Even as the global cues have a negative connotation on the growth prospects of the key export markets like the United States,United Kingdom and the EU, the inherent domestic demand is the sliver lining.
Even as the global cues have a negative connotation on the growth prospects of the key export markets like the United States, United Kingdom and the EU, the inherent domestic demand is the silver lining. According to the World Bank, India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is pegged at 6.9 per cent for the current fiscal, up from 6.5 per cent last fiscal. The inflation is projected at 7.1 per cent in the same period. Subsequently, the GDP forecast has been marginally revised from seven per cent to 6.6 per cent for 2023-24. The ‘India Development’ update hailed the Indian economy for its resilience against global shocks backed by the better September quarter figures. The domestic demand has notably widened the goods trade deficit in the post-pandemic recovery. In this issue, we look at the long-haul, LNG-tractor from Blue Energy Motors. In the year-ending issue, we have also featured an in-depth viewpoint on the FY23 scorecard as we head into the business end of the fiscal. This one is for the archives! The December issue is also carrying the methodology and nomination forms for the Apollo CV Awards 2023. Request you to kindly prepare to send in your entries as the countdown to the 14th edition has begun! See you on the other side, in 2023, with a new issue packed with hope for equally action-packed quarters ahead.
Ashish Bhatia
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a.bhatia@nextgenpublishing.net
@atashishbhatia
@Ashish Bhatia
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Editor Ashish Bhatia
Urbania Set For
major Force
setting itself up for growth in the
end of the
Fearing A Fresh Blow: It’s early days to assess the impact of geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan on the supply chain. Ashish Bhatia looks at the repercussions feared.
More Power To The Eeco: Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has brought in the new Eeco.
Scaling The 1 Million Peak of FY19 – Cues From H1-FY23 The CV story so far has been a mixed bag of sorts though overall a positive one. Shyam Maller, Former Executive Vice President - Sales & Marketing, at VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. writes how while the domestic sales are on an up trend on a sequential month-on-month basis between April-Sept’ FY2023, export volumes though have been moving downhill on global cues.
Based on global cues of high inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, the Russia-Ukraine crisis and the tightening of rates, Indian exports have dipped for the first time in 19 months. In October 2022, exports dipped by 16.65 per cent to USD 29.78 billion, according to data released by the commerce department. The slowdown in imports to their lowest level in eight months in September 2022 has contributed to the widening of the trade deficit to USD
26.91 billion. The trade deficit has remained above the USD 25 billion thresholds for a fifth consecutive month. According to ICRA Chief Economist, Aditi Nayar, more holidays during the
More than 18 new insurance companies are likely to enter the market. To align with the vision of financial inclusion, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has committed to enabling ‘Insurance for All’ by 2047. While ensuring every citizen an appropriate life, health and property insurance
cover for every enterprise, the aim is to offer appropriate insurance solutions and also to make the Indian insurance sector globally attractive. After evaluating suggestions and comments, the amendments to regulations were placed before the Insurance advisory committee post which key reforms were approved.
festival season were also among the reasons for a sequential moderation in exports and imports in October. Over the course of the first seven months of the fiscal year, the growth in exports was 12.55 per cent overall (April-October). Exports reached their highest level in terms of value in March, reaching USD 42 billion. Geopolitical tensions had an impact on demand after June, which resulted in a gradual decline in outbound shipments.
Notably, the registration of Indian insurance companies found a mention. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will add flexibility to the PE funds investment in Indian insurance companies. Now subsidiary companies will be allowed to be promoters of new insurance companies among other key provisions made.
A government-appointed gas price review panel led by Kirit Parikh, Chairman, of Integrated Research and Action for Development (IRADe), New Delhi and former Member, the Planning Commission, Government of India recommended price caps for natural gas produced from legacy fields of state-owned firms. It is to help moderate gas rates while leaving the pricing formula for difficult fields unchanged. The committee is
likely to recommend a price cap for Administered Pricing Mechanism (APM) gas, which includes ONGC Ltd. and Oil India Ltd. Gas from these legacy fields is sold to city gas distributors As a result, explorers who are seeing a rise in the cost of services owing to the global energy price spike will not be disadvantaged. For the next few years, the report may recommend an annual escalation of USD 0.5 per metric million British thermal unit
The state governments have been directed to scrap 15-year-old government vehicles in their possession. This applies to commercial vehicles as well. Addressing the gathering at the 2022 edition of Agrovision, in Nagpur, Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari
said, “I have sent this policy of the Indian government to all the states. They should adopt this policy at the state level.” He emphasised that every old vehicle will be removed from the streets and recycled for re-use.
Industry veteran Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman of Toyota Kirloskar Motor and Chairman and Managing Director of Kirloskar Systems Ltd. passed away due to a cardiac arrest. Sending shock waves down the industry, his loss was mourned by many who knew him in both personal and professional capacities. Known for bringing Toyota to India in the 1990’s he was instrumental
to the latter’s journey and milestones in India. Most recently, he over saw the launch of the next generation Toyota Innova Hycross MPV. The fourth-generation leader at the Kirloskar Group held several important positions including President-SIAM, and at CII and ARAI. He was the fourth-generation leader of the Kirloskar Group and is survived by his wife and daughter. .
Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) hosted the ‘Mahindra Rise Sustainability Champion Awards. Aimed at honouring up-and-coming young change agents who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to bringing about the betterment
of society. The Awards recognise sustainability leaders in the fields of clean air, clean energy, green transportation, and clean water. A three-step process involved pre-screening and the selection of the final four winners by a distinguished jury comprising of Madhav Pai of WRI India, Mukund Vasudevan of Moglix, Vinuta Gopal from Asar Social Impact Advisors, Dr Bhaskar Natarajan from AEEE. Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, Auto Sector, Mahindra Group said, “It is our way of recognising and encouraging this dedicated movement towards sustainability. It is in line with our core philosophy of ‘Rise’ – to be an organisation that will be counted among the best in the world and at the same time rise for our planet to fight against climate change.”
Haryana Roadways has placed an order with Tata Motors for 1,000 buses. According to the contract, Tata Motors will deliver the 52-seater fully built BSVI diesel buses in a phase-wise manner. The buses are claimed to provide superior passenger comfort, fuel efficiency, dependability, and a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The government tender process was used to conduct the e-bidding process. Commenting on the order, Navdeep Singh Virk, IPS, Principal Secretary to Government, Transport Department, Haryana said, “The induction of the new buses will help in making inter-state public transport even more efficient, allowing smooth commute across the state of Haryana.” On the momentous occasion, Rohit Srivastava, Vice President, Product Line – Buses, Tata Motors, said, “The delivery of these buses will further fortify our
partnership with the State Government of Haryana and help in offering modern public transport to the citizens of the state.”
Ashok Leyland Ltd. (ALL) delivered 150 trucks and buses to the Tanzania Police Force. H.E. Binaya S. Pradhan, Indian High Commissioner to Tanzania, and Amandeep Singh, President, Ashok Leyland, presented the vehicles to the Ministry of Home Affairs at the Police Head Quarters in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The supplies are part of a contract signed between ALL
and Tanzania’s Ministry of Home Affairs, funded by a long-term soft loan from the Export-Import Bank, Govt. of India. The order consists of police staff buses, 4x4 police troop carriers, ambulances, and recovery trucks, among other logistic vehicles. Speaking on this momentous occasion, H.E. Binaya S. Pradhan, stated, “Tanzania is India’s biggest development partner in the African continent,
Sanjay V. Jorapur has been named President and Head of Human Resources (HR), at Ashok Leyland Ltd. In Mumbai, Amanpreet Singh, who is currently the President and Head of HR, will take on a senior position at the Hinduja Group. Speaking on the appointment, Dheeraj G Hinduja, Executive Chairman, said, “Sanjay joins a strong leadership team and brings close to three decades of rich experience to Ashok Leyland.
‘People’ are the foundational pillars for us to achieve our vision. Sanjay will drive the agenda in line with contemporary global practices and steer the company’s HR strategy in the current transformational context. A veteran HR professional with leadership experience in the fields of engineering, technology, and automation, Jorapur was the President, Group HR at HFCL Group in his previous stint.
with more than USD 1.1 bn of the line of credit, and a dutyfree trade scheme encouraging trade between the countries.”
Amandeep Singh, President, ALL mentioned, “These 150 vehicles will get added to the 475 vehicles already in operation with the Tanzanian police force.” It takes the ALL fleet total to 625 units with more deliveries in the pipeline.
In order to introduce e-buses for employee transportation in India, Switch Mobility Ltd (Switch). has teamed up with JSW Steel. A total of 71 buses will be delivered to JSW Steel for
their Vijayanagar plant. Claimed to be the first significant and largest e-bus order for employee transportation in the nation, the 12-year contract, will have Switch own and manage all operations, including setting up of the charging infrastructure and necessary maintenance effectiveness. Sajjan Jindal, Chairman and Managing Director of the JSW Group of Companies, and Mahesh Babu, Global Chief Executive Officer of Switch Mobility Ltd., said, “With the positive reception to Switch EiV 12, we are glad to enter the employee transportation space and be a part of the sustainable journey with JSW Steel. This partnership with JSW is an important milestone for Switch Mobility, as we deliver our first and largest private bus order in the country.”
