The first fortnight of March was a truly exciting one what with Tata Motors wowing Geneva with its snazzy Racemo sports coupe, Suzuki Motor Corp revealing the next-generation Swift hatchback, PSA Group acquiring Vauxhall and Opel, and the big announcement that Skoda Auto would take the lead in the Tata Motors-Volkswagen Group collaboration. There’s also Hormazd Sorabjee’s interview with Carlos Ghosn, chairman of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, where he outlines his plans to revive Mitsubishi in India, among other issues.  

Then, in an exclusive and candid interview to Autocar Professional, Baba N Kalyani, chairman and MD of Bharat Forge, reveals how the world’s largest forging company is preparing to cater to the automotive industry which is increasingly getting digital and moving away from conventional mobility solutions and technologies. Or, how he foresees opportunities in the new global megatrends of electrification and autonomous driving. The doyen of the Indian component industry also talks about what emerging Indian component makers should do to accelerate their businesses.

We also reveal details of the Mahindra Group’s plans to embark on a new globalisation strategy for its farm equipment division. That’s not all. M&M plans to increase its synergies with SsangYong which involves developing a petrol engine which would find use in both brands, license SsangYong’s Tivoli platform to M&M, jointly develop a platform, and also build upmarket electric cars.

Low cost of ownership is critical to a mass-market car’s success in India. We find out just how Ford India has managed to drive cost efficiency through its parts, big and small.

Meanwhile, Italian supplier Magneti Marelli, which designs and produces advanced systems and components for the auto industry, is bullish on the Indian market. It is plotting a new basket of high-tech products. Find out which ones in our special report.

Meanwhile, ZF, the German and global components major, recently opened its first technical centre in India – in Hyderabad. Find out how the company aims to foster high-end innovation as well as localize more strategic business activities including research, design and development for global market initiatives.

In his guest column, Vishnu Mathur, director-general, SIAM, writes on the BS IV imbroglio.

Next week, the third ACMA Automechanika New Delhi opens in Pragati Maidan. The four-day aftermarket trade fair sees over 500 exhibitors from 17 countries participating, all eager to display their latest components and services. Find out how the fair stacks up in the preview pages.

It’s all there in the news pages of Autocar Professional’s latest issue. 64 pages of industry-riveting news, interviews and analysis.

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. Alternatively, never miss an issue – subscribe to Autocar Professional magazine today. It's essential reading for the automotive industry.