Alternative mobility is the single most important manufacturing opportunity for India -Experts
PUNE: At a time when India is transitioning to newer technologies and fuels, alternative mobility will present a huge opportunity for manufacturing. India also has the opportunity to be a global leader opined various experts at the CII NexGen Mobility Show – Expo and Summit organised by CII at Deccan College Ground in Pune from 15-16 December 2023.
The Expo was inaugurated in the presence of Sanjay G. Kolte IAS, Chief Executive Officer Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd, Mr. Arvind Goel, Chairman, CII WR Taskforce on Future Mobility & Chairman, Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd, Dr. Sudhir Mehta, Past Chairman, CII Western Region & Chairman & Managing Director, Pinnacle Industries Limited and Founder & Chairman EKA Mobility, Mr. Kiran Acharya, Vice Chairman, CII Pune Zonal Council and Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer Sandvik Coromant India Ltd, Dr. Arup Basu Managing Director Greaves Cotton Ltd, Rajesh Kapoor Senior Director, CII Western Region, Mr. Rajnikant Behera Executive Director, RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd and Ms. Sulajja Firodia Motwani Founder and CEO Kinetic Green Energy and Power Solutions Ltd among others.
More than 100 exhibitors representing domestic and international brands are participating at the first CII NextGen Mobility Expo at Deccan. Slated to be one of India’s largest NexGen mobility shows in western India, the show is focussing on four broad areas including ‘Electrifying Mobility’, ‘Clean Tech for Fuel of Future’, ‘Mobility and Vehicle Design’, and ‘Urban Mobility’ among others. Technology Forums, Displays featuring Futuristic and Concept Vehicles along with Interactive Tech Demos and Product Launches will present immense opportunity for domestic and global networking opportunities. The show has participation from leading companies as well as local state bodies.
Mr Arvind Goel, Chairman, CII WR Taskforce on Future Mobility & Chairman, Tata AutoComp Systems in his welcome address said that the auto industry constitutes more than 40 percent of the manufacturing sector. The major transition that is happening will bring huge opportunities for the industry. Localization and export of components will have far more importance for electric vehicles in the future.
Dr Sudhir Mehta, Past Chairman, of CII Western Region & Chairman & Managing Director, of Pinnacle Industries Limited, and Founder & Chairman of EKA Mobility said that this is the single important manufacturing opportunity in our country. This is also a chance to be a global leader. As we surge ahead with alternative fuels, over the next decade India will be the single largest EV market in the world outside China. Alternative mobility will have a great impact. The numbers are mind-boggling and all the stakeholders need to come together, we have an opportunity not only to produce for India but also for every country.
Dr Arup Basu Managing Director of Greaves Cotton Ltd said that the conference captures four themes of the future. Increasing urbanization puts a different set of challenges on administration and that is a key determinant in terms of what mobility challenges we have. Talking about access to energy, he said there is a bigger social dimension as it marks a milestone of achievements for individuals and families. There is a big subject sitting beneath this in terms of Mass affluence, mass affordability, and mass ambitions and how do we fulfill these energy requirements with mobility being one of the key markers?
Sanjay G. Kolte IAS, Chief Executive Officer of Pune Smart City Development Corporation Ltd, said that we are embarking on a new journey for future mobility for Pune. As a smart city mission, we are trying to make mobility reliable, safer, smarter, affordable, and holistic. Taking about PMPML he said that currently 67 percent of our bus fleet plying in the city is on CNG and 23 percent on electric and only.10 percent on diesel which will be phased out in coming years. A good beginning has been made and this will go a long way in making transport comfortable, safe, reliable, and sustainable for commuters.
Mr Kiran Acharya, Vice Chairman, CII Pune Zonal Council and Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer Sandvik Coromant India Ltd, in his concluding address of the inaugural session said that every technological evolution may come with some kind of disruption. This also.will make us think about sustainability.
Some of the state-of-the-art mobility solutions unveiled at the show include e-powertrain Products, e-drivetrain, Engine Cooling Solutions, Battery Thermal Management Systems, Electronic Solutions, and precision-crafted Suspensions tailored for future-ready vehicles. The show is one of India’s largest NexGen mobility shows in western India.