Autocar Professional’s August 1 – and 400th – edition is a must-read

August has dawned and with it an august issue too – Autocar Professional’s landmark 400th edition. Published every two weeks, India’s premier automotive B2B magazine has hit the 400th-issue mark after 16 years and 8 months. Sister publication to Autocar India, the country’s No. 1 auto magazine and brand, Autocar Professional is today a must-read for all industry executives. Over the years, it has expanded its presence digitally to Twitter, LinkedIn, FaceBook and YouTube while also being active on the events and virtual conference space.

From the very first December 15, 2004 edition, with its cover story and exclusive interview with Suzuki Motor Corporation’s CEO Osamu Suzuki through to the latest August 1, 2021 issue, which incorporates the annual South India Special, Autocar Professional has carved a special niche for itself for all stakeholders across the automotive value chain.  

Staying true to its tagline of ‘Essential reading for the Automotive Industry’, it is the first port of call for India Auto Inc and has consistently provided an unrivalled package of riveting news, comprehensive analysis and in-depth features. And in the process, it has earned an enviable reputation of high-quality editorial content.

As Hormazd Sorabjee writes in his Publisher’s Note in the 400^th milestone issue, “We’ve been at the cutting edge of news, bringing you the latest developments from the auto industry as they unfold not just in the magazine but on our rapidly growing digital platform as well. It’s fair to say that Autocar Professional has spoken to more automotive CEOs than any other publication, a clear reflection of the immense credibility and respect the magazine has earned over the years.”

South-side story
The first edition of August is an 80-pager bristling with exclusive interviews, special reports and plenty of analysis. Replete with a number of special features, this South India Special is a must-read. Here’s why:

- Hyundai Motor India: 25 years and a strong No. 2 in the Indian passenger vehicle market. What’s the secret? We’ve got an exclusive interview with Managing Director & CEO, SS Kim.

- DICV: Chennai-based Daimler India Commercial Vehicles is looking to ride the resurgent demand for M&HCVs. MD & CEO, Satyakam Arya says demand is “back on track.” Also, find out how its new Virtual Reality Centre at the Chennai plant is set to enhance collaboration digitally.

- Ashok Leyland: Meanwhile the other CV bellwether from Southern India, Ashok Leyland is drawing up plans for sustainable growth. MD and CEO, Vipin Sondhi charts out details of the next growth drivers, including EVs.

- TN Guidance: In her first interaction after taking charge recently as the MD and CEO of Guidance Tamil Nadu, Pooja Kulkarni shares details of the response to the state’s EV Policy and confirms the state has already attracted Rs 17,000 crore investment..

- Toyota Kirloskar Motor: It is no longer just about individual success but growing the ecosystem. Toyota Kirloskar Motor teams up with ACMA to extend the ‘Toyota Way’ across the gamut of suppliers.

- Ather Energy: CEO Tarun Mehta is confident that nearly 40% of India’s scooter market will go electric by 2025.

- TVS Srichakra: The tyre maker has expanded its global retail footprint to Europe with scooter tyres.

- TVS Auto Solutions: Digitalisation is the buzzword today and is making waves even in the aftermarket. We lay bare industry leader TVS ASL’s business strategy.

There’s still more in this South India Special – we’ve got the latest on Valeo India as also on new-age mobility solution providers like Log 9 Materials, Grinntech and EV start-up fund, Micelio.

Maharashtra EV Policy: Exclusive Interview
The Maharashtra EV Policy with a whopping Rs 930 crore outlay targets 300,000 EVs on the road by 2025. In an exclusive interview to Autocar Professional, Maharashtra Industries Minister, Subhash Desai says, “Maharashtra’s EV Policy will set a benchmark. We’ll be happy to be copied by other states, as the country would be cleaner, greener and stronger.”

Some more content to read
The past fortnight has been action packed across the automotive ecosystem.

-  The Motherson Group is ramping up its localisation initiatives for its lighting arm. It is now targeting adaptive driving beam, matrix LED lighting and full-rear LED combination lamps for passenger vehicles.

- Bangalore-based MTAP Technologies is making deep inroads in driving software-as -a-service model in employee transportation space … school transport system and last-mile delivery are seen as primary growth drivers.

Make sure you get your copy to stay on top of all automotive industry news.

How you can read this issue 
Autocar Professional magazine is also available through all good newsagents and for download from Magzster. You can also buy one-off copies of Autocar Professional magazine – contact Ganesh at ganesh@haymarketsac.com. Alternatively, never miss an issue – subscribe to Autocar Professional magazine today