The three-day 14th Symposium on International Automotive Technology (SIAT) along with the SIAT Expo 2015, organised by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in association with SAE India, NATRiP and SAE International, opened yesterday in Pune.

The event, which has a very optimistic buzz around it, sees over 200 exhibitors from around the world this year, thanks to its focus on the theme of clean and green technology covering areas such as powertrain engineering, hybrid and electric vehicles, alternate fuels, vehicle and structural dynamics, ride and handling, emission control, after-treatment devices, emission inventory and ambient air quality, advanced electronics, materials and manufacturing, NVH, simulation and modelling.

The prominent highlight of SIAT 2015 will be the panel discussion wherein technical experts from the top six vehicle manufacturing countries will deliberate on international mobility beyond boundaries. Later today, on the sidelines of SIAT 2015, experts from Mahindra & Mahindra, Continental, KPIT and DSD of the UK will meet for a round-table talk, facilitated and moderated by Autocar Professional, on fast-tracking the evolution of green technologies in India.  

SIAT 2015 was inaugurated by Anant Geete, Union minister for Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, along with Vinod Dasari, president of ARAI and MD of Ashok Leyland, Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI, and Ambuj Sharma;  additional secretary to the Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprises.

In his speech, while Geete appealed to the automotive industry to adopt best practices and technologies, he also highlighted the importance of the ‘Make in India’ initiative and said “the government of India will continue to support the automotive sector.” He added, “The Indian auto industry is going in the direction of global safety levels gradually.”

Reading out an exclusive message from prime minister Narendra Modi to the attendees at the inaugural session, Dasari said that “the automotive sector has a key role to play in the Make in India initiative going forward and I wish all the best to the departments for SIAT 2015.”

During the event, Geete also e-inaugurated (online) the new facility of ARAI at Chakan, which will house the passive safety lab and is expected to start operations in the coming fiscal year.

Later in a press conference, answering a question from Autocar Professional on the proceedings of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP), Geete said that “in lieu of the NEMMP commencing its activities, the finance ministry has so far sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore for the first two years to kick-start preliminary operations under this plan. While the original requirement of funds for this plan was Rs 14,000 crore, we are looking at commencing the operations with the allotted funds. ARAI is working on the technologies related to the electric and hybrid vehicles under this program.”

Geete underlined that energy security and oil are crucial for India’s future and asked the industry to work on alternate fuel and related technologies to address the concerns in the future. He also spoke about the technology upgrades and regulations in the auto industry, and the upcoming footprints (seven centres) of NATRiP under various phases. 

Dr David Schutt, CEO, SAE International, said that the journey of knowledge and information will cross the boundaries of countries and continents. “The knowledge from SIAT will help professionals create a safer, cleaner and quieter world,” he concluded.