At Scania India, service teams competed at the National Round of the ‘The Top Team’. The competition encourages internal collaboration and increases the knowledge and motivation of the participants. This way, service personnel develop their skills by combining training and teamwork with competition which in turn benefits Scania customers through more effective service. The competition is much appreciated by service personnel and helps improve
the attractiveness of Scania as an employer. The Top Team 2022-2023 National Round had teams showcasing their skills
and abilities. All the winners were announced in the presence of Johan Schlyter, Managing Director, Scania Commercial Vehicles India Pvt. Ltd. among other key members of the Scania India management. The ‘Indian Master Minds’ won the national round and advanced to the regional round of the competition. The Hyderabad Scania Team stood as the first runners-up with the Bangalore Black Panthers securing the second place.
Euler Motors has partnered with Shriram Transport Finance Company Ltd. (STFC) to drive accessible retail financing of the Euler HiLoad EV. The partnership will aim at pan India deployment of the three-wheeler with lower interest rates and high Loan-ToValue (LTV) for retail customers. With an objective to deploy over
20,000 EVs over the next two years, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) will utilise the STFC financing and segment expertise in the transportation sector and make commercial EVs mainstream. Both organisations will also closely work to drive awareness of the benefits of EVs. Speaking on
the partnership, Saurav Kumar, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at the company said, “We are thrilled about having one of India’s largest asset financing NBFC on board with us. Their expertise in asset management and customer know-how will help us deploy EVs at scale across our target markets.”
Hyderabad-based Etrio Automobiles Pvt. Ltd. announced the appointment of Gopala Rao Uppala as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). Rao is a veteran EV engineering leader with nearly two decades of experience and expertise in EV architecture design, electric motor design and development, and EV power trains. In his new role, Uppala will be in charge of the company’s comprehensive technology road map for enabling next-generation EV products. Furthermore, he will guide and lead the technology teams to provide a full stack of
tech-enabled solutions across the product portfolio. This will help to accelerate the adoption of reliable and intelligent products
designed for manufacturing and serviceability for better operational economics and enhanced customer delight. Speaking about the appointment, Kalyan C Korimerla, Managing Director and Co-Promoter, Etrio said, “We are delighted to on board Gopala Rao Uppala into the core management team at Etrio. We aim to bring digital transformation firsts to the EV industry in the years to come, and to that end, believe Gopala Rao will help us give form to our product-tech road map.”
Celebi Aviation India has introduced the first full-electric
air-conditioned tarmac coach for passenger transportation at Delhi International Airport. Twelve EcoLife tarmac coaches manufactured by the JBM Group have been deployed for the purpose. Murali Ramachandran, Chief Executive Officer, Celebi India, said, “These newly inducted low-entry Ecolife buses facilitate ease of boarding and de-boarding and are equipped with a wheelchair ramp for the specially abled, with
a designated space for docking the wheelchair. He further added, “The buses are equipped with modern features like Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), CCTV cameras, mobile charging USB sockets, and emergency safe stop buttons.” The buses are claimed to offer fast charging lithium-ion batteries, and run on efficient PSPM electric motors for a silent and seamless ride as per company claims.
Trucking aggregator, Onmove, acquired a 100 per cent stake in Transin Logistics, a trucking aggregation platform based out of Hyderabad. The trucking solution company that operates in India’s port ecosystem is known to serve major blue-chip clients such as Aditya Birla, Ambuja Cement, and ITC to name a few. They have a network of over 34,000 trucks catering to the EXIM
and bulk cargo segments. This collaboration will assist Onmove in expanding its customer base in the commodity segment as well as in the port logistics business with a focus on port-to-plant movement. Transin, in turn, will be able to broaden its user services by providing end-toend logistical support for the transport of finished goods from plant facilities to the end market.
Onmove has achieved an ARR of Rs.600 crore as a result of this acquisition. Praveen Jain, CoFounder at Onmove, said, “This acquisition is our move towards creating a peerless tech-powered truck aggregation platform in India. Onmove intends to use inorganic growth as an active strategy to achieve expansion.” The company also provides service to SAARC nations.
As part of its Green Technology Initiative, Neuron Energy, a supplier of lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries for the EV industry in India, has expanded its product line with the introduction of Adler brand of golf carts. Adler offers a range of golf carts for use in freight, recreation, personal transportation, and medical needs. The company will cater to the needs of golf courses, hotels, resorts, and shopping centres. Neuron Energy hopes to enter the Middle Eastern market through exports. Commenting on the sidelines of the launch, Pratik Kamdar, Co-Founder, of Neuron Energy says, “As a company, our vision has always been to provide the best-in-class products to our customers, and we have been working on developing a comprehensive network of batteries and spares needed to support electric vehicles.”
Continental Tires sets up a new commercial vehicle alignment facility in Jaipur. This newly opened alignment centre is the third in the state of Rajasthan and the first in Jaipur. Located in the heart of Jaipur, it includes a brand experiential zone with the latest technologies, products, and services. In addition, services such as tyre change, wheel balancing, Truck/Bus wheel alignment, nitrogen inflators, and fully automated alignment are made available here. The centre will also sell brand-new Continental CV tyres. Speaking at
the inauguration ceremony, Pramod Vasudevan, National Sales Head, Truck Tyre, Continental Tire India, said, “Rajasthan is a very important market for us. The new centre will help us reach our customers with quality products in Jaipur. The new centre will offer the latest Continental products, along with the latest technologies and equipment for tyre alignments.” Continental Tires plans to open multiple such alignment centres across India over the coming months as part of its expansion plans.
Uber India announced a slew of new technology-driven safety features, including an audio rear seat belt reminder, proactive trip anomaly detection, customer SOS integration with local police, and more. Each time an Uber trip begins, an audio rear seat belt reminder will be played on the driver’s phone, along with a push notification sent on the rider’s phone. In order to share important information with the local police, including a live location, Uber also launched SOS integration with them. In Hyderabad, this feature is already operational, and the company is actively in contact with other major metropolises.
The cab aggregator has expanded customer support in the country, where riders can report any safety issues while on-trip and up to 30 minutes after the trip has ended using a 24x7 safety line. Its twin support centres in Hyderabad
and Visakhapatnam will be made available with a 30-second response time. Ashish Kundra, Principal Secretary, Government of Delhi, said “It is heartening to see that the company is investing its resources to strengthen safety and support.”
Apollo Tyres has appointed Rajasekhara Reddy as the Group Head of the Supply Chain for the Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA) region. While providing leadership and direction to the regional SCM function, Rajasekhara would be working with various stakeholders like sales, marketing, commercial and manufacturing in order to improve customer service levels, reduce costs and deliver
supply chain cross-functional projects. Based out of Apollo Tyres’ corporate headquarters in
Gurugram, NCR, Rajasekhara will report to Satish Sharma, President, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (APMEA).
Rajasekhara Reddy, Group Head, Supply Chain, SOMES, Apollo Tyres Ltd. expressed, “In addition to the digitalisation of the supply chain, I would also be focusing on the increased usage of environmentally responsible practices within the overall supply chain network.”
Tyromer Inc. and Apollo Tyres announced the collaboration to create sustainable materials.
Apollo Tyres will leverage the collaboration with Tyromer Inc., a pioneer in the non-chemical de vulcanisation of end-of-life tyres, as part of its continued commitment to sustainability. Tyromer Inc. is dedicated to providing Apollo Tyres with recycled rubber material made using its environmentally friendly processes through their Indian affiliate, Tyromer India LLP. Announcing the partnership with Tyromer, P K Mohamed, Chief Advisor, R&D, Apollo
Tyres Ltd., said “This partnership with Tyromer is a step towards achieving our sustainability
goals, and it also enables us to honour our Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).”
Parag Satpute, Managing Director at Bridgestone India will take on a new global position at the Bridgestone Solutions Business. He will be based out of Amsterdam, Netherlands. On January 01, 2023, he will renounce his current role as MD. Stefano Sanchini, who succeeds Satoute
has accepted the changeover from his role as the Vice President of Region for the Middle East and Africa. He will be based out of Pune and will assume the role of the new MD for Bridgestone India. Stefano joined Bridgestone in 2017 as Sales Director MEA and in 2019 was promoted as VP Region MEA.
Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) has validated an Autonomous Intelligent Tugger (AIT) to deliver vehicle components from its Kawasaki plant in October and November 2022. The AIT ran along a 900 m route between the engine manufacturing building and the
vehicle assembly lines during the verification process. The AIT, which was expected to be mostly used for engine transport, was tested to see if it could safely move along the predetermined route without causing production delays or collisions. MFTBC confirmed the AIT’s ability to reliably prevent potential
The electric, heavy-duty Renault Truck lineup were recently unveiled. Starting 2023, the Renault Trucks factory in Bourg-en-Bresse will producing the e-tech T and C models in series. With advance bookings, customers can gain access to a wide spectrum of applications that has the
0.65-tonne (650 kg) cargo bike and the 44-tonne e-tractor and construction trucks. The vehicle fronts have been moved forward by 115 mm, and radars have been deployed for safety enhancement. The chassis is also equipped with a retractable step to maximise battery space among the tweaks.
risks associated with autonomous driving technology, as well as perform at the maximum speed of 11 kmph on-site. To reduce AIT service delays caused by obstacles, Panasonic Holdings Corporation’s ‘X-Area Remote’ monitoring and tele operation system are known to have been used.
