Innovation in cars

The Biggie mindset is breaking

2010-01-21T04:20:00.000-08:00

Large car makers witnessed one of the worst year thanks to the meltdown. I am one of the few who is happy with this situation as i strongly believe that innovation is triggered when there are constraints and you push your limits to acheive the unthinkable.

The big car makers need to look at smaller economies which they have started and they are sure to innovate. They need to definitely break their mindset but this may not be very easy unless they create a multi region multi cultural teams, it is important to get the best of both worlds. Current attempts that are visible are not adequate.

Toyota Hybrid at 2010 Le Mans Race

2008-03-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

For years auto majors have been trying to perfect hybrid and have seen some success. The perception remains that hybrid performance is not as good as petrol cars or can not be as good. This is sure going to change and Toyota can do it, Toyota hybrids have been doing good and come 2010 if they win the Le Mans, they will prove to the world that hybrid is the way to go...http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-mdi-air-car-the-ultimate-green-machine

Nano in Geneva

2008-03-11T21:11:00.000-07:00

Last week the Tata Nano was displayed at the Geneva motor show and was amazed to see the media going crazy about the car. To my surprise there seems to be a demand for this car even in the developed economies, crude prices I suppose.

The excitement created by Nano goes to prove that India can no more be considered a developing economy, India has arrrived. India was in the past decade recognised as knowledge base in new technology but now even for its engineering skills. Ratan Tata seems to be cnsidering liccensing route for this car, would it not be great to see Tata cars being made in UK under license..

The other important area is that now the world should not be hesitant in outsourcing engineering services to India as Nano has brought in the credibility. Doors opening for companies who can now target a pie of the large Engg Services Market.

Car that runs on Air

2008-02-17T21:32:00.000-08:00

For years people have been talking about alternate fuel and some companies have hybrid cars in production, most or all hybrid cars currently available are petrol + electric i.e. Battery. But how about a car that runs on AIR.... yes this is possible and French engineer Guy Negre is about to bring this revolutionary vehicle to the masses thanks to a contract with India’s main car manufacturer; Tata Motors. read more http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-mdi-air-car-the-ultimate-green-machine.

video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-A3XHFT5qc

IBM predicts Smart Car

2008-02-17T21:05:00.000-08:00

IBM released report of top 5 innovation predictions and that mentions a smart car - "There is an enormous amount of computing power in cars today...I think the logical extension of that is to have a set of sensors on cars, and have those sensors communicate with networks and other cars on the road."

It is important that technology is brought into cars to make them more safer, if sensors can study the road condition and traffic and alter driver or automatically turn on the safety features it can reduce the no. of accidental deaths in the country. If i remeber correctly the figure in India alone is 350000/year.
The question that comes to my mind is that in countries where traffic is more disciplines and organised it is easier to write programs and do simulation, but what would happen in a country like India where there is little or no traffic dicipline. Let's wait and watch!

Need for Alternate Fuel

2008-02-11T02:06:00.000-08:00

Lets first look at what alternate fuel means - Alternative fuel means non fossil fuel. Alternative fuel is getting more attention due the high fuel prices. In the future finding of fossil fuel will end. We need to be concerned of Alternative fuel like biofuel, biodiesel, vegoil, methanol, hydrogen, which can be produced and not depend on the fossil fuels. Currently 85% + of the energy generation happens with fossil fuel and over 21.3 billion tonnes of CO2 is produced because of this and natural process can only absorb 1/2 of this. BIG WORRY http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel

Most automobile companies are aware of this and are working on alternate fuels, but the speed is slow, may be they are worried about market share and profitability and don't want to invest too much in R & D. I dontmean that nothing is happening - India alone will see 9 new models running on CNG / LPG in the near future. The question to ask is- is this enough to save the earth? Is CNG /LPG the solution ?http://www.financialexpress.com/old/fe_full_story.php?content_id=144070

Indian govt is already pushing manufacturers to mix 5% methanol with automobile fuel and plans to increase it to 10% in the future. This is something that the govt needs to do with out any further delay.

The question still remains unanswered. I don't think these steps are adequate in saving this LOVELY planet.

Local Innovation

2008-02-06T22:07:00.001-08:00

I am so impressed by the innovation and wanted to find out more on who and how the innovations were made, to my pleasant surprise its majorly LOCAL. Lets just look at some of the examples - the assembly line for TATA Nano is designed by one of Bangalore based companies called SPM and they have done a phenominal job by designing the assemblyline at less than half the cost of what it would have normally cost by sourcing fromthe right places directly. The assembly line can roll out engines every 40 sec and had the latest technology like RFID.

Every supplier has had to look at lowering or optimising the cost which could fuel, lets look at another example of Delphi who have designed the instrument panel and to keep costs under control they have looked at the angle carefully so that reflections don't fall on driver and thus eliminated the anti glare.

There are many more such examples and will cover in future posts.

Think Innovation as impossible is nothing.

Others wake up to NANOs call

2008-02-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

Till last year every one doubted when Ratan Tata used to speak of his dreamcar, and all other car manufacturers had said that this is impossible or even if they do it it would be substandard quality car which would not meet the safety and emission standards.

Now that TATA has made it and shown it to the world, every other company is talking about a cheaper car.. this started with Bajaj unvieling the concept car before TATA Nano and now Hyundai and Maruti also talking of smaller chearer car.

The question is - Do you need to be pushed to a corner to start thinking innovatively ? or companies are happy exploiting customers ignorance, (what i mean is if i knew a product can be made @ x then would i pay 1.5x ) ?

Lean Design - NANO

2008-02-01T01:58:00.001-08:00

It is interesting to note that TATA have not only looked at cutting cost in soucing and manufacturing but have done it at the design stage. Lean Design is just not about designing to keep cost low by using cost effective material, or reducing design cost it is about designing to maximise profit or DFP (Design for Profit). I have also put some more thoughts in my other blog.
http://www.infosysblogs.com/thinkflat/2008/01/nano_innovation_in_automobile.html

analyst speak - NANO

2008-01-10T03:53:00.000-08:00

Every single analyst - (Hormazd, Adil Darukahanawala) were going gaga and feel that the product will be a grand success and give competitors a run for their money. Nano is stylish, spacoius (even though 8% smaller than maruti 800 it is 20% more spacious inside) and has the best of class parts like clear Head lights and a large wind screen.

Over 400 journalist from around the world were present who gave a standing ovation when Mr. Tata unveiled the car.

TATA Nova

2008-01-10T03:31:00.000-08:00

While i have been wanting to blog on various innovations that are happening in the Car Industry, there is no better time to start than today when TATA Motors has unveiled the NANO - the $ 2500 car. When Ratan Tata spoke of his dream 4 years back every one doubted the capability of an Idian comapany to do it and that too at the price he was talking. I saw the NANO today during unveiling and can say that it is a brilliant car and will surely be a big success.

A car to be priced at $ 2500 which is 624 cc , 33 bhp which meets Euro 4 norms is amazing and could nothave been done with thinking out ofthe box and pushing the imagination of the team working on it.