 22 22 AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA JANUARY 2019

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C OVER STORY Apollo Tyres to set up design studio in Chennai, to make it a world class facility Story by: Sricharan R

uture sustainability of road transportation will require substantial improvement in the efficient use of energy by vehicles. As new technologies are being deployed to reduce total vehicle energy consumption, the contribution of tyre design is playing a major role. Shaping a tyre tread is an endeavour in balance between engineering and appearance. In brief, a tyre must be ‘gripping and beautiful’. The shape cannot be just visually attractive because more importantly it must provide maximum grip and operating constancy on the

road as intended in design and construction. One of the leading tyre manufacturers in India, Apollo Tyres is setting up a new design studio at its Global R&D facility in Chennai. The new studio will help the firm to visualise using various digital platforms and bring in better solutions. Incorporated in 1972, Apollo is now the 11th biggest tyre manufacturer in the world. The company markets its products under 2 brands; Apollo and Vredestein. These products are available across the globe through a vast network of branded, exclusive and multi-product outlets.

Apollo Tyres has manufacturing units in India, the Netherlands and Hungary. At the end of the financial year 2018, the company clocked a turnover of US$ 2.28 billion, backed by a global workforce of approximately 16,000 employees. It gets 69% of its revenues from India, 26% from Europe and 5% from other countries. The company spends almost 2.5% of its revenue on R&D and this is on par with the spending by the international companies on research and development facilities. Apollo Tyres has Global R&D facilies in Chennai and in Enschede, Netherlands.

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COVER STORY P K Mohamed, Chief Advisor, R&D, Apollo Tyres

can use it in a productive way.” Adding more, he stated there will be an increase in the number of talents in the R&D centre too.

z Further developments

Speaking to Auto Components India about the new design studio, P K Mohamed, Chief Advisor, R&D, Apollo Tyres Ltd said, “ We have been upgrading our equipment on a constant basis and we spend every year for the upgradation. Our target is to make this centre on par with the international level within 5 years by upgrading various aspects. In that line, we are setting up a new design studio inside the facility where we will have the visualisation and other important aspects. We are augmenting and it will be a step by step process. With this, we will have a digital platform and we

The Chief Advisor said, there are 3 important aspects that are needed to be considered for the tyres: safety, comfort and economy. The economy part will split into 2: mileage and rolling resistance; while, safety is split into various aspects including braking distance, traction, cornering etc. In comfort, it will be of 2 major parts: mechanical and acoustic comfort. Mohamed said there needs to be maximum importance given to the component in these areas. “These are the most important aspects for the tyre. Many say that tyre is an easy component. But the truth is, it is not. It is highly engineered and a lot of technology goes in. In order to bring in more safety, we are using specialised polymers in the particular compound. We are also using silica technology for tyres called the tandem mixing. We are the only company in India to have it and the firm has invested around 24 million euro in this technology,” he stated.

Adding more he said, “We have got a specialised division for polymer technology and also got an extended division in the Netherlands, where we have got very high experience in dealing with the safety aspect of the compound. So, with the inputs from India and the Netherlands, we make the tyres highly safe. In the mechanical comfort aspect, the geometry of the tyre is very important and the precision of placement is very important. In order to get it, we have invested a lot in our plant in Chennai right from mixing to curing. In order to reduce the acoustic and vibrations, our design team has used a computer-aided simulation to make the design. On the economy part, the rolling resistance is the only thing. But, whenever we think of rolling resistance we do not want the customer to lose mileage. So, we optimise the mileage with traction and rolling resistance.” Adding to his points Subhendra Baksi, Head, R&D PV (AMPEA) Apollo Tyres said, “On a tyre, there are around 16-18 components. It looks simple but, it is not. This is where the precision of a component comes into picture. Only around 4-6 inches of the tyre makes contact to the road and that is where the load transfer, braking etc. It is a pure engineering product, supported by chemistry to make it happen.” With the technology challenges being high, Mohamed said, the tyre industry is going through 4 megatrends namely, electrical, electronic, EVs and shared mobility. “From steam engine, we moved to IC engine and it was a dramatic change. In terms of speed, the tyre has to meet the speed and that was a challenge. Now, when you move from IC engine to electric engine, a few

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COVER STORY aspects need to be concentrated. Tracks, rolling resistance, noise and durability are the major challenges. All the 4 is going to be visible and we are well equipped in supporting that. Today, we have got 220 people working for this in Asian R&D and 180 working in our Enschede, Netherlands R&D.” The R&D is also working on truck tyres with mileage and durability in mind. In the passenger segment, they have equal focus on rolling resistance, traction and mileage. Another important aspect Apollo tyres is working on is nanomaterials. It is working with Mahatma Gandhi University and has got a patent on the subject. It has also developed a nano-based compound . “There are several nanomaterials like graphene, nanotube, nanoclay and polymeric material. Out of which only a few materials are industrialised in rubber compounds. Many are still in the research stage and some on the trial stage. It is not that easy as we should have the special material to make them work,” he said.

market in various aspects. He said the European market looks on traction, resistance and mechanical comfort while the market here still believes on the mileage. He also stated that the tyre manufacturers are ready with the products, as they are already supplying to Europe. “When the customers are ready, we will be ready too.” Speaking more on the rolling resistance, Mohamed added, “Rolling resistance has got several other parameters. They are sustained speed, driver habits and inflation pressure. Less pressure puts the vehicle to more energy use and more energy loss. We can provide tyres with good resistance but on Indian roads, I do not know will that be realised. Good roads are a must.” Mohamed said the truck segment’s radialisation is set to increase. It is at 47% now. He feels that the OEMs have started taking steps just as they did in the car segments, and within 10 years every vehicle will have radial tyres. As the BS-VI is coming in, he said that tyre has very little part to play in the emission and it depends

on the quality of fuel and other things. With the end of life of a tyre being another major issue, Mohamed said a draft has been approved by the government and many are waiting for it to be implemented.

z New Facility Apollo Tyres is setting up a new two-wheeler manufacturing facility in Baroda. The firm announced its entry into the two-wheeler tyre segment with contract manufacturing in March 2016 and this is done to have a strong foothold in the two-wheeler market. The firm has invested around Rs 100 crore in the plant and it will be ready by August 2019. The company is also coming up with a range of tyres to cater to the needs of highend OEMs. “We want to bring in all types of tyres to the industry here. With that in mind, we are setting up a new facility in Baroda that will manufacture 2000 tyres initially. This will eventually rise up to 4000 tyres. We are also in the commodity products where we sell around 3 lakh tyres per month. With our products being well accepted, we are in no position to give up and we want to be present in all ranges,” Mohamed said. ACI

z Indian industry Being an Indian tyre manufacturer and present in the global market, Apollo Tyres is capable of taking steps at the design stage and bring out products according to it. The company is supplying for low to high-end vehicles in India. Recently, the firm’s winter tyre was rated number one in the European markets. For the Indian industry, it uses silica technology as the roads here are rough and more importance needs to be given to chucking. About the Indian customers, Mohamed said, Apollo Tyres looks at the Indian market as completely different from the European 25 25 WWW.AUTOCOMPONENTSINDIA.COM

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C OVER STORY Impact 2.0 takes Tata Motors to another level of design philosophy: Pratap Bose After the success of Impact Design Language, Tata Motors have decided to introduce its next version, Impact 2.0. The passenger vehicles designed under its aegis will have their interiors influenced by Indian architecture. “Looking ahead, we are slated to launch 2 new platforms. The first is the ‘Optimal Modular Efficient Global Advanced’ (OMEGA-ARC) and the second is ‘Agile Light Flexible Advanced’ (ALFA-ARC). They will be used in the making of H5X and 45X respectively,” Pratap Bose, Head of Design, Tata Motors told Bhargav TS of Auto Components India in an exclusive interaction. Edited Excerpts: Q: Tell us about the design evolution at Tata Motors, and how is the company preparing for the future challenges? Bose: We are preparing for a very interesting phase. Earlier we were talking about Impact Design the first wave. The outcome are the Tiago, Tigor, Hexa and Nexon. They received very good response from the market. Our market share as a company has outgrown the industry. In the last quarter we were the only company that grew in the competitive passenger car business. It is because the design and the products are resonating with the customers. We have done a lot of job in sales, customer service and support. We are number 2 in the customer support index survey. So I see a lot of positive signs. Now, we are moving to the next phase of Impact Design, which is called ‘Impact 2.0’ in which our new Harrier is designed under the OMEGA platform and it will be followed by our first product on our ALFA platform. These platforms give us more flexibility to come up with products faster and in different types, sizes

and segments. Today we do not cover the entire passenger car segment. We cover about 70-75% and our aim is to cover every segment that exists today and also create some new segments. This is very interesting. Since the first wave of design was so much liked and appreciated the second generation Impact 2.0 is going to be spectacular. You have seen a bit in H5X and 45X. But H5X will be a reality very soon and 45X will come later. Q: How different will be the Impact 2.0 from the existing concept? Bose: The philosophy will remain the same that is to create an immediate impact through the exterior and a lasting impact through interior design. The 2 platforms that are coming, ALFA and OMEGA, are global in every aspect. Be it powertrain, safety, crash and they also have a certain proportion, where we have put a certain range of wheel sizes. The design team was involved in establishing the actual architecture of these 2. That is a rare thing which you do not get in a career. We have had the opportunity to lay the foundation for the next 2-3 generations of Tata Motors products.

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Q: Will the ALFA and OMEGA platform have all the product segments? Bose: I cannot tell you what the order of introduction is going to be. What is important is ALFA goes from 3.8 to 4.4 meters. OMEGA goes from 4.4 m to 5 m. That is the JLR platform, but we have made some very significant changes for ourselves and suite our conditions. The expectation from a customer in India is very different from the one in Europe in terms of roominess, legroom, knee-room, shoulder-room etc. These are some of the important aspects that we have added into the architecture but the base is the JLR platform. ALFA is a range where a lot of cars can come in it. You can have everything within 4m, even beyond that. It is mainly because of the architecture is stable but flexible, we can bring new top hats much faster than before. Therefore many systems and sub-systems are carried through the architecture. So when you change to suit a sedan, you do not dedicate them to reengineer something. It will help in product development and keeping the product relevant. We have tried to project us as far us in safety,

COVER STORY legislation both for pedestrians and the vehicle, offset, side impact and whatever we know today is going to come in the future. The architecture or platform is protecting that. Q: Vehicle interiors have undergone several changes in the recent past. With so much more connectivity being built into our cars, how do you see this evolving? Bose: I think connectivity is really the key word. Most people tell us when they are in the car journey they feel disconnected. So we look it as 2 things. One is, the occupants connecting to the car, and the second is the car connecting to a larger eco system. Both are important. It will be through cloud. The car will be able to send diagnostic signals to the customer service and there are many dimensions to it. It is how easily you walk into the car with the smart phone connecting to the car and the car to the ecosystem.

