The conference included three sessions: “Strengthening the Supply Chain Ecosystem for Electrified Vehicles,” “Preparedness for Futuristic Technologies,” and “Balancing Regulatory Compliance vis-a-vis Supply Chain Resilience”. These sessions explored innovative solutions to enhance supply chains for EVs, adopt emerging technologies in sourcing, and harmonise regulatory compliance with operational resilience for a competitive edge.

On this occasion, Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, said, “The automotive industry is a key driver of India’s economy and Aatmanirbhar Bharat is our collective mission. With the Ministry of Heavy Industries advancing local production, R&D, and critical component investment, the supply chain is rapidly evolving. Schemes like PM eDRIVE are boosting local production and R&D, reducing import dependency, and strengthening the supply chain. In FAME1 & FAME2, we had 18 components in our list, but now after discussion, we will shortly circulate a new list with 8 to 9 parts, as others are now being manufactured in India. As of March 2024, INR 18,000 crore has been invested in the localisation schemes.”

Reaffirming the Government’s commitment to fostering industry growth and innovation, Mr. Vimal Anand, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, said, “The automobile industry is a cornerstone of India’s economy, contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP. The government recognises the importance of strengthening domestic manufacturing and fostering robust supply chains, especially those involving MSMEs and local vendors in Tier 2 & 3. The Ministry of Commerce is committed to working closely with the auto industry to address specific concerns at any level of the supply chain or to adapt to new regulatory requirements. An increase in localisation content can only be driven if we have home-grown companies developing cutting-edge technologies.”

Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President, SIAM and Managing Director & CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd., said, “In collaboration with ACMA, SIAM has actively championed Aatmanirbhar Bharat by advancing deep localisation and systematically reducing import reliance. SIAM members are committed to reducing imports to the tune of 25,000 crore in a period of 5 years. The industry has submitted a list of about 50 critical components to be sourced locally. The government’s PLI schemes have been pivotal in strengthening India’s capacity and capabilities and we are grateful for their steadfast support which is essential to remain competitive globally and resilient in the face of global uncertainties.”

Highlighting the achievements of the auto component industry, Ms. Shradha Suri Marwah, President, ACMA and Chairperson & Managing Director, Subros Ltd., said, “Despite past challenges, the component industry performed incredibly well in FY2024. Our sector achieved a turnover of 74 billion of which domestic sales to OEMs have been 63 billion. The progress in the component industry reflects the collective effort of OEMs, suppliers, and all the stakeholders. ACMA’s 1,400 globally aligned plants and collaborative efforts with SIAM and the government are driving supply chain excellence. Going ahead, we have committed to partnering for another round of study to take stock of the extent of localisation, especially in the context of rising electronic content, and discuss it across the value chain.”

Speaking about the automotive industry’s remarkable progress, Mr. Sunil Kakkar, Chairman SIAM Aatmanirbhar Bharat Sourcing Group and Senior Executive Director – Corporate Planning, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., said, “Despite challenges like the pandemic and global uncertainties, India’s automotive industry has flourished, contributing 35% to manufacturing GDP and producing 2.8 crore vehicles annually. Under the Make in India initiative, the auto industry achieved a net import reduction of 7000 crore surpassing the initial target. With a focus on localisation and government support, OEMs and component manufacturers can collectively build a resilient supply chain that propels us toward a Viksit Bharat by 2047.”

Mr. Sachin Kulkarni, Co-Chairman SIAM Aatmanirbhar Bharat Sourcing Group and Executive Director – Corporate Procurement & Member of the Board, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd., said, “The joint efforts of SIAM, ACMA, the government of India and stakeholders have helped Indian auto industry commit to localisation and build a resilient supply chain. The industry is also deeply focused on environmental responsibility with SIAM and ACMA working tirelessly to meet the government’s quality standards and reduce oil imports by developing various powertrains based on alternative fuels.”

The conference included esteemed industry leaders and experts, including Mr. Niranjan C, Chief Operations Officer, Amararaja Advanced Cell Technologies; Mr. Hirendra B Divgi, Executive Director, Divgi Torq Transfer Systems Ltd; Mr. Vishwas Deshpande, Director – Purchase, JSW MG Motors; Mr. Badrish Sinha, Co-Chairman, SIAM Aatmanirbhar Bharat Sourcing Group and Vice President-Purchasing, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd.; and Mr. Krishan Kohli, President & CEO – Light Weighting Business & Nano Technologies, Kalyani Strategic Management Services Ltd, among others.

 The esteemed speakers provided invaluable perspectives on enhancing supply chain sustainability, embracing innovation, and streamlining processes to drive efficiency and global competitiveness. The SIAM Automotive Sourcing Conclave 2024 reinforced the commitment of stakeholders to collaborate and develop a resilient, innovative, and sustainable supply chain ecosystem, pivotal to the growth of India’s automotive industry.