Jonathan Randall will take over as the President of Mack Trucks, North America on December 01, 2022. He will report to Martin Weissburg, Global President of Mack Trucks and Chairman of the Volvo Group North America. Previously serving as Senior Vice President of North American sales and commercial operations, Randall joined Mack in 2016 as the Senior Vice President of North American sales. He brings along 25 years of experience in the CV industry, including leadership positions with Original
Caterpillar Inc. demonstrated the first battery-powered 793 large mining truck. With assistance from significant mining clients taking part in the company’s ‘Early Learner’ programme, the company completed the development of its first battery-
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across roles in truck leasing, product marketing, sales, and aftermarket parts and services. “Jonathan is a proven leader who is passionate about working with our dealers and customers to grow Mack’s business as we introduce new services and products to the North American market,” said Weissburg. Randall will be based at the Greensboro, North Carolina, headquarters. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado State University.
powered prototypes. BHP, Freeport-McMoRan, Newmont Corporation, Rio Tinto, and Teck Resources Ltd. are known to be the programme participants with finalised electrification agreements. “Our global team came together to develop this battery truck at
an accelerated pace to help our customers meet their sustainability commitments,” Resource Industries Group President Denise Johnson said. Customers from this division gathered to watch a live demonstration of the prototype battery truck.
Geopolitical tensions have proved to be disruptive, to say the least! With the dust from the Russia-Ukraine crisis yet to settle, many months and counting, the industry could have to deal with the prospects of a fresh body blow to the supply chain. The geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan could pose a new challenge for trade dynamics. We’ve stressed in the past, how conflicts have all the makings of a case study for businesses. It reassures the need to have in place, a plan B and a plan C that can be pressed into action with agility to limit the losses. Sparing none, these conflicts, until the recent past, have had a detrimental impact on the growth trajectory of nations including the EU, the West and South Asian countries like India that find themselves in the advanced stages of a recovery cycle, in the aftermath of the pandemic. The components industry, as per Sunjay Kapur, President, ACMA and Chairman at Sona Comstar is at pre-pandemic levels clocking
the highest-ever turnover of Rs. 4.2 lakh crore (USD 56.5 billion). This surpasses the previous peak turnover (inclusive of the aftermarket) of Rs.3.95 lakh crore in FY18-19. It is a 23 per cent growth in FY 2021-22 over the previous fiscal.
While the industry has registered a USD 700 mn trade surplus for the first time, with exports at 43 per cent and imports at 33 per cent, one can’t help but be concerned about the import dependence on China. Exports grew by 43 per cent to Rs.1.41 lakh crore (USD 19.0 billion) while imports grew by 33 per cent to Rs.1.36 lakh crore (USD 18.3 billion) leading to the trade surplus. Notably, imports from China account for nearly a third of the total imports (~30 per cent) behind Germany at 11 per cent. “The import dependence on China will not go away overnight, not for the components industry and not for anybody else,” asserted Kapur. Localisation efforts under the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Production Linked Incentive’ scheme on the
It’s early days to assess the impact of geopolitical tensions between China and Taiwan on the supply chain. Ashish Bhatia looks at the repercussions feared.@atashishbhatia
Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Batteries and Auto and Auto Components by the organised ACMA members (~850 member companies) will take a while to trickle in over the long term, he admitted. Sans a conflict that the industry would be pleased to do away with, it is brewing optimism about the revival of the economy and stability in vehicle demand. If only the state of equilibrium is sustained by protecting trade from a state of under-supply or shortage of key inputs to automotive manufacturers. OEMs have had to pass on the hikes to customers owing to the pressure on operating margins.
According to the ACMA FY22 performance report, the traction in the domestic market is a reflection of the component imports into India. Averred Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, that Asia accounted for 65 per cent of imports followed by Europe and North America at 27 per cent and seven per cent respectively. It is noteworthy that imports from Asia grew by 30 per cent, while those from Europe by 39 per cent and from North America by 36 per cent. A reason for it is the growing electronics content per vehicle as the industry shifts to EVs and prepares for the current (BSVI) compliances and
the next phase of BSVI (OBD-II) set for compliance by April 2023. To meet the void of domestic production, imports are known to meet the requirements from time to time, basis the demand-supply equation for manufacturers, he explained. The demand is only set to rise further given that the auto component sales to the EV sector are pegged at one per cent (Rs.3,520 crore) of the auto component sales to OEMs.
The components industry is also keeping a close eye on commodity prices as there is pressure from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to keep prices under check. While the CapEx cycles might have begun in good news for the economy, it is true that operating margins continue to be under pressure for suppliers and OEMs alike. This can be attributed to factors like raw material prices witnessing an 11 per cent spike in comparison to FY21. A major reason for the hike is the cost escalations in key input materials like steel and aluminium. For instance, steel prices in the last fiscal rose by 40 per cent with aluminium prices witnessing a 54 per cent hike. The 33 per cent spike in imports is already linked to the supply chain disruptions thus far. Especially the cycle witnessed in the first half of FY22 (H1-FY22). Notably, drive transmission and steering coupled with engine components are said to remain dominant segments for exports (54 per cent) as well as imports (49 per cent). The spike in imports can be traced to the whole gamut: 38 per cent on engine components; 22 per cent on Body/Chassis/ BiW; 27 per cent on suspension and braking; 39 per cent on drive transmission and steering; 37 per cent on cooling systems;
35 per cent on electronics and electricals; 25 per cent on rubber components; 23 per cent on Interiors (non-electronic) and 208 per cent on consumables and miscellaneous items.
To gauge the sentiment, a chief strategist at a USD 1.5 billion hedge fund is known to have alerted investors to avoid chip manufacturers owing to the volatile equation between China, Taiwan, and the US. According to an International Monetary Fund study, the “geoeconomic fragmentation” could delay economic recovery and exacerbate scarring from the pandemic in Asia. With China reiterating the pledge of allegiance to a ‘One China Policy’ the deepening of cracks between China and Taiwan could also threaten India’s free trade agreements with Taiwan and the collaborative effort to build a flourishing domestic semiconductor manufacturing hub in India as one example.
India is known to have concluded a bilateral trade of over USD seven billion with Taiwan over the last year. Firms from Taiwan are known to have invested over USD 2.3 billion in India. A weakening of Taiwan’s trade relations could, hence lead to unwanted collateral damage in the case of India. China’s intent to ban raw material export to Taiwan
3
could affect the automotive industry in neighbouring regions like Thailand too where India has a trade presence. The raw material (silica) is crucial for semiconductor manufacturing.
It is known to amount to ~90 per cent of the silica requirement by chip major Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). Any friction between the two regions could lead to a rise in EV prices and delay deliveries! It will be a big blow to Taiwan itself which remains a largely export-driven economy (~70 per cent). Here semiconductors and IT technology is said to account for nearly 50 per cent of the exports.
To look at historic references for any indicators, since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, an estimated 330+ businesses are known to have been forced to suspend production and trade in Russia cutting the production of vehicles by millions. Companies like the Volvo Group, confirmed Kamal Bali, President and MD, Volvo Group India, decided to not operate its fairly large asset base in the region. Like Volvo Group, other leading OEMs with a presence in the region have also been forced to take drastic measures. Chip manufacturers are known to have either withdrawn, diverted chips; companies have re-configured supply chains to address new shortages like the wiring systems sourced from Western Ukraine; deal with the spike in metal prices, fuel and gas prices. However, if business interests supersede, the worse could be put off and genuine fears allayed. Until such time, India could benefit from product design and manufacturing opportunities moving in from the conflict regions.
Van major Force Motors has come off a good second quarter (Q2-FY23).
Ashish Bhatia shares how with the delivery time lines set for the Force URBANIA panel van, the company is setting itself up for growth in the business end of the fiscal and the quarters ahead.
dealerships. The pan India prices (Ex-showroom) of the URBANIA start from Rs.28.99 lakh. The medium wheel base (3615 mm) variant seating 13 excluding the driver is priced at Rs.28.99 lakh. The long wheelbase (4400 mm) variant seating 17 excluding driver is priced at Rs.31.25 lakh and the short wheelbase (3350 mm) variant seating 10 excluding driver is priced at Rs.29.50 lakh. To be made available across the country in the metros and mini-metros, the company in phase one will work with an installed capacity of 1,000 vehicles per month which can be increased up 2,000 vehicles per month.
Setting aside the Covid19-induced, delay in commercialisation of the T1N monocoque panel van, the company recently invited dealers from both India and abroad to visit a new stateof-the-art facility, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. The dealers were given a test ride of the T1N that the company has named ‘URBANIA’. A marquee project for the company, it brings in a new platform with many segment firsts. First showcased at the Auto Expo 2020, in both a diesel and EV guise, the van has since resulted in high anticipation further built upon with the vehicle spotted doing test runs on the
Pune-Mumbai expressway. The company has confirmed that the serial production has now commenced at the manufacturing facility specially created for the new platform. The first lot of vehicles would be shipped to
The URBANIA is claimed to be the first vehicle in this category in India to offer crash and rollover compliance with airbags for both the driver and co-driver as a testimony to the OEM going beyond the current Indian legislation that excludes the mandate. In addition, URBANIA comes with large ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels with ESP, ABS, EBD and ETDC to offer a high degree of safety for its passengers on board.
Prasan Firodia, Managing Director at Force Motors in the past has expressed high expectations from both the domestic and international markets. Having developed the van with global aspirations from
@atashishbhatia
Prasan Firodia, Managing director at Force Motors
the very beginning, the design is protected for plying in select markets of the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN and South America where the company expects it to be received as an excellent value proposition vis a vis high premium products like the Sprinter highroof vans plying across markets like the EU, Far East and USA. No wonder, the creation and development of this ground-up modular monocoque van and the setting up of new state-of-theart manufacturing facilities have had the company commit a total investment of over Rs.1000 crore.