Bose: HMI as system is getting a lot of attention from us because our customers are pushing. Today most people have phone that is bigger than a screen in the car. Electronics industry works faster than the automotive industry. So the architecture and the interior design, you will see when we launch the cars, are designed for bigger screen sizes. In future it will move from smaller to bigger screen even in affordable segments. How do you accommodate the changing screen size? What happens to the interface? How many buttons you are going to have? To address all these questions UI and UX are becoming critically important in the interior design. Q: Do you think digital screen and

Photography Bhargav TS

Q: What kind of interior changes we are going to witness in the Impact 2.0?

touch panels will dominate the interiors in the future by eliminating the current plastic panels and mechanical switches? Bose: Yes I agree, many switches will be reduced and I believe that some physical interface should still remain. For example, the volume or temperature button, we feel the physical knob is faster sometime. But having said that, today is the generation of digital natives who are around 12, 14 years. They are the

customers after 7 years. They are using phones without buttons and the same thing they will expect in the cars as well. I think the time will come where the physical to digital will shift very quickly. Q: So do you think the cars of tomorrow will also be very emotional? Bose: I think cars today are already emotional. In social media, the car is an animate object, which is 27 27

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COVER STORY described in emotional words. Car is one of the few products that are described in human terms. Q: Apart from Impact 2.0, what is the future direction of design at Tata Motors? Bose: The 2.0 is the current picture for us. When new segments open up, we will watch for white spaces. We always propose different options to our senior management and we have a strong commitment from them towards the design. The 2.0 is the one that we are going to unleash very soon and we are very excited about that. Q: What were the learning from the Impact Design and how you are implementing the learning in the 2.0? Bose: Customers are becoming more and more aware of design in general. In any kind they look for the aesthetic appeal. Then comes the performance. Our Impact 1.0 got the people into the showroom and when they drove, it performed well. That is really important. Aesthetics alone will not save you. It has to be everything together as one complete team. Sales, aftersales, customer care, performance, and fuel economy are important. But we have seen that definitely it is the design that draws people to the brand and then the brand has to deliver its promises. These 2 have to happen. There are a lot of choices now and what differentiates one car from another is the design. Q: You said attracting customers to walk into the showroom is the key. Apart from products, are you also looking at any concept for designing your showrooms uniquely? Bose: Absolutely yes. In the last 3 years, the design team has been designing our pavilion at the Geneva

Motor Show. The New Delhi Auto Expo 2018 pavilion was designed by them. Going forward we are going to put a lot of efforts in brand centre and showrooms. The design philosophy should run in everything that the company does. So we work closely with the sales and marketing teams and see how we can enhance the experience as well. Q: What specific challenges do you see in designing electric and hybrid vehicles? Bose: There is no real technical challenge in my view. The challenges are battery cost that is high and charging infrastructure that we do not have enough. An electric car born on the electric architecture gives you a lot of freedom on the interior. We get more engineering space. We will have a nice flat floor and more. It can free up a lot of constraints. Q: So far the Indian companies have been importing designs from the international design centres. Now we see a huge shift, especially when Tata Motors came up with a striking Impact Design philosophy. Now, how global companies are looking at you? Bose: When I started this job in 2011 as Head of Design, I had 1 or 2 very simple things that I wanted to achieve. One of them was that we should become a design benchmark for other companies. Usually we put the pictures of cars from other companies on our walls and see what they have done. My aim and vision was that in a few years the global companies should put our car pictures on their studio walls to study and understand what we have done. This has started already and a lot of people from other companies are looking at our design in a very different way. It is phenomenal. The kind of interest that we see from car

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designers has been rewarding for us. Q: How design is going to help achieve new emission standards? Bose: There are a few aspects to it, one is the weight of the car, so we are always looking for lighter solutions, easy to recycle. Another is the overall environmental impact. Electric is one way, using materials of certain type is another, the weight of every component that we put in a car, we study carefully. All these aspects go into it. We are also looking at safety legislation, BNCAP which is a great initiative. Nexon is the safest SUV in the market and we are very much proud to achieve 5 star in the recent test. Q: Lightweighting is a key area in the minds of designers today. Could you talk about the use of materials that help make vehicles more efficient and safe? Bose: Many car companies have moved to aluminium. In many cases, we have moved to high strength steel, which mean we can use thinner gauge of steel for the same components and that can give us huge weight savings. We look at the interior trims carefully especially the seats. Now most of the sub systems has become complex. I look at very carefully the ratio of glass to metal and we also look at the small things. In regular plastics too there are good developments. With the help of plastics you also can do variable thickness. Q: Some design philosophies are loud, some continue to be subtle. What in your view is a sustainable design approach? Bose: You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always have to scream to be heard. If you look at some of the greatest global leaders around us are not shouting all the time. You can be strong but you

COVER STORY do not need to have high volume. For our design it is always strength above aggression, and slightly more restrained but not boring. The line is fine. The kind of customer response we have shows that people are noticing our cars for right thing. They will not age on the road as our competitors because we have a few more classic treatment of things. We are happy with where we are and Impact 2.0 will take us to another level. Q: Design obviously is influenced by a variety of factors. How are you preparing yourself to deal with the future challenges? Bose: Without challenges you cannot have design. We look at these challenges and convert them to opportunities. When the

first safety regulatory came in everybody said it would change the car for ever. But it did not happen. Designers always find ways within constraints and when more constrained people will become more creative. For us challenges become opportunities to build something new. There is always space to create our own design language. Q: How does the new design philosophy impact the commercial vehicle customers? Bose: In CV many things are happening. There the consideration is different like total cost of ownership and economy of operations. Another case in commercial vehicle is that the person who buys the

truck does not mostly drive it. We have a different set of consideration. In the small CV segment, there is a little bit of aspiration coming in. We showed something called Intra, the stylish mini-truck, in Delhi, that really struck a chord with many people who drive our Ace family, because it gave them a different feeling. It has the dual tone interiors and body-coloured aircon vents. These are things that have not happened in CVs before. Larger segments find extremely hard to attract drivers and there is a driver shortage in India. Therefore, when you have a truck that does not take care of the driver needs you will not get drivers. Therfore modern design is also coming in the commercial vehicle space. ACI

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C OVER STORY Programmes under way to align with new disruptions: Dinesh Tyagi iCAT was set up under the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure project (NATRiP). It is one of the most significant initiatives in the automotive sector under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. The NATRiP project was established to build several R&D and infrastructure projects in the country at several locations representing unique collaborative efforts by the Government of India, the various state governments and the automotive industry. It was in the northern part of the country, that the iCAT was envisaged. iCAT was set up in 2004 as ARAIRCN. In 2006, NATRiP acquired ARAIRCN and renamed it as iCAT. “At iCAT we provide automotive testing, certification and product development services. We understand the requirements of our clients and work towards serving their needs,” Dinesh Tyagi, Director, International Centre for Automotive Technology, told Gunjan D. Bidani. The excerpts: Q: How iCAT is preparing to test the electric vehicles. What is the role of your new Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) lab? Tyagi: We have regulations in place for the conventional ICE engine, in which we check 2 aspects, one is electromagnetic emission and the other is electro-magnetic susceptibility. For example, the electrical system of ICE regime has emission. There are test methods and limits which should not cross the threshold. We check these in our EMC lab. For the other aspect, we impinge onto the vehicle some external radiation and we check that the systems are robust enough to withstand that level of radiation coming at it, and all of them function properly. Nothing should malfunction. This whole thing is called EMC. Since the number of electric systems is increasing in electric vehicles, EMC has become more significant and relevant. Q: Is there any specific requirement from a test facility perspective for electric mobility?

Tyagi: The main four constituents of electric mobility are the motor, controller or drive, vehicle ECUs and battery. Therefore, we should have a facility for these four at the component level. On ECU, at the component level, there are 7080 tests which are mechanical, thermal, dust, electrical, EMC, and EMI. Then it goes as an integrated solution to the vehicle level. Then again there are requirements at the vehicle level so motor, for example, will have a lot of required validations. Not all these are regulatory, but most of the OEMs or power manufacturer suppliers will validate their products. Some of them could be regulated but the remaining are at OEMs test standards. We have the facility to validate any OEM standard, international standard, and ISO which is even notified as the regulatory standard. We’re supporting the industry in this. For battery and power controller we’re already doing the job.

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Q: What would be tested on the EV test bed? Tyagi: The EV test beds can be used for testing pure electric motors or to test a hybrid solution in which there is a combination of an IC engine and motor. It can also be used to optimise and calibrate the solution. For example, for hybrid electric vehicle, there is an engine and motor. Both of them power the vehicle in synchronisation by sharing the loads. What percentage of the load each needs to share under different conditions like acceleration, cruising? Sometimes the solution to achieve a good fuel consumption from the engine is optimised. So, there are specific fuel consumption points, and by pitching in the motor in a certain way the fuel consumption can be high or low. There are many strategies and all these can be optimised on the test bed. You can map the motor characteristics, torque vs rpm, rpm vs power and such things. Then you can

COVER STORY characterise the whole motor or you can optimise the hybrid solutions. A battery stimulator is a necessary halt session in the electric test bed, so every time while conducting tests and optimisations over several hours, it cannot depend on the battery as the battery gets discharged very quickly. So, there are electrical solutions called battery amulator or stimulator which works with the electricity but simulates the battery perfectly. It also behaves the same way as the battery. It is a very expensive set-up which costs around Rs 2 crore and has a capacity of 150kw. So that’s an essential part of EV test bed. At iCAT we are setting up one such test bed which should be ready soon as installation and commissioning is going on right now. Q: What are the new equipment being installed? Tyagi: As I said, we are adding electrical test bed; we are also adding battery amulator capacity in our auto electrical lab. We don’t have a large capacity as of now. We’re also adding test facility in our EMC lab specially catering to our e-motor EMI engine. It should happen by the second quarter next year. We will augment the facility of EV test bed to further build climatic chamber which can validate solutions especially the motors behavior and performance in high or low temperatures. It’ll be in operation next year. Q: What are the parameters on which EVs are certified today? Tyagi: EVs have requirements on range, measurement, energy consumption, per hour km, power of the motor, 30 minute average power of the vehicle. These are the broad things tested.

Q: Earlier you said iCAT will become a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for components. What is the status?

Q: Are there still areas which you would want to add to the portfolio of labs?

Tyagi: We are already rendering services for some of the clients to help them in CAD and CAE work at the component level. Prototyping has not started in a big way but testing validation for the development of components is happening in a big way in our fatigue laboratory.

Tyagi: I think the gap which exists is in the prototyping of the components is something we are not able to do completely. We have a team through which we are now sprucing up the CAD and CAE team. So we have hired a senior resource and we will spin it off as a separate vertical, so far it was with another vertical. We have given 31 31

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COVER STORY the task to develop the complete set of CAD and CAE capability related to automotive. That’s one thing which is still there but we have to increase further. After this comes prototyping, this is a gap and we still have to make a plan there. We are strong in testing validation and we are constantly developing new tests. A complete test validation is set up and it is very elaborate. There are 800 types of components on a passenger car and each one of them has its own unique test requirements. It is gradually getting built up. Q: What is the update on BNCAP? When is it expected to get implemented? Tyagi: There was a certain push a few years ago which came through the ministry of road transport but then the responsibility of the people changed. It has cooled down now, nobody wants it, so who’ll take a lead? It is market-driven, it is not regulated, so there has to be an ecosystem that supports this, it has to start from somewhere. OEMs are not keen, test agencies cannot push it, funding is an issue, who will pay for it? People are happy selling the vehicles the way they are sold. If the government can mandate it, it’ll be a unique thing which hasn’t happened anywhere, it can start.

then and there and recently added Flex PLI, which is a need of the hour. Apart from that, we have enough regular testing. Q: How do you see India’s testing infrastructure today on the global map? According to you in which areas, we need to improve? Tyagi: In the public domain, ARAI and iCAT, are the major ones and the third one which is coming up is GARC (Global Automotive Research Center). It’s quite elaborate and it is a good example that the government is taking such a huge step to set up big testing facilities. I think in the world, we are ranked high. I won’t say we are the best, but we are on top. Q: Any sector or area that should be improved? Do you have any plan regarding it?

