ACMA aims at self-reliance, global competitiveness: 64th Annual Session

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%, and projects a market size of $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.

H.D. 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.

Nitin Gadkari highlighted India’s achievement in surpassing Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile industry, valued at Rs 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 emphasised the sector's role in creating 4.15 lakh jobs and contributing to GST, and predicted an 8-10% growth by 2024-25, aiming to make India the world’s top automotive manufacturing hub.

Piyush 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 $100 billion in exports by 2030 and becoming one of the largest job creators in the country.

H.D. Kumaraswamy 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.

Ms. Shradha Suri Marwah, ACMA President and Chairperson & Managing Director of 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.

Vinnie Mehta, Director General of 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.