The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) conducted its 14th Annual Conclave 2025 with the theme "Stronger Together, Transform Tomorrow," focusing on skilling requirements for the automotive sector's future. The event featured government officials, industry executives, and academic representatives discussing workforce development strategies.
ASDC President F.R. Singhvi presented the organization's 2024-25 performance report, detailing partnerships with universities, women's skill development initiatives, industry-academia collaboration improvements, and international expansion efforts.
The conclave included addresses from key industry figures: C.S. Vigneshwar, President of FADA; Shradha Suri Marwah, CMD of Subros Limited and ACMA President; C.V. Raman, CTO of Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.; and Dr. Vinita Aggarwal, Executive Member of NCVET.
C.V. Raman emphasized that "India's mobility future will be driven by advanced engineering, digitalization, and disruptive technologies such as EVs, IoT, and AI. To realize the $5 trillion vision, he stressed the need for skilling to evolve by integrating experiential learning, fostering industry--academia collaboration, and leveraging startup innovation."
Dr. Vinita Aggarwal stated: "India's journey to becoming a global skill hub is powered by standardization and industry alignment. With over 180 automotive QPs under NSQF, we must ensure they remain dynamic---integrating hands-on training, apprenticeships, and micro-credentials. The automotive sector should actively adopt and upgrade these QPs to build a future-ready, tech-driven workforce."
F R Singhvi, President of ASDC, remarked: "This conclave has reinforced our belief that India's skilling ecosystem thrives on partnerships. Together, we are shaping a workforce that is not only job-ready but future-ready."
The event marked significant developments with a white paper release and memorandums of understanding signed with Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto, Gandhi Auto, Delphi TVS, and Bosch India to expand skilling programs nationwide.
Two panel discussions examined automotive workforce development: "Academic Excellence to Industry Impact: Aligning Talent Pipelines with Future Mobility Technologies" and "From Garage to Gigabyte: Skilling for Next-Gen Automotive Technologies."
Vinkesh Gulati, Vice President of ASDC, added: "Our collective responsibility is to ensure that every young aspirant finds a place in the industry's growth story. ASDC is committed to bridging the gap between potential and opportunity."
The conclave concluded with a certification ceremony recognizing skilled candidates from ASDC programs, CSR presentations from Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp, and various awards including recognition for internationally placed candidates and excellence in skilling contributions.