SIAM Conclave Focuses on Innovations in Automotive Logistics

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organised the 10th SIAM Automotive Logistics Conclave today. The conclave themed "Enhancing Efficiencies in Automotive Logistics" explored the most recent advancements and strategies that are expected to influence the future of the automotive logistics sector in India. The event had enthusiastic involvement from government officials, logistics leaders of vehicle manufacturers, logistics firms, and industry professionals in the automotive supply chain.

The opening session titled "Future of Automotive Logistics: Innovations Driving Logistics Efficiency” was moderated by Mr. Rahul Mishra, Partner at Kearney. The distinguished panel of experts including Mr. B N Puri, Director at the Asian Institute of Transport Development (AITD), Mr. Saurabh Sood, President & Managing Director of GATX India Private Limited (GIPL), Mr. Rahul Yadav, CEO of Axestrack, Mr. S Kannan, Head of Outbound Logistics at TVS Motors and Mr. Prem Verma, Director PVA Services. The panelists discussed various innovations driving efficiency in automotive logistics, setting an insightful tone for the day’s discussions.

During the session, Mr. Tapan Ghosh, Chairman of the SIAM Logistics Group and Vice President of Sales at Hyundai Motor India said,” The Automotive Industry’s turnover has grown beyond Rs 20 lakh Crores contributing about 6.8% to India’s GDP. With the Automobile Industry transforming towards newer powertrains, the automotive logistics segment should also transform. Automotive logistics should not only be efficient but also resilient and sustainable.”

The first session titled "Smart Logistics Solutions" was Moderated by Mr. Girish Mirchandani, Editor of Transtopics. Mr. Subhash Chandra Karol, Director, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India,  said, “Smart logistics is essential for efficiency, and the government is committed to reducing logistics costs from 10% to 7-8% of manufacturing costs. Initiatives like PM Gati Shakti are driving infrastructure development, and with the National Logistics Policy, we’re targeting further cost reductions and improved global rankings by 2030. Collaboration across ministries and the use of GIS-based data are key to these efforts."

Commenting on accident response and logistics improvements, Mr. K C Sharma, Chief Engineer at the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, said, “Mr. K C Sharma, Chief Engineer at Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, said: “Accidents arise from factors like road conditions and vehicle issues. To address this, we're piloting a project in Chandigarh and Assam that connects accident data with medical facilities, ensuring swift, cashless treatment for victims. We're also advancing GNSS-based tolling for seamless, pay-as-you-use travel to reduce stoppages and enhance movement across the country.”

This session also included Mr. Anil Chhikara, Advisor Transport at Assam Transport Department, Mr. Vipul Nanda, Chairman & Managing Director of Pallia Trans Logistics, Mr. Herman Sips, Senior Strategic Advisor at Smart Freight Center and Mr. Yash Pal Sachar, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Ashok Leyland Limited.

The second session was focused on "Reducing Carbon Footprints by Enhancing Logistics Efficiency" and highlighted innovative approaches to reducing the environmental impact of logistics operations in the automotive sector.  

During this session, Mr. Alok Tripathi, Executive Director at the Railway Board, said, "We're steadily increasing the share of railways in automobile logistics to promote sustainability. With the shifting of the market from small to larger vehicles, the Indian Railway system will be equipped with newly designed wagons to cater to the evolving industry needs. Starting with just 10 units in 2016-17, our fleet has grown to 176 with plans to expand to 300. Our rail coefficient in automotive logistics was 1.5% a decade ago, and by this financial year, it will go upto 22%” 

The session also brought together panelists including Mr. Ashish Bhatt, MD of APLL VASCOR Automotive Pvt Ltd, Mr. Mukesh Haritash, Director of Chetak Group, Mr. Rajeev Bhaskar, COO (Rail Business) at IVC Logistics, and Mr. Pawan Agrawal, Executive Vice President at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. This session was moderated by Mr. Ajeet Kumar, Director of Marketing & Communication at Cargo Connect. 

Mr. Arun Malhotra, Auto Industry Expert & Former MD of Nissan India, and Mr. S D Chhabra, Executive Officer (Parts, Accessories & Logistics) at Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. also participated in the programme. In recognition of excellence in the field, over 30 logistics companies were honored by the SIAM Logistics Group members for their contributions to the industry.

The 10th SIAM Automotive Logistics Conclave offered a major opportunity for stakeholders to talk and consider the future of automotive logistics in India while promoting a collaborative approach to address obstacles and leverage opportunities in the sector.