The van is known to have had the Force Motors team working on the development of URBANIA with extensive consultation including with leading technology specialists, and
domain experts across the globe, from Italy, Spain, the UK, Germany, Japan, and the USA. It is said to have improved, refined and validated this platform made in India, and to match international performance expectations, informed Firodia. The URBANIA had the team work on the next generation, international styling and body design to position it in the same league as leading international offerings. It brings along segment first, signature Daytime running lamps (DRL) which are LEDs , first-in-segment projector lamps and first-in-segment tail lamps with light guide technology expected to draw in second looks. The two-box construction of the platform helps to keep the engine fully outside to ensure the lowest NVH levels in the passenger compartment. For the first
time in this segment, the van features an independent front suspension with transverse springs to give it superior, best-in-class ride quality.
The next-generation modular monocoque panel van platform, in a segment first, is claimed to comply with crash, rollover and pedestrian safety regulations. It also offers the first in-segment, ergonomically designed cockpit with a carlike steering wheel that has a tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column. The URBANIA is powered by the BSVI compliant, Mercedesderived 115 hp, Common Rail Diesel Injection (CRDI). The engine develops a peak-rated torque of 350 Nm over a wide range, from 1400-2200 rpm. It also offers all-wheel disc brakes backed by ESP for detecting a skid and to counteract on it. The ABS helps steer the vehicle in emergencies by restoring traction on the tyres. EBD caters to the extent of braking needs on individual tyres. With ETDC, the vehicle offers the desired fuel economy, emissions compliance, drive ability and safety layers.
The Maruti Suzuki Eeco continues to be popular with businesses both as a people and cargo mover. From touring to haulage to special application vehicles it dons many hats. To date, the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has sold over 9.75 lakh units since its launch in January 2010 as the face lift of Versa launched in 2001. With a 93 per cent market share, in FY2022, the company sold 108,345 units of the Eeco. On a YTD (FY2023) basis, 78,371 units have been sold.
In its latest configuration, the Eeco gets a new engine that claims to develop an enhanced power output and fuel efficiency with greater comfort as its USP. Shashank Srivastava, Senior
Executive Officer, Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. (MSIL), mentions, “This versatile multi- purpose van with an advanced power train, improved mileage and new features embodies the pride of ownership and living life to the fullest. It represents a whole new attitude, with fresh confidence in its latest avatar. We are confident that Eeco will continue to dominate its segment and receive much more adulation from consumers.”
MSIL is claimed to have designed the new Eeco with great thought spared for innovations on the engineering front. The aim was to optimise the Eeco as a
dual-purpose vehicle to cater to the evolving needs of its target customers. On the one hand, it is expected to confidently meet the demanding needs of consumers scouting for a comfortable and spacious family car and on the other hand, entrepreneurs that require a practical vehicle with flexible interior space could also consider it. MSIL has upped the style quotient with a new metallic brisk blue body colour. Customers can also choose between solid white, metallic silky silver, pearl midnight black, and metallic glistening grey. Other additions include a digital instrument cluster, a new steering wheel and rotary controls for the AC and heater. It features driver-focused controls, reclining front seats, a
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. has brought in the new Eeco. Ashish Bhatia looks at the improvements and additions on the class-leading MPV.
eX-ShowrooM PrICeS
Variant Price (Inr)
Tour V 5-Seater Standard 510,200
Variant Price (Inr)
Eeco 5-Seater AC 549,200
eeco 5-Seater Standard 513,200 Eeco Cargo CNG 623,200
eeco Cargo 528,200 Eeco Ambulance Shell 640,000
Tour V 7-Seater Standard 539,200
Tour V 5-Seater AC CNG 641,200
eeco 7-Seater Standard 542,200 Eeco 5-Seater AC CNG 644,200
Tour V 5-Seater AC 546,200 Eeco Cargo AC CNG 665,200 Eeco Ambulance 813,200
Price List: The New Eeco will be made available in 13 variants including five-seater, seven-seater, Cargo, Tour and Ambulance.
Technical Specifications:
Length (in mm) 3675
Max Power Gasoline: 79.65 hp (59.4 kW/80.76 PS) @ 6000 rpm CnG: 70.67 hp (52.7 kW/71.65 PS) @ 6000 rpm height (in mm) (unladen) 1825 1930 (Ambulance)
width (in mm) 1475
Max Torque Gasoline: 104.4 Nm @ 3000 rpm CnG: 95.0 Nm @ 3000 rpm wheelbase (in mm) 2350
Fuel-efficiency Gasoline 20.20 kmpl, CNG 27.05 km/kg* (for Tour variant) Gasoline 19.71 kmpl, CNG 26.78 km/kg* (for Passenger variant)
cabin air filter (in AC variants), and a dome lamp with a new battery-saver function to name a few. The interiors are refreshed as a result and the company claims to have offered the latest technology and features to live up to the customer aspirations.
On the safety front, there are 11 plus safety features such as engine immobiliser, illuminated hazard switch, dual air bags, ABS with EBD, child lock for the sliding doors and windows, and reverse parking sensors amongst other standard safety features. Srivastava states, “Being a part of families and having provided livelihood to lakhs of entrepreneurs and businessmen, the New Eeco will continue to be a reliable and efficient vehicle. It will cater to a wide range of customer preferences as a comfortable, stylish and spacious family vehicle, while also providing flexibility for business use”. The new Eeco cargo petrol variant features a flat cargo floor that is claimed to have increased the cargo space by 60 litres. In the case of the Eeco Care ambulance
shell, the van is offered without a stretcher, rail assembly and oxygen clamps. The special application vehicle will need to be worked upon by a fabricator to comply with the AIS-125 norms deemed suited for registering as an ambulance. This confidence in suiting varied needs stems from engineering.
The new Eeco draws power from a 1.2-litre advanced K-Series Dual Jet, dual VVT engine claimed to develop a peak power of 79.65 hp (59.4kW/80.76 PS) at 6000 rpm (for the petrol variants) which is an estimated 10 per cent higher over the previous generation of the Eeco. It develops a peak-rated torque of 104.4 Nm at 3000 rpm. While the petrol ‘Tour’ variant of the Eeco is claimed to be 25 per cent more efficient with a 20.20 kmpl fuel efficiency, customers can also turn to the Eeco S-CNG variant that offers 29 per cent improved fuel efficiency of 27.05 kilometres per kilogram. This efficiency drops marginally on the passenger variant.
Chakan-based Blue Energy Motors (BEM) is a startup company with roots firmly in heavy-duty trucking. Joining the green mobility bandwagon albeit the company has opted for a gas-based solution. The company stirred up the market with its foray in the Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) segment with a new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) powered 4x2 tractor christened 5528. The 55-tonne, 280 hp truck sidelines the discussion on Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) and Fuell Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs).
It follows suit the recent launches in favour of LNG as a choice of long-haul. The high density of LNG translates to a longer range on a single fill. Claiming to breach the 1400 km barrier, the truck was showcased at the company’s manufacturing facility. The launch was attended by heavy weight and crusader of green mobility solutions, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways. According to Anirudh Bhuwalka, Chief Executive Officer of Blue Energy Motors, the new facility, a smart factory, is the vital cog to the plan taking off. It has a
capacity to roll out 10,000 trucks annually and can be replicated in flat 120 days at other sites for expansion. Here the company’s partnership with Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) Industrial, the IVECO Group subsidiary assumes significance as its the latter’s engine that the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) is relying on. FPT is well known for its gas-based LNG, CNG and bio-methane engines. In this case, BEM has opted for the FPT to make the N67 NG. According to Sylvain Blaise, President Powertrain Business Unit, Iveco
Group, the N67 NG supply engine agreement is a testimony. At the same time it enlarges the scope of our partnership confirming our commitment to a larger, more ambitious plan to play a key role in India’s decarbonisation aspirations wherein such alternate engines are expected to play a key role. BEM has selected the engine on account of its compatibility with alternates like CNG and biomethane giving it a wider canvas to work on for the future range of trucks. At the heart of this foray, the engine is claimed to offer a low Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The six-cylinder 6.7-litre engine develops a peak rated power of 280 hp and a peak rated 1000 Nm torque. The engine is mated to an eight-speed (plus crawler) Eaton manual, synchromesh transmission unit. The pilot also
has access to the trailer brake and the hand brake next to the shifter. For the 5528 to see the light of day, a two-year development cycle is said to have been undertaken. Blaise confirmed, the company has pioneered this technology in Europe. BEM is looking to leverage this and together the partners are known to have carried out specific tweaks to suit the operator needs in India. The end result is said to be at par with diesel engines in operation. There are a few other IPs that BEM is yet to disclose.
The 5528 4x2 tractor bears a striking resemblance to FAW make of trucks plying in China. This is confirmed by the FAW trucks badge on Indian siblings’ components like the key fob, windshield, and headlight assembly. The front fascia stands out with a contemporary design bearing a prominent monogram of BEV. The design takes into account aerodynamics. The cab corner vanes are claimed to cut through any wind resistance and reduce the drag. It is given away by an extended sun visor made prominent by LEDs on either side. The headlights and fog lights are made up of conventional bulbs, and a strip of DRL runs across the headlight lend a premium touch. This DRL doubles up as indicator unlike the use of corner turn indicators in recent models. The fog light integration is unique as it sits just below the headlight and boasts a strong illuminating capability for safer night drives. It is protected by a grille akin to German models. The air dam has a generous suction capability too which lends to the tractor’s appeal. The hood itself is made up of two grille shutters with a chrome strip running all along.
