“Businesses are investing in autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, battery and fuel cell technologies, induction charging, the Internet of Things (IoT), and shared, safe and connected mobility solutions. These global trends will redefine and drive the Indian automotive industry,” says Dr. Mukesh Gandhi, Founder and CEO, Creative Synergies Group, in an interaction with CIO AXIS.
CIO AXIS: What are the technologies disrupting the Indian automotive industry?
Dr. Mukesh Gandhi: The automotive industry is driven by sustainability, changing consumer preferences, electric vehicles, connected cars, shared mobility, new business models, and always-on connectedness.
Businesses are investing in autonomous navigation, collision avoidance, battery and fuel cell technologies, induction charging, the Internet of Things (IoT), and shared, safe and connected mobility solutions. These global trends will redefine and drive the Indian automotive industry.
For example, IoT will permit car owners to track energy consumption of EVs, receive notifications for predictive vehicle maintenance, surveillance and safety.
The substantial growth in urbanization and congestion in India have influenced the country’s road fatality rates. Smart braking systems, lane departure warning systems, collision warning systems, and fatigue detection systems will make significant contributions in preventing injuries in the coming years.
Advanced human-machine interfaces are set to enable voice-based and haptic feedback to operate vehicles. This can also enhance infotainment and climate controls within the vehicle, enhancing passenger experience.
These technologies give control to the users expanding the scope for smart vehicles. Consequently, such interfaces are set to make the driving experience safer and more enjoyable.
CIO AXIS: Why is India poised for massive growth in the EV market?
Dr. Mukesh Gandhi Electric vehicles are uniquely suited for the Indian market. Considering the limited standard range of commute, looming challenges of air pollution in urban areas and high dependency on imported fossil fuels, India could benefit from EV adoption.
Government policies like FAME II, Bharat Stage VI, CAFE norms and mandates on fleet conversion could prove to be instrumental in electrification of the vehicles in India. Make in India and Automotive Mission Plan 2026 could provide an additional incentive for companies and investors to drive growth in the EV market.
Local Lithium-ion battery production in India would significantly lower EV cost. The growth of EV charging infrastructure and additional focus on vehicle to grid technology could further accelerate its growth tremendously.
CIO AXIS: Where does India stand in the autonomous and shared mobility space? Are we catching up too late?
Dr. Mukesh Gandhi: Compared to other countries, India has some unique challenges on Indian roads such as jaywalkers, stray animals, potholes, perennial construction and poor driving regulations. These issues have historically dampened the enthusiasm of global and Indian OEMs to invest in autonomous mobility for India.
However, the future outlook for shared mobility services in India is very positive. Ease of availability and convenience is driving new business models, including ride-sharing, vehicle subscription and bike-sharing. Shared mobility is rapidly growing across the country, including tier-3 cities.
These business models and their acceptance as a lifestyle choice could trigger the industry’s annual growth rate to increase by 55% in the next several years.
CIO AXIS: Why do domain-experience Indian automotive manufacturers need to continuously innovate?
Dr. Mukesh Gandhi: Automotive OEMs in India have to balance the challenge of a dynamic shift in the economy without compromising on their sales. As the government develops laws and schemes to facilitate sustainable technological revolution in the industry, OEMs have to find ways to keep up.
At present only 26% automotive manufacturers in India have adopted sustainable practices, which impacts the nation’s goal of reducing its greenhouse emission intensity by 45% in 2030. Factors such as acceleration of technological adoption and changing customer preferences will continue to pressure the automotive market.
Revolutions have become short-lived and manufacturers in the sector could use support from deep domain service providers to keep up.
CIO AXIS: How can Indian OEMs adopt emerging technologies in a cost-effective manner?
Dr. Mukesh Gandhi: It is a misconception that emerging technologies cannot be adopted without breaking the bank. With strategic planning and implementation, Indian OEMs can advance their technology in a cost-effective manner.
One possible solution could be to localize the design and manufacturing processes of critical high-cost components. Automotive batteries are a prime example of this approach, where its frugal design and manufacturing process eliminates supply chain issues associated with their imports. To meet this end, manufacturers can leverage the expertise of domain service providers, speeding up the process and cutting costs significantly.
Embracing digitalization across the product life cycle, automation and robotics will permit the manufacturers to reduce long-term costs and enhance product quality. This approach can enhance the proficiency of the industry, enabling manufacturers to become globally competitive in the coming years.