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The SIAM–SAFE Technical Conference was graced by the Chief Guest, Mr B Dayanand, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, Karnataka, along with the Guest of Honour Mr V Anbukumar, IAS, Managing Director, KSRTC, and Mr C Mallikarjun, Addl. Transport Commissioner, Govt of Karnataka.  Several other distinguished dignitaries, industry experts, and OEMs also shared their valuable insights on the future of mobility and safety in the automotive sector.

Kicking off with an inaugural session on “Technology Advancements for Road Safety in India,” Mr Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, warmly welcomed the esteemed dignitaries and participants. Mr Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM said, “Smart mobility, driven by technological advancements, is making transport safer, thanks to the dedicated efforts of our transport department. As we navigate a period of significant transformation with connected, shared, autonomous, and sustainable mobility, we continue to face challenges in meeting our road safety targets. While aligned with the UN Decade of Action Plan, achieving these goals will require focused collaboration from the government, industry, and the community.”

On this occasion, Chief Guest Mr B Dayanand, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, Karnataka, said, “Road safety is a critical but overlooked issue in India, where every fatality is preventable. While Western countries aim for zero deaths, India lags behind. Responsible road behavior must become habitual, and we need better education to achieve this. Educating the younger generation is key, as reliance on enforcement alone is insufficient. I urge industry leaders to develop solutions like mandatory helmets and seatbelts to start vehicles and reduce noise pollution. Conferences like this are essential for advancing road safety, and I commend the industry’s efforts toward safer vehicles.”

Guest of Honour Mr V Anbukumar, IAS, Managing Director, KSRTC, said, “The future of public transport lies in innovation, and Karnataka’s vast network of 25,000 buses is at the forefront of this transformation. To meet the evolving needs of millions who rely on this network daily, we must focus on modernisation. This includes adopting 13.5-meter buses, implementing advanced designs, and improving vehicle aesthetics.”

On this occasion Mr C Mallikarjun, Addl. Transport Commissioner, Govt of Karnataka shared the message from Dr Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Chief Secretary to Govt of Karnataka & Chairman (Road Safety Authority). In her message, Dr Shalini highlighted Karnataka Government’s comprehensive road safety action plan supported by a budget of ₹225 crores. This plan aligns with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ guidelines and focuses on infrastructure improvements, vehicle safety, and promoting responsible road behavior to reduce road fatalities by 50% by 2030. Key initiatives include eliminating blind spots, conducting road audits, implementing intelligent traffic systems, and employing smart enforcement technologies.

Mr Sushant Naik, President, SAFE and Global Head (Government & Corporate Affairs), Tata Motors, said, “I commend SIAM and the dignitaries for a successful day one of the annual convention. As a key industry, we must minimize negative impacts. Today’s theme, ‘Smart Mobility: Integrating Safety with Sustainability,’ underscores our focus on solutions that enhance road safety while aligning with environmental goals. The use of advanced and emerging technologies like AI, ML, Big data analytics, and Cloud computing in Intelligent transport systems will play a pivotal role in making our roads safer, greener and sustainable.

The session concluded with Closing Remarks by Mr Bhagwan K Bindiganavile, Executive Vice President, VE Commercial Vehicles. Mr Bhagwan said, “Let us reaffirm the critical link between road safety and sustainability. As technology evolves, it must prioritize our citizens’ safety and environmental protection. Public awareness and community engagement through educational campaigns are crucial for fostering safe driving habits and ensuring the success of our initiatives. I encourage everyone to actively engage in our discussions, focusing on advancing smart, safe, and sustainable mobility.”

Dr N V Prasad, Secretary Transport, Govt of Karnataka, Mr Uma Shankar, Addl. Commissioner Transport, Govt of Karnataka and Mr Mallikarjun, Addl. Commissioner Transport, Govt of Karnataka were also present in the inaugural session.

The first session titled, “Emerging Trends in Vehicular Technology” chaired by Mr D Balakrishnan, Vice President, (R&D), Ashok Leyland Ltd, highlighted the latest advancements in vehicular technology. The session included a series of insightful presentations, starting with Mr Anil Kumar, Sr GM – PV Engineering, Tata Motor “Overview of BNCAP & Safety Awareness amongst Vehicle Users”; Mr R Babu, Vice President, R&D on “Technology & Innovation for 2W Safety”;  Mr Gururaj Ravi, Vice President, Maruti Suzuki India Limited on “Enhancing Road Safety: Integrating Passive and Active Safety Features in Modern Automobiles”; Mr Subrata Mitra, Vice President, Ather Energy, on, “Overview on Indian Vehicular Technology – 2W Perspective”; Mr. Suresh Chettiar, Vice President, Volvo Bus Corporation, on “Sustainable Fuels in Transport for the Future” and Mr Sudhir Sathe, Dy. General Manager, Mahindra & Mahindra on “ Emerging Trends in Vehicular Technology”.

