Auto SCM Summit 2023: Navigating challenges in automotive supply chain evolution

Auto SCM Summit 2023, the seventh edition of the premier automotive logistics conference, concluded in Pune by discussing the key issues faced by the supply chain heads of automotive OEMs and component manufacturers. Themed as Rev Up: Smart Logistics for Smart Vehicles, the one-day conference saw over 100 participants with four business sessions covering the supply chain impact on automotive retailing, the component industry’s transformation to electric vehicles, technology interventions and the future of the Just in Time supply chain model. The sessions included insightful discussions on how visibility, traceability, automation and digitalization can also bring in meaningful collaborations among the stakeholders in the supply chain.

The sessions featured insightful discussions on the potential of visibility, traceability, automation, and digitalization to foster meaningful collaborations among supply chain stakeholders. The discourse delved into supply chain challenges impacting the automotive industry, particularly manufacturing and retailing, as electric vehicles gain traction. These discussions underscored the imperative for the industry to embrace technological advancements and collaborative approaches to navigate evolving dynamics and ensure sustainable growth in the rapidly changing automotive landscape.

Auto SCM Summit 2023 was presented by Frankfurt Airport along with Dachser as Supporting Partner and Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals (Hactl) as Sustainability Partner. The event drew top minds nationwide and beyond, engaging in discussions about the evolution, challenges, and future of the automotive supply chain industry. Attendees and speakers comprised Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), component manufacturers, logistics firms, freight forwarders, airports, airlines, and stakeholders in the electric vehicles (EV) sector.

As part of component supply evolution, Sudhir Kadam, General Manager at Process Excellence SCM, B K Logistics flagged the high possibility of IC engine components being used for EVs in the future, if not as yet.

“The growth on the aftermarket side in the automotive industry has risen over 20 percent,” said Kaushik Narayan, chief executive officer, Leaptrucks.

"EVs and Hydrogen will rule the automobile industry but IC engines (Internal Combustion ) will not die", says Om Vijayvargiya, Head - SCM & Logistics, Schaeffler India. He further highlighted that the acceptability of Indian suppliers in the overseas automotive industry, especially in component manufacturing, was gradually picking pace.