In an upfront interview, Latha Chembrakalam, Head of Technical Centre India, Continental Automotive India speaks to Deepti Thore about taking the India technical centre to the next level of growth and innovation.
Q. How challenging has the new role for you been and how do you expect to lead the innovation and growth drive at the Technical Centre?
A: I have always been passionate about building powerful and empowered technology teams who create innovative solutions to provide value and differentiation for the business. Continental believes innovation defines the future of mobility and is the ideal place for R&D given the scale of operations and where we are positioned in the value chain. With the number of emerging technologies and their innovative use cases, we are inspired to develop the next big break-through in automotive technology and provide software services for Continental’s Automotive business.
R&D is non-negotiable for the automotive industry to continuously re-define mobility, and our technical centre enjoys the benefits of operating in India.
It has been exciting to immerse myself in what the Technical Centre India (TCI) has been working on and I look forward to leading them to the next level of growth and innovation, including infra structural expansion, and expansion of engineering competence for both global and local markets with the highest focus on value growth, innovation, and content. I am also an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion so it is heartening to witness how Continental champions the cause. I firmly believe that organisations should encourage bringing in diversity of thought – in my view innovation happens when experiences, backgrounds, ideas and concepts converge. This has also sculpted me to practice equal opportunity employment across the board.
The focus of the new mobility is on the user. Younger, technology-savvy generations will play a key role in driving the transformation of the automotive industry whose focus will be – joy of use, ease of use and safe driving.
Q. How are the R&D operations powered at TCI? What is the role at the group level?
A: TCI was established in 2009, and today it is one of the company’s major R&D locations with over 4000 engineers working on cutting-edge technologies. TCI is part of the Holistic Engineering and Technologies organisation of Continental. Most of TCI’s business caters to the global market, with full responsibility of many topics for the Asian market. At the same time I also believe in the “In the market, for the market” philosophy. We try to localise as much as possible while also investing in technologies for mobility in the future. Ensuring sustainable and connected mobility for people and their goods, is the core purpose. In addition, at TCI we localise R&D according to local customer requirements and to introduce cost efficiency for the India market. For instance, the one-channel ABS for smaller motorcycles and scooters, based on Continental’s proven ABS technology for passenger cars, was developed especially for cost-sensitive markets such as Asia.
R&D is non-negotiable for the automotive industry to continuously re-define mobility, and our technical centre enjoys the benefits of operating in India. We have a large and skilled talent pool, varied market opportunities and supportive policy frameworks. R&D in India is witnessing growing interest from MNCs and Indian automotive players, so it is an exciting time for us. Autonomous, Connected, Electrified, and Shared (ACES) being the trend in mobility we also have a high focus on cloud computing, AI, data analytic, cyber security etc. Additionally, TCI houses Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in software, system, product, innovation and agile. The Software CoE is a huge enabler for us and is the headquarters of Continental’s global software academy at TCI.
Q. Please elaborate the focus areas across the TCI innovations and the product portfolio as a whole?
A: TCI supports all of Continental’s Automotive businesses globally – namely ‘Autonomous Mobility’, ‘Safety and Motion’, ‘Architecture and Networking’, and ‘User Experience and Smart Mobility’. In some of the product and solution areas we are the lead location, and we continue to grow this. Additionally, there are centres of competencies of AI, cloud computing etc. There are a lot of products which are fully developed at TCI for the Indian market, for example the one channel ABS for two-wheelers and the new innovative affordable ADAS solutions – radar sensor and Rear View Systems (RVS231). TCI is also fast emerging as a “Centre of Competence” for two-wheeler markets. Apart from innovating technologies for India, TCI has played a key role in developing the ‘Transparent Trailer Technology’, Continental’s advanced radar sensor, the first production-ready 4D image radar and the Ac2ated sound immersive audio technology.
Q How sustainable are your operations? Are you actively contributing to a circular economy?
A: Continental as an organisation places a huge emphasis on sustainability. It is a fundamental value that defines how we operate and design solutions. We view everything, from our people, to partnerships or sourcing methodologies through the lens of ethics and responsibility. Our goal is to be cognisant and protect human rights and the environment at every inflection point along the supply chain. Alongside green supply chains, we work towards long-term sustainability. Our goal is to have our value chain built on responsible sourcing and business partnerships. By this we mean our partners and us actively contribute to the ecological and economic well-being of society. Continental, in collaboration with our business partners, is aiming for a 100 per cent responsible value chain by 2050.
Q. According to you, what are the technology trends to watch out for?
A: A lot of exciting developments are ongoing in the automotive sector. In industry parlance, it is becoming EASCY – Electrified, Autonomous, Shared, Connected, and Yearly updated. Increasingly, vehicles are being transformed into software-powered IoT devices. Technological disruption has been taking place in the automotive industry over recent years in terms of digitalisation, automation, and connectivity, and this will continue to take place more aggressively. This will see the enhanced use of Artificial Intelligence, 5G technology, augmented reality, data analytic, cloud computing and cyber security in preparing for the future of mobility. The focus of the new mobility is on the user. Younger, technology-savvy generations will play a key role in driving the transformation of the automotive industry whose focus will be – joy of use, ease of use and safe driving.
To realise the full potential of the workforce, we need to create equal opportunities for all. Creating a diverse workforce is critical in building greater capabilities in a company.
Q. Your views on women empowerment in the automotive segment across white and blue-collared jobs given your focus on inclusivity and diversity?.
A: To realise the full potential of the workforce, we need to create equal opportunities for all. Creating a diverse workforce is critical in building greater capabilities in a company. One of the examples is Continental’s WeLead program, which helps women develop the necessary skill sets required for leadership roles. We identify women employees at mid-levels across businesses and functions, to groom for future higher-level leadership roles.
At Continental, we also believe that our responsibility to provide equal opportunities is not limited to our organisation. A year back, we launched a Women for Manufacturing Social responsibility program that aims to increase women’s participation in the manufacturing sector across industries. Our skill development program has successfully trained and found employment for over 200 women. We are fully committed to providing the right opportunities for women, be it within the company or in our overall ecosystem. I always encourage and motivate more women to up-skill and take up leadership positions by demonstrating competence, conviction, and courage and to shed self-limiting beliefs.
Q. Are you as buoyant on investments in growth and innovation going forward given the volatility around?
A: Continental has consistently been growing and investing in the market, and we will continue to do so. ACI
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