Polyurethane (PU) is used throughout the vehicle. While its main application is in car seats, it is also used in bumpers, interior headliner ceiling section, car body, spoilers, in doors & windows, etc.

Manufacturing has changed its focus and approaches from pure cost to quality, productivity, energy efficiency and delivery performance in the last two decades.

Car buyers are becoming increasingly demanding when it comes to the functionality and design of their vehicles. At the same time, governments are enforcing more stringent regulations on vehicular emissions. All these trends are driving the demand for plastics in automotive industry, says Rakesh Rao.

Any slippage in making fuel available in the country will have serious implications as BS VI vehicles will not be able to operate optimally on lower grade fuels, says Rajan Wadhera, President, SIAM

OEM specifications and government regulations are increasingly directing the auto industry towards more fuel-efficient lubricants.

In the recent past, there have instances of worker unrest in automotive industry leading to loss of life and property.

The Indian auto industry, which has started to show strong growth since last 4-5 years, is emerging as a major export hub for the global market.

Fortunes of metalworking sector are closely linked to automotive industry's performance as auto and auto components industry reportedly account for 60 per cent of the machine tools consumption in India.

Indian auto OEMs and auto components firms targeting global market need to develop delivery models for ‘design anywhere and manufacture anywhere’.