The second session titled,” Sustainable Fuels for the Future” was chaired by Mr. Alok Jaitley, Vice President, SAFE and EVP, Maruti Suzuki India.  The session included a presentation by Mr. Rajesh M Badhe, Chief General Manager, Indian Oil Corporation, titled “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology: Potential and Challenges for the Indian Market,” followed by Dr M Murlidharan, Dy. General Manager, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd, on “Innovations in sustainable fuel”. Dr Raja Munusamy, Sr. VP, Reliance Industries, on “Hydrogen Fuel Cell Program: The Road Ahead,” while Mr Yogesh Bolar, Vice President, Ashok Leyland, shared insights on the future of fuels in the transport sector.

The third session titled,” Circularity and End-of-Life Vehicle Management” was chaired by Mr Harjeet Singh, Executive Advisor (Technical), Hero MotoCorp, who set the tone by discussing the importance of sustainable vehicle lifecycle management. The session was graced by Guests of Honour, Dr N V Prasad, Mr Purshottam, Mr C T Murthy, Addl. Transport Commissioners, Govt of Karnataka. Mr Chandrababu, Director, CPCB (Regional Office) Bangalore, presented on “Ensuing Policy on End-of-Life Vehicle: Implementation, Challenges and Opportunities,” addressing regulatory frameworks. Mr Balraj Bhanot, Former Director, ARAI, discussed vehicle safety standards in his presentation, “Vehicle Inspection & Certification,” while Mr Sudershan S Gusain, Chairman, Safety Awareness Group, ATMA/ITTAC, emphasized tyre safety and recycling in “Importance of Tyres: Safety & Recycling.” The session concluded with Mr Ailoor Subramanian, Vice President (R&D), Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre India, who presented “OEM Responsibility Towards Circularity and Sustainable Development”. SIAM solicitated four Senior Transport Department officers who have done exemplary service in Road safety.

The technical conference concluded on a high note, marked by a rich and insightful exchange of ideas, best practices, and strategies, fostering a collaborative spirit between government officials and esteemed industry experts.

SIAM has been driving the transition towards sustainable transportation through initiatives like the electrification of mobility (विद्युतीकरण), promoting ethanol in transport (जैविक पहल), improving recycling (चक्रीयता), bringing safety through Safe Journey (सुरक्षित सफर), developing gas-based mobility infrastructure (गैस गतिशीलता), and fostering the hydrogen fuel ecosystem (हरित हाइड्रोजन).

SIAM and its members have been actively collaborating with governments, corporations, and key stakeholders to promote safer mobility nationwide, in line with SIAM’s objective of Building the Nation Responsibly.

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Mumbai, 25 September 2024: The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organised the SIAM Automotive HR Conclave today, themed “Shifting Gears: HR Strategies for a Disruptive Automotive Landscape.” The conclave discussed the key trends reshaping the HR landscape in the automotive sector and explored HR strategies that will drive industry growth, aligned with India’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047. The conclave had enthusiastic involvement from government officials, CHROs of Automotive Industry, HR Professionals, HR Consultants, HR tech solution providers, academia and other key stakeholders in Automotive HR sector.

During the conclave, two key reports were unveiled: the ‘SIAM Handbook for Service Advisers and Service Technicians,’ created in partnership with SIAM and the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), and the ‘Automotive Talent in Top Gear – Industry Report on HR Trends in the Automotive Sector,’ developed in collaboration with SIAM and Deloitte India.

Mr Charles JS Walter, Chairman SIAM Human Capital Group and Vertical Head & AVP – Human Resources, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. Said, “The theme of this conclave is especially relevant as disruptions to traditional practices have completely reshaped the landscape and we have embraced this disruption. We are achievers who thrive in the face of change and in a world where disorder is the new order. This conclave highlights how disruption is now a mainstay and a central part of our culture and success.”

On this occasion, Mr Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President, SIAM and Managing Director & CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles Ltd., said, “India’s economy, now at $3.7 trillion, is growing fast, and the automotive sector is playing a big role. It contributes 15% of the country’s GST and has a turnover of ₹20 lakh crore. The key to this growth is our human capital. Taking care of employees and encouraging innovation is important. This conclave highlights how people are crucial in facing challenges and shaping the future of HR in the automotive industry.”

The conclave included insightful sessions such as “Fueling Innovation – Building Talent Capability in the Automotive Industry,” “Belonging in the Automotive Industry – Fostering a Culture of Diversity & Inclusion,” and “Beyond the Wheel – Skilling Up for the Future of Automotive.” These sessions highlighted key trends shaping the industry, the importance of fostering an inclusive workplace, and the need for upskilling to meet the evolving demands of the automotive sector.

