News: Detroit to Delhi, in reverse gear
(TNN 23/03/2006) Mumbai - After the wave of Indian software professionals swept back to the country from the Silicon Valley, it is now the turn of Indian automotive engineers in Detroit to take the return flight.
Engineers are flying home to chase growth opportunities in what is emerging as one of the fastest-growing automotive markets of the world.
The research and development departments of many Indian companies like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland are headed by engineers with stints at General Motors and Ford overseas.
Mahindra & Mahindra’s automotive sector president, Pawan Goenka, who was instrumental in developing M&M’s best-seller Scorpio, spent 15 years at General Motors in Michigan. His return coincided with the torrid pace of growth in the Indian automotive industry.
“Abroad, Indian engineers like us are one among hundreds of others. But here, we head prestigious projects that give us a sense of pride and the feeling of giving something back to our country,” says Mr Goenka.
His colleague at GM, V Sumantran, was till recently with Tata Motors, where he was steering its ambitious Rs 1-lakh car project.
Arun Jaura, who joined as vice-president-R&D, M&M, was with the Ford Motor company in the US, heading the vehicle engineering department.
Aravind Bharadwaj, head of advanced engineering at Ashok Leyland, has worked with Delphi and GM in the US for over a decade.
He is virtually on a recruitment spree, hiring US-based engineers. Having brought in four to five of his Indian colleagues, he is trying to rope in more.
Mr Bharadwaj has recruited professionals from Ford Motor and Dana Corp. They are now heading the testing group and advanced vehicle engineering systems at Ashok Leyland.
Apart from the motivation of being near home, the huge pay packets at Indian automotive companies are also a big draw for engineers.
According to Mr Bharadwaj, the importance given by Indian companies to R