Autocar Professional's November 15 issue: High on safety, sustainability, innovation

Safety, sustainability and new-age skills will be the continuing mantras for growth for India Auto Inc. Autocar Professional’s mid-month issue turns the radar on each of these key issues, even as vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers are putting their shoulder to the BS VI wheel.

Shifting focus to safety: Even as consumers' awareness about passenger car safety grows in India, automobile safety watchdog Global NCAP revealed the results of its latest round of India tests involving four cars but no five-star rating. Maruti's new Ertiga MPV received a three-star rating while the Wagon R and Hyundai Santro managed two each. The Datsun Redigo got a single star. Proof enough that made-in-India cars have still some way to go before they consistently achieve top-notch safety standards.

CV industry revs up BS VI effort: Ashok Leyland has begun its BS VI journey in full earnest, what with a modular M&HCV platform and its heavy-duty range of CVs getting ARAI certification. Meanwhile, Cummins India is doing its bit to spread awareness about BS VI. The supplier has kicked off a multi-city tour with a fleet of eight BS VI mobile training vans.

Spotlight on Indian technicians at Skill Olympics: It is India shining at the Hyundai World Skill Olympics. Two automotive technicians working at the dealer level for Hyundai Motor India in Bangalore and New Delhi, Sanchit and Ram Padarth, win laurels for their impressive repair skills. We get you more exclusive details of the action from the  Hyundai Cheonan Global Learning Center in Seoul.

Lights, camera, action at EICMA: The EICMA 2019 in Milan, which is easily the world's most popular show on two wheels only, was an extravaganza of new launches, innovative concepts and a generous line-up of some stunning bikes, some of which are set to be rolled out in India next year. Our four-page report reveals the motorcycles and scooters that are India-bound, both from domestic and overseas OEMs.

Sustainable innovation: Collaboration and partnership is not the prerogative for politicians only. In fact, the automotive industry has beden at it for some time now and the pace is hotting up in an era disrupted by disruptions. Mahindra & Mahindra, which has been a forerunner of electric mobility in India, has evinced keeness to partner Ashok Leyland, or others, in the e-mobility space. 

An interesting development in the past fortnight came in the form of Maruti Suzuki joining hands with Toyota Tsusho to set up a dismantling and recycling joint venture in Noida, which is also home to Mahindra Cero, India's first vehicle scrappage operation. 

We also find out if it’s time to bid adieu to bumpy roads as JCB India join hands with government research units to develop a pothole repair machine.

Interview of  the fortnight: Martin Schwenk, CEO and MD of Mercedes-Benz India, outlines the luxury car major’s India plans, new initiatives and the outlook for 2020.

Diwali sales fail to light up India Auto Inc: The much-awaited Diwali season failed to provide fireworks to overall automobile sales. Utility vehicles were the sole segment to record smart growth (22%).  The Hyundai Venue, Kia Seltos, MG Hector and Renault Triber are giving a new charge to overall UV industry sales and also expanding their company's UV market share. Nevertheless, the slowdown persists in all other vehicle segments and industry stakeholders remain concerned about the growth outlook for the fiscal. 

Lots of news too: The first fortnight of November turned out to be a proud one for India Inc with the prestigious Deming Award for TQM conferred on TVS Motor Co's Venu Srinivasan and Mahindra & Mahindra's Dr Pawan Goenka bagging the FISITA Technical Academy Award. 

MG Motor India unveiled its first digital showroom in Bangalore and Piaggio Vehicles announced plans to power its EVs with swappable batteries from Sun Mobility.

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