The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex body representing the automakers in India, recently organised the Automotive HR & Skilling Conclave 2025 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on 31 October 2025.

The event, themed ‘Accelerating Ahead: HR and Skilling for the Future of Mobility’, focused on the evolving landscape of human resources and skill development within the mobility sector.

The conclave saw participation from government officials, Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) of automotive firms, HR specialists and academics. Key sessions addressed topics including ‘Driving Industry Readiness: Aligning Talent, Skills & Business Goals’ and ‘Healthy, Inclusive & High-Performing: The New Workforce Mindset’. These discussions aimed at shaping a workforce ready for the future, strengthening industry-academia links, and fostering progressive work cultures.

C V Ganesan, Minister for Labour Welfare & Skill Development, Government of Tamil Nadu, observed the significant role of HR leads. He said, “HR leaders of auto companies have greater responsibilities, as they need to take care of thousands of skilled professionals working for their organisations.”

K Veera Raghava Rao, Secretary, Labour Welfare & Skill Development, Government of Tamil Nadu, highlighted the need for appropriate skills, stating, “There is a need to ensure that we have appropriately skilled people to support the ever-evolving technological landscape and to ensure that the investments made by companies are sustained.”

Industry leaders stressed the sector’s contribution to the economy and employment. Dr. Natwar Kadel, Chairman, SIAM Human Capital Group, and Vertical Head- People Strategy, Hyundai Motor India, said, “HR leaders of Auto Industry have a responsibility to ensure we continue to unlearn, relearn and innovate ourselves in a sustained manner.”

Focusing on investment in future talent, Prabhu Nagaraj, Co-Chairman, SIAM Skilling Group and Operating Head - Corporate Affairs, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India, commented, “Investing in skills today is the key to building a strong industry tomorrow. Let us continue to collaborate, innovate, and invest in our people, because the future of mobility will be built not just in factories, but in classrooms, workshops, and training centres across India.”

Madhuri Mehta, Co-Chair, SIAM Human Capital Group and CHRO, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Auto Industry needs to evolve itself to meet the expectations of the Gen-Z as they integrate into this Industry.”

Senior HR personnel from companies including Ashok Leyland, Hyundai Motor India, Mahindra & Mahindra, Royal Enfield and Tata Motors also contributed insights during the event.

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The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has launched the National Road Accident Reduction Challenge 2026 under its ‘Safe Journey’ initiative. The competition invites undergraduate students across India to develop solutions aimed at improving road safety and reducing fatalities.

The challenge targets undergraduate students in teams of two to four. Participants are required to submit field-tested or ready-to-implement ideas across several themes:

• User-centric interventions
• Technology-driven safety
• Infrastructure improvement
• Evaluation and enforcement

Submissions must include a 15–20 slide concept deck backed by data validation, fieldwork, or prototypes. The deadline for nominations is 15 January 2026, with final projects due by 1 March 2026.

Shortlisted teams will present their projects to a jury consisting of representatives from SIAM, vehicle manufacturers (OEMs), transport authorities and NGOs. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of INR 250,000 at the SIAM SAFE Annual Convention 2026.

Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, “In India, around 485 people lose their life daily due to road accidents. India’s young minds have the power to drive real change on our roads. The National Road Accident Reduction Challenge 2026 is designed to channel their creativity, problem-solving skills, and sense of responsibility into practical interventions that can be implemented on the ground. By engaging students as partners in road safety, SIAM aims to foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and safer mobility for the nation.”

Devashish Handa, Executive Officer, Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), said, “Road safety is a key focus area of Suzuki Motorcycle India’s CSR efforts. We believe that student-led innovation can contribute meaningfully to safer mobility in India. Through SIAM’s National Road Accident Reduction Challenge 2026, we aim to strengthen road safety ethics among the young generation and encourage practical, on-ground interventions to help bring down road fatalities.”

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South Korean automotive major Hyundai Motor Company has announced a partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC), serving as a Premier Partner for tournaments between 2026 and 2027. The agreement covers six major ICC events across multiple formats, including the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

The partnership grants Hyundai exclusive rights for the international cricket calendar. These include participation in matchday moments such as the coin toss, in-stadium branding and fan experiences.

The collaboration aligns with Hyundai Motor’s sports strategy, which focuses on sports in specific regions. Cricket has an audience of over 2 billion fans, providing the brand with a platform to connect with audiences in markets such as India. This deal marks a return to the sport for Hyundai, which previously collaborated with the ICC from 2011 to 2015.

