As part of its initiative to enhance its focus on National priorities, especially on Atmanirbhar Bharat, Digitalisation and making of quality and safer products for customers, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex automotive industry body, taken up aftermarket products and services as one of its key priorities. The apex body has taken several initiatives to bring about a 360 degrees evaluation of needs, challenges and possibilities around Quintessential Quality, Curbing Counterfeit, Vocal for Local, Simplifying Supply-chain, Amplifying Access and Evaluating e-commerce.
However, SIAM has taken two, i.e. Vocal for Local and Curbing Counterfeit, out of the six topics, for deliberation today, which was graced by key industry players, industry members, and market research firms.
The virtual lecture comprised of two sessions, the first being ‘Vocal for Local’with the theme ‘Leveraging Aftermarket and Auto Component PLI’ with theme presentation by Saurabh Agarwal, Partner, E&Y. The session panel discussion was moderated by Yashpal Sachar, Chairman, SIAM Aftermarket Parts Group & General Manager, Honda Cars India and featured eminent speakers including Ramashankar Pandey, Chair, ACMA after Market Committee & MD, Hella India Lighting; Mustafa Wajid from E-mobility and Charging Infrastructure, IEEMA;Saurabh Kapoor, Managing Director, JSG Innotech.
Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, hosted the first Session.
Localisation in the context of aftermarket opportunities and challenges, including ease of business, were some of the fresh perspectives discussed in the session.
The second session delved on safer mobility and challenges around counterfeiting from a fresh perspective of deploying new-age technology, themed upon ‘Adopting New Age Technologies like IoT, AI & ML.’ The theme presentation was given by Tanmay Jaswal, Founder & CEO, Chkfake, followed by a panel discussion of experts such as Pankaj Monga, Partner & Practice Head, Brand Protection, Lall & Sethi, Shaleen Agarwal, Founder & CEO, Garaaz, Anubhav Amarnath, Founder & CEO, EngineCAL Technology and Thomas Weiss, Founder & CEO, Authentic Vision.
The Session was hosted by Anup Mohnani, Co-Chair, SIAM Aftermarket Parts Group and Head (Parts Division, Stellantis).
Speaking about the lecture, Banerjee said, “Aftermarket issues are often less discussed despite knowing the fact that customer satisfaction viewpoint, safer, affordable & quality products and services are of paramount importance. In order to deliberate customer centric aftermarket issues, involving all stakeholders, SIAM intends provide a discussion platform wherein opportunities and challenges in the aftermarket sector to bring safer and delightful mobility experience to the society and masses at large”.