Q: How is iCAT’s crash testing facility doing?

Tyagi: Now we are trying to align our thought process to the new disruptions: e-mobility, electric vehicles, shared mobility, autonomous driving, these are the themes for the future. So we’re improving and we’ve to improve a lot. We’ve to review a lot. In iCAT we have already installed 15 engine test beds and we’re in the process of setting up 6 more. We’ll have 21 engine test beds. With e-mobility and after BS-VI,I don’t know how these test beds will be relevant, whether we will have work there. We’ll have to start planning to change in the angle of e-mobility. We’ll have to set up a new test tracks for autonomous driving validation. We have started discussions on it. We are a little late but it is still futuristic. We are making a team to look at this technology disruption to strategise what we have to do in future.

Tyagi: So far we have done around 90 crashes. Though it is not in a big way we are adding a few things

Q: Alternative propulsion systems like hydrogen are also talk of the town. What is your take?

Q: Are you positive on its implementation? Tyagi: I don’t think the current people are very keen. Since nobody has mandated it in the world, it has to come through some initiative. There should be some initiative from SIAM and the government.

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Tyagi: I feel hydrogen is a good hope. The only problem with hydrogen today is availability in ample quantities, that too at low cost. Water can be broken into hydrogen and oxygen but the energy which goes into breaking the bond and then when you recover the energy is negative, the overall cycle is negative. So if this energy could come from the solar, which is free or very cost effective, then there is hope. Already China has made floating solar panels. Of course we have to worry about the aquatic fauna, but we can find a method to go about it, say we can try and cover 50% of it and leave the rest for the sunlight to enter. So, water is there, energy is there, we can do the electrolysis, set up a plant maybe and we can bottle the energy so solar energy can be stored, not just in batteries because battery is a big problem today for e-mobility. Then from there we can bring in hydrogen for the usage for mobility. The hydrogen is a very nice fuel. Hydrogen can be used in IC engine as a plant, maybe we can use pure hydgrogen also but it is a little risky gas, it is explosive so there are many safety regulations for vehicles and at transportation level. When used in IC engine, all other emissions will go away, but still some NOx will be there. In IC the engine, the NOx will be more because the temperature is very high. If used in the hydrogen fuel cell, oxidation of hydrogen, the NOx formation will be less since it is low temperature combustion. Therefore, hydrogen fuel cell is the best solution. Hydrogen fuel works also with e-mobility, it substitutes the battery. As hydrogen goes in electricity and water flows out. Emissions are very less and it’s a very low noxious form. Q: Is your capacity fully utilised? Tyagi: Some of the laboratories are very busy and some are underutilised. Overall, our capacity is half utilised. For example, in crash bed, it can never be utilised fully. ACI

C OVER STORY Gordon Murray bets big on affordable iStream technology for lightweighting Story by: Bhargav TS

he global automotive industry is facing challenges in several key areas, including energy, emissions, safety, and affordability. Lightweighting is an important and strategic method to deal with all of them. Minimising vehicle weight requires a systemsengineering design optimisation and iteration process that combine material properties and manufacturing processes to meet product requirements at the lowest mass and/or cost. Although cars have been around for more than a century, the material that makes it has remained the same, steel. However, some advanced materials have been introduced since a few years. The most commonly used alternatives for mass produced passenger cars are aluminum, magnesium alloys and carbon fibre composites. These lightweight materials can cut vehicle’s body and chassis weight by half leading to increased fuel economy, and a range of hybrids, plug-ins and electric cars.

to all vehicle segments from small cars to heavy commercial vehicles. Based on a tubular metal frame to support body panels, the iStream system was developed by the former Formula One and sports car designer Prof Gordon Murray to reduce manufacturing cost and vehicle weight.

panel. The advantages of iStream Fibrelight are enormous, especially the lightweight panels that allow a great level of affordability. The composite technology that we have for iStream is low-cost to manufacture. So we are very confident that we can do it with less investment and at lower cost.”

Intially, the system used thin-wall, high-strength steel tubing, as this was preferred by many car manufacturers. GMD has introduced an updated version of iStream using aluminium thin-wall tubing and honeycomb recycled carbon-composite panels in place of stamped metal.

He further said, “In the iStream 1, the stamps and core composite panels are 20-30% lighter than equivalent stamps in Body-in-white (BIW). In iStream Superlight, which is our new technology with aluminium extrusion and tubes, the composites are 50% lighter. And it doesn’t need to have stamping tool and multistage pressing. It has a flexible jig and fixturing. Therefore it is a low-cost tooling for the composite panel.”

Mike Brown, Director, Advanced Product and Business Strategy, GMD, told Auto Components India, “We have our own iStream technology, which has various levels. Our base iStream technology is still a cheaper frame, with very low composite

iStream is essentially a manufacturing process that claims to cut drastically the production costs associated with

Though making components and vehicles lighter is a continuous process, the UK-based Gordon Murray Design (GMD) is recognised as a world leader in automotive design with complete in-house capability for design, prototyping and development. It has come up with a new chassis frame technology called ‘iStream’, which, GMD claims, can reduce the vehicle weight by half. The patented iStream is applicable 33 33 WWW.AUTOCOMPONENTSINDIA.COM

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C OVER STORY Mike Brown, Director, Advanced Product and Business Strategy, GMD

the composite materials like carbon fibre. iStream uses an iFrame, a new idea for a car chassis composed of large diameter, thin walled steel tubes that are formed, laser-cut and profiled and computer-controlled. These metal tubes are then welded together with the structure meeting at all hard points like suspension, seat powertrain and battery mounts. Thin pieces of fibreglass are then sandwiched between honeycomb structures to create strong but light panels that are bonded to the frame. With polyurethane resin in a very low-cost single stage pressing, it is a compression moulding process.

z iStream Carbon A step further is iStream Carbon, a fully mechanised process for

the use of composite materials like carbon fibre. This system uses 2 carbon fibre skins sandwiched between honeycomb structures. This system is superior to the time-consuming with a cycle time of just 100 seconds and costly hand-crafted manufacturing process of supercars that use a single carbon fibre skin. GMD has been working on these 2 processes for over 15 years and touts them as one of the biggest breakthroughs in the modern automotive manufacturing process since the assembly line for the Ford Model T. Brown said, “iStream Carbon does not replace our existing iStream manufacturing process, it sits alongside our standard system to open up more market segments for us. We are currently working on different vehicles using our original iStream technology.” iStream is claimed to be costeffective enough for sub-premium market segments and requires a manufacturing plant about 20% the size of a conventional plant, requiring less investment. GMD claims that this architecture is strong enough to pass current

crash norms. Brown said, “Apart from offering light weight and cost saving, iStream also meets the safety standards. Our iStream technology is as safe as stamped steel architecture. We have the data from the physical crash test.”

z iStream Superlight The new iStream Superlight process is claimed to make a vehicle weigh only half of a standard metal vehicle of the same class and size, while achieving new levels of rigidity and durability. It also maximises flexibility of the production platform for the manufacturers.

z Among the advantages of iStream Superlight as claimed by GMD are better corrosion resistant properties than coated steel and more efficient frame stiffness for the aluminium section through the use of the carbon panels, with no higher cost than the body-in-white with conventional stamped steel construction. Along with iStream Superlight, GMD has also launched a lightweight seat, using the same materials, techniques and technologies as the iStream chassis. Incorporating glass or recycled carbon-fibre composite on a tubular frame, the iStream lightweight seat is claimed to be 30% lighter than a typical car seat, and can be designed to suit all types of passenger vehicles, including aerospace and rail. “We are working with a number of partners to bring this to the market. We are very focused on providing lightweighting technology for all, the next generation internal combustion engine, hybrid or electric vehicle, and make them affordable for all consumers. Our focus area is to do low-cost composites at an affordable investment level, rather than investing in expensive composites,” Brown said. ACI

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C OVER STORY HBM offers eDrive testing for 6-phase machines ACI Bureau

BM Test and Measurement (HBM) complements its ‘HBM eDrive Testing’ enhanced power analyser with additional functions for testing 6-phase machines. This integrated solution enables torque, electrical quantities, temperatures, CAN bus, and other signals to be measured in an extended range of applications. ‘HBM eDrive Testing’ is a custom measurement system for testing inverter-fed electrical machines. Unlike conventional power analysers, HBM eDrive Testing provides unique and greatly accelerated data acquisition and analysis options. Founded in Germany in 1950, Hottinger Baldwin Messtechnik

GmbH (HBM Test and Measurement) is the technology and market leader in the field of test and measurement. HBM’s product range comprises solutions for the entire measurement chain, from virtual to physical testing. The company has production facilities in Germany, USA, China, and Portugal and is represented in over 80 countries worldwide. HBM eDrive Testing ensures efficiency mapping in minutes rather than days, and thus goes far beyond conventional solutions that use power meters and subsequent PC analysis. The modular measurement system can be upgraded from 3 to up to 51 power channels per mainframe at any time. It is ideal for 3-phase applications and, with the latest enhancement, also for applications with multiple channels such as 6-phase machines, hybrid or multiplemotor drives.

