The Forum discussed trends, challenges and opportunities for commercial vehicle industry and innovations required by OEMs in today’s ever-changing landscape.

On 24 November 2016, almost 200 delegates, 20+ speakers from Commercial Vehicle Industry in India gathered at the Westin hotel in Chennai for the first Indian edition of Commercial Vehicle Forum 2016.

The unique and focused forum on commercial vehicles was organised by Threefold Business Solutions (Threefold), an India based research think tank specialising in bringing live events and creating right networking platforms. The overall theme of the forum was “3CS – (changes, chances and challenges) and how can resulting potential be captured?”

During five panel discussions, three case studies and one solo session the delegates had a chance to listen, have discussions and engage with prominent European and National experts. This year’s forum provided a diverse agenda and covered range of issues from futuristic view on industry landscape to how the sales pitches and products of future will evolve. The programme was designed in a way to ensure that the delegate had not just an opportunity to listen but to actively engage and participate in all discussions.

Featured speakers included Per Aleby, Nitin Seth, R Mohan, Rahul Sonawane, Ganesan VR, Mohan Iyengar, Amey Purohit, Krishnan Sadagopan, Kiran Rakhe, Somasundaram, Rajesh S, Vivek Agarwal, Kaushik Madhavan, Panos Gikas, Abdul Majeed, Rajendra Sharma, Kiran Lagisetti and Selva.

Speakers shared their insights about how cohesive policy thrust is required from the Government to push this sector ahead ranging from scrap to improving infrastructure. Speakers also discussed the importance of consumer being central to all the product offerings and changing approach towards serving the new consumer influenced by digitisation. Trends, challenges and opportunities for CV industry and innovations required by OEMs in today’s ever-changing landscape were also discussed.

Attendees representing Isuzu, Dana, Eicher, Volvo, Cummins, Continental Engines, Scania, AMW, Kamaz, Piaggio, BorgWarner, Incadea, Ashok Leyland, Daimler, Bosch, Tata, Mahindra, SAF Holland, Wurth Electronik, ACMA, Hyundai and many more; had a chance to hear, first hand, how industry is changing and what would be the future requirements to capturing resulting opportunities amidst the change.

Prominent comment from most of the delegates, speakers and sponsors was “This was a very successful and unique and positive forum.” The forum was made possible because of support from Sponsors Incadea, Varroc, Exide, Track n Tell, SKF, NRB Bearings, Adani, Roop and Belmaks.

The forum ended on a positive note and Threefold also announced CVF 2017 to take place in June 2017, Pune. Rohit Dewan, Project Director, CVF also called for speakers and delegates – Policy makers, OEMs, OESs, Fleet Operators, Auto Component Suppliers – to work together so that CV industry receives the desired focus and is not an afterthought.