Autocar Professional’s October game-plan

The final quarter of 2021 kicks in and given the tumultuous start of the year, the October 1 edition strives to highlight the long-term strategies adopted across industry in the race towards excellence, efficiency and green mobility.

This 64-page issue takes you through corporate boardrooms, the strategies, game-plan and touches upon the most striking developments underway as the mobility industry progresses through one of its biggest evolution phases after perhaps horses gave way to cars.  

What next for Ford?
The decision is done and Ford’s taken the exit route but what happens to its plants in Sanand and Chennai? Autocar Professional probes whether it makes business sense for any other carmaker in these states even as the Tamil Nadu and Gujarat governments will try to make most of the opportunity therein ahead of the polls.

Strategy in store
Onto some interesting game-plans as Auto Inc plans its road ahead –

- Yamaha India Motor Group has put together a strategically planned product portfolio for the Indian market. Outlining its plans, Motofumi Shitara, Chairman, Yamaha Motor India Group says some of the biggest challenges to EVs include “acceptance of customers at large” and creating adequate ecosystem is crucial for it.

-Find out what Satyakam Arya, MD and CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles considers to be the biggest learning from Covid-19 and how the pandemic helped the CV major to make its costing structure better?

-Meanwhile the German Tier I major ZF intends to implement a multi-pronged strategy in its new plans for India. About 200 million euro investment and more traction from Wabco acquisition are all on the anvil.
ZF is also betting on electric motors for two-wheelers in India and could be exploring some opportunities in that space.

Mega EV Forum
In sync with the latest trend and the growing acceptance for electric vehicles, Autocar Professional hosted a mega 3-day EV forum where the captains of the industry, ecosystem staheholders and government representatives put forth their views on role of EVs as the protagonist in the race to net zero.

In case you missed tuning in, we get you excerpts of the fascinating discussions, key policy moves outlined and how Auto Inc is readying itself for the transition. Get your copy today for all the highlights.

R&D Special
It is no secret that India is fast becoming the global hub for R&D, given its rich pool of talent and strong industry-academia collaboration. We also get you snippets of some of the most striking developments underway.

-Team Avishkar comprising young engineers at the Centre for Innovation in IIT Madras bagged the ‘Most Scalable Pod Design Award’ for their Hyperloop Garv at the European Hyperloop Week. The team is looking to build a 0.5km vacuum tube inside the IIT-Madras campus and the project is slated for completion by January.

-J&K Tyre’s Raghupati Singhania Centre of Excellence (RPSCoE) is augmenting its testing infrastructure ahead of the labelling norms due in October. It is even partnering NATRAX to gain an edge in outdoor testing.

-Tata Motors is in "active discussions" towards setting up a target to be carbon neutral and CTO Rajendra Petkar believes that hydrogen cell technology will find greater adoption in commercial vehicles.

-TVS plans an offensive assault in the 125cc market with its newly launched Raider. We find out if the Raider can make a big difference.

What’s the buzz
Pune-based HumSafer Foundation is looking to create a safe driving experience for truck drivers in India with its new innovative App. Get your copy today for more on it.

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.