Institution news
The Indian automotive industry is in transition, bringing with it a host of new challenges. Technological advancements have enabled groundbreaking new opportunities and opened up new business avenues. Aware of these developments, IMechE India organised the ‘Connectonomy’ event in Pune.
It was a platform for automobile manufacturers, suppliers and leading experts of the related industries and public institutions to share and discuss the future prospects of connected and autonomous vehicles.
The event started with an introduction to the Institution by Prabal Sarma, Principal Regional Advisor, Southern Asia, which was followed by presentations from the industry experts.
The first keynote for the day was presented by Dilip Krishna from BOSCH on the subject, ‘Autonomous driving – Way to go’, which touched upon the sensor and control systems that would be key in the development of autonomous vehicles.
The next keynote, on ‘Connected car technology and autonomous vehicles’ was delivered by Manoj Shukla (Tata Motors) and Mr A. Suresh (TMETC). They touched upon the nuances of the theme ‘Connectonomy’ and intrigued the audiences with how technology is going to shape the future.
With connected cars in place and an increasing number of ECUs in vehicles, embedded security becomes extremely important. Khushwant Pawar (ETAS) presented his keynote and shared how his company is preparing to tackle this important issue.
Arvin Baalu (HARMAN) captivated the audience by showing a glimpse of the future automotive cockpit. Omkar Panse and Chaitanya Rajguru from KPIT gave the final presentation for the day, on the importance of cyber security in the future of the automotive industry, for which they provided case studies.
The panel discussion was eagerly anticipated. On the panel were: Dr Tim Leverton (Tata Motors Ltd), Dr Roshy John (TCS), Debashis Mukherjee (HARMAN), Mahavir Patil (ETAS) and Apurbo Kirty (M&M). Sachin Thakur (Tata Motors Ltd) moderated the discussion. Members of the panel each gave their individual perception of the future of automotive industry. Different aspects of connected cars and autonomous vehicles, including technology, business model, and privacy, were discussed. The discussion culminated with each panel member announcing a 2025 newspaper headline, showing how they see the future.
The event concluded with a dinner and networking with all attendees, which gave everyone, including young members, an opportunity to interact with industry leaders.
The Institution, which has a growing number of professional members in India, is continuing to promote membership growth and engagement. Visit the Near You India page or email globalbdm@imeche.org to find out how to get involved with the Institution in your area.