In addition to its power analyser functions, ‘HBM eDrive Testing’ provides all the features of a cuttingedge data acquisition system (DAQ). It allows the synchronous acquisition of electrical signals as well as torque, rotational speed, temperature, CAN bus, vibration, and many other measured quantities. All data are stored in real time, either continuously or driven by set points. The T40B and T12HP torque transducers (for the highest standards of precision) ensure precise acquisition of mechanical quantities. High-voltage probes with up to 7.2 kV rms enable medium-voltage motors to be directly connected to the measurement system, without affecting the precision of data acquisition or the safety of the user. Unique, isolated digitizers are available for use with motors in the high-voltage range, exceeding 10 kV. ACI

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C OVER STORY Continious innovation helps Steelbird International to make efficient filters Story by: Gunjan D. Bidani

Steelbird’s manufacturing facility

teelbird International, manufacturers of filters and rubber components has come up with a better performing filter, charged with the improved dust holding capacity. Competing with the global R&D standards, Steelbird’s innovative filter will hold double the amount of dust it held before. As a result, the service interval of the filter has been doubled. The product is being tested in Germany and will come to the market in January. Headquartered in Delhi, Steelbird International has been in the component business for more than 50 years. With the changing regulations, the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) demand the suppliers to evolve technology to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency. On these lines, Steelbird assures better competence with its

upcoming improved filter.

z Alliance with Fujikara Rubber Steelbird International has recently joined hands with the Japan-based rubber component manufacturer, Fujikura Rubbers, for its advanced R&D capabilities. Having a strong foothold in the Japanese auto components manufacturing industry, Fujikura is an institution with 98year long history of technological development and innovation. Fujikara Rubbers manufactures diaphragms, gaskets, sealing materials, O-rings, anti-vibration rubber and LIM (Liquid Injection Molding). The alliance with Steelbird International will enable Fujikara to explore opportunities in the Indian market. With a growing focus on OEMs, Manav Kapur, Executive Director,

Steelbird International said, “In India, the current localisation is around 95-97%. Only a few components are being imported as most of the technology has been brought in and that gives us a very niche area to work in. Despite this, there are some rubber components which even OEMs in India are importing, as they are not yet localised. It is that kind of technology we are trying to get from Fujikara.” “Diaphragm is one of those components that is still being imported by even the big OEMs in India. We will be the first ones to bring this technology with the help of Fujikara,” he added. Since the joint venture is at a very initial stage, Kapur highlighted the possible scenarios. “Fujikara has evaluated our plant and might start something in it if the volume is good. If the volume is extremely low then we might hang in there for a while, if it is exceptionally high then we might set up a new plant. It depends on the customer. We’re targeting the non-Japanese companies and trying out many customers for business. As of now, we’re jointly evaluating the business in the Indian market and what can be done for the OEMs. After we get a considerable size of business, we would jointly invest or start manufacturing. Fujikara has a long-term vision with us.”

z Domestic business Founded in 1964, Steelbird International is a family-owned business growing at a rate of 22.7% annually (CAGR). Through a large distribution network, the company has an all India presence and caters to OEMs like Royal Enfield (A Unit 36 36 AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA JANUARY 2019

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COVER STORY of Eicher Motors), Greaves Cotton, Tata Ficosa Automotive Systems and Lumax Auto Technologies. From April this year, a new plant for filters in Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, commenced operations. It has a capacity of around 40,000 filters a day comprising Air, Oil and Fuel Filters. The plant is 70-75% utilised as of now and it is expected that it’ll be completely utilised in a year. Steelbird International manufactures dampers, bushes, bellow, gaskets, mats, oil seal, O ring, dust cover and rubber to metal bonded products. Kapur said that for the next 2-3 years the company is completely tied up with the production capacity. As far as rubber production is concerned, he said, “In the next couple of years, we will scale up our production.”

z Tyre production Electric vehicles have 80% less moving parts than the conventional IC Engine vehicles and it is expected that the current component industry will be affected massively. The major setback would be the loss of jobs. In order to curb the aftermath, Steelbird International has ventured into tyres by utilizing the company’s core competence of rubber moulding. The company launched tyres and tubes for twowheelers and e-vehicles during Auto Expo Component this year. Coping with the challenge of tyre puncture in two-wheelers, Steelbird offers a service in which the puncture for its tyres in the first year is repaired by the company. Apart from this, Steelbird International has developed a tyre especially for electric vehicles to put an end to the practice of using scooter tyres for e-rickshaws. “For a two-wheeler tyre, the speed rating is 150 and the load-bearing capacity is for 2 people while for the EV tyre, the loading capacity is for 4 people but the speed rating is only about 40.

Manav Kapur, Executive Director, Steelbird International

We’ve set up a plant in Telangana to manufacture EV tyres,” Kapur said. With 10 different sizes and 6 patterns, Steelbird’s tyres and tubes are available in the aftermarkets of India and Nepal for a variety of twowheelers and electric vehicles. Since rubber and filter fall under the slab of 18%, Kapur said, “GST has been very positive for us. Earlier we used to pay around 30% for the same. There were a few shockers in the first three months especially in the aftermarket as it wasn’t ready for the change. We saw our sales being affected by 50%. However, this year we have registered double-digit growth.”

z Counterfeit products The sale of counterfeit products under the name of brands is a massive pullback to the diversifying automotive manufacturers. It causes financial losses both to the company and the Indian economy and poses a huge risk to the consumer’s safety. On this biggest problem of the industry, Kapur said, “It’s a huge unorganised sector which is trying to encash on the brand’s image. Around 20% of the taxation is avoided and then there is a significant amount of cost difference which is

attractive to the consumers. It is noteworthy that around 30-40% of the aftermarket sales are of these counterfeit products. This comes at a huge cost to public safety. In the case of brake drum rubber which is a safety-related product, it’s sad because braking of the vehicle is directly impacted as the performance doesn’t match. The consumer is fooled into this.” On tackling the grave situation, Kapur continued, “There is a law in place but the bigger challenge is the implementation. It’s a global challenge but it is bigger in India as the resources with the enforcement is limited. Moreover, manufacturing happens in small cottages and unauthorised industrial areas. We’ve conducted raids but the rate is too high.” ACI

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C OVER STORY MTS System plans big for the Indian market Story by: Sricharan R

TS Systems Corporation (MTS), a global supplier of test systems and industrial position sensors, plans to expand in India following the new norms and trends coming up in the market. The company provides test and measurement solutions to determine the performance and reliability of vehicles, aircraft, civil structures, biomedical materials and devices and raw materials. The products include aerodynamics simulators, seismic simulators, load frames, hydraulic actuators and sensors. Since 1966, the company has worked side-by-side with engineers in a wide range of industries to solve complex challenges. Their high-performance testing and sensing solutions are deployed

around the world, enabling precise control of forces and motions as well as real-time feedbacks that optimise performance. “MTS plans to continue its expansion in India. We currently have an office in Bengaluru and business partner offices in Chennai and Pune. Indian automotive production grew at a CAGR of 4.43% during fiscal years 2012-2017 according to the India Brand Equity Foundation, and that growth is expected to accelerate. MTS intends to support all aspects of the Indian automotive market from the OE manufacturers to the Tier 1, Tier 2 and materials suppliers. We can provide distinct advantages at all places in the vehicle development cycle, with material

Many product development and testing professionals rely on MTS to optimise their designs, increase lab productivity and accelerate time to market. Around the world, test engineers recognise the company’s solutions that enable efficient test, measurement and simulation for a wide range of products and materials. The company offers a wide range of testing solutions to evaluate advanced composites and alloys or test full-scale automobiles, airplanes, bridges or buildings. Speaking more about the new norms that are coming up in India, Becker said, “We have virtual and hybrid simulation solutions, lab efficiency tools and testing hardware innovation to address the needs of the Indian automotive market. One of our hardware solutions that may be of interest to component suppliers is our TestLine portfolio that allows suppliers to create cost-effective component and subsystem test rigs that can be easily reconfigured as testing requirements change. The TestLine portfolio includes durable load-bearing components, MOKOKIT portal frames, SilentFlo HPUs, MTS DuraGlide actuators, FlexTest controls and RPC software.”

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and component testing solutions, DIY test stand solutions, tyre test solutions and full vehicle test systems,” Bill Becker, President of MTS Materials Test Systems, told Auto Components India.

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COVER STORY With the biggest trend in the world being the move towards electric and autonomous vehicles, he said these technologies had a dramatic effect on vehicle design and development. He stated that this has gained support in India where the government vision is to develop 6 million electric and hybrid vehicles by 2020. The automotive industry is already using MTS testing solutions for EV/ AV vehicle development. “MTS has been a pioneer in the hybrid simulation technology that is essential to the rapid development of electric and autonomous vehicles. We can help manufacturers combine the physical and virtual worlds to enhance testing fidelity and enable performance evaluation earlier in the development cycle. We have also developed driver assist solutions for buses and industrial vehicles,” he said. Another major trend being the lightweighting, the president said MTS is also ready to tackle it. He said the testing firm has the cutting edge technology of lightweighting for several years due to the experience they hold across aerospace and automotive industries. “Our past work with the aerospace industry, in particular, has built a wealth of knowledge in testing the composites and super alloys that are used in lightweighting initiatives. As a result, we can offer robust materials testing equipment and expertise to help manufacturers and materials suppliers characterise complex, first-of-a-kind materials in extreme environments,” Becker said. As the life cycle of the vehicle comes down, today’s faster development cycles have put pressure on automotive

Bill Becker, President of MTS Materials Test Systems

manufacturers and component suppliers. This is the reason why testing solutions which accelerate vehicle development have become more important. He said, “This is an area where MTS excels with our extensive experience in automotive testing. We offer systems and consulting solutions that improve vehicle design, performance and efficiency all the while reducing development time and cost.” With over 250 patents across a broad range of applications, MTS provides tough competition to its competitors. The company’s recent patent is about the hybrid solution methods and actuator rod coating and finishing technologies. Becker said these patented simulation tools will streamline and shorten durability test cycles, generating meaningful component and subsystem test data much earlier in development. Speaking about the actuator rod coating and finishing technologies patent he said, “These innovations increase actuator rod life expectancy in our new DuraGlide actuators by a factor of ten, which improves performance across our portfolio of automotive and materials testing solutions.” Becker said, many of the competitors offer solutions just for a small segment of the market. “MTS is one of the few solution providers that understand the complete development cycle and how each component of the vehicle interacts with the others. Because of our broad experience in other industries such as aerospace, materials science and civil engineering, we are able to bring solutions that are being discovered in other applications to advance automotive testing technologies. With 500+ in-house mechanical, electrical, aerodynamic and software engineers, we not only has deep expertise in specific

applications, but also a broad understanding of the industry and testing technology that no one else can duplicate,” he claimed. An increase in the use of simulation will improve development throughput. But the main challenge will be the accurate combination of inputs from a variety of sensors and systems to create reliable virtual models. Given the immense amount of variables introduced by the sensors, vehicle, driver, occupants and road conditions, there would always be a need to validate simulation with physical testing, ensuring that 100% simulation will be a tough job. In combining the virtual with the physical will be invaluable as simulation techniques become more prevalent, he said. Going forward, the company has plans to continue to advance the testing technologies that support faster new vehicle development. “We will continue to lead in hybrid simulation and lab efficiency tools, providing reliable data and remote monitoring to improve testing accuracy and efficiency. Our RPC software and FlexTest controller technologies will be updated for the new technologies and increased competition in the automotive market,” Becker said. ACI 39 39

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C OVER STORY Major technical changes make Mahindra Blazo X more fuel efficient Story by: Bhushan Mhapralkar

he Blazo X from Mahindra & Mahindra now has better fuel efficiency, higher payload and the ability to offer better productivity and profitability than its previous model Blazo. The company made these achievements through significant changes at the product level. The truck promises 5-7% fuel efficiency gain, in some models it can be 9-10%, owing to the online and offline process changes, investment in new technologies and equipment, and stringent testing processes. The changes in the assembly-line and improved manufacturing consistency ensure that every Blazo X has the same quality and finish levels, according to Vinod Sahay, CEO, Mahindra Truck and Bus.

There are 2-3 major technical changes that have been effected in Blazo X. The turbocharger has changed. It is now a waste-gate unit for a more precise turbo management. It also aids the availability of air to ensure better combustion and efficiency. The intercooler has been changed to improve cooling efficiency. “We have also moved to low friction oil in the engine, transmission, and the rear axle. The increase in fuel efficiency by 5-7% or more than that in some of the variants is a net impact of these changes. The fuel system has been further optimised,” he said.

efficiency in our organisation. One of the few things we want to benchmark is fuel efficiency.”

