Autocar Professional’s March 15 issue: Tackling challenges

This mid-month issue in March can literally be your handbook on tackling challenges of all kinds - external, internal, environmental and even gender-driven. As the industry deals with Coronavirus, asset markets hitting all-time lows and prolonged shutdowns in different parts of the world, we get you a lowdown on how businesses are making themselves future-ready and strategising to get an edge and remain competitive. 

Brose India: Global going local
Brose steps up its localisation drive. The German supplier, which plans to step up its ‘local-for-local’ approach to build its India business significantly, is set to launch three new products with three OEMs in India over the next 15 months. It is also in advanced talks with another OEM for its motor and controller for an electric two-wheeler.

Lanxess to assist OEMs with vehicle weight loss therapy
Specialty chemicals supplier Lanxess continues to bet on India. The company is working on new strategies to further grow its India and automotive business, and a sharpened growing focus on lightweighting, also driven by EVs.

Can Indian suppliers up the ante, seize an opportunity?
With the Coronavirus outbreak and given China’s dynamic role in global supply chains and as a primary source of many automotive component, the impact of closed plants and consequent production stoppages in China is being immediately felt worldwide and automakers and suppliers are scrambling to keep assembly lines humming. Can India step in an alternative source of production?

Big hopes on compact models
The Maruti Vitara Brezza has finally received petrol power. Will the 2020 Vitara Brezza, which gets a BS VI petrol engine, deliver what its manufacturer hopes it would? Hyundai too is pinning a lot on a new model, the Aura compact sedan.  We have first-drive reports on both these models.

Women unlimited
The March 15 issue also covers Autocar Professional’s special coverage on International Women’s Day: March 8. As women increasingly match shoulders with men in the changing dynamics of the automotive world, we have a comprehensive 20-page special that encompasses exclusive interviews, analyses and information on how some women professionals are making a difference in the workplace and driving a new business dynamic.

Winner of the 2019 Nari Shakti Puraskar, ARAI’s Rashmi Urdhwareshe speaks about her three-decade-old stint with ARAI and innovation in automotives before she retires as ARAI Director.

Anjali Singh, Executive Chairperson, Anand Group and Gabriel India, details out the Group’s journey as the component major led and sustained 12 JVs and 7 technical collaborations with renowned global partners including Mahle, Faurecia, Valeo, Dana, Mando, Joyson Safety Systems, CY Myutec, Henkel and Haldex. At present, nearly 20 percent of its workforce comprises women and the plan is to increase  it to 30 percent.

In another exclusive interview, Sulajja Firodia Motwani, third-generation entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Kinetic Green Energy & Power Solutions, talks about her plans for scaling up the business after selling around 25,000 electric three-wheelers so far, plans for the US market, and what keeps her going in an industry which is largely still a man's world.

As head of design at Mahindra & Mahindra, Ramkripa Ananthan takes forward the Mahindra Group’s design philosophy of ‘Freedom and Adventure’. She speaks about M&M’s vision of cars in 2050 and how design acts as a bridge to strengthen consumer connect in a fast-changing industry.

Geeta Baskaran, managing director of Suba Plastics, a Tier 1 supplier for companies like TVS, Bosch, Valeo and Pricol, speaks on collaborative working with OEMs, exploring JVs in Europe and how women contribute to a successful and happy workplace.

Julie Furber, Vice-President of Electrified Power, Cummins, shares her thoughts on what's still missing from the EV conversation.
We also get you MG Motor India's and Yamaha India’s policies on women empowerment.

Changing tracks
With EVs gaining traction, the question that everyone is asking is whether e-mobility can be proposed as an alternative to animals and people carrying load in car-less Matheran, especially when the torrential rains bring the 100-year-old Matheran toy train to a standstill.

Tech Talk
But that is not it. This mid-month issue also puts some latest technological innovation on the radar. Bosch has established ethical 'red lines' for the use of artificial intelligence and issued guidelines governing the use of AI in its intelligent products. And the UK-based engineering firm Equipmake is developing what it claims is “the world’s most power-dense permanent magnet electric motor” along with 3D printing specialist Hieta. The new motor is expected to be more than four times as power dense as a conventional electric motor.

Newsy fortnight
Along with all the features and interviews detailed above, the March 15 issue also contains a power pack of the latest industry news.

Where to buy?
Autocar Professional magazine is 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.