The panels included esteemed industry leaders, including: Mr. Raja Radhakrishnan, President – HR, Ashok Leyland Ltd.; Mr. Sabyasachi Ray, Vice President – HR, Bajaj Auto Ltd.; Mr. Rohit Thakur, Chief Human Resources Officer – Auto & Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.; Mr. Salil Lal, Executive Officer & Chief Human Resources Officer, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd.; and Mr. R Anandakrishnan, President – HR & IT, TVS Motor Company Ltd, Ms. Jyoti Singh, Head of HR (R&D) and Diversity & Inclusion at Hero MotoCorp Ltd.; Ms. Amrita Ganguly, Chief Diversity Officer at Tata Motors Ltd; Mr. Dharm Rakshit, Head of HR (Plant) and Employee Relations Lead at Hero MotoCorp Ltd.; Mr. Sushil Kumar Agarwal, Joint Director at the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India amongst others who shared their insights on preparing a future- ready talents in the automotive sector.

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Bengaluru, 24^th September 2024: The Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE), an initiative of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), organized its 25^th SAFE Annual Convention 2024 under the Safe Journey (सुरक्षित सफर) initiative in Bengaluru, Karnataka. This year, the convention was focused on the theme “United Efforts for Road Safety: Our Roads, Our Responsibility,” the convention brought together distinguished dignitaries to discuss key strategies for promoting safe driving habits, improving road discipline and enhancing overall vehicle safety.

The 25th SAFE Annual Convention was graced by the presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah, as the Chief Guest, along with the Guest of Honour, Shri D K Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. The conclave also saw participation from Guest of Honour, Dr Ramalinga Reddy, Hon’ble Transport Minister of Karnataka and Dr N V Prasad, IAS – Secretary of Transport, Govt of Karnataka, along with several other distinguished dignitaries. Industry experts from various corporations and OEMs shared their valuable insights, further enhancing the significance of the discussions and initiatives presented at the convention.

Welcoming the dignitaries and auto industry experts to the inaugural ceremony of the SAFE Annual Convention 2024, Mr Prashant K. Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, apprised the audience about the SIAM’s SAFE initiative and highlighted SIAM’s commitment and Karnataka  government efforts in making roads safer  in Karnataka  and in India.

Chief Guest at the convention, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri  Siddaramaiah, said, “Karnataka is prioritizing road safety with significant investments in infrastructure and technology. We are committed to reducing road traffic fatalities through enhanced traffic management systems in cities like Bengaluru and Mysuru, and rigorous enforcement of traffic laws. Our educational initiatives are embedding road safety awareness from an early age, ensuring a safer tomorrow. Furthermore, our move towards sustainable mobility with the acquisition of 5000 electric buses and the launch of the Shakti Scheme highlights our resolve to lead the nation in safe and green transportation.”

Addressing the inaugural session, Guest of Honour Shri D K Shivakumar, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka, said, “Karnataka, with a burgeoning population of 7 crore people and 3 crore vehicles, exemplifies a technological leap by incorporating technology to improve road safety particularly in Bangalore —our technological capital— where nearly two-thirds of the population grapples with vehicular congestion. Recognizing traffic and road safety as national concerns, we commend SIAM’s contributions and urge further industry collaboration to harness Bangalore’s tech prowess. By integrating AI into our police and transport operations, we aim to elevate our standards to international levels, enhancing daily life and ensuring the safety of our citizens.” 

Guest of Honour, Dr Ramalinga Reddy, Hon’ble Transport Minister, Govt. of Karnataka, said,  “As the leader in road safety initiatives, Karnataka is steadfastly improving infrastructure, enhancing enforcement, and upgrading emergency care to significantly reduce road fatalities and injuries. We are at the forefront of technological advancements in the transportation sector. Our comprehensive schemes and future plans, including the procurement of 5,000 electric buses, highlights our commitment to sustainable mobility. We aim to establish Bengaluru as the first net-zero city in India, setting a benchmark in environmental responsibility and urban transportation.”

The SIAM SAFE Context Paper, “Analysing India’s Imperatives for Road Safety,” was unveiled by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri Siddaramaiah. on this occasion. The SIAM SAFE Context paper offers critical insights about India’s preparedness for safer roads.

The Hon’ble Chief Minister also launched several new road safety initiatives, including the SIAM and Transport Department Karnataka Road Safety Education Slogan Competition, a free eye check-up for 15,000 BMTC drivers in association with the Eicher Foundation and BMTC, and a helmet awareness drive in collaboration with Bengaluru Traffic Police and ICICI Lombard to promote road safety.

During the conclave, 10 individuals from KSRTC, BMTC, Education Department and Bengaluru Traffic Police were awarded for their outstanding contributions towards promoting road safety.