About the reasons for these changes, Sahay said, “It is no secret that every CV manufacturer is working on fuel-efficiency. It is the most important parameter in the operating economy of the fleet. Our recent calculation has shown that fuel accounts for over 55% of the operating costs post the diesel price hike unlike earlier when it accounted for 50%. We gained a good lead in fuel efficiency in BSIII. It was then that we benchmarked against the industry offerings. In BSIV, we took time to benchmark against the competition to claim that the Blazo was the most fuel-efficient truck. Improvements carried out by the competition to their products brought us feedback that the gap was narrowing. The demand emerged that Mahindra Truck and Bus must make the Blazo to offer even higher fuel efficiency. The Blazo X was primarily conceived to address this requirement. We have fuel

Accounting for a change in the takt time with the Furio sharing the line with the Bazo X, in view of the move to BSVI emission norms from 2020, changes are expected to take place at the sediment level (and at the supplier level). Ensuring the incorporation of an amount of flexibility, the changes in the plant level would improve tracking, traceability and ‘Poka-Yoke’.

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Contributing to the journey of Blazo to Blazo X, the changes at the manufacturing stage have also had an effect on the engine, and on the use of different components in the cooling system, in the fuel delivery system, and on the transmission and axle. If the rising manufacturing discipline would help to address future requirements, the changes at the plant are ensuring that the Blazo X meets the market requirements as well as the regulatory changes.

Though not far different in appearance than the Blazo, except for the badging and the stickering, the Blazo X gains from some significant changes deep inside. The first to be evident is the gain in refinement. “We have done a lot of work towards comfort and refinement. This includes the seat, steering (that is tiltable), ergonomics overall, and the size of the cabin. We have worked with the cabin NVH even though the cabin is not of the fully suspended variety. It

COVER STORY is three-point suspended. We did extensive trials with our drivers. We also benchmarked against the competition, and in field conditions. The drivers found that they could drive for an hour or 2 longer than they would in competition trucks with cabs made out of cowl chassis or trucks with older cab designs. From an operator’s point of view, it amounts to more kilometers covered in a given time frame. We are looking at more and more clients to utilise their trucks more; take advantage of the benefit they offer. Trucks are becoming like aircraft. The more they are flown, the more they will deliver. The tendency to buy as per the initial acquisition cost has to change. To encourage such change we are providing transporters a taste of worldclass products,” he said. Aimed at the container, tanker and bulker markets among others, the cabin of the Blazo X 31 feels airy and spacious. With controls within reach, the cabin is equipped with storage bins at the top. Behind the seat is a berth that could be used by 1 driver to sleep when the other is behind the wheel. The seats itself are quite supportive and comfortable. The driver’s seat offers an amount of adjustability to ensure a commanding yet comfortable driving position. The sweeping dash is a modern design and without any difference from that of the Blazo.

an array of warning lamps come on as part of the instrument panel and go away. Had it not been for their colour and symbols, they would have looked like the tiny lights on a Christmas tree. Reflecting the modern nature of the truck, the instrument panel contains an LCD readout at the centre. It works as an information system, and indicate the average fuel consumption, air brake pressure among other info. One of the few trucks in the market to be equipped with a 10-bar air pressure brake system even before the new axle norms came in, the Blzo X comes to life with a muted growl. The 274 hp, six-cylinder 7.2-litre common-rail diesel engine settles down smoothly, Shay said. Engaging the gear on the modern six-speed Eaton gearbox gets the truck going, hinting at how the market requirements and regulations are coming to

influence the evolution of trucks. The shift quality of the robust unit may not compare with that of a car; it is, however, better than some of the older designs on the market. Contributing to a positive driving feel, the truck moves out of the bay with no hesitation. Of the 3 switches of the Fuelsmart tech, it is the ‘heavy’ mode that is on. Responding well to the inputs, the truck picks up speed. Subject to 2 to 3 major technical changes, according to Sahay, the truck feels easy to manoeuvre. The major technical changes being the move to a new waste-gate turbocharger, an intercooler, an electro-viscous cooling fan, and low friction oil (for the engine, transmission, and rear axle), the Blaxo X comes across as a different product over the Blazo. ACI

On the centre console is a sole blower switch with a round dial and a button. Drawing air effectively, the blower follows the government mandate that came into effect in January 2018. Turn the ignition switch on the steering column and 41 41 WWW.AUTOCOMPONENTSINDIA.COM

AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA JANUARY 2019

C OVER STORY India to play key role in future of automotive design, engineering ACI Bureau

Velusamy R, Sr. VP, M&M; Gajendra Chandel, President & CHRO, Tata Motors; Gajanan V Gandhe, Conference Chairman & Vice President, IAC South Asia and Executive Director, IAC India; Neeti Sarkar, IRAS, CEO & Project Director, NATRiP, Department of Heavy Industries, GoI; Nitin Seth, President, Ashok Leyland

he automotive sector with its focus on creating differentiated offerings for global markets and appetite for investments is an attractive industry. However, while cost arbitrage continues to be a key driver for R&D globalisation, there is a pressing need for Indian MNC R&D companies to take on big technology bets to drive innovation. Given India’s vast engineering skills and massive worker talent, can the country essay a key role in the future of automotive Design and Engineering? This constituted the bulk of the discussion at the 4th conference on ‘Automotive

Design & Engineering’ on the theme: “Current, Future Trends and Innovations in Automotive Design and Engineering” on 26 October 2018 in Chennai. “There is no question on the growth potential of the Indian automotive industry in the coming decades, as the market is expected to double to 6 million vehicles by 2023,” Gajanan V Gandhe, Conference Chairman & Vice President, IAC South Asia and Executive Director, IAC India, in his welcome address. “While the Indian market is expected to double to 6 million vehicles by 2023, we can

definitely count on a high single or a double-digit growth in the next 10-20 years,” he added. The one-day conference projected the key trends and technology involved in the automotive design industry. Gandhe emphasised that the biggest concerns are the availability of skilled technical manpower to support this robust growth in the next decade. “While there are hundreds of thousands of engineers graduating from institutes, the industry is skeptical about their employability and capability to deliver on the expectations. Investment has to be made to develop strong engineering talent for frugal technology development while staying abreast of the global innovations in technology. Encourage “Make in India” for world-class products and manufacturing technology by making it easier for multinationals to set up their manufacturing base in India,” he said. This conference served as a robust platform of interaction for key stakeholders in the industry. The inaugural address was delivered by Neeti Sarkar, IRAS, CEO & Project Director, National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP), Department of Heavy Industries, Government of India. “India is currently the 4th largest

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COVER STORY INTERVIEW We are working on electronic integration, says Gajanan V Gandhe, Vice President, IAC South Asia, and Executive Director, IAC India Q: The lifespan of a vehicle has come down drastically. This puts more pressure on designers to bring out new ideas often. How do you view this scenario? Gandhe: In Europe there is end of lifecycle requirements. It is not there in India yet but, it will be here soon. The aspects of it have already started to come to India. Re-cyclability, and biodegradability are some of the things that need to be considered. If re-usability also comes in, it would be great, as we do not have to dump. From that perspective, when we design, we ask the OEMs in terms of their expectations of lifecycle too. Based on that, we suggest materials that can be recycled and reused. Q: Another major trend that is coming up in the industry is the lightweighting.

automotive market in the world in terms of sales and is expected to be the 3rd largest by 2021. There has been huge action in the regulatory sides of the automotive sector in the last 5 – 6 years, it is the right time to start up new industries,” she said. The day-long conference saw deliberations by experts in sessions like Automotive Product Design and Engineering Cycle; Materials and Process technology, and Panel Discussions on Future Mobility - Visions & Challenges of Mobility Scenarios in Near Future; Tooling, prototyping and Testing for Automotive Products, and Developing Critical Talent for Explosive

How the industry is moving towards in reducing the weight of the materials further? Gandhe: It will definitely be more of plastics. But, not just plastics. There will also be materials like jute PP, fabric materials etc, which can be recycled. There are also metals that are developed which have high strength like magnesium, aluminium and carbon fibre. The cost would not be a disadvantage here because when you look at the weight saving you get a better or equivalent cost management. Q: What are the new trends you see in the global market for the instrument cluster that can be brought into India? Gandhe: There is going to be a lot of electronic integration. Then there is lighting, soft-touch material in instrument panels etc. We have already introduced the soft-touch in India for a few vehicles. More chroming and features are also coming

Growth in Automotive Industry. Gajendra Chandel, President and CHRO, Tata Motors Ltd, who was also present at the inaugural event, said that there is a huge growth in the Indian automotive sector. It is the biggest drive for the economy. He mentioned that demand is growing due to the new market trends in India. “At present, the automotive sector employs10 million people directly and 19 million indirectly. This is expected to increase up to 15 million direct and 30 million indirect employees by 2022, in which 60-65% of the jobs will require new skill-sets,” he pointed out. In his special address,

into the instrument panel. A panel with no buttons depends on the class of the vehicles. A few vehicles will continue with the buttons and some will go with the electronics. Mostly it will be a mix of everything. But, all this depends on the vehicle and where it is targeted to. On our R&D, we are working on the electronics integration because it is the future. Sricharan R

Velusamy R, Senior Vice President, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, said, the automotive industry is in a big whirlpool of change. He stated that imagination leads to the development of better and innovative technologies. “Passion and ability to learn are the 2 important things required to succeed in the industry. We must prepare for the changes in the connected world.” Nitin Seth, President, Ashok Leyland Limited, said, around 8% of India’s GDP is contributed by the automotive sector. He stated that the development in infrastructure needs to keep up with the pace of growth in the automotive sector. ACI 43 43 WWW.AUTOCOMPONENTSINDIA.COM

AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA JANUARY 2019

ACI Awards 2019

ACI AWARDS 2019

Auto Components India, the preferred print medium of the Indian auto components industry, is glad to announce the third edition of Auto Components India Awards (ACI Awards 2019). The pioneering effort of the most widely read Auto Components India magazine to identify and award the beacon bearers of the $51.2 billion Indian auto components industry last year was a great success. While we thank all the participants for their co-operation and support, we request all the industry players to send in nominations for ACI Awards 2019, latest by 5 January 2019. The awards are to support, motivate and complement the valiant endeavours of the Indian auto components industry to be among the best in the world. Accounting for 2.3% of India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing over 1.5 million people, the Indian auto components industry has taken great strides and achieved a strong foothold in the domestic as well as the international markets. The ability of the industry to innovate and excel, keeping pace with the latest technologies and practices, has made it the sourcing destination of the global OEMs. The Indian auto components industry is set to become the third largest in the world by 2025. The ACI Awards will recognise the achievements of the Indian auto components industry under the following 11 categories:

Component Maker Of The Year. Technology Excellence. Quality Excellence. Shopfloor And Manufacturing Excellence. Friend Of The Environment. Component Of The Year. Global Footprint. Auto Component start-up of the year E-commerce strategy Partnership/JV/Collaboration of the year MSME Of The Year.

