8th ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards Celebrates India’s Self-Reliant Automotive Industry

The theme of the event was 'Gearing up for Carbon Neutrality & Sustainability,' emphasized the significance of innovation and sustainability in the auto component industry. The event was graced by industry leaders, senior government officials, and experts from around the world

Mr. Sunjay J Kapur, President, ACMA and Chairman, Sona Comstar, and Ms. Shradha Suri Marwah, Vice President, ACMA & Chairperson & Managing Director, Subros at the inaugural ceremony.

The 8th ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards & Technology Summit, organized by The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), was held on 6th March. The event themed on ‘Gearing up for Carbon Neutrality & Sustainability,’ emphasized the significance of innovation and sustainability in the auto component industry. The event was graced by industry leaders, senior government officials, and experts from around the world.

Mr. Sunjay J Kapur, ACMA President and Chairman, Sona Comstar, while inaugurating the event, expressed gratitude towards the Hon’ble Prime Minister for encouraging sustainable development in the country through the ‘Panch-amrit’ strategy – announced at the COP 26 summit in Glasgow. The strategy aims to establish non-fossil energy capacity, satisfy energy needs with renewable energy, minimize carbon emissions, and attain net-zero emissions by 2070.

Shri. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Union Minister for Textiles, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Government of India with the winners of ACMA’s 8th Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards

Distinguished guests from both the Government of India (GoI) and the industry were present at the event, which included notable figures such as Shri. Piyush Goyal, who serves as the Hon’ble Union Minister for Textiles, Commerce & Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution in the Government of India; Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM, and Chairman of the Jury of ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards, as well as the Managing Director and CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles; and Mr. R. Dinesh, the President-Designate of CII, Executive Vice Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, and Director of TVS Automobile Solutions.

During the awards ceremony, Shri Piyush Goyal extended his warm congratulations to all the winners of the ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards. “Emphasized that India’s future in technology and innovation hinges on investment in R&D and commitment to indigenization. Shri Goyal also highlighted the pivotal role that the auto components industry can play in leading the charge for self-reliance, through increased investment in new technology and design, and by integrating the informal sector to indigenize the value chain. He underscored the importance of building a strong defense industry and promoting indigenous manufacturing, as this will enable India to be self-reliant and become a reliable and trusted supplier to the world. Shri Goyal stressed the significance of India emerging as a supplier to the world and commended ACMA’s active role in supporting start-ups and smaller businesses to indigenize the entire value chain and integrate them into the mainstream. He also emphasized the need for India to focus on productivity, quality, and net-zero commitments, as this will enable it to become the next frontier of technology, development, and production for the world.

Mr. Sunjay J Kapur, President of ACMA and Chairman, Sona Comstar, emphasized that “As the Indian automotive industry moves forward in 2023 and beyond, it is essential to embrace green and clean technology to remain ecologically relevant. He highlighted the need for the auto component industry to be ahead of the curve in adopting new environmentally sound technologies, sustainable manufacturing practices, and business models that minimize carbon footprint while embracing the ethos of a circular economy.

The eminent jury for the Awards included Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM and MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), Mr. Sunil Kakkar, Sr. Executive Officer – Supply chain, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Mr. Rajesh Uppal, Member Executive Board (HR, IT & Safety), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Mr. MR Anandakrishnan, Sr. VP (Purchase), TVS Motors Ltd., Mr. Vipin Kaul, Purchasing Leader Cummins India ABO, Cummins India Ltd., Ms. Angela Mans, Head of Foreign Trade and International Relations, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), Mr. V. Sridhar, Senior Director, Purchase, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt Ltd., Mr. Ganesh Mani S., President & COO, Ashok Leyland, Mr. Sundar, Asst Vice President, Unit Head, HMIL Procurement, Hyundai, Mr. Raju Ketkale, Executive Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Pvt Ltd., Mr. B. Srinivas, Executive Vice President-Product Strategy and Purchasing, VE Commercial Vehicles.

The event concluded with the announcement of 68 auto component manufacturers who were awarded the prestigious ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards across categories of Excellence in Manufacturing, Sustainable Business, Digitization, Localization, and Exports.