Integrated, Connected, Autonomous, and Digital are the key constituents driving 4th Industrial Revolution in the Automotive Sector
~Rajiv Gandhi, Summit Chairman & Member of Executive Board, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd
Gurugram, 18 July 2024: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted the 8th edition of the Automotive Industry 4.0 Summit, bringing together industry leaders, experts, and visionaries to explore the transformative trends shaping India’s Automotive industry. The event focused on Impact Across the Automotive Value Chain, Use of New Age Digital Technologies to Enhance Automotive R&D and strategies aimed at contributing towards the national vision of Viksit Bharat.
Speaking at the event, Mr Rajiv Gandhi, Chairman, Automotive Industry 4.0 Summit & Member of Executive Board Maruti Suzuki India said that the importance of the Indian Automobile Sector as a catalyst for national growth cannot be overstated. The industry, contributing 7.1% to India’s GDP and employing over 37 million people, is backbone of the country’s economy. As India becomes the world’s 3rd largest passenger car market, the rise of Electric Vehicles and Industry 4.0 technologies present new opportunities. However, stringent regulations in safety, emissions, and carbon neutrality demand a transformative approach to ensure future success, making collaboration and innovation key drivers for the industry’s continued growth.
Adding further, Mr Gandhi stated that Integrated, Connected, Autonomous, and Digital are the key constituents driving 4th Industrial Revolution in the Automotive Sector which is transforming the overall manufacturing landscape.
Mr Deepak Jain, Immediate Past Chairman, CII Northern Region & Chairman & Managing Director, Lumax Industries Ltd highlighted the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 across the automotive value chain. He emphasized that Industry 4.0 is driven by key elements such as integration, connectivity, and digital tolerance, ensuring competitive manufacturing aligned with customer needs. Referring to AI, Mr. Jain discussed the power of technology to bring change through Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, Robotics, and Smart Factories. He also stressed the importance of Human-Machine Interaction and how automation and upskilling the workforce, especially in India’s SME sector, will enhance competitiveness and add value to the future supply chain.
Mr Abhimanyu Sharaff, Vice Chairman, CII Haryana and Executive Director, Vikas Group, emphasized the critical role of Industry 4.0 technologies in transforming the automotive value chain and how CII is driving digital transformation through awareness campaigns and skill development initiatives across the country. He urged stakeholders to embrace these advancements to foster innovation and create a more efficient, intelligent, and sustainable automotive ecosystem.
Mr Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, JBM Group highlighted the importance of Industry 4.0 as a USB for organizations and underscored its value as a powerful tool for the automation industry. “Technologies such as IoT, Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Big Data are enhancing the automotive sector’s capabilities, while Digital Twins create millions of data points, enabling over 90% of issues to be remotely diagnosed”, highlighted Mr Arya.
Mr S Sriram, Director & Head – Factory Automation & Industrial Division Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt Ltd emphasized the growing role of smart manufacturing and the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 technologies. He highlighted how Blockchain, IoT, and digital engineering concepts are revolutionizing logistics and monitoring services, improving vehicle performance, and enhancing the overall driving experience. Through data collection and analysis, these technologies pave the way for sustainable mobility solutions. “The future of automotive 4.0 will rely heavily on data for digital factories, driving both operational efficiency and a superior service experience for consumers” added Mr Sriram.
Dr B K Panigrahi, Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering IIT, Delhi highlighted the essential relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Human Intelligence, emphasizing that AI cannot sustain without actual intelligence guiding it. He stressed the importance of strong collaboration between institutes and industries to foster innovation and address each other’s demands.
A joint report by CII and Roland Berger titled “Industry 4.0: Impact Across the Automotive Value Chain” was also released during the inaugural session of the Summit.
Around 30 sectoral experts deliberated and shared their expertise with more than 400 delegates from across the country during the day long summit.
