Autocar Professional magazine, October 1, 2014 issue preview

October opens with a really busy issue, packed with news scoops, industry insider stories and plenty of exclusive CEO interviews. The Make-in-India movement is gathering momentum and this one’s actually an automaker’s Make-in-India mantra issue which also encompasses an NCR Special.

Open the 80-page issue and find out how Magna International plans to set up two new plants in Sanand, one for complete seating systems for an American carmaker and another for body and chassis systems for multiple OEMs. It has also signed a JV with Tata AutoComp Systems for making seating systems for Marcopolo buses and other CVs.

Make in India comes naturally to Daimler AG which is showcasing two highly competitive, made-in-India products, at the ongoing 65th IAA (Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung) Show in Hanover. The new BharatBenz 3143 (Concept) to be launched next year in India and Fuso FJ 2528 R left-hand-drive trucks are the India highlights of the company’s multi-product display.

The big news in last month was the rollout of the new Mahindra Scorpio – find out how the latest SUV in town promises plenty for M&M.

We’ve got Hormazd Sorabjee’s interview in the Autocar-Bloomberg TV India ‘CEO On The Drive’ Series where he speaks to Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO of Mercedes-Benz India. Mr Kern speaks about how Mercedes is “the fastest growing luxury brand in India”, on the upcoming GLA-class and why he is confident the 2015 C-class will be a major success in India. 

The past fortnight saw two major event: the well-attended annual ACMA and SIAM conventions where captains of industry and a galaxy of top-notch speakers spoke about one thing in common: how India can go global, the challenges and the methodologies to overcome them. And also whether the Indian auto sector can pull off the ambitious Automotive Mission Plan 2026.

We speak to Ramesh Suri, the new president of ACMA, who reveals how he plans to encourage SMEs and drive the Made-in-India mantra to a changing global automotive industry. We also celebrate the 22 deserving winners of the ACMA 2013-14 awards for achieving excellence in Exports, Technology, Quality & Productivity and Manufacturing with plenty of photographs.

Maruti Suzuki India's chairman R C Bhargava speaks to Shobha Mathur on the soon-to-be-launched Ciaz sedan, plans to roll out two new SUVs, having separate outlets for its upcoming one-tonne LCV, and gunning for double-digit growth in FY15.

The UNO Minda Group’s chairman N K Minda is optimistic about expanding manufacturing capacity across both its Indian and overseas plants and setting up new plants in Mexico and China and is also bullish about catering to the Indonesian and Thailand markets.

In a freewheeling interview, Deepak Chopra, the CEO of the Anand Group comments about how the 19-company, multi-product component major is now looking to set up assembly facilities abroad to cater better to clients there, among other things. 

That’s not all. We’ve got individual news reports on hard-driving companies like Honda Cars India, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, Mark Exhaust Systems, Subros Ltd and Triumph Motorcycles India.

The issue ends with an inside report on Volvo Buses India which has recently crossed the 5,000-unit sales is now working on an appropriate localisation plan for its India product range. Find out what managing director VRV Sriprasad tells Brian de Souza tells about the company’s plan to establish India as a global sourcing point.

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