Times may be tough but TVS Motor Co’s dynamic chairman, Venu Srinivasan, has had a remarkably successful year. And for this he wins Autocar Professional’s premier end-of-year accolade.

Venu Srinivasan has been the architect in rebuilding TVS Motor Company to the position it is in today. Over the decades, he has had to cope with a host of challenges but every setback only made him more determined. The efforts have paid off as TVS Motor has now emerged a force to reckon with not only in the volume game but in scripting an aggressive vision for electric mobility.

Srinivasan has also drafted a succession plan which will see the company hold its own in a challenging global environment. For this and more, he is voted Autocar Professional's Man Of The Year.

VUCA-ble solutions from India Auto Inc
VUCA in many ways has become synonymous with 2021 – be it volatility, uncertainty, complexity or ambiguity, it was no doubt a tumultuous year but India Auto Inc tells you how to pull opportunity amidst adversity. We talk to many captains of auto industry on their mantra for success.

- Renault India’s CEO, Venkatram Mamillapalle bets on keeping employee morale high.

-Why Lumax’s Deepak Jain believes that the CEO today is the ‘Chief Risk Officer’.

-Varroc’s Tarang Jain remains unperturbed about the headwinds.

-Pricol’s Vikram Mohan is focussing on technology to get the much-needed edge.

-Resilience amid disruption is Elgi Equipments MD, Dr Jairam Varadaraj’s secret weapon.

-Suba Plastics’ Geetha Bhaskaran is exploring ways to diversify to hedge profits.

-ACMA president Sunjay Kapur on creating an alternative route to profitability.

The big EV push
But if there is one trend that truly defined 2021, it’s got to be electric. From start-ups to established players, the e-word is emerging as the top priority for companies across the auto ecosystem.

Switch Mobility’s Andy Palmer calls for a pragmatic approach and believes that electric is not the only solution to a greener tomorrow. Hyundai, however, is betting big on making India a big EV hub, We get you perspective from outgoing MD, SS Kim and also from Tarun Garg, Director for Sales, Service and Marketing, Hyundai Motor India.

Mercedes-Benz India’s MD and CEO Martin Schwenk says an increased level of consumer interest towards sustainable driving and EVs will see it accelerate its new model launch programme while Hero Electric’s MD, Naveen Munjal highlights the growing importance of ESG in company plans.

We also plug in to emerging electric market movers like Ather Energy and Mahindra Electric on their growth strategies.

Focus on climate

A catalyst for EV adoption is undeniably greater awareness about environmental pollution and the urgent need to reduce carbon emission. CSE’s Anumita Roychowdhury and TERI’s Vibha Dhawan elaborate on the practicality of India’s 2070 net zero targets. IEA’s Siddharth Singh brings in the global perspective on green mobility and India’s strategic positioning in the global green game-plan.

Changing workplace dynamics

As companies increasingly accept a hybrid model of work, 2021 also highlighted key challenges and opportunities that employers need to start paying heed to. HR managers have to learn to balance the black art of attracting new talent and retain existing staff in a rapidly evolving job market with new work dynamics.

Find out how Bajaj Auto is prioritising health and happiness with its Utsah program.  

And as Covid flares up gender imbalances, we speak to top women leaders and HR managers on how a holistic approach towards equality is important to nullify discrimination and fight generations of social conditioning that sees women as the lesser half.

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