During the inaugural session, Mr Sushant Naik, President,SAFE and Global Head of Government & Public Affairs at Tata Motors Ltd, said, “Addressing road safety is urgent. We must reduce road traffic deaths by 50% by 2030, a goal set by the United Nations. The path to safer roads involves a comprehensive approach—Education, Engineering, Enforcement, and Emergency Care. We can learn from successful models like Sweden’s Vision Zero and Norway’s traffic management strategies, which have significantly lowered road fatalities. By integrating advancements like ADAS and enforcing stricter laws, we can achieve similar success.”

Concluding the inaugural session, Mr Alok Jaitley, Vice President, SAFE and EVP, Maruti Suzuki India, also shared his insights and perspectives on road safety in India.

The first plenary session, ” Leadership in Road Safety: Innovations and Initiatives“, was chaired and moderated by Mr Naveen Soni, Toyota Kirloskar Motor. Guest of Honour Dr N V Prasad, IAS, Secretary of Transport, Govt. of Karnataka, shared his perspectives on Education in Road Safety.  He emphasised on the importance of the technology advancements with an example of how HSRP being used in tandem with ANPR can improve the response time of any accident significantly.

The session also included thematic presentations by Mr Ashim Sharma, Senior Partner, Nomura Research Institute Consulting, on ‘Road Safety – India’s journey so far and the way forward’; Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, on the “Role of Testing Agencies in Indian Road Safety”; Mr Prabhu Nagraj, Operating Officer, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, on “Best Practices in Road Safety by HMSI”; Ms Pamela Tikku, VP – Auto Group Public Affairs, Mahindra & Mahindra, on “CSR Initiatives in Road Safety”; Mr Akhilesh Srivastava, President, ITS India Forum and Former NHAI on “Reimagining Road Safety- a paradigm shift with road safety 2.0″ and Mr. Nazeem Khan, Head – ICLM, Motor TP Claims & Litigation.

The second plenary session, “Emergency Response and Data-Driven Enforcement in Road Safety,” was chaired and moderated by Mr M S Anand Kumar, Senior General Manager – R&D (Homologation), TVS Motor Company. Guest of Honour Mr Harsh Gupta, IAS, Principal Secretary, Health, Govt of Karnataka, shared their perspectives on Road Safety.

The session also included presentations by Mr Devayan Dey, Partner, PwC India, on ‘Emergency Response and Data-Driven Enforcement in Road Safety’; Mr Kuldeep Kumar Jain, IPS, DCP (East), Bangalore Police, Govt of Karnataka ; Ms Shruti Adhav, Founder, Value Life Foundation, on “CPR Training: Saving Lives in Emergencies”; Mr Somenath Nag, Sr VP, Calsoft Digital Engg, on “Technology and Innovations in Road Safety” and Mr Roshan Jose, SAVE Life Foundation on “Leveraging Data-Driven Insights from Community Inputs to Enhance Road Safety”.

The third plenary session, titled “Technology and Innovation in Road Safety,” was moderated by Mr Alok Jaitley, Vice President, SAFE and EVP, Maruti Suzuki India. Special Guest Padma Shri Dr Narain Karthikeyan, India’s first Formula 1 Racing Driver, Guest of Honour Mr Rama Chandran, IAS, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) and Smt Deepa Cholan, IAS, Commissioner, Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), Karnataka, shared their perspectives on technology and innovation in road safety.

The session featured presentations from Mr Vishal Gupta, Executive Director, Deloitte; Mr Sunil Patil, Director, Engineering (ADAS & Safety Electronics), ZF Group Region India; Prof. Anindya Deb, CPDM, IISc, on “Vehicle Engineering and Light-weighting for Occupant Safety”; Ms Roli Agarwal, Head (Strategic Partnership), Google on “Role of AI in Road Safety” and Mr Kartick V Nagpal, President, Rosmerta Technologies on “Technological innovations in Road Safety – Challenges and Way Forward”.

SIAM has been driving the transition towards sustainable transportation through initiatives like the electrification of mobility (विद्युतीकरण), promoting ethanol in transport (जैविक पहल), improving recycling (चक्रीयता), bringing safety through Safe Journey (सुरक्षित सफर), developing gas-based mobility infrastructure (गैस गतिशीलता), and fostering the hydrogen fuel ecosystem (हरित हाइड्रोजन).

SIAM and its members have been actively collaborating with governments, corporations, and key stakeholders to promote safer mobility nationwide, in line with SIAM’s objective of Building the Nation Responsibly.