(Clockwise) ergonomic cab interiors, hVAC control with control switches, vent, adjustable seats, gear knob, and an instrument cluster.
Besides aesthetics, the hood allows easy access for maintenance and repairs made easier with the hydraulic struts.
Move over the starboard side, the appeal of the truck is enhanced by a massive Inoxcva make, 1000-litre LNG tank installed right behind the driver cab. The proportions are maintained with a lowered window aimed at reducing the blind spots. There are well integrated indicators spread out over the side profile using a mix of conventional bulbs and LEDs sourced from Hella. The mudguards on the rear are made up of fibre and help BEM shave off weight besides averting premature rusting witnessed with heavier alternatives. The truck plys on MRF steel muscle S3C8 tyres with 295/90 R20 dimensions on both the front and the rear. From the
rear, one acknowledges the large glass niche of the driver cab aimed at enhancing driver visibility at the back end. The LED taillights at the rear are a welcome sight too. The fifth wheel coupling from JOST is aimed at offering enhanced stability during turns. The pair of axle duties are done by HanDe Axle. The chassis frame is sourced from Metalsa India Pvt. Ltd; the steering gear is sourced from ZF
A three-step ladder makes for an easy ingress and egress. On entering the cabin, one immediately takes to the pilot seat which offers tilt assistance and is height-adjustable coupled with lumbar support. The three-point seat belts are offered as standard for all occupants. The four-spoke steering wheel offers tilt assistance allowing the pilot to settle into a confident seating position. The dashboard comes in a split design with all utilitarian features angled to face the pilot making for an easy viewing. This includes the infotainment system and the HVAC controls. There is ample storage through the glove box, niche above the infotainment system, near the cab light, and spread across the door pockets. A resting couch is provided for added comfort to cater to the pilot shifts.
SCALAbILIT y
While the association between BEM and FPT is focused on the commercialisation of the 5528 LNG tractor, one cannot rule out the possibility of future collaborations in the domains like electrification of
heavy-duty trucks as per their strategic agreement on green mobility. With the help of FPT and its R&D advances, BEM is confident of achieving the s goal of decarbonising the heavy-transport sector in India. Commenting on the collaboration, Bhuwalka expressed,
“Strengthening our partnership with FPT Industrial will enable us to pioneer clean energy solutions including LNG and electric in the upcoming year. The investment demonstrates the full support of FPT Industrial for the growth of BEM in its ambitious plan.”
Anirudh: Well it’s India’s first LNG truck, so we are all excited. It has been a pioneering journey for us, because, as you know, there are no or few LNG trucks. It’s a new technology. We believe that India is ready for it. It has taken us two years to get to this stage. We have collaborated on this project and worked on this project. It’s a milestone.
Historically, unlike in europe and nortH america, and even for tHat matter cHina, tHey Have all graduated to more powerful engines, india is still moving from low power to HigHer power engines.
Sylvain: We at FPT are a global power train company. So we design, build and sample different solutions globally. For us, it’s a great opportunity, because we’ve been historically present in the Indian market with customers like CNH Industrial, but this is our first application in the Indian market on a truck application. I mean, of course, we are leveraging on 25 years of experience in natural gas technology. Moreover, we have been pioneering this type of technology in Europe where we built a market-leading
position there, and we are leveraging this here now. Now to the adaptation we’ve done over the last 18 months, it’s a specific development to suit the needs of Indian market.
But in India, it’s also unique because the speed at which we run our trucks is less than 35 kilometres per hour and the distances that we cover on an average is about 350 kilometres with the heaviest duty truck on a single day and no more. So, our duty cycle requirements are lower in terms of what the truck needs, but having said that, the other issue which comes as a capital cost in India, the logistics cost right now is undergoing its own share of challenges. If we increase the capital costs of the truck, then the operating costs fall. If we were to marry all these, you need the 6.7-litre, 280 horsepower engine with 1000 Nm torque on offer by us.
Q. Can we run the engine on alternative fuels?
Anirudh: I think India is very low on the power-to-weight ratio. Historically, unlike in Europe and North America, and even for that matter China, they have all graduated to more powerful engines, India is still moving from low power to higher power engines. So until a decade ago, we were at 180 horsepower for a heavy-duty truck.
Anirudh: Yes, this is a gas engine and can be run on CNG, LNG and biomethane.
Sylvain: In terms of performance we did what we like to believe, delivers a performance close to the performance of a diesel engine.
Q. How are you ensuring ready availability of spare parts?
Q. How was the experience in shaping up the maiden product at BEM?
Q. How is FPT Industrial linked to BEM?
Q. What made both the OEMs select the six-litre NG engine from the broad FPT range?@Prateek2101 Sylvain Blaise, President of the IVECO Group, Powertrain Business
Anirudh: We are basically developing the complete spare parts requirements ecosystem. We are just starting out and so still gauging the requirements as we go along. However, I can tell you that we are going to have a joint programme of stocking spare parts both in India and in Italy and throughout our service network to cater to the demand.
Anirudh: The engines are completely sourced from Italy right now. The rest of the truck is, of course, made and assembled in India. The engine comes as a fully built unit. Right now, barring the engine and a few other components the truck is localised out of India. The cabin comes from China. The out sourced components and parts constitutes a very small percentage of the overall truck, with the power train, axles, the gearbox and the chassis from India. Incidentally, out of the 122 suppliers, we have 100 in Pune itself. It’s a complete design engineered and built for the Indian market.
Sylvain: The industrial setup here benefits from a full ecosystem around the automotive and truck industry. It allowed for a quick setup. Obviously, before we speak about the full localisation of the engine, we need
fundamentally wHen it comes to gas tHere is not mucH difference per say from a tecHnology standpoint, but tHe game cHanges once you use lng on a Heavy-duty truck and a Heavy-duty truck starts becoming a viable alternative.
to closely watch the maturity of the market and the volume we build up over time.
Anirudh: There are two parts to it on the engine side. FPT did what they do best because they have been an engine manufacturer for decades. So they know, what a world-class engine is, and on the truck side, we developed the product over the last two years through rigorous testing and a high degree of collaboration.. We’ve been working together on this project for almost two years now. So there’s a lot of integration between the two teams between both Italy and India that has made this truck possible.
Q. Since BEM is a startup, is it bootstrapped?
Anirudh: The basic idea of this startup is to be a zero-emission commercial vehicles company. We are fully funded as of now. Right now, our target is to launch the LNG truck that we are coming out with, keeping in line with our vision to be a zero-emission company. The second product that we will see soon, perhaps as early as next year would be the electric version of it. Our target is going to be to disrupt the trucking industry on the product side. We are fully funded and maybe towards the end of the year or next year depending on how we scale up we will see if we need to raise more.
Q. What are the shop floor efficiencies and state-of-the-art capabilities?
Anirudh: Truck assembly historically is a low automation mode, because they are, very heavy. In terms of automation levels. It’s fairly not required when it comes to the truck industry. Having said that, all the testing of the trucks which have been done during development, is automated as this cannot be done manually. So it has been conducted across nodal agencies and centres like the ARAI and NATRAX where
they have advanced facilities. Today, we have an unique opportunity where we can leverage capabilities all around us, rather than investing under our own hood and Pune gives us that opportunity.
Q. In the future are you expected to opt for the PLI scheme?
Anirudh: No, we are not applying in the PLI scheme. Our business model is that we are an engineering design technology driven company.We do last mile integration, distribution, service, support, financing, and have a subscription-oriented model. This is what our core business model is. So we are going to be focused on the core of our business and we do not intend to get into value-added manufacturing.
Anirudh: So, the fundamental of CNG versus LNG is that in case of CNG you cannot use it for the long haul because CNG has a limitation on how much gas the tanks can carry. CNG is very good for three-wheelers, and four-wheelers commercial vehicles because they have a range of zero to 200-250 kms. But if you want to do long-haul trucking, which is beyond 400-500 kms, LNG is the only way to go. Fundamentally when it comes to gas there is not much difference per say from a technology standpoint, but the game changes once you use LNG on a heavy-duty truck and a heavy-duty truck starts becoming a viable alternative.
Q. Why is it disruptive for the Indian market?
but the market was much larger. By the second year, they sold 75,000 trucks. Today they are selling 150,000 trucks representing 14 per cent of the market. And this is also only because the LNG is available around the coastline, not so much inland. If you use that as an example, in India, we believe the operating economics of LNG are superior to that of China. So depending upon the proliferation of the LNG network, we expect 1,000 outlets to come up over the next five years. My anticipation is that LNG trucks are going to take up a significant market share in the years to come.
Q. Can you highlight the testing undertaken on 5528? Tell us about the aftersales warranty and services?
Anirudh: We’ve been doing it for two years. We’ve clocked in excess of 1100,000 kms for all trucks put together. We are just freezing the warranty aspect this year. Now the product is ready. So we’re just going to crystallise the ecosystem desired.
Q. In hindsight what do you make of this collaboration in India for longhaul trucking?
Sylvain: Basically we started 18 months ago with this project to now, a product we’ve launched. It is remarkable the way we’ve been working together because I think it is the true spirit of how we work. The strategy has been to build on the respective technical expertise, innovation, agility as one entity.
Anirudh: Yes, we do, we would like to share the details in the coming future.
