The next panel delved into ‘Designing Sustainable and Aesthetically Pleasing Vehicles', an area of discussion that impresses many but is mastered by a few. Panellist Sandeep Waykole, India Business Director and Global Programme Director, Faurecia Clairon Electronics India Pvt. Ltd., urged us to focus on long-term value and said, "It is not always that sustainable products are costly. You have to see end-to-end results, and many times in the long term, they prove cost-effective." and Dr. Christopher Stillings, Head CMF Global, Covestro, took a straightforward approach, saying, "If you want to create a positive impact and achieve carbon neutrality, then designers need to think ahead." The panel was led by Jaiprakash Ramani, Chief Marketing Officer, Supreme Group. Automotive BU.
The conference further dived into the realm of ‘Driving Automotive Innovation through Research and Development'. The session was moderated by Rahul Kamat, Editor, B2B Division, Worldwide Media, and comprised of Christopher Marsh, Head of Surface Solutions, ContiTech, Continental India; Kaushalya Gaonkar, General Manager, Sales and Marketing (Mobility Group in India), Eaton Industrial Systems Pvt Ltd.; and Uday Narang, Chairman, Anglian, Omega Group, and Omega Seiki Mobility.
What Gaonkar said could possibly be the core issue of this sector, he highlighted, "There is a knowledge of automotive missing in the electrical and a knowledge of electrical that is missing in the automotive sector." Marsh then added his insight with respect to India and said, "As Modi coined, ‘Made in India', India today has reached a phase where a lot of core components are even 'Developed in India', or even 'Engineered in India'," The discussion concluded on a futuristic note as Narang gave a glimpse of the future, saying, "I think engines are going to be there, but as I see it, engines will be much smaller in the coming 5-10 years."
Talking about Breakthrough Technologies Revolutionising Plastic Recycling, Manish Agarwal, Managing Director, Vrindavan Plastics Industries, revealed that he himself has witnessed a shift in the attitude of people towards recycling, and it has changed from an option to reduce cost to one where people recognise its value and look at it happily. Sandeep Patel, CEO, NEPRA, brought to light that people today are aware of and expect certified recycled material and predicted that there will be a discrepancy between supply and demand. Sameer Joshi, Vice Chairman, Governing Council Indian Plastics Institute, and Rohit Sawhney, Vice President Sales, Milacron India, also contributed to the discussion, urging people to rethink and eliminate the plastics we do not need and innovate those that we actually do. The sentiment was echoed by session moderator, Satyabrata Das, Senior General Manager, IAC International Automotive India Pvt. Ltd.
The event concluded with a topic that is gaining momentum in the automotive industry. Divakar Gokhale, Head of Mobility, Indian Sub-continent, Covestro India, and Mukul Singhal, VP R&D and Engineering, TATA AutoComp Systems Ltd., came together and sparked conversation on this panel of ‘Plastics for Electric Vehicle Batteries'. Gokhale strongly attributed that India is focusing on safety requirements for EV batteries, and unless these compliances are met, companies have to rethink and redesign. Stating a plan of action, Singhal outlined that the focus should be on virgin materials in the short term, and then a transition to recycled materials would be feasible.
The conference made it certain that people are changing their ways of thinking, and the plastics segment of the automotive industry is undergoing a drastic change. What ultimately happens will be discovered when the conference reconvenes for its 8th edition.
