#TNGIM2024 Podcast Series: Future of Growth | Satyakam Arya | Episode 01

Summary

In this podcast, Mr. Satakam Arya, CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, discusses the company's commitment to sustainable mobility, emphasizing zero-emission vehicles, road safety, and circular economy practices. Highlighting Daimler's investment in Tamil Nadu's manufacturing ecosystem, Arya outlines the state's role in Daimler's global export strategy and its vision for a sustainable future, including renewable energy adoption and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Takeaways

• 🌏 Mr. Satakam Arya, CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, emphasizes sustainable mobility as a collective action crucial for shaping our future.
• 🚚 Daimler India has contributed to sustainable mobility by focusing on three main aspects: zero emissions, road safety, and circularity in the automotive industry.
• 🛡️ The company prides itself on providing the safest trucks and buses in India, moving away from cowl trucks and adopting the latest crash safety norms from Europe.
• 🔋 Daimler is investing in both electric and hydrogen powertrains for commercial vehicles, aiming to lead in sustainable transportation with a vision for a zero-emission future.
• 🏭 Tamil Nadu is Daimler's chosen home for its manufacturing base due to its well-developed ecosystem, ease of doing business, and potential for exports.
• 🌳 Daimler's Tamil Nadu plant is a leader in sustainability, running on over 90% renewable energy and aiming for 100% recyclable packaging by 2040.
• 🌐 The plant serves as a global manufacturing hub, producing four brands under one roof and exporting to more than 60 countries.
• 📈 Daimler India's growth in 2023 is significant, with a 40% increase in truck business and a doubling of bus business, aligning with Tamil Nadu's economic vision.
• 💧 The company is committed to water sustainability, aiming to be 100% self-reliant in water usage by 2025 through recycling and rainwater harvesting.
• 🌳 Daimler is enhancing its green cover, with plans to add 60,000 more trees to its facility, contributing to Tamil Nadu's environmental goals.
• 🛠️ Skill development is a priority for Daimler, with investment in training programs for employees, including digitalization, AI, and new energy technologies.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the podcast series 'Future of Growth'?

The main focus of the podcast series 'Future of Growth' is on sustainable mobility, discussing its role in shaping the future, with a spotlight on advanced manufacturing, green initiatives, and visionary leadership in the automotive industry.

Who is Mr. Satakam Arya and what is his role in the context of this discussion?

Mr. Satakam Arya is the CEO of Daimler India Commercial Vehicles. He is a seasoned executive with diverse international experience, specializing in supply chain management, green field project setups, business turnaround, and customer services. In this discussion, he shares insights on sustainable mobility and Daimler's contributions to it.

What are the three important aspects of sustainable mobility as mentioned by Mr. Arya?

The three important aspects of sustainable mobility mentioned by Mr. Arya are zero emission, road safety, and circularity within the automotive industry.

How has Daimler India contributed to road safety in India?

Daimler India has contributed to road safety by providing the safest trucks and buses on Indian roads, refusing to produce cowl trucks, upgrading heavy-duty cabins to the latest crash safety norms, and incorporating features like air conditioning and driver state monitoring to reduce driver fatigue and errors.

What is Daimler India's stance on zero-emission vehicles and their future plans?

Daimler India is committed to leading sustainable transportation and aims to have a full range of zero-emission products by 2039, which is 31 years ahead of India's national target of becoming 100% carbon-neutral by 2070. They are working on both electric and hydrogen powertrains for commercial vehicles.

How does Daimler India's manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu contribute to the state's vision of becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse?

Daimler India's plant in Tamil Nadu contributes by having a well-developed manufacturing ecosystem, working closely with the state government for ease of doing business, and utilizing the state's expertise and cost competitiveness for exports. The plant also manufactures products for multiple brands under one roof, creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.

What steps is Daimler India taking towards sustainability in its Tamil Nadu plant?

Daimler India is running its Tamil Nadu plant on more than 90% renewable energy, aiming for 100% by 2025. It is also working on being 100% self-reliant on water, increasing green cover, and ensuring all packaging used is recyclable by 2040.

How does Daimler India view the role of policy makers in elevating safety standards and moving towards a standardized ecosystem?

Policy makers play a crucial role by investing in infrastructure, developing and implementing standardized logistics infrastructure, establishing multimodal logistics parks, and creating effective scrappage policies for old vehicles to promote a standardized ecosystem and elevate safety standards.

What is Daimler India's approach to diversifying its product portfolio to promote sustainability beyond electrification?

Daimler India is investing in both electric and hydrogen technologies, recognizing that for long-haul transport, hydrogen might be more suitable given current battery technology limitations. They aim to bring these technologies to the Indian market as the ecosystem matures.

What kind of investment does Daimler India make in creating a skilled workforce?

Daimler India invests in skilling through the Daimler-Benz Academy for training drivers, mechanics, salespeople, and service professionals. They also have the Daimler India School of Quality for continuous training on quality tools and manufacturing practices, and they train their people on digitalization, AI, and machine learning.

How important is advanced manufacturing or Industry 4.0 to Daimler India's sector?

Advanced manufacturing or Industry 4.0 is very important to Daimler India's sector. They focus on automation, robotics, and the use of data to improve manufacturing processes. They have a blueprint for the future of automotive manufacturing and plan to make significant investments to be industry 4.0 ready in the next 5 to 6 years.