THE UPSWING

Next Gen Publishing, the publishers of Auto Components India, set a new benchmark last year when it introduced the ACI Awards for outstanding industry performance. Within a year, it has set a new milestone for the aspiring auto component industry players. ACI Awards 2018 received overwhelming response from the industry. The upswing was visible. I was elated when I got calls from OEMs who wanted to share the nomination form with their key suppliers and encourage them to participate in the contest.

The automotive industry is beginning to believe in winning an ACI Award, which is a stepping stone to a higher echelon in product credibility and market acceptance. Gradually, an ACI Award will be a sure gateway to the global OEM supply chain. We have many new plans to take this industry-first awards to new realms. This issue has the list of nominations and winners and pictorial report on the Award function held in Mumbai.

Our March edition is also our Anniversary issue. As we enter with you to the fifth year of publication of Auto Components India, mixed feelings of gratitude, satisfaction and the yearning to do more overtake me. In this special edition, we are taking a close look at the future of Indian automotive industry by presenting the viewpoints, aspirations, anxieties and wish-list of the captains of the industry. I specially thank all those who have graciously contributed to this.

The Indian automotive industry is in a transitional phase. The move to BS-VI, to electronics-driven safety, driver assistance and vehicle control, and to electromobility, is making the road ahead complex with lot of promises and problems. It is heartening to note that the futuristic suppliers are chalking out action plans to move along with the OEMs advancing to new paradigms of automotive manufacturing. The industry needs to develop or acquire technologies and capabilities to produce vehicles that meet future market needs.

To make this issue more special, my colleagues in the reporting, editorial, designing and marketing have worked extensively. The management has been the pillar of support for making the past 12 months eventful and the coming year more promising and rewarding. I am grateful to all of you and I believe, together we can do much more and keep up the upswing.

Hope this issue is of specific interest.

Bhargav TS