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Mumbai, 07 December 2023: With the aim of fostering secure mobility nationwide at the grassroots level, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) hosted the 9th Inter-School Competition on ‘Road Safety’ from December 07th to December 08th, 2023. In collaboration with Gyan Mandir Public School, Naraina Vihar, New Delhi, this event was part of SIAM’s Road Safety Initiative, known as सुरक्षित सफर (SAFE JOURNEY). The two-day competition engaged students in various activities designed to raise awareness about issues related to ‘Safe Mobility.’

The annual inter-school competition on Safe Mobility serves as an attempt to sensitize children to various issues related to road safety and to raise awareness about their responsibility towards themselves, their families, society, and the country at large. The event offers children the chance to explore and showcase their imagination and creativity, further enhancing their critical thinking skills to ensure safer mobility on roads.

The program comprised various competitions centered around the theme of SDG goal 3.6 – to reduce road injuries and deaths. Students from all age groups were involved in several activities, including ‘E-Poster making,’ ‘Jingle,’ ‘Logo Designing,’ ‘Presentation on road safety,’ ‘Brochure Designing,’ ‘Movie Making,’ ‘Photography,’ etc.

Approximately 1000 students from 38 schools participated in the inter-school competition. The activities were judged by experts in their respective fields, which ensured unbiased and transparent results.

Talking on the initiative, Mr. Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, “Empowering young minds with the essence of road safety from an early age is paramount. Road safety is a collective responsibility that necessitates active engagement from all stakeholders to ensure the well-being of society and individuals. Our initiative blends education with interactive games, facilitating a more effective absorption of crucial road safety principles by children. Our enduring partnership with Delhi Traffic Police and Gyan Mandir Public School has been instrumental in advancing the cause of road safety. The overwhelming enthusiasm displayed by children from diverse schools during the program encourages us to continue organizing such competitions in the future, fostering a culture of safety and responsibility on our roads.”

The inter-school competition reflects SIAM’s commitment to advancing safer mobility and fostering a sense of responsibility among children to enhance the safety of Indian roads for all. Over time, SIAM has actively partnered with governments, corporations, and diverse stakeholders to promote the importance of Safe Mobility across the country.

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Mumbai, November 22, 2023: Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex body of the automobile industry, hosted the Automotive Sourcing Conclave under the theme “Towards Building a Resilient Supply Chain.” The conclave addressed critical areas in the supply chain, including EV components, electronics and electricals, transmission systems, and metals.

The conclave witnessed active participation from several coveted speakers including senior government officials, Sourcing heads of Automobile companies, and experts from the automobile supply-chain.

Guest of Honour, Dr. Hanif Qureshi, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, said, “SIAM and ACMA’s close collaboration with the Government of India, plays a pivotal role in shaping policies. The essence of these policies, particularly in the automotive industry, revolves around localisation, which is the heart of the Government’s approach. There is substantial potential for domestic value addition within the country. The growth trajectory is marked by advanced automotive components and R&D in this sector must be promoted.”

Guest of Honour, Mr. Anant Swarup, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Department of Commerce, Government of India, said, “There is a greater possibility for further increased localization in the Auto Industry and there is a potential to achieve this across OEMs.”

 During the conclave, Guest of Honour, Mr. Anant Swarup also inaugurated a digital showcase of Localization Opportunities for the Vendors in Indian Auto Sector.

Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM and CEO & MD of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., delivered a special address. He said, “The process of localisation is poised to substantially reduce costs, generate more employment opportunities, and further enhance export. The conclave will help us to formulate a robust action plan, gaining insights on how we can localise and align our efforts with the Government of India’s objectives.”

Mr. Sunil Kakkar, Chairman of SIAM Aatmnirbhar Bharat Sourcing Group and Senior Executive Director at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. set the tone for the conclave with a welcome address, by saying, “This is the best time to invest and scale localization for Indian Auto OEMs and Auto Components manufacturers.”

Special addresses were given by Mr. Vikrampati Singhania, Vice President, ACMA & MD & Director, J K Fenner India Ltd., and Mr. Sumanta Chaudhuri, Principal Advisor, International Trade Policy Division, CII on Impact of IPEF on Automotive Sourcing.

During session themed on “Trends in Automotive Transmission,” Mr. Sachin Kulkarni, Co-Chairman SIAM Aatmnirbhar Bharat Sourcing Group and Senior Executive Director at Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt. Ltd., commenced the session with an insightful opening address by adding, “The demand for Automatic transmission is growing in India. SIAM, ACMA, and Indian Government need to form one team to work together to promote localization of Automatics in India,” which set the tone for a deep dive into the dynamics shaping the automotive transmission landscape.

In the session themed on “Specialized Metals and Raw Materials for Auto Sector” wherein Mr. Badrish Sinha, Co-Chairman SIAM Aatmnirbhar Bharat Sourcing Group and Vice-President – Purchasing, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “Indian steel mills have the competency and efficiency to compete with global markets and by working closely with the steel mills we can reduce steel imports.”

