Page 36 - ITLN January - February 2025

Event Report
Auto SCM
Summit 2024

electronics sector's growth potential,
projecting an increase from the current
$10.6 billion to $70 billion, with India's
global market contribution expected to
rise from 3-4 to 9 percent.
Mandar Vaidya, Director Materials
Management - Region India, ZF
Group, emphasised the critical role
of technology in data security and
building stakeholder confidence for
transparent data sharing. He stressed
the importance of human skillsets in (L-R) Sanjay Suranglikar of TATA AutoComp Systems, Om Vijayvargiya of Schaeffler India, Atit
technology implementation and the need Mahajan of CMA CGM India and Libin Chacko Kurian of ITLN (Moderator).
for end-to-end visibility in responsible
supply chains.
Addressing counterfeit products,
Shiv Kumar Nanjan, Head of Global
Key Account Management, Acviss
Technologies, advocated for digital
identity implementation for every
product shipped across the supply chain,
suggesting the need to move beyond
traditional QR codes.
Nitish Rai, Founder and CEO of
FreightFox, discussed technology's
role as an enabler in transportation,
highlighting how legacy systems struggle
to adapt to evolving infrastructure.
Using India's expressway development
as an example, he emphasised the
need for network benchmarking to
match infrastructure improvements.
He also addressed the challenge of (L-R) Aritra Ghosh of Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, Mandar Vaidya of ZF
underpowered trucks in India. Group, Shiv Kumar Nanjan of Acviss Technologies, Nitish Rai of FreightFox and Saket Mehra of
The discussions also emphasised the Grant Thornton India (Moderator).
need for better integration of alternative
transport modes and democratised the International Council on Clean training, and infrastructure readiness
booking systems. Transportation (ICCT), captivated the were identified as critical areas
Aritra Ghosh, Vice President of stakeholders with a presentation on requiring attention.
Manufacturing Engineering at Mercedes- India's transition toward zero-emission “Collaboration between policymakers,
Benz Research and Development India, electric trucks. industry leaders, and technology
discussed India's maturing automotive Deo highlighted the environmental providers is essential to overcome these
market, the growing importance of impact of heavy-duty vehicles, which challenges,” Deo remarked.
Global Capability Centres (GCCs), and account for a significant portion of Deo concluded by presenting a vision
the role of digital innovations in the transportation emissions. “India’s of a logistics sector driven by renewable-
automotive industry. logistics sector is at a crossroads,” he powered electric trucks. “India has
The panel also addressed said. “Reducing emissions is not just the potential to lead the global shift
regulatory compliance, particularly an environmental imperative; it’s an toward sustainable transportation. By
regarding sustainability reporting economic opportunity.” investing in clean energy and cutting-
and cybersecurity standards, with Despite the optimistic outlook, Deo edge technology, we can transform our
special attention to the Carbon Border acknowledged hurdles such as the logistics ecosystem,” he said.
Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). high initial costs of electric trucks,
limited charging infrastructure, and Fueling the future with
Towards zero-emission trucks the need for enhanced driver welfare. LNG technology
Ashok Deo, Senior Researcher at Maintenance expenses, operational “At the greenhouse gas level, we’re
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