CII calls for Indian auto industry to invest more in green tech

The Indian automotive industry must increase its investments in green technology, even though it has regularly adopted green practices, to benefit from long-term cost savings, brand enhancement, better regulatory compliance and to attract talent and investor interest. These comments were made by Dr K Karthikeyan, member secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

He was speaking on ‘Green technologies for the automotive sector’ on the theme of `Innovative models for profitability and sustainability’, organised by CII along with the Tamil Nadu Technology Development & Promotion Center. The day-long conference had sessions on Process Technologies in Automotive Manufacturing, Future of clean vehicles in India and Technology and Innovation Models in Green manufacturing. The conference was attended by over 200 delegates from OEMs, suppliers and the academia.

Karthikeyan added that investment in green technologies for the automotive sector will help improve the quality of urban air quality. He also sought industry support for the enforcement of the environmental norms.

Recent studies have shown that the auto industry contributed to various modes of pollutions, both at user level and at the manufacturing stage. An estimated 90 percent of greenhouse emissions in the lifecycle of a vehicle occur at the stage of usage and the remainder at the manufacturing side.

In his welcome address, S N Eisenhower, vice-chairman, CII (Tamil Nadu) and director – operations, Saint-Gobain Glass India, said to optimise the growth of the automobile industry, it had to identify technologies, solutions, systems, and strategic models. Green initiatives have been taking shape with the automotive and component industry adopting green practices that provide several long-term benefits.

Atul Renavikar, conference chairman and director, Michelin India Manufacturing Plant, said, “Green manufacturing differs from traditional manufacturing as it is focused on environmental impact, environment policies of the government, national and international environmental agencies. Green innovation can actually lower costs, increase productivity and make companies more competitive. Allocation of resources for green research would be a difficult task and it is necessary to have greater industry-institution partnership to develop sustainable technologies.

Participating in one of the sessions on Product Technologies in Automotive Manufacturing, Chikuya Toyoda, head of product planning, Nissan Motor India, shared insights on Nissan’s green programme  and the shift towards renewal energy in Japan. He also touched upon the barriers for electric vehicles and how industry and government’s combined efforts can address the issue.

In the session on ‘Future of clean vehicles in India’, speakers discussed the possible introduction of electric vehicles, micro hybrid, hybrid and plug-in hybrid vehicles to reduce the environmental impact. The reduction in investment in EVs and hybrid vehicles, high cost of acquisition, consumer acceptance of new technologies, and lack of infrastructure was also discussed.

Dr Mariazeena Johnson, director, Sathyabama University, called for greater industry and institution interaction and opportunity for the institution to have exposure to industries in the country. She suggested the creation of new design incubation laboratories and business incubating centres in the educational institutions.

Photograph: Dr K Karthikeyan, member secretary, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board addressing the delegates. Seated (L-R): S N Eisenhower, vice-chairman – CII Tamil Nadu & director – Operations, Saint-Gobain Glass India; Atul Renavikar, conference chairman & director, Michelin India Manufacturing Plant; Dr Mariazeena Johnson, director, Sathyabama University; and Subhajit Saha, Head – Technology Development & Promotion Centre, CII.