Esteemed panelists including Mr. Sanjeev Maini, HOD, Metallurgical Engineering, Bureau of Indian Standards, Mr. Sanjay Agarwal, EVP and Business Head, Long Products, JSW Steels, Mr. Animesh Sinha, Chief of Marketing & Sales – Automotive – Tata Steel, Mr. R V Dalvi, Director-Technical, Sunflag Iron & Steel Company Ltd., and Mr. Kedar Rele, Managing Director, Umicore India, presented their thoughts and ideas on the topic.

During the Session themed on “Opportunities in EV Components, Electricals, and Electronics Supply Chain”, wherein Mr. Veeraraghavan R, Co-Chairman SIAM Aatmnirbhar Bharat Sourcing Group and Senior Vice President – Strategic Sourcing, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “Considering the growing demand of electronics, this is a very critical area for us as an Industry to localise. We also need to secure our supply of semiconductors.”

Mr. Harendra Saksena, Chief Purchasing Officer, Ather Energy Private Ltd., added, “There is a huge market in 2-wheeler in India. EV adoption of 2-wheeler will go to 60% by 2030, which will create huge demand for electronics & Electricals in the segment.”

The session, moderated by Mr. Rahul Kapur, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP, saw active participation from distinguished panellists including Mr. Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO, Continental India, Mr. Archit Agarwal, Corporate Head for Sourcing, Minda Corporation, Mr. Amardeep Punhani, Senior Director R&D, Digital Design, NXP Corporation, and Mr. Prithvideep Singh, General Manager, CDIL Semiconductors.

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The workshop facilitated dynamic knowledge sharing among stakeholders dedicated to enhancing road safety and addressing environmental concerns. The event was graced by the Chief Guest, Shri Gyanendra Pratap Singh, IPS, Director General of Police, Government of Assam and the Guest of Honour, Shri Adil Khan, IAS, Secretary of Transport, Government of Assam. The gathering also included several distinguished dignitaries and industry experts representing major corporations and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Together, they engaged in discussions on the pressing requirements of emerging technologies, regulations, and policies aimed at fostering inclusive and sustainable mobility.

Delivering his opening remarks for the SAFE Technical Workshop 2023, Mr Prashant K. Banerjee, Executive Director of SIAM, said, “While we addressed the 5E’s of road safety extensively in our discussions, today we introduce the 6th E, which is ‘environment,’ into our deliberations. Progress and development often come with pollution, and SIAM’s comprehensive sustainability mobility initiative, SAFE, reflects this concern. SIAM is at the forefront of the decarbonisation initiative, and we are proud to announce that, in alignment with the Government of India’s ethanol program, all new vehicles are now 20% ethanol-compliant as of March 1, 2023. Assam, known for its innovation, is even exploring the production of ethanol from bamboo and pioneering experiments with methanol, potentially shaping a greener future.”

Addressing the inaugural session of the workshop on ‘Sustainable Mobility and Vehicle Management’, Chief Guest, Shri Gyanendra Pratap Singh, IPS, Director General of Police, Government of Assam said, “At the outset, I would like to thank my colleagues at the police, transport, and traffic departments for their tireless efforts in keeping our roads safe and saving lives. While the driving testing ecosystem has improved, Assam requires high-quality driving schools to provide comprehensive training. SIAM’s crucial role is to ensure that the conversation around road safety and on-road accident fatalities becomes an integral part of all stakeholders, including drivers, vehicles, road conditions, and pedestrians. Pedestrians, in particular, need education to prevent accidents when they find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time. I hope SIAM continues its association with the state enforcement officials and I invite them to actively participate in Assam’s state road safety council meetings. We all need to come together as guardians and agencies of the government to save the lives of the people of this country.”

On this occasion, Shri Adil Khan, IAS, Secretary of Transport, Government of Assam said, “The Assam Government and State machinery have taken-up road safety religiously. As the number of vehicles continues to rise, it is imperative for both the automotive industry and government to collaboratively brainstorm and devise effective

plans for road safety. The Government of Assam has implemented citizen-friendly measures with a dual goal of promoting a cleaner environment, ensuring fitter vehicles, and enhancing road safety. We remain committed to a sustainable and decarbonised transport sector and welcome suggestions from OEMs and other stakeholders to further strengthen our road safety policies.”

During the inaugural session SAFE workshop, Mr Alok Jaitley, Vice President, SAFE and Executive Vice President, Maruti Suzuki India and Mr Ashish Chutani, Head -Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, also shared their insights and perspectives on Sustainable Mobility and Vehicle Management.

The first session focused on ‘Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Sustainable Transportation. It was expertly chaired and moderated by Mr Sushant Naik, Vice President of SAFE and Global Head of Government & Public Affairs at Tata Motors Ltd.

