ACMA’s 64th Annual Session Sets Path for Self-Reliance and Global Competitiveness in India’s Auto Component Sector

Shri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways along with Shradha Suri Marwah, ACMA President and Chairperson & Managing Director, Subros, Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, and Vikrampati Singhania, Vice President, ACMA and Managing Director, J.K. Fenner (India) Ltd, at 64th ACMA Annual Session in New Delhi

New Delhi, India – The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), the leading organization for India’s auto component sector, held its 64th Annual Session in New Delhi. It centered on the theme ‘Viksit Bharat - Fostering Self-Reliance & Global Competitiveness in Mobility Components’. The event brought together distinguished figures from both Government and industry, including Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways; Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry; H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries; Jitin Prasada, Union Minister of State of Commerce & Industry and Electronics and Information Technology; Dr Pawan K Goenka, Chairman, SCALE and IN-SPACe; Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM and MD & CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles; Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India; and Sanjiv Puri, President, CII and MD, ITC.

A key highlight was the unveiling of a joint report by ACMA and McKinsey & Co, titled ‘Scaling Global Competitiveness and Self-Reliance’. This report highlights the industry’s strong growth trajectory, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7-8 percent, and projects a market size of US$ 200 billion by 2030. It calls for strategic actions such as leveraging export opportunities, increasing investments in R&D and innovation, and improving quality and sustainability standards to maintain a competitive edge globally.

Kumaraswamy also officially launched ACMA’s latest initiative, the ACMA Mobility Foundation. This pioneering initiative aims to integrate stakeholders from the software, electronics, and startup sectors to foster innovation and collaboration in the automotive industry. The ACMA Mobility Foundation is poised to transform India’s mobility landscape and position the country as a global leader in advanced automotive solutions.

In partnership with the Gates Foundation and Good Business Lab, ACMA also introduced a new project focused on enhancing gender diversity in manufacturing. This initiative will develop best practices and guidelines to promote more inclusive workplaces across the auto component industry.
Speaking at the event, Gadkari highlighted India’s achievement in surpassing Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile industry, valued at INR 22 lakh crore. He expressed confidence that advancements in semiconductor and lithium-ion battery production would help reduce imports significantly within the next 2-3 years. He emphasized the sector’s role in creating 4.15 lakh jobs and contributing to GST and predicted an 8-10 percent growth by 2024-25, aiming to make India the world’s top automotive manufacturing hub.

Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry along with Shradha Suri Marwah, ACMA President and Chairperson & Managing Director, Subros, Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, and Vikrampati Singhania, Vice President, ACMA and Managing Director, J.K. Fenner (India) Ltd

Similarly, Goyal stressed the goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047, advocating for self-reliance while engaging fairly on the global stage. He noted that with the expected rise to the third-largest GDP in the next three years, the auto component industry will grow in tandem, targeting US$ 100 billion in exports by 2030 and becoming one of the largest job creators in the country.

The Union Minister of Heavy Industries also spoke on India’s progress towards self-reliance, noting the auto component sector’s significant contribution to GDP and employment. He highlighted the success of initiatives like the PLI scheme and FAME II in driving sector growth and localization.

Shradha Suri Marwah, ACMA President and Chairperson & Managing Director, Subros, described the current moment as a pivotal one for India, marking significant progress and opportunity. She emphasized that the ACMA Mobility Foundation’s launch on World EV Day underscores the industry’s commitment to future-ready mobility solutions.

Furthermore, Vinnie Mehta, Director General, ACMA, praised the event’s success, reflecting ACMA’s dedication to a self-reliant and competitive automotive industry. He affirmed the commitment to setting new benchmarks in quality and sustainability and supporting a transition to a circular automotive ecosystem.

The event also honored industry excellence with the presentation of the Quality Circle Competition Award and the new Gender Diversity Award. Team ‘Strategic Squad’ from ZF Rane Automotive India Pvt Ltd, Trichy, won the 19th ACMA National Quality Circle Competition, while Team ‘Infinity’ from RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd, Jamshedpur, received the Gender Diversity Award, highlighting ACMA’s commitment to recognizing innovation, quality, and inclusiveness. Over 1,200 delegates, including OEMs, component manufacturers, Government officials, and industry stakeholders, participated in the event.

Image Source: ACMA