The jury, comprising independent experts, internal and external to the Auto Components India magazine will evaluate the nominations and identify the winners. Indian auto component manufacturers are invited to send their nominations by duly ﬁlling up the accompanying form. The form can be scanned and mailed to the e-mail address given below the form. The nomination form is also available on the Auto Components India website: www.autocomponentsindia.com.

Methodology: The evaluation process consists of the following steps. 1. Authorised officer of the manufacturer will duly ﬁll the ‘Nomination/ Application Form’ 2. The officer will build an effective winning case for the category he or she deems most appropriate. For the 500-word note, he or she, ﬁnding the space on the form insufficient, can use the respective company letterhead (duly signed) along with the form. The same will have to be submitted to Auto Components India. 3. Auto Components India will study the information received. 4. Auto Components India will assess each entry to understand the merits of the winning case put forth. If need be, the Auto Components India team may carry out an independent assessment to ensure that full justice is done to a deserving entry. 5. The jury will choose the winner from the cases/entries/nominations received for the respective category. The jury will evaluate cases/ entries/nominations in each of the eight categories, one by one.

Model of excellence The merit of the cases/entries/nominations will be evaluated by the excellence model tool. It is a non-prescriptive framework that would recognise the approach towards excellence; towards the applicants’ soundness of approach; the rigour with which the approach was deployed, and if systematic assessment and review were integral to the process. The merit of the cases/entries/nominations will be also evaluated in terms of business excellence. It would look at the many approaches to sustainable excellence. The endeavour would thus be to ascertain how the applicant organisation fares in areas that like,

Result orientation. Customer focus. Management by processes and facts. People development and involvement. Continuous learning, innovation and improvement. Leadership and purpose. Partnership development. Societal responsibility.

Please turnover for the ‘Nomination/Application Form’

ACI AWARDS 2019

NOMINATION / APPLICATION FORM Name of company: (in capital letters) .................................................................................................................................. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Brief Profile: .............................................................................................................................................................. Contact Details: (a) Contact Person: .......................................................................................................................................................... (b) Postal Address: ........................................................................................................................................................... ......................................................................................................................................................................................... City ............................................... State ......................................................... Pin ........................................................... Phone ............................................. Mobile ..................................................... (c )Email Id & Website ...................................................................................................................................................... Please tick the category you want to nominate for: Component maker of the year

Technology excellence

Shopfloor & manufacturing excellence Auto Component start-up of the year

Friend of environment E-commerce strategy

Quality excellence Global footprint

Component of the year MSME of the year

P artnership/JV/Collaboration of the year

Entry must accompany a 500 word note stating why it deserves to win an award in the respective category. Developments should be for a period between January 01, 2018, to December 31, 2018. .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................... You may fill in this form, scan it and send it across to aciawards@nextgenpublishing.net Hurry! The last date for sending applications is January 05, 2019.

O EM John Deere rolls out small tractors to promote farm enterprises ACI Bureau

ohn Deere, one of the largest tractor manufacturers, rolled out its 28hp tractor for small farmlands with advanced technology and features suited for orchard and paddy farming. The new four-wheel drive 3028EN tractor is developed by John Deere India and manufactured at its Pune facility. Present in India for the past 20 years, John Deere has invested in state-of-the-art factories, innovative products, and new services to help Indian farmers be more productive. Besides the tractor and harvester plants, John Deere India has an Electronics system manufacturing facility, Engineering Centre and Technology Centre in Pune, Parts Distribution Centre in Nagpur, and a Captive finance company to provide financing solutions to its customers. “Our journey in India began 20 years ago with the introduction of advanced product features such as power steering, oil immersed disk brakes, planetary reduction, force-feed lubrication and high torque machines. John Deere was the first to introduce these features in India and they have now become industry standard. We are proud to have helped lead India from subsistence farming to agri-entrepreneurship. We have partnered with crop value chain partners for a holistic farm solution and have also introduced important safety features such

as roll over protection and seat belts. Our product advances have been immensely valued by our farmer customers,” Satish Nadiger, Managing Director, John Deere said. John Deere is also meeting the need to bring new technologies to tractors and farm equipment that lower the overall cost of farm operations, reduce the number of operations needed in the field, and improve the speed of seeding and fertilizing equipment. For instance, he said, introduction of technologies such as a front PTO (power takeoff) and specially designed front farm implements have helped reduce the cost of some operations by more than 25%. The company has another tractor facility at Dewas in Madhya Pradesh, and a plant for making harvesters at Sirhind in Punjab. It has total capacity to manufacture 132,000 tractors. Recently, John Deere crossed the production milestone of 1 lakh tractors. Of these, 24,000 units have been exported and 70,000 units are meant for the domestic market.

for John Deere’s design and innovation in utility tractors. Nadiger said product features such as perma-clutch, front PTO, power reverser, telematics and airconditioned cabin have been welcome features for customers. Adding ‘Green System’ farm implements and John Deere combine harvesters have created holistic farming solutions, he added. Hohn Deers tractors and harvesters that are made in India are exported to more than 110 countries and John Deere India has received the Export Excellent Promotion Council award for 15 consecutive years. In 2017 John Deere acquired the Wirtgen Group, the world’s largest road construction company. It has a factory in Pune. John Deere sells its tractors in India through 525 dealers and 1000 touch points that are located across the country. With the launch of the new John Deere 3028 EN, the company now retails tractors ranging from 28 hp to 120 hp in India. ACI

John Deere Technology Centre provides services and solutions adding value in areas of product engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, IT solutions and customer support services to various John Deere businesses globally. The Engineering Centre has responsibility worldwide 47 47 WWW.AUTOCOMPONENTSINDIA.COM

AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA JANUARY 2019

O EM

Nissan to kick-start new chapter in India with the all new Kicks Story by: Bhargav TS

emand for SUVs in India is picking up well. Almost all the OEMs in India have a product in this category. This new-found love for power and prestige boosted the SUV market in India by 21% in 2017-18 over the previous year, compared to an overall passenger car industry growth of 8% in the same period. Going by the frenetic demand and anticipated product launches, more Indians will be driving SUVs or MUVs by 2020. It is expected that SUV sales will continue to grow at a strong rate in the next decade,

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as India moves ahead to become part of the global automotive triumvirate or the Big 3. Nissan, the Japanese auto major whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s global crossover and SUV sales increased more than 12% in 2017, representing an increase of 230,000 vehicles. The rise in vehicle sales were mainly driven by the Nissan Kicks, a subcompact SUV, the Rogue, X-Trail and Qashqai compact models, the Armada full-size SUV, and the Infiniti QX30 compact luxury crossover. Since the new Kicks has attracted the global market, the Japanese company decided to bring it to India to revive its market and

cement its position especially in the SUV segment. Nissan India wants to build brand Nissan on its SUV heritage along with new age connectivity technology. Therefore the company has designed the Kicks specifically for the local market. It is longer, taller and wider than the model sold overseas. Kicks in India is built on M0 platform and shares it with Renault Captur and Duster. Though Kicks is from the same platform, according to Nissan, it has undergone lot of changes to suit the Indian taste.

z Curvy and edgy The design of Kicks holds

OEM 1

5 together plenty of character lines through the sheet metal and lots of interesting colour schemes that include two-tone treatments. The design of the Kicks is identical to the global Micra-based model. Kicks looks more like an SUV than a crossover thanks to its sharp and edgy detailing. The new Nissan Kicks is among the best looking subcompact SUVs. It has enough interesting features to give it flair without going overboard. All Kicks models feature a “floating roof” design. Roof rails come standard across the line for added practicality, which means it can carry 100 kg of load. In the front, the high-set bonnet gets upward sweeping sleek headlamps. There’s an LED projector for the low beam and multi-reflector lamps for the high beam. The fog lamps are halogen units and that’s surprising considering the design looks identical to the Captur’s LED units, and the Kicks is supposed to be a premium offering. The Captur also packs full LED headlamps with dynamic indicators. In between the headlights, the

1. The dual-tone brown and black theme and leatherwrapped soft touch dashboard and door trims make it premium. 2. The digital and analog meters are very easy to read. 3. A proper rear AC unit. 4. Leather wrapped 3-spoke steering wheel with limited steering control buttons. 5. In between the comfortable seats the arm rest does its duty well but bit difficult to reach the parking break.

Nissan’s signature V-Motion grille takes the centre position. The outside rearview mirrors are borrowed from the Captur and are mounted on the doors.

z Premium interior While the exterior styling is trendy, Nissan has tailored the interior more traditionally. Once stepped in, Faurecia manufactured dual-tone brown and black theme, leatherwrapped soft touch dashboard and door trims make you feel more premium. A tall windshield and giant side windows give good visibility to all inside. The interior is usable and roomy but

during long drives, the absence of dead pedal to rest your foot hurts and even with the seat height lowered. Back-seat passengers won’t be stretching 49 49

OEM 6

6. The doors are extended over the side sill panel to avoid dust while getting in and out. 7. The first-inclass Around View Monitor makes you have eyes on all sides. 8. Cameras on all four sides give you a 360° view of the surroundings.

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out much, but they won’t feel as if they should gnaw off their legs at the knees, either. It’s a surprisingly efficient cabin for 5. Behind the seats is 400 litres of cargo room, which puts the Kicks near the top of the class. Technology offerings also are good in the Kicks. A 8.0-inch floating infotainment system with support for Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 360-degree camera, and Nissan Connect make the Kicks an intelligent SUV. Its other features include automatic air-conditioning, cruise control, and nice-to-have features like push-button start, cornering lamps and driver’s side

armrest. The armrest also acts as a rear AC unit, which has a proper coil set-up unlike the other cars that has just a blower unit. But the design of the armrest could have been much better as it is difficult to approach the parking brake. It adds another vital active-safety feature, the blind-spot monitoring with Nissan Around View Monitor with a 360-degree bird’s-eye view.

Tenneco supplied struts up front, a torsion-beam set-up in back, and the quick steering, helps Kicks to handle nicely. The Kicks is nimble and more fun to throw around than larger SUVs. The suspension is tuned more for comfort, and it provided a well-cushioned ride even over the pitted and crumbling roads. The steering is direct and accurate, but there’s very little feedback that comes up from the road to the driver’s hands. It rides on twin fivespoke machine-cut alloy wheels shod with 215/60 R17 radials.

z Power pack

z Will it kick-start?

Kicks borrows the powertrains from Renault Duster and Captur. The petrol engine is a 1.5-litre (1,498 cc) 4-cylinder unit, producing 105 bhp @ 5,600 rpm and 142 Nm of torque @ 4,000 rpm, paired to a 5-speed manual transmission. The diesel is a 1.5-litre (1,461 cc) 4-cylinder unit too, producing about 109 bhp @ 3,850 rpm and 240 Nm of torque @ 1,750 rpm, paired to a 6-speed manual transmission. The Kicks is relatively nimble and surprisingly comfortable given its size. A small turning radius makes U-turns and parking maneuvers a breeze. Once the engine comes into life and even after passing 2500rpm the NVH levels are good inside the cabin.

