THE NEXT STOP FOR THE INDIAN CV INDUSTRY

At the 14th Apollo CV Awards 2023, a power-packed panel took centre stage. Ashish Bhatia brings forth the talk points for answers sought at large.

- Ashish Bhatia

The stage was set for the most sought after moment at 14th Apollo CV Awards 2023! Over the years, the panel discussion has been acknowledged as a marquee inclusion. Heavyweights of the CV Industry took centre stage. The stage could hold no more, quipped my moderator, Kaushik Madhavan, Former Head - Mobility at Frost & Sullivan. Madhavan brings along over 22 years of experience in the automotive industry, specifically in strategic consulting and market research. With expertise across competitive intelligence and benchmarking, new market entry and diversification strategies, end consumer analysis in – automotive technologies and customer purchasing behaviour, he also looks at strategic planning and technology benchmarking. His task was cut out that evening!

A day after the inauguration of India’s first Registered Vehicle Recycling Facility (RVSF), it was only apt that he congratulated panellist Girish Wagh, Executive Director, tata Motors Ltd. touching upon the fundamental objective to establish a circular value chain for material reuse and recycling, thereby reducing the dependency on imports, Madhavan drew attention to tata Motors CVs setting an internal target of net zero emission by 2045 which it plans to achieve by a balanced portfolio of energy resources showcased throughout FY2023. On the evolution of the portfolio, and the potential of BECVs and H2-FCEVs and or H2-ICE-based options as prominent options, stated Wagh, at the tata Group, the internal sustainability goal is part of an internal project. “If we want our next generation to see the planet as liveable, we need to work on sustainability,” he averred. He went on to say that the company’s focus was on three pillars of sustainability: net zero Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, circularity and preserving the biodiversity that other corporate must pursue too.