The session featured thematic presentations from industry leaders: Mr Devendra Gendar, Vice President of PD & Design at VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd, discussed ‘Facilitating EV Development and Adoption.’ Shri Ohed Uz Zaman, ACS, Joint Secretary at the Government of Assam, Investment Cell, Industries, Commerce & PE Department, presented on ‘Policy Incentives and Subsidies for EV Adoption.‘ Mr G. Sathiyaseelan, Chair of the SIAM Styling & Design Committee and Vice President (Design) at Ashok Leyland highlighted the role of ‘Design as an Enabler in Promoting Safer E-Public Transportation.’

The second session focused on ‘Biofuels and their Role in Green Transportation’ was moderated by Mr Alok Jaitley, Vice President, SAFE. Guest of Honour, Dr. S Lakshmanan, IAS, Managing Director, Guwahati Smart City Limited also addressed the gathering and shared his perspective on green transportation.

During this session, Shri Oinam Sarankumar Singh, IAS, Managing Director of Assam Hydrocarbon & Energy Company Ltd. (Ministry of Mines and Minerals), delivered a presentation on ‘Biofuels and their Role in Green Transportation,’ while Ms Sumathy Mohan, Technical Head at IOCL, discussed the ‘Role of Indian refineries in transitioning to cleaner fuels.’ They provided a comprehensive exploration of this critical aspect of sustainable transportation.

In the third session titled ‘Ease of Doing Business: Vehicle Registration Process, Regulations, HSRP & VLTD,‘ Mr Harjeet Singh, Executive Advisor (Technical),   Hero MotoCorp, chaired and moderated the discussion. Guest of Honour, Shri Rahul Chandra Das, ACS, Managing Director, ASTC, Guest of Honour, Dr Shantanu Datta, Member Secretary, Pollution Control Board, Assam and Guest of Honour, Shri Adil Khan, IAS, Secretary of Transport, Government of Assam, also provided their invaluable insights during the session.

The session also featured industry experts who covered essential topics. These included ‘Inspection and Maintenance ‘ discussed by Mr Gururaj Ravi, Deputy General Manager, Maruti Suzuki India, the ‘Process of HSRP and ‘Importance of VLTD’ explained by Mr  Dilip Chenoy, Independent Director at Rosmerta, and insights into the “Bharat New Car Assessment Program (BNCAP)”  presented by Ms Pamela Tikku, Vice President & Head of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. These presentations offered a concise overview of vehicle registration processes, regulations, and associated aspects of the automotive industry.

The workshop concluded on a high note, marked by a rich and insightful exchange of ideas, best practices, and strategies, fostering a collaborative spirit between government officials and esteemed industry experts. On this occasion, SAFE felicitated the following individuals for their outstanding contributions to road safety in Assam.

S.No.	Name of Awardee	Category	Organisation
1	Mr Ayush Rana	Innovation in Road Engineering Award	NHAI, Guwahati, Assam
2	Mr Gautam Das	Road Safety Warrior 1	Transport Department, Guwahati
3	Mr Himanshu Kumar Das	Road Safety Enforcement & Law Enforcement Excellence Award	Transport Department, Guwahati
4	Mr Sahabuddin Tapadar	Education & Awareness Excellence Award	Transport Department, Guwahati
5	Mr Deepjyoti Neog	Encouragement of Safe Road Behaviour Award	Transport Department, Guwahati
6	Mr J S Rongfor	Road Safety Research and Evaluation Achievement Award	Transport Department, Guwahati
7	Mr Manish Kumar Tiwari	Road Safety Warrior 2	Traffic Police, Guwahati
8	Mr Sanjay Rabha	Road Safety Warrior 3	Traffic Police, Guwahati
9	Mr Samser Ali	Road Safety Warrior 4	Traffic Police, Guwahati
10	Mr Santosh Rahang	Road Safety Warrior 5	Traffic Police, Guwahati

About SAFE

SIAM for carrying out various public policy activities, particularly in the field of road safety and environment, has partnered with various stakeholders and set up the Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE). It works towards facilitating enhancement of the competitiveness of the Indian Automobile Industry, reducing cost of vehicles, increasing productivity and achieving global standards of quality. SAFE has been engaging all stakeholders and organizing its Annual Convention in various states of India, with the objective of disseminating information about the best practices adopted nationally and internationally for improvement of road safety and cleaner environment. The core objective of SAFE aims to combine Five ‘E’s’ – Environment, Education, Enforcement, Engineering and Emergency services to make an overall impact on safer driving habits, road discipline, safer vehicles and roads for reducing casualties and saving precious lives.

The post Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE) Workshop Explores Sustainable Mobility Imperatives in Road Safety & Environment appeared first on newsmantra.in l Latest news on Politics, World, Bollywood, Sports, Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Trending news | News Mantra.