I found the Kicks to be good enough that it works in a wide variety of situations and environments. It’s small enough to be great in the city, has enough passenger and cargo room. With the right amount of styling, nicely tuned powertrain and comfortable cabin, now Nissan has to price it aggressively and promote it rightly to appeal to a wide range of buyers. The lack of automatic transmission is a big omission for that will understandably turn off some shoppers. But if you don’t need automatics, the Kicks is worthy of your attention and a great addition to the Nissan line-up that was in need of a kick-start. ACI

O EM Maruti Suzuki Swift, RE Interceptor 650 wins ICOTY and IMOTY 2019 ACI Bureau

he Maruti Suzuki Swift and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 are declared as Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2019 and Indian Motorcycle of the Year (IMOTY) 2019. Making a debut at the ICOTY platform, the Premium Car of the Year 2019 was introduced this year and the Volvo XC40 received this honor in the inaugural edition of the category. The winners of the 14th ICOTY and the 12th IMOTY were announced at a special function in Mumbai. The awards highlighted and recognised brilliance in the auto sector amidst a packed house of Industry leaders, representatives of industrial bodies and auto enthusiasts. Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Limited said, “The ICOTY and IMOTY awards are like the Oscars of the Indian auto industry, rewarding the most exciting vehicles that have been introduced on Indian roads this year. The awards have undergone a rich journey over the years and today they represent the highest level of credibility, judgment and recognition. The Indian auto industry is at par with the global auto industry and this has further intensified the competition and made the evaluation process tougher at ICOTY and IMOTY. I would like to thank the jury members for the task, though challenging, accomplished so well. At JK Tyre, we believe that innovation and superior technology are the foundation for the future.

This is the key reasons we have collaborated with the ICOTY and IMOTY awards since inception. I congratulate Maruti Suzuki Swift, Volvo XC40 and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650, for winning among the bests of the industry, and for providing best-in-class value proposition to the customers.” The winner of the ICOTY 2019, the Maruti Suzuki Swift, and the Premium Car of the Year 2019, Volvo XC40, had to contend with 17 other vehicles, who were all put through a series of rigorous tests. Representing Maruti Suzuki Swift, Kenichi Ayukawa, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki said, “Swift has been one of the most loved premium hatchbacks and it is an honour to receive such an high accolade yet again. We are grateful to all our customers for their immense trust in the brand. We also thank our vendors and dealers who have been supporting us to delight our customers. To be recognised as the Indian Car of the Year, for 3 times, by an independent jury, comprising India’s leading automobile experts, makes this prestigious award even more special.” Charles Frump, MD, Volvo Car India said, “We are extremely happy that there is an extension of ICOTY to a Premium Car of The Year, I feel there is a lot that a premium car gets to the market from top-notch technology to safety and connectivity. In a way, we are like the torch bearers of the automotive industry and it’s great to be recognised. I am also looking forward to many more

relevant categories in future especially Green Car of The Year.” Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 had to battle it out with 11 others to be the IMOTY 2019. Siddhartha Lal, CEO, Royal Enfield said, “We are delighted to win the coveted IMOTY award for the Royal Enfield Interceptor INT 650. The 650 Twins mark the beginning of a new global chapter for Royal Enfield. This acknowledgement from IMOTY’s expert jury is testament that our idea of classic, fun, evocative motorcycles with completely modern underpinnings resonate with the discerning motorcycle riders.” Assessments for both the categories, the ICOTY 2019 and IMOTY 2019 were based on a series of stringent parameters, such as price, fuel efficiency, styling, comfort, safety, performance, practicality, technical innovation, build quality, value for money and suitability for Indian riding conditions. Introduced in 2005 and 2007 respectively, theICOTY and IMOTY are the most prestigious awards in the Indian automotive industry. ACI

Dr Raghupati Singhania, CMD, JK Tyre & Industries, presenting the ‘The Car of the Year Award 2019’ to Kenichi Ayukawa, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki, for the ‘Maruti Swift’ in presence of the jury members in Mumbai

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AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA JANUARY 2019

S PECIAL REPORT Use of galvanized steel for cars to enhance durability, passenger safety ACI Bureau

IT Bombay in partnership with International Zinc Association (IZA) has released in Chennai recently a survey report â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Safety First â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Risk of Rust- to highlight the impact of weather on the safety of passenger cars. The study provides insights into the safety hazards like deteriorating structural stability and strength caused by faster rusting of car bodies in coastal regions like Chennai due to unpredictable and humid weather. It also emphasises the need for increased adoption of galvanized steel in automotive industry, especially in coastal areas, to increase the durability of cars and safety of passengers. While safety standards for automotive industry in India is defined by Airbags, seatbelts and ABS, the study highlights the importance of protecting steel against corrosion as the fourth safety pillar. With nearly 50% of the vehicle structure made of steel, the study emphasizes

the need for supplying only galvanized steel to the automotive industry for the safety of people against rust and corrosion. On an average, Indian car manufacturers use about 20-25% galvanized steel for the cars sold in the domestic market. However, they use over 70% galvanized steel for the same models, produced from the same stamping and assembly facilities, they export to markets in Europe, Africa and other Asian countries.

z Car companies can All the car manufacturers in India have the experience and process capability to use galvanized steel for the car body. Their stamping plants, car assembly and paint operations have the expertise and equipment to convert their entire production from uncoated steel to galvanized steel. However, they do not use much galvanized steel for their domestic sales probably because of the additional cost (estimated at 0.02% of the car sticker price), the lack of regulatory Standards from organisations like the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and the absence of consumer awareness. Because of the use of nongalvanized steel on most of the parts of Indian-made cars, the consumers in the country receive an inferior product with reduced durability. On the other hand, galvanized steel car bodies have been shown to suffer minimal corrosion attack which protects the structural integrity and safety

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of the vehicle, improves the resale value, provides consumer protection due to anticipated warranty improvements by the car companies, lowers maintenance costs of underbody and structural components due to the use of zinc coated steel, and saves consumers the costs of after-market anti corrosion treatments and annual inspections.

z The study Spearheaded by Prof Anand Khanna, Former Professor, Department of Metallurgy Engineering, IIT Bombay, with two PhD students, the study was conducted in March 2018. Based on a series of parameters, they studied nearly 500 cars across brands to understand the extent of corrosion imperfection categories like blisters, surface rust and perforation on the external panels/body parts. A key highlight of the study is that the surveyed cars were chosen based on the average Indian family usage (typically below Rs. 10 Lakhs) across hatchback and sedan segments. In the summer of 2015, an extensive study of automotive body corrosion was conducted in Mumbai area by IIT Bombay to track corrosion performance of currently used materials of construction in Indian made cars costing less than Rs. 10 Lakhs. Both the studies followed the similar methodology of checking for visible perforations, paint blisters, and surface red rust. The survey was conducted in several

SPECIAL REPORT coastal and other humid regions of Mumbai, typically within 1km of coast. The IIT report proved that there is a corrosion problem affecting the durability and the eventual safety of cars in India. They repeated the study selecting only Indian made cars using galvanized steel and found the corrosion defects were considerably low. Prof Khanna said, “The study is an eye-opener for car owners in the Chennai city as it clearly indicates the causes for imperfections that arise owing to climatic conditions. There is hardly any awareness about how these imperfections over the years grow into life threatening hazards for car owners, and we are confident that this study will create an impact by creating the desired awareness among people. Chennai being an auto manufacturing hub we hope the companies will consider the insights from the study and align their processes to increase consumer safety. He said the automobile manufacturers should increase the adoption of ‘galvanised steel’ to enhance the durability of cars. There could be 20% higher risk of death due to rusty cars and he stressed the importance of protecting steel against corrosion. Dr. Dough Rourke, Consultant, International Zinc Association, Canada, said, “During the course of this study one of the underlying insights that emerged was the need for increased galvanization of automotive parts, which could help improve the safety standards in India. We are confident that this study will make policy makers to relook at the need for the country’s own Corrosion Prevention Act.”

About a major advantage of galvanisation, he said that even when the bolts or fasteners break the galvanised layer, the exposed part cannot corrode due to the zinc coating. “Leading manufacturers give away 12 years of warranty on corrosion in North America and it is a standard process there. It is all because of the galvanised steel. Manufactureres in India recognise this and they use it for the export markets. They use a very small percentage of galvanised steel in the cars for the domestic market,” Rourke said. One of the key findings of the study states that number of vehicles exhibiting certain imperfection, increased with the age of the vehicle. It was also quite evident that the number of blisters and surface rust were more predominant than perforation. The survey also states that out of the four major parts inspected, rocker panel exhibited the highest damage in terms of number of imperfections, blistering and surface rust. This can be attributed to its closeness to the ground and henceforth effects of road debris, stagnant water and such.

z Galvanization In the 1970’s, the automotive industry in North America became increasingly concerned about the high incidence of car corrosion and body panel perforations leading to significant safety concerns. From the mid 1980’s, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) and the three major car makers, General Motors, Ford Motors and Chrysler Corporation, jointly participated in several parking lot corrosion survey of cars in the Detroit, Michigan, area.

Based on the results of this survey, as well as pressure from consumer advocates, the car companies converted from cold rolled to galvanized and galvanneal steel for the exterior, interior, and underbody parts. Improvements in base coat and clear coat paint technology were also made concurrently. The results of subsequent surveys, after the introduction of galvanized steel, showed dramatic improvements which heralded the car companies issuing over 10-year warranties against corrosion starting in the mid 1980’s. Europe, Japan and South Korea soon followed the North American decision to use galvanized sheet steel for the entire car body. The International Zinc Association (India) offers to support zinc products and markets through research, development, technology transfer and communication of the unique attributes that make zinc sustainable and essential for life. IZA India’s main programme areas include training and uplifting programs targeting domestic die casters and general galvanizers while expanding the use of galvanized sheet in the building and automotive sectors. ACI 53 53

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B Y INVITATION The Future of Powertrain By: Raﬁq Somani, Area Vice President, South Asia Paciﬁc & Middle East, ANSYS Inc.

hat the future holds for automotive powertrains may seem cloudy, but with all the innovations that is happening today, we can say that slowly, yet steadily, the cloud is moving away and we can certainly predict some interesting developments. Automakers are wary of divulging their upcoming strategies. However, with the kind of work that we have been involved in, we can definitely say that there will be transformative changes ahead that it will have a deep impact on the industry though the public may not realise it so much.

Powertrain – a glimpse Powertrain describes the main mechanisms that generate power and bring it to the road surface, water, or air. This traditionally included the engine, transmission, drive shafts, differentials, and the final drive, that is the drive wheels, propeller, and so on. Now the battery, the electric motor and the control algorithm also form the elements of the powertrain when it comes to hybrid powertrains. So powertrain broadly includes all of its components used to transform stored (chemical, solar, nuclear, kinetic, potential, etc) energy into kinetic energy for propulsion purposes. This therefore also includes the utilisation of multiple power sources and non–wheel-based vehicles.

z Hybrid and EVs – The Future Today,

automakers are getting set to expand their current engine offerings and are already applying electrical assistance to the configurations. Hybrid is soon going to be the ‘present’. When it comes to sports cars as well, 54 54 AUTO COMPONENTS INDIA JANUARY 2019

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electrical assistance will be featured to boost performance and lower emissions to meet strict new global targets.Undeniably, the emphasis is now on electrification. In today’s futuristic outlook, the focus is on alternative propulsion, mainly hybrids and EVs and their relevance to the emerging markets. Electrical energy needs to be provided, usually this leads to larger batteries. In hybrid powertrains the torque generated by the combustion engine and the electric motor have to be brought together and distributed to the wheels. The control of this process can be quite involved but the rewards are significantly improved acceleration and much lower emissions.

z The Government’s Role India aims to become a 100% electric vehicle nation. There is a lot of stress on this. There are some major drivers for this objective. The first one is the significant reduction in the dependence on oil imports. The other driver is adhering to the Paris Climate deal and making India a “Green Nation”. These ambitious government regulations and strong customer demand for green vehicle technology such as higher-mileage vehicles, push car and truck makers to find and exploit every opportunity to make designs fuel efficient. Some of the challenges include the availability of power, the charging infrastructure (for EV’s) and also, last but not the least, the rising cost. In the Indian context, factors like “range” are less important.

