India has to move into automobile design and technology development to consolidate its position globally in the automotive industry, according to Pawan Goenka, Executive Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd.
Global automakers and component suppliers have set up production facilities in India and nearly all the vehicles manufactured here are sold domestically.
But less than one-tenth of the vehicles are actually designed here. The situation is better in the commercial vehicles segment, in which nearly 90 per cent are designed domestically, he pointed out.
Designing and development will give India the global recognition and sustain the industry here.
The competition in the automobile sector is “not won in showrooms but in R&D”, Goenka said.
The Government can help in nurturing industry consortiums’ research, he said, addressing the valedictory of the four-day international seminar on mobility and commercial vehicle engineering, SIMCOMVEC 2013, organised by SAE India.
T. Ramasami, Secretary of the Centre’s Department of Science and Technology, said automobile R&D is a priority sector for the government.
A long-term plan document is under preparation for putting together a technology mission, and mobility and transportation are key components of this mission, he added.
Investments in technology and development by companies are being considered as a part of CSR activity and automobile companies can use this opportunity to increase investment in R&D, he said.