Indian roads are considered to be the most dangerous in the world with 140,000 deaths reported every year due to vehicle accidents. Yet, safety norms for vehicles have lagged global standards. Taking a serious note of the issue, the government has announced many steps to enhance the safety features in vehicles. The Automotive Mission Plan 2016-26 proposes to adopt a long-term roadmap for emission standards beyond BS-VI and fast-track adoption of Bharat New Vehicle Safety Assessment Program (BNVSAP) by 2020. With global standards in place for emission and vehicle safety, India can scale new heights in auto manufacturing through a sustainable and secure path. The “Cover Story” of APF Jan 2019 highlighted the importance of ergonomics in designing safer cars as it contributes largely in reducing the impact of vehicle accidents and its ramifications. “Special Feature” discussed the dynamics of automotive batteries, the market for which is growing at a robust pace thanks to the performance in the aftermarket segment. With electric vehicles gaining traction, major automakers and component manufacturers have rolled out their plans to make lithium-ion batteries in India in the coming years. The “OEM Corner” analysed the dynamics of Indian SUV market and emerging trends.
Automotive Products Finder (APF) is an auto engineering magazine that looks into technology and components. Launched in 2005, the magazine is aimed at the engineers in the auto industry, and especially those who are in search of the latest developments in the field of automobiles and the industries related to it, may it be IT/Software, CAD/CAM, CAE, production systems/PLM/ERP, material handling, machine tools/special tools, assembly systems, specialized systems, garage equipment, service gadgets/diagnostics, accessories, etc. The readers include strategic sourcing teams, purchase engineers and those who are in a position to influence decisions and on a long-term.