BY INVITATION z What it implies All systems are on the table for re-engineering — body, interior, chassis, electrical, and electronics and powertrain. In order to thrive, the tasks in front of auto makers are many. For example they must aim to reduce aerodynamic drag without sacrificing cooling and cabin quietness. Also, the vehicle weight must be reduced while still meeting strength and durability needs. The rolling resistance must be reduced in advanced ways. Apart from that the combustion efficiency of engines must be improved and effective exhaust after-treatment devices must be deployed. At ANSYS, our pervasive physics based simulation solutions help address all the challenges

described above – from simulating virtual wind-tunnels that allow quick and high-resolution insights to aerodynamic behaviour thereby providing ideas to improve the design for fuel-efficiency, to coming up with the right composite structure to lightweight the design, to understanding the complex combustion behaviour inside the engine and allowing optimisation of several parameters affecting fuel economy, to allowing design of after treatment systems like 3-way catalytic converters and selectivecatalytic-reduction (SCR) systems.

z Early adopters Well before the passenger cars adopt electrification, it is going to be the public transport as well as 2-and 3-wheeler vehicles that are going to adopt it. What we need to

Rafiq Somani, Area Vice President, South Asia Pacific & Middle East, ANSYS Inc.

do is convert existing platforms to produce EV’s (Electric Vehicle) and HEV’s (Hybrid Electric Vehicle), and reduce time-to-market as well as the cost. This is why the industry will have to look at engineering simulations

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BY INVITATION as a viable alternative to physical testing. It is required to rely on modelling and simulation tools while designing an electrical platform from the very beginning of the V-cycle in order to drive the main choices and then to optimise the system. One can produce, simulate, repeat, verify and test drive one’s electric vehicle virtually without having to involve a single physical part or component.

z How? At ANSYS, we offer unique solutions that allow OEMs and Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities to develop and realise the electrification dream. Understanding and predicting the effects of chemistry in a system are key to developing competitive products in transportation, energy and materials processing applications. As designers of gas turbines, boilers and piston engines strive to meet low-emissions regulations with ever widening fuel flexibility requirements, they must not only uphold, but also advance, their system’s performance. In the same way, designing materials and chemical processes with high yield and quality must be done with marginalby product or waste. Depending on only testing for precise performance validation is exorbitant when one thinks of today’s complex designs and shortened design cycles. Effective simulation of the underlying detailed chemistry is

often critical for cost-effective design of systems with reduced pollutant emissions or undesired byproducts. To help you gain key insights into kinetics dependencies, ANSYS Chemkin-Pro includes the Reaction Path Analyzer. Employing an interactive visual display, the Reaction Path Analyzer provides a clear view of dominant reaction paths, facilitating mechanism development and reduction. It accomplishes fast, accurate calculations of the extinction strain rate used to determine a system’s combustion stability. It helps gain better understanding of low emissions combustion stability.The innovative Particle Tracking feature follows particle nucleation, growth, aggregation and oxidation. Two separate tracking approaches enable you to predict the average particle size and number density, and give a detailed information on the particle size distribution, which can be used to predict soot emissions or to optimise particle production. This helps understand and predict particle formation. ANSYS’ enables you to better evaluate and optimise powertrains for fuel effects, efficiency, knocking and emissions.

z Say no to Noise The chief components of Electric vehicle powertrain are the motor and gearbox. Though electric vehicles adhere to the noise levels set by noise regulation authority, even now the noise emitted from powertrain is annoying and creates discomfort. Electric Drivetrain noise is the third largest source of sound overall and largest internal source of sound in HEVs/EVs. In an ideal situation where the all mechanisms of a gearbox are rigid

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and the gear ratios are faultless with no misalignment among the gears, no noise would rise from the gearbox. However, in reality, gears, shafts and bearings are flexible, and manufacturing tolerances do leave misalignments. The purpose of a gearbox is to transmit power either with a step-up or a stepdown in rotational speed. Simulation can step in here. It can aid in running a static analysis on a gear pair to evaluate its flexibility. The manual contact stiffness of such a gear-pair can be evaluated. Simulation can even model a transient analysis with rigid gears and Manual contacts, and output the transmission error for a given input speed. Multi-physics and design optimisation capabilities of ANSYS can predict the noise level of Powertrain (that is motor and gear-train) assembly, compare effect of coupling of gear-train with motor and optimize to control noise while keeping weight below specified limit.

z Electrification is the future Today, every Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is shifting to electric. The major drivers for electrification are increasing battery range, the changing customer preferences as well as reducing battery costs. Powertrain electrification will reshape the current mobility value chain, forcing consolidation and new partnerships as well as opening up new revenue and profit pools for existing and new players. The most recent developments in powertrain are driven by the electrification of it in multiple components. It is the next big revolution for the industry and it is already happening. ACI

E VENT Proposal to aggregate and build aftermarket brands ACI Bureau

“A

utomotive aftermarket industry provides 4 times more employment than any other sector in manufacturing, and many of the manufacturing companies survive on the profitability which they derive from the aftermarket,” R Dinesh, Chairman of Auto Serve 2018, and Joint Managing Director of T V Sundram Iyengar & Sons Ltd, said. He was speaking at the inauguration of Auto Serve 2018, India’s largest focused exhibition for the automotive aftermarket Industry. It was organised by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in Chennai. He further said, “There are 5 lakh garages in the country which give employment to 75 lakh people. It is important that their skills are upgraded to a secure future. This year Auto Serve has a representation from 10 countries, including the UK, the US, Germany, Japan and China, that support us to translate our vision into action.” Auto Serve 2018, a three-day exhibition and conference, had the participation of over 100 exhibitors, displaying Indian and International brands. K Pandiarajan, Minister for Tamil Official Language, Tamil Culture and Archaeology, government of Tamil Nadu, in his inaugural address said, the geographical presence determines the market share in the automotive aftermarket sector. “One sector

in India which has a competitive advantage is the automotive aftermarket sector and it is an unsung area. When you split the auto industry, it is divided into 3 different parts (automobile, auto components and aftermarket). Altogether they make the market worth Rs 70,000 crore, collectively contributed by many small scale entrepreneurs also.” The Minister said, “The government is very pro-industry in terms of taxation, registration, ease of doing business and supporting facilities to the automotive aftermarket sector. This is the time for aggregation and building aftermarket brands in the industry which is the need of the hour. We need to have a world-class aftermarket industry in India which should transcend the borders and create outlets in every part of the world. The industry should work closely with the State government which has a strong interest in automotive aftermarket industry as it is one of the largest employment generating sectors in the State.” Sriram Viji, Member of National Executive Committee, Auto Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA), and Deputy Managing Director, Brakes India Ltd, said, Indian auto components industry has a turnover of Rs 51.5 billion with a growth rate of 18% annually. “Around 40% of the automotive aftermarket represents the unorganised sector and there is an urgent need to evolve the entire manufacturing and distribution chain. We are closely working with the road transport

department for standard and safety in the aftermarket segment. We request the government to consider uniform 18% GST for all automobile components,” he said. At the event, the Minister also released a report on ‘Transformational Shifts in Mobility and its Impact on Aftermarket’. Some key findings of the reports are: India is targeting the deployment of 5 million to 7 million electric vehicles in the country by 2020 under the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020; India has become the 3rd largest domestic aviation market globally, recording a total of 190 million domestic flyers in 2017, and is expected to reach 360 million by 2020; India’s car market has the potential to grow up to 6+ million units annually by 2020 up from 3.7 million in 2016; Total aftermarket has grown at a CAGR of 14% over the last 5 years; Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are among the top 10 States contributing to more than 75% of the total aftermarket potential; Increasing vehicle ownership (new and used vehicles) in semiurban and rural markets is driving demand for auto components in the country. Auto Serve 2018 focused on the whole range of garage equipment, covering cleaning systems, engine tuning, repair and maintenance tools and equipment, paint booth manufacturers, garage systems for large and commercial vehicles, long-distance buses and auto airconditioning. ACI 57 57

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E VENT ACMA Automechanika New Delhi to focus on digital innovations ACI Bureau

he 2019 edition of ACMA Automechanika trade fair, scheduled to take place from March 14 to 17 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, will focus on the digital automotive innovations and advancements. The show, spread across 11 halls, will present an array of automotive Parts & Components, Electronics & Systems, Accessories & Customizing, Repair& Maintenance, Management &Digital Solutions and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning of trusted aftermarket brands from over 580 exhibitors from 13 countries. Bringing in the right mix of international expertise, the fourth edition will host contingents from Belgium, China, Dubai, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Taiwan, the UAE, the UK and the US. They will represent the

show’s stronger attention on digital innovations and advancements in the automotive sector across the world. That apart, leading trade bodies including All India Automobile Workshops Association; Federation of All India Auto Parts Dealers’ Associations; ASA – Federal Association of the Manufacturers and Importers of Automobile Service Equipment (Germany); and ZDK – German Federation for Motor Trades and Repairs (Germany) have extended their support to ACMA Automechanika New Delhi. The event will also witness seminars and convergence of association members on all show days. In addition, the organisers are planning an industry conference, which aims to cover themes underpinned on Indian automotive market developments. The organisers expect another record-breaking opening in 2019 and high engagement with buyers and

sellers from across the world. Leading aftermarket manufacturers, Mansons International Pvt Ltd, Minda Distribution and Services Ltd, Ample Auto Tech Pvt Ltd, Elofic Industries Ltd, Him Teknoforge Ltd, Bosch Ltd, Silver Muller Rubber Ltd, and Liqui Moly Gmbh among others, have confirmed participation in the event, according to Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA. He said, “ACMA Automechanika New Delhi is one of the key aftermarket shows in India. We are excited with the response we have received from the participants so far and are looking forward to a power-packed event this year. The aftermarket in India grew by 9.8% to Rs 61,601 crore (USD 9.2 billion) in 2017-18 from Rs.56, 096 (USD 8.4 billion) in 2016-17. We are hoping for a highly engaging event with buyers and sellers from across the world.” Raj Manek, Executive Director and Board Member of Messe Frankfurt Asia Holding Ltd said, “The automotive market is witnessing rapid technological transformation. In tune, regulatory changes in India are also redefining the domestic aftermarket. As organisers, we strive to bring these transformative technologies to the show floor and are looking forward to yet another record-breaking opening in 2019.” Recognised as one of the most influential events for the aftermarket business globally, ACMA Automechanika New Delhi is one of 17 Automechanika fairs held across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. ACI

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