A flagship company of the UNO Minda Group, Minda Industries Limited (MIL) produces automotive components for OEMs and is now developing products for the EV segment. It strives to provide high-tech, high-quality innovative products to its clients all over the world, outlines the company’s Head of Product Management and Planning Gaurav Pranshu Garg in this interaction with Rajesh Rajgor
Gaurav Pranshu Garg, Product Management and Planning Head, Minda Industries Ltd. (CREAT) (second from right) with his team
Focus on E-Mobility
We are prepared to hop on to the EV bandwagon with superlative products. These will include DC chargers, BMS, motors, controllers, seats, lights and other peripherals. We have also formed a JV with FRIWO AG, a leading international manufacturer of innovative power supply units and e-drive solutions. All of the above products will be made in India and meet the use case of Indian customers. Our joint venture will bring together their technology and our manufacturing skills. As a result of the merger, our collective entity will be able to provide full-line e-drive solutions for the Indian market, combining exceptionally durable hardware with superior software design.
UNO Minda’s well-established and successful marketing, sales and support capabilities in India will support the new entity. The JV will also make use of UNO Minda’s state-of-the-art design and production facilities in India to meet growing client demands and deliver high-quality customised e-solutions in record time. To begin with, we are targeting two-wheelers and three-wheelers with small motors and systems. We also have INITIA, our in-house industrial design studio that aids in component and accessory designing. Apart from the EV ecosystem, we also have our connectivity feature solution right from Bluetooth 2G to 5G. Battery temperature sensors, connected HMIs with a smart connected display are also being showcased.
System Integrator and Innovator
As a group we believe in the future and are pleased to be part of this evolution by helping OEMs and suppliers integrate solutions. We have also showcased corner lights i.e. bending lights that get turned on as the bike takes a turn. Apart from the headlight, other lights can also be added for more visibility and safety. Similarly, we have aggressive light that throws more brightness as the vehicle accelerates. Another EV safety gesture we have worked upon and are showcasing here is a sound system for EV two-wheeler acceleration. If the rider is at less than 30 km speed, there will be a sound in the bike that alerts passers-by and pedestrians that an EV vehicle is behind them or nearing them.
A regulation, ECR 180.01, for pedestrian safety is being introduced in Europe and it will soon come to India too. Youngsters who like the sound of acceleration and racing bikes can change the sound accordingly. One of the innovations for e-bikes is the ‘smart seat’ that can be cooled in hot and humid weather, and vice-versa. Another addition is the automatic opening of the boot space. The Indian market promises high growth rate in EVs, facilitated by governmental initiatives such as the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) scheme and PLI that offers incentives to customers, OEMs and automotive component manufacturers of electric two or three-wheeler products. Hence, we want to impress with our capabilities and product mix.