Anirudh: I personally believe that India imitates China when it comes to growth. China launched LNG trucks for the first time in 2015-16. They sold 15,000 trucks for the first year,
Anirudh: When we started the project during Covid-19 as a startup, it was all about pioneering LNG on a heavyduty truck in India. FPT had to bet on us to develop and invest in LNG technology suitable for India when they had no other project. We had to bet on partnering with FPT for this technology and depend upon them for the collaboration. So I think that it’s kind of surreal that we have reached here.
Q. Are there any more technical collaborations or IP licensing for the truck?
Q. How would you compare an LNG truck with CNG on the basis of TCO?
The CV story so far has been a mixed bag of sorts though overall a positive Shyam Maller, Former Executive Vice President - Sales & Marketing, at VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. writes how while the domestic sales are on an uptrend on a sequential month-on-month basis between April-Sept’ FY2023, export volumes though have been moving downhill on global cues.
In this article, we shall be only focusing on the domestic market and specifically deep diving into what the stats are telling us in H1-FY23 and the likely prognosis for the full fiscal. It will be interesting to take a shot (play the Nostradamus) on whether the CV industry will come within striking distance of the one million units recorded in 2018-19. FY23 began with a bang with April
reporting one of the best-ever Total Industry Volumes (TIV) in many years. Robust growth was witnessed in TIV (see the exhibit A) with the Q2-FY23 volumes crossing that of Q1-FY23.
iCVs on A roll ICVs are the best performing tonnage segment with the H1-FY23 volumes surpassing that recorded in H1-FY19 and that too by a handsome margin. Growth has
been reported particularly in the 15-16-tonne GVW segment with express logistics, and e-Commerce driving up the volumes. This tonnage segment has witnessed a swing towards CNG for most parts of the last fiscal (FY21) as well as up to July 2022 (see the exhibit b). At its peak, CNG ICVs were nearly 45 per cent of the total ICV sales. However, with the runaway rise in CNG prices and the arbitrage with diesel
Shyam Maller
prices sharply narrowing down, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) considerations have swung the needle again towards diesel ICVs.
At 18.5-tonne GVW and with a payload over 12-tonne, sales of these utilitarian workhorses powered by fuel-efficient, fourcylinder engines, in H1-FY23 have doubled on a Year-over-Year (YoY) basis having also crossed the H1-FY2019 levels. With deck lengths ranging from 18 ft. to 32.5 ft., they are amenable to a host of end-use applications. This segment (post revision of axle load norms) has gained at the expense of 6x2 as well as upgrades from the higher end of ICVs. Tata Motors recently upped the ante by launching a 19-tonne GVW truck (Tata Signa 1918) — the first CNG truck in the M&HCV range in India. This tonnage node is expected to continue to constitute a robust share of the overall M&HCV TIV.
The C onTInued ASCendAnCy oF 42/48-Tonne GVw MAVs And TrACTor TrAILerS The share of 42/48-tonne GVW MAVs has risen from 63 per cent of total MAVs in FY22 to 68 per cent in H1-FY23. The tractor-trailers too, benefiting
from the 50-tonne GCW on 4x2 and the increased GCW on 6x4 to 55-tonne, now constitute 22 per cent of the M&HCV TIV in H1-FY23 compared to 18 per cent in FY22. (see the e xhibit C) What is driving this shift: the impact of mega warehouses post the rollout of
Services Tax (GST) and the growing presence of Third-party Logistics (3PL) with express logistics providers as well as the organised, mid-to-large fleet owners. They are benefiting from better TCO and lower cost per tonne per kilometre on the higher GVW trucks.
Let’s take a look at how the CV industry has performed-segment wise in the first half (H1) from FY2018-22. When Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV) and Mahindra Navistar, MAN entered the Indian CV market that was dominated by the duo poly of Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland, it was the stated
objective of these companies to modernise trucking and move customers to new technology, feature-rich, safe trucks.
There have been considerable misgivings about the deferral of ‘Truck Code’ implementation, the M&HCV industry lags badly in mandating: safe, ergonomic, company-built cabs as opposed to composite body cabins made on truck cowls, implementation of climate control/AC cabins on
long haul trucks was also stymied by “vested interests” and badly diluted to “air blowers” that hardly contribute to improvement in driver comfort and ability to drive fatigue free specifically for longer distances.
There wAS A STronG ConVICTIon AMonGST The MnC/JV TruCK MAJorS ThAT:
1. The road infrastructure improves (and we have witnessed this over the last decade) with expressways, removal of toll barriers, the introduction of the e-way bill, increasing speed limits on expressways.
2. with advancing emission levels especially bSIV and bSVI, they will, bank on their proven technology elsewhere in the developed countries and will have an edge.
3.The trucking industry will embrace “modern” feature-rich “Value Trucks” high on reliability.
However, this has not come true. The average value trucks share in the overall M&HCVs has more or less hovered around the 15-16 per cent mark. The only blips (when their share moved up to 16-17 per cent) were in 2020-21; 2021-22 when a couple of the value truck OEMs were
ready with their BSVI variants well before the deadline of April 01’ 2020 allowing them to seize market share momentarily.
If one were to step back and make a report card after these trucks being on the Indian roads for over 10-12 years now and see the market share these OEMs have in the overall CV TIV, compared to that of Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland combined. (see the exhibit e)
Thankfully, while we are seeing significantly higher adoption of the company built cabins, especially in the case of tippers and tractor heads (for Tractor Trailers), fleet owners and logistics companies are not yet loosening their purse strings by adopting AC cabins in long haul MAVs — that continue to predominantly see cowl purchases.
However, the CV industry is also evolving like never before. New paradigms and never before features are being introduced in the M&HCV segment – to improve safety, enhance productivity and increase profitability. The focus is on making trucks reliable,
and durable and improving “On Road Time”. ‘More time on the roads and less in the workshop’ is the credo of the truck OEMs today: Intelligent Telematics ( that monitor and aid fuel, uptime and trip management), driver fatigue monitoring system and features like unitised bearings, automated centralised lubrication system, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) etc.
Very recently Tata Motors raised the bar on safety in commercial vehicles by showcasing their Prima range with Advance Driver Assistance System (ADAS) with features like collision mitigation system, lane
departure warning, electronic stability control to name a few.
whAT The CLIMATIC Fu Ture hoLdS For uS Decarbonisation, zero tailpipe emissions and green fuels are the new lexicon for auto OEMs as they emerge from the ICE age that they have been living in for over a century. As they navigate the uncharted path from IC engines to the exciting journey of new-age trucks and buses. BEVs/ FCEVs, Hybrids, green hydrogen, unfolding the six levels of vehicle autonomy etc, it’s a new world order that will emerge. And the rubber has already hit the road. It
is anybody’s guess how the auto landscape and in particular the CV ecosystem will look like in 2025-2030. While India in its Paris Climate Agreement has committed to working out a roadmap to be fossil free by 2070, there is a step-through or a transition, as the government is trying to stem the imports of petroleum to also curtail forex outflow. Gaining currency in the immediate term are some OEMs readying LNG trucks and buses (long-distance operations) while the state-owned Oil PSU besides GAIL and IGL are setting up LNG stations along the GQ and N-S E-W corridors. Some startups have also developed BEV –M&HCVs.
Green Hydrogen is currently the holy grail for truck OEMs and there are several working feverishly to slash the current cost from USD ($) five per kg to $ two per kg. Intensive efforts are underway across the world to halve the electrolyser cost by 2030. The needle is moving towards green hydrogen: as natural gas prices rise making it costlier to produce hydrogen from fossil fuels and Lithium and other precious metals reserves will deplete making batteries expensive.
how oCTober 22 FAred Calendar quarter-end months are conventionally big wholesale months for the CV industry and September 22 was no exception. It turned out to be the best month in H1-FY23 with total (domestic+exports sales) crossing the 100,000 mark. Sales recorded were 105,400 units (see exhibit G). But naturally, in October 22 when the channel partners were busy retailing, the offtake for the month was softer across the spectrum of the CV industry. Domestic sales clocked 84,700 units. Only export sales rose in
October vis a vis September.
On a YoY basis, the October 22 sales for the domestic CV industry grew 24 per cent over the last fiscal. Stratified segment-wise, the YoY October growth in sales for I&LCV, M&HCV, buses and the sub-five tonne were respectively - 14 per cent, 40 per cent, 146 per cent and 25 per cent. If we
look at the months gone by ie YTD Oct 2022, the domestic CV industry is up 55 per cent. While the heavy lifting has been done by M&HCVs which has recorded a 69 per cent growth, the sub-five-tonne and I&LCVs have respectively registered a growth of 44 per cent and 40 per cent. Only exports have contracted
by 12 per cent. Given the current pace of growth and even if one were to factor in the impact of an interest rate hike in December, any potential slackening of the pace of CV sales is very unlikely. A resilient domestic market propped by very encouraging high-frequency macroeconomic indicators augur well for the CV industry.
1,000,000 unITS?
It’s literally a million-dollar ( INR, if you may) question that confounds us. The previous high for domestic market sales was FY19 at 10,32,250 units. The run rate that the industry has totted up is rather impressive in H1-FY23 vs FY19 (see exhibit h).
It is absolutely clear that the I&LCV segment will cross the FY19 peak of 117,300 units - it is already clocking in 10,000 odd units per month.
The M&HCV segment is flattering to deceive this year — despite the underlying demand drivers being strong. On the one hand, while the 4x2R and the tractortrailer segment are coming of age ( and are slated to cross FY19 levels), the MAVs are witnessing the upward migration to higher GVW nodes of 42/48-tonne at the expense of 28 and 35-tonne. And therefore in the billion-tonne km model, the MAVs will not be hitting the FY19 highs.
In my view, given the volatile macroeconomic factors ( driven by global factors) though, despite the cliché, “the India story and macro fundamentals are strong”, the India domestic CV industry in FY23 may still fall short of the FY19 peak by around 35,000-40,000 units.
Shyam Maller is the Former Executive Vice President - Sales & Marketing at VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd. The assessment and views expressed by him are personal.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) - Southern Region concluded a successful edition of the Automotive Innovation Summit 2022. The focus at the summit was innovation linked to the future of mobility. Drawing attention to a challenging decade that the industry must prepare for, Dr N Sarvanan, Summit Chairman and President and Chief Technology Officer at Ashok Leyland Ltd., cited the new age transitions of the industry. The new energy matrix must be looked at in totality, he exclaimed. Beyond EVs, the focus must also be on Hydrogen fuel cells and the next generation of Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). “The challenge is increased twofold as the OEM’s are not sure of the future technologies and investing in various applications,” he admitted.
Looking at various trends, it was safe to presume that the Government is paying equal attention to introducing active safety features regarded as the building blocks for autonomous driving. Among other trends cited, the leasing model of commercial vehicles, like the pay per kilometre usage basis under the Gross Contract Carriage
(GCC) model firmed up with State Transport Undertakings (STUs) found a prominent mention at the summit. It is expected that the future fleet owners will also look to a 100 per cent zero-emission transition of their fleets starting with EVs. It were mentioned that the fast transition from mechanical to electronic requires the industry to identify the apt software layer besides core understanding in light-weighting of vehicles as a result of many mechanical components not finding a place in the next generation of power trains. Battery pack evolution, faster development, Vehicle-toInfrastructre (V2X) and digital tools also found a mention at the summit.
InVeSTMenT beyond TeChnoLo Gy Calling the current innovation trend in line with future requirements for the automotive
The CII Automotive Innovation Summit 2022 deliberated on innovations linked to the future of mobility. Raghul Krishnan looks at the fine print. @rahulrengarajanindustry, Fayaz Ahmed - Chief Operating Officer at Hinduja Tech Ltd. drew attention to crucial developments in his opinion. He drew attention to developments in nanotechnology, and cell chemistry on EV, for instance, as key breakthroughs. The current developments help increase battery density. The focus on ultra high strength steel and innovations in tyres are significant developments too, he pointed. Speaking on semiconductors, Ahmed touched upon ultra wide band technologies crucial to component weight reduction. He called upon the industry to look at lithium sulphur, lithium air, graphene and dual batteries technologies which had immense potential given their 10X energy density and 7X weight reduction crucial to light-weighting.
Citing the growing demand for ultra low volume manufacturing, he drew attention to the emergence of micro factories that the industry must leverage. The realisation of 5G spectrums and commercialisation, he opined, would be a big boost to the automotive industry. “ Industry 4.0, shopfloor support and cyber security growth as a result are emerging as key focus areas.
Software plays a major role in automotive and the penetration could see a spike by up to 50 per cent.
The Fu Ture IS 3d 3D Printing found a prominent mention this year too. Rajiv Bajaj Managing Director – India & SEA Stratasys shared his views on 3D printing technology. He called upon the industry for a wider adoption given the scope of sustainability, concept styling and design including the automotive product design. With supply chain integration and the use of 3D printing closely linked as discovered during the pandemic marred fiscal, the industry was called upon to study the use cases for replacing metals, dual manufacturing and personalisation expected to contribute to the next wave of demand for additives.
The viability of EVs was deliberated with a fine lens. S N Sridhara – Vice Chancellor HITS presented some hard hitting statistics to elaborate. By 20230 – India could realise a Compounded Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 43.13 per cent in EVs; 42.38 per cent on charging
infrastructure and 60.15 per cent on batteries. With these projections as a basis, he pinned hopes on India turning a leader in shared mobility, providing opportunities for electric and autonomous vehicles with an employment potential of nearly five crore jobs. The government, he shared, expects the automobile sector to attract both domestic and foreign investments to the tune of USD eight billion to USD 10 billion. Urging the industry to recalibrate carbon footprint calculations, he stressed on the need to trace it all the way up from the manufacturing to recycle stage for want of greater accuracy. He pointed at the growth potential in super capacitors along with other chemistries like lithium polymer, lithium magnesium, lithium air, metal sulphur, and metal air batteries owing to higher energy density and withstanding capability for more charge cycles.
Table of disruptive management. The slow pace of advancement by Indian companies compared to advanced Western countries was admitted at the summit. Meenakshi Sundaram, Chief Technology Officer – Advanced Engineering Simpons Engines, Simpons &
business is currently at USD 140 bn and with a presence in 28 countries. I see a multilevel manufacturing approach as an emerging trend in space management,” he opined. The company provides service for 20 plus automotive clients in India and expects growth in the plug and play space going forward. To make operations more sustainable, he cited the use case of clean-energy resources running the infra like drawing energy from solar rooftop panels.
Company Ltd., opined that to deal with the slow pace the need of the hour was to consider databased innovation. The need was to also re look the technology development and product development process where the lags was identified. The support of component suppliers to OEMs was widely acknowledged with the latter asked to make further progress on data science advancement. The table of disruptive management outlined technologies under four heads: ‘Execute’, ‘Experiment’, ‘Explore’ and ‘Ghost Technologies’. While the latter are on the fringe few are said to be impossible to crack. The scope of realisation perhaps more distant than the rest.
TrendS:
The mega trends were zeroed in at the summit. Uday Narang –Founder Omega Seiki Mobility (P) Ltd., presented noteworthy trends. With the Indian EV market expected to clock 300-400 mn volumes by 2030, Narang spoke of a 327 per cent growth potential. Here 51 per cent of the three-wheeler segment turning electric was a big industry feat, he exclaimed. To grow in line, he called upon the industry to collectively look at charging infrastructure development, putting in place a local ecosystem and addressing challenges associated with building it. Beyond new EV power trains, he also spoke of retrofitting EV kits, especially in buses as a promising growth area. Prakash Ranjan Sahay, Group Director - R&D, Virtual Prototyping Solutions, Synonpys cited supply chain as the biggest challenge for the industry. He called for the need to expedite testing in the case of Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). Anukur Parwani, Director, ESR Advisers India Pvt. Ltd. focused on the closely associated infrastructure for manufacture and storage. “The
Vinayak Godse, Sr Vice President, Data Security Council of India expects IoT, semiconductors, block chain, HMI, cyber security as key emerging trends for the segment. Urmi Benjamin, Solution Consulting HeadSouthern India, Service Now seconds Godse and expects platform-to-platform, rapid adoption of AI and connected manufacturing across the enterprise as fast-growing trends. OEM’s like Mercedes Benz, BMW creating dealer support systems and others like Toyota creating secure software delivery hubs were cited as good benchmarks to follow.
On the transition to EVs and the domino effects, Selvaraji Muthu, Sr. GM – Design & Development, Mahle Engine Components India Pvt. Ltd., used India’s plans to reduce CO2 emission by 35 per cent as a basis for citing the project drop in fuel emission. It is expected that the levels could drop from 146 gram per km to 113 gram per km by 2024. The use case of different power trains and increasing role of fuel blends driven by policy was also touched upon at the summit.
Cummins Inc. has been at the forefront of all developments in clean Internal Combustion Engines (ICE). Taking the humongous exercise beyond Euro VI and Bharat Stage VI emission compliance norms, the engine manufacturer is in it for the long haul. The mission is to attain net-zero emissions by 2050 through an even cleaner portfolio than it has held on in the past. According to Jennifer Rumsey, President and Chief Executive Officer at Cummins Inc., any negative climatic impact can’t be undone and hence must be rectified pro actively. “We have to act now. Carbon once emitted into the atmosphere can’t be taken back and we can make the greatest impact by focusing on a dual path approach. Our estimated impact of doing just that is an additional 1.4 gigatonnes of cumulative carbon reduction – the equivalent of removing all trucks from the road for three years,” Rumsey averred. It doesn’t come as a surprise then that through its ‘Destination Zero’
strategy, Cummins is committed to advance the IC Engine technology.
On one hand, the efforts are directed towards making ICE cleaner while on the other hand, the company wants to stay true to its DNA. It wants to live up to its reputation of offering further advancements with the new generation of products. The focus is on enhancing efficiency, as well as compatibility with cleaner fuels like hydrogen, bio-diesel and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). Beyond this, resources will be allocated for continued innovation on fronts like hydrogen fuel cell and battery technology that are expected to drive advancements in capability, lower costs and boost the development of the required, supporting infrastructure. The idea is to lower emissions in the present day by finding a suitable match in technology readiness with infrastructure readiness. It is expected to lay the foundation for a massscale adoption at an opportune time when there is
Cummins Inc. continues to optimise its CV solutions for net-zero emissions. Ashish Bhatia looks at the latest developments worked @atashishbhatiaa market pull as the company continues to walk down the technological agnostic path. “We power some of the world’s most demanding and economically vital applications. There is no single technology that will work for all of our customers. We must advance solutions in a way that secures a sustainable future for the industries that keep the world running. That’s why we have developed a company with the broadest range of ultra-low and zero-emission technologies
dedicated to the commercial vehicle industry,” she explained.
