In 2022, Indian exports of automobiles hit a new high. Despite domestic waiting lists exceeding several months in some cases, exports gained ground.
Volkswagens, Hyundais, and Suzukis boarded the cargo ships from the different ports in India to Mexico, Africa, and South America, respectively. A ‘near silent revolution’ is happening in Whitefield (Bangalore) and Cyberabad (Hyderabad), where algorithms and codes dominate.
Assembling Parts Of The Car
India is manufacturing cars and has been doing so for a long time. Sheets of metal are being pressed into shape, and the welding of these sheets is happening in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Haryana.
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), Managing Director, Manu Saale, while talking to The Print, says that the car parts are assembled in a plant in Chakan, outside Pune. However, none of them is manufactured in the classic sense, as the plant does not have welding robots or metal stamping dies.
Software Development In India
The 7,500 employees and 4,000 contractors at MBRDI in Bangalore are doing great work. Indian software engineers are writing codes ranging from infotainment systems to engine management.
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Saale says, “Our engineers are supporting the digital development of the car in all its aspects. As software-driven vehicles take center stage, we will have an increasingly large role to play in the transformation of our company (Mercedes-Benz). But it is impossible to imagine that any car sold today does not have a piece of India in it.”
American giants General Motors and Ford, who have left the Indian market, do a huge amount of software development in India. Hyundai Motor Group, also, is developing its core software technologies in Hyderabad, for its future in India. Volvo, a Swedish carmaker, has recently announced that they will be establishing a digital technology hub in Bangalore to take advantage of the IT prowess of the country.
Future Possibilities
There is a growing trend of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving. In markets like India, where the traffic conditions are tumultuous, one would try to find ways to utilise that time. It is not just about attending meetings and calls. There is an infinite possibility of entertainment also. Saale sees the “car screen as the one ‘unconquered’ screen so far.”
Saale, who is also a part of the NASSCOM (the National Association of Software and Service Companies) committee on Engineering Research and Development (ER&D), said that India’s next contribution is more than “just being the back office of the world and also moving towards product development. So moving from a $30 billion contribution today, as per my statistics, we want to grow the contribution of ER&D from India to $100 billion soon.”
The future is now, where cars are mostly based on software. Any over-the-air update on 5G and future mobile networks can sensationally transform one’s vehicle. All this will be ‘Made In India,’ which was not the case before. The primary question arises- Is India ready for the change?
Image Credits: Google Images
Feature image designed by Saudamini Seth
Sources: The Print, Economic Times, Zee News
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: car, Mercedes Benz, ford, Mexico, exports, code, software, assembling, India, General Motors, Volkswagen, Hyundais, Suzuki, Pune, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Bangalore, Volvo, infotainment, engine management, Hyderabad, IT prowess, 5G technology
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