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Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex of body of the Indian automotive sector, said it is ready to take on global challenges while reducing dependence on a single technology.
The speakers who addressed at 57th Annual Convention titled “Building the Nation, Responsibly” highlighted new challenges evolving globally concerning innovations, reduce dependence on single technology and focus on R&D for sustainable development of automobile sector.
Addressing at SIAM’s Annual Convention, Anant G Geete, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, said India’s automobile industry has been a primary contributor to Prime Minister’s `Make in India’ initiative.”
Mentioning that there are concerns raised over Goods and Service Tax, unified tax regime and its impact on auto industry, Geete assured the government will do everything and help the industry by all means.
The union minister has also launched the voluntary vehicle recall initiative by SIAM.
Calling Indian automobile industry as the pride of the country, Amitabh Kant, CEO of NITI Aayog, government’s main policy think-tank, said it played a very crucial role in the country’s growth.
Kant said that there has to be clarity, consistency and continuity in the policy and that all policies for auto sector should be technology agnostic and left to the market forces for its self-sustaining growth.
“The conventional regulatory policies in the automobile sector so far have been incremental and gradual. However, the recent decisions like leapfrogging to BS-VI emission norms, 100 percent electric vehicles by 2030, methanol economy and fuel efficiency norms are transformational and will have fundamental impact on entire automobile ecosystem without any transitional phase,” he added.
In his welcome note, Vinod K Dasari, President SIAM, CEO and MD of Ashok Leyland said, “Today India’s automobile industry is standing on the threshold of major transformations and unprecedented challenges.”
Dasari demanded the government to create a National Automotive Board that considers the concerns of all factions and then prepares a clear and ambitious, long term roadmap for regulations that are in the best interest of the country. “We do not need to simply copy the regulations from Europe,” he pointed out.
He also called for providing greater impetus for doing more Design in India as this is the only way we will gain traction with government’s `Make in India’ initiative.
He also appealed to the government to bring in legislation to reduce polluting vehicles and ban vehicles which are more than 15 years old. “To reduce pollution already we have committed to Euro VI levels in 2020. We request that you please bring in legislation to reduce polluting vehicles and ban vehicles which are more than 15 years old,” he added.
He also announced that as a voluntary measure, SIAM will initiate three more Voluntary Codes of Practice a Full compliance to the Bus Body Code which is ready but yet to be implemented by government, banning use of certain materials in the manufacturing processes for vehicles and components that are now globally known to have hazardous effects on the health of people; and making all Vehicle Recall data available on the SIAM and the MoHI Websites for public consumption.
“Any country with a strong defence force also has a dynamic and committed auto industry that provides the backbone for the defence equipment. India is no different. We generate over 30 Million jobs, spend more than 10 percent of India’s R&D, and contribute to over half the manufacturing GDP. We are slowly but surely becoming an integral part of the security of our nation,” he stated.
Confederation of Indian Industry’s President Shobana Kamineni said “Creating new jobs and industrial infrastructure is also a worry. The auto industry is wherewithal of the entire economy.” She also called for joint initiative in areas for smart manufacturing and skilling.
