Autocar Professional magazine 15 February – out now

Although Tata Motors’ Q3 FY’17 results may be down sharply, the company is driving hard at the future with an all-new passenger vehicle strategy and a sub-brand both aimed at putting it firmly in the No. 3 passenger vehicle maker slot by 2020. Our detailed report also reveals the carmaker’s future platform strategy.

The Union Budget 2017 had few direct benefits for the automotive industry but it stands to gain from the growth that will accrue to the rural sector through the humungous allocations made. Fifteen captains of the Indian automotive industry comment on the Budget proposals while we also cover the industry meet at the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi.

And, providing expert opinion on Budget 2017 and its real impact on the auto industry is Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, CARE Ratings in an exclusive column.

Honda is also taking giant strides to grow in India. Its two-wheeler arm is racing to clock 5 million unit sales in a fiscal year, for the first time. Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India has to sell 983,911 units in February and March 2017 to cross the milestone. Will it?

The past fortnight has seen a lot of action on the manufacturing front. Component supplier Pricol, which opened a greenfield plant in Pune, is looking to cater to burgeoning demand for electronic clusters in the two-wheeler, commercial vehicle, off-road and tractor segments. Sundararaman G, president, Pricol, reveals the company’s future growth game-plan.

As OEMs look to reduce vehicle weight, Spanish supplier Gestamp believes it has the right solution to enable them to do just that. Its hot stamping technology, now available to automakers at its Pune plant, enables reduction of 50-75kg in a car’s body. We also speak to Raman Nanda, country head and president, Gestamp Services India, to find out how hot stamping can drive lightweighting gains.

India is proving to be an exciting market for global component suppliers. Continental showcased a very comprehensive portfolio of its advanced technology products designed to help automakers meet upcoming BS VI and safety norms. There’s also BorgWarner which is going ahead with plans to make Visctronic fan drives in India.

Also bullish on the Indian component sector is Lawrence Davies, CEO of the Automotive Investment Organisation of UK Trade and Investment. He speaks to Autocar Professional on promoting British technologies, getting Indian Tier 1 and 2 suppliers to set up operations in the UK, and enable an increased level of industry academia connect between Britain and India.

Where there’s manufacturing, there is the Ace Micromatic Group. This leading manufacturer of CNC machines is upbeat on the SME sector taking to automation in a big way. Among the secrets the company reveals for staying ahead of rivals is its sharp focus on aftersales service, among other industry-leading initiatives.

The Indian tooling industry had its annual summit in New Delhi on February 9. A lively panel discussion between industry heads and moderated by Autocar Professional’s Sumantra B Barooah saw consensus on sustained quality kaizen and adherence to OEM timelines.

Want to know how the Indian automobile industry has fared in January 2017? It's all there in the comprehensive report along with sales statistics, facts and analysis. 

There’s lots more in this February 15 issue, including a rather exciting News section which reveals Sandhar Technologies' plans to set up three two-wheeler helmet manurfacturing plants in association with HJC Helmets. And that Applus+ IDIADA is likely to build a proving ground in Andhra Pradesh.  

If you're keen to stay abreast of the latest in the automotive world – read Autocar Professional. 

Where to buy? Autocar Professional magazine is available through all good newsagents and for download from Magzter. You can also buy one-off copies – contact Ganesh at ganesh@haymarket.co.in.

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