At the IAA 2022, Cummins showcased a next-generation advanced diesel platform, X10. Deemed as a “practical” route to emissions reduction and decarbonisation for applications that have a rather difficult path of switching to alternative power solutions. Claimed to be lightweight, the 10-litre compact engine boasts a high power density. It is built to provide a heavy-duty truck capability whilst meeting multiple future emissions regulations. Its Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is that customers can reduce emissions with a product considered to be a familiar, proven technology with backward integration, requiring no change to current operations, service or maintenance set-up. In a testimony to the company building scalable and modular platforms, the company also showcased the X Series. The 15-litre, fuel agnostic product with a common architecture is claimed to have been optimised for a variety of low- and nocarbon fuels including bio-diesel and HVO, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen. Given that all the engines are derived from the same base, it is said to facilitate a high
degree of parts commonality. Here the hydrogen version of Cummins’ fuel agnostic platform is being looked at as the crucial, initial step to reaching zero emissions for medium and heavy-duty truck manufacturers. The focus is primarily on three key areas for hydrogen: the production of green hydrogen, the management and transportation of hydrogen, and the application of hydrogen in engines and fuel cells. The company displayed the Cummins’ B6.7H hydrogen engine in the drive line of a medium-duty truck. This was to demonstrate the technology’s compatibility with current truck designs and with comparable performance, range and payload. Here, Hydrogen is required to be compressed into the available space and meet vehicle duty cycle requirements. Through its joint venture with NPROXX, known for high-pressure hydrogen storage for both stationary and mobile applications, the company will support the OEM integration process. The NPROXX hydrogen tanks were fitted to the mediumduty delivery concept vehicle. A 700-bar pressure high-capacity hydrogen storage system, it is claimed to offer a potential operating range of up to 500
e
MISSIonS SoLu TIonSOn the non-ICE solutions front, the company is striving to meet the net-zero emissions objective with the Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery. Calling it a proven battery chemistry, the development sans the use of rare earth metals like nickel and cobalt is expected to make it
both affordable and sustainable. It boasts of faster charging, high power output and a 10 per cent longer life expectancy. As per company claims, the Cummins LFP batteries are designed to
duty cycles and help meet the demands of a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). The company also has a set of NMC batteries. In this range, the BP95E is claimed to have a 30 per cent longer life than previous models. Those looking for a lightweight option can consider the BP30E, designed to cater to optimal utilisation of space. It is claimed to be compact enough to fit into the tightest space claims of most commercial
net-zero emissions portfolio by 2050, the company continues to scout for capable partners. With the strategic acquisition of Meritor, Cummins hopes to be able to expand its technical capabilities across the power train and related sub-systems. Meritor is said to bring versatility with its power train products and EV integration expertise.
do in helping our customers navigate and succeed in the decarbonisation process with a range of technology options, optimised to meet the needs of all stakeholders. We will continue to work hand-in-hand with our customers on zero-emissions solutions that further our shared goal of lessening our impact on the planet,” Rumsey mentioned. Enroute to 2050, the company will stick to the “credible path” by “advancing” current solutions with reductions in NOx and CO2, a bridge through the phase that involves many solutions competing for segment by segment until the more costintensive, battery electric and fuel cell electric turn technologically and financially viable. The focus is also on the gradual decarbonisation of the grid for an overall ‘Wellto-Wheel’ impact. In India, it recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CV major Tata Motors. The two will collaborate on the design and development of low and zeroemission propulsion technology solutions for commercial vehicles in India, including hydrogenpowered internal combustion engines, fuel cells, and battery electric vehicle systems .
Advertising in traditional media continues to enjoy high trust amongst consumers, with 86%* expressing confidence in print – making it the most trusted medium.
AWARDS 2023
After 13 successful editions, Commercial Vehicle magazine, the voice of the Indian CV industry, is gearing up to bring you the 14th edition of awards. These awards are dedicated to the stakeholders of the commercial vehicle industry. Apollo Tyres continues to be a strong pillar of support. Like in past editions, the awards will recognise the efforts of the entire CV ecosystem. Everyone has played their part in industry’s upturn and must be credited for their significant contribution.
Celebrating the performance of OEMs and ancillary manufacturers, it is our endeavour to commemorate the operational excellence demonstrated by fleet operators and dealers too. They have played a vital role in the cyclical upturn and dealt with pressure on operating margins to counteract inflationary trends wherever possible. The Month-over-Month sequential improvement led by the M&HCVs has given a ray of hope. The industry is reaching the FY19 peak of over one million units. At
Hoshang Bilimoria, Founder & mentor, Next Gen Publishing Pvt. Ltd. Satish Sharma, President - APmEA, Apollo Tyres Ltd.
the same time, there is cautious optimism owing to global cues that include a tightening of monetary policy to combat rising inflation owing to several factors including geo-political trade dynamics. This has had a direct bearing on fuel and gas prices. The supply-chain bottlenecks led by chips shortage and the high cost of logistics domestically have added to the set of challenges. The industry will look to gain an advantage from the tailwinds helping it propel itself in the desired direction though. The glass is half full! impetus on localisation is expected to hold it in good stead with over Rs.18,500 crore committed from the auto components suppliers alone. OEMs are not holding back either from a long-term perspective.
The industry has also taken a big leap in terms of commercialising technologies queued up in the pipeline owing to the Covid-19-induced delays. Today the end consumer has the problem of plenty while making a decision and that is a good space to be in. From BEVs to gas-based options including LNG for the long haul. Marking the arrival of a technologically advanced and greener generation of higher utility and profit-oriented CVs, the CV industry is marching ahead with capex cycles easing. Covid-19
continues to hover in a more benign state with countries keeping their guard for an unforeseen eventuality.
Research Partner Associate Sponsor Supporting Partner Pantone 201C Even China with its strict ‘zero-Covid’ policy has been forced to lower its guard. The automotive industry CV Man Of The Yearhas learnt to live with uncertainty and cope better, the world over. In India, policy interventions led by the Centre continue to drive the industry dynamics. Heading into the roll out of the phase two of the Bharat Stage VI and the revisit to stringent implementation of onroad safety practices are welcome
moves. The market for used CVs and service-led business models are also contributing to the mix with both the central and state governments keen to play their part in giving shape to healthier competition.
Electric three-wheelers with higher payload carrying capacity continue to be lapped up by the e-commerce
segment that has pledged to turn their fleets greener. With new entrants thinking bigger and taking bold steps, traditional automotive players have their task cut out. There is no dearth of action.
A jury made up of experts internal and external to CV magazine will evaluate products and companies and arrive at winners for all categories except those involving fleet operators. Application forms for both fleet and non-fleet categories of awards may be found in the magazine from the December 2022 issue onwards, in print and on our website commercialvehicle.in.
You may also scan the QR code for ready access and mail it across.
It is after three whole years that we are returning to our physical format with the industry set to gather under one roof like the good old times. If the onset of Covid-19 forced us to host the awards virtually, yet successfully, for two straight years on the trot, last year paved the way for inperson meets with the respective OEMs in a welcome change. This year, we hope to return to our grand format. We expect to host a galaxy of CV OEMs, ancillary makers and fleet operators at the awards this year and back it up with a hybrid format using a digital stream. The awards will be held in February-March 2023. Watch this space for more details on the same!
Scan here to watch the highlights of the 2022 edition of the Awards as we prepare to host you again.
The evaluation process comprises the following steps:
1. All the prospective candidates or their sponsors will fill in the ‘Nomination / Application Form’
2. All the applicants will be given a self-assessment form with the required guidelines. They will carry out a self-assessment and submit it to CV / Metric.
3. Metric will study and compile all the self-assessment forms.
4. Metric will visit the top 10 applicants in each category of applicants to understand the merits of the self evaluation done by the applicants.
5. Top performers will then be decided based on their self-assessment and independent assessment carried out by Metric using the BQF model for Journey of Excellence.
British Quality Foundation (BQF) has been established by the British Government and large industrial and service organisations in the private sector. BQF has had a long and successful record of grooming over 20,000 organisations on a Journey of
Excellence. The entire process will be under the active participation of experts trained by BQF.
Metric Consultancy Ltd. (Metric) is the exclusive national partner of BQF in India. Metric is not new to the automotive sector and is regarded as a premier research, training and consultancy firm. During its own journey of excellence spanning two decades, Metric has pioneered a number of initiatives starting with first-time formal training of automotive dealers’ staff, monitoring individual dealers’ service delivery using CSI methodology, initial quality survey for two-wheelers in India, direct marketing of mopeds and scooters and professionalising the automotive aftermarket.
To be successful, organisations need to establish appropriate management systems. The Excellence Model is a practical tool to help organisations do this by measuring where they are on the path
to excellence; helping them understand the gaps, and then stimulating solutions. The Excellence Model is a non-prescriptive framework that recognises that there are many approaches to achieving sustainable excellence.
The core part of the assessment framework will be the famous RADAR approach which examines applicants’ Results, the soundness of the Approach taken to achieve the results, the rigour with which the approach is Deployed and if systematic Assessment and Review is an integral part of the management process to capture and institutionalise leanings on a continuous basis.
Organisations are evaluated, based on seven criteria. The marks allocated for each criterion are indicated in brackets against it.
Business Excellence is a nonprescriptive philosophy that recognises there are many approaches to achieving sustainable excellence. Hence the assessment framework will endeavour to ascertain if the applicant organisation holds the following fundamental beliefs which underpin all the Excellence Models.
Jammu Udhampur Highway, Jammu, India
Jammu Udhampur Highway, Jammu, India
Jammu Udhampur Highway, Jammu, India