Hyundai subsidiaries will collaborate to offer vehicle showcases, interactive zones and digital engagement initiatives during matches. The partnership was announced at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India.

Jose Munoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor Company, said, "Cricket and Hyundai share a relentless drive to improve and the resilience to rise to every challenge. We are honoured to partner with the ICC and connect with over two billion passionate fans worldwide. In key markets like India, where cricket is a way of life, this partnership deepens our connection with the customers and communities who inspire everything we do. We look forward to creating memorable experiences together at these iconic tournaments."

Jay Shah, Chairman, ICC, said, "Cricket is among the world's most popular sports, with over two billion fans whose passion is especially evident during ICC's marquee events. These global events offer an excellent opportunity to engage fans through innovative digital and in-stadium integrations. We welcome Hyundai as a Premier Partner and look forward to delivering outstanding events together. Hyundai is a global brand that has long supported sports, and we look forward to maximising our combined strengths at these events."

Tarun Garg, Managing Director & CEO Designate, Hyundai Motor India, said, "This partnership reflects Hyundai's strong commitment to India and growing importance of India market in Hyundai's global operations. We look forward to some thrilling cricketing action and are ready with a 360-degree communication approach across PR, digital, experiential and dealerships to maximise this opportunity across the country."

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Schaeffler India, a motion technology company, has named the winners of the 4^th edition of its Social Innovator Fellowship Programme. The initiative identifies and supports individuals aged 18–35 developing solutions for environmental and societal challenges.

The programme focuses on several key areas, including environmental sustainability, renewable energy, carbon neutrality, the circular economy and natural resource management.

Following a screening process and prototype demonstrations, 10 projects were selected from 172 eligible applications. Each winner received a grant of INR 175,000.

The winners will also participate in a 24-week hybrid mentorship programme at IIMA Ventures, part of the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. This phase provides tools, frameworks and expert mentoring to prepare the solutions for the market and assist in scaling their impact.

Since July 2025, the programme received more than 460 registrations from 21 states across India, including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Out of these, 103 applicants were shortlisted for final assessment.

Harsha Kadam, MD and CEO, Schaeffler India, said, “Change is the only constant. In a dynamic world where environment and technology play a fundamental role to meet the evolving needs of the world’s populus, the Social Innovator Fellowship Program speaks volumes of Schaeffler’s commitment to ESG and building not just a technologically advanced business model but be sensitive to the environment we operate in. It is our commitment to building a sustainable future that drives us to keep supporting this program year on year. With the response rates from participants growing over the years it’s overwhelming to see the indomitable spirit where technology and human consciousness collaborate to build a better world."

"We are happy that program is designed to identify and empower young changemakers who are developing scalable, impactful, and technology-driven solutions. In doing so, Schaeffler aims to harness entrepreneurial spirit and provide a platform where innovators can translate their ideas into transformative actions that make a sustainable impact on society,” added Kadam.

The award ceremony featured representatives from academia and the development sector, including Professor Gurudas Nulkar from the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Munish Bhatia of India Accelerator, Dr Bharat Kakade from the BAIF Development Research Foundation and Ankur Sohanpal of IIMA Ventures.

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Italian design and engineering company Pininfarina has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Paolo Dellacha as its new Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, effective immediately.

Dellacha, who joins the Board until the next Shareholders’ Meeting, previously served as the Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Pininfarina. The move is intended to strengthen company governance and leadership as the firm pursues business development and addresses industry challenges.

In a concurrent move, the Board of Directors has appointed Jay Noah Itzkowitz as Vice-Chairman of the Board.

“I am very pleased to welcome Paolo Dellacha. Paolo will bring strong energy and passion to his new role and thanks to his past experience, he will make a decisive contribution to continue driving Pininfarina’s growth, and execution of its strategic plans,” stated the company in a statement.

Paolo Dellacha, said, “I would like to thank the Chair and the Board of Directors for trusting me to lead Pininfarina into this new phase of growth. I approach this opportunity with enthusiasm, inspired by the strength of the Brand’s 95-years heritage of craftmanship and innovation. I deeply admire the passion and expertise of our people who have positioned Pininfarina at the pinnacle of automotive design, as well as in architecture, nautical, industrial and product design”.

The leadership changes are designed to support the development of future programmes and the global positioning of the Pininfarina brand. The company stated the transition will help leverage collaborations across the Group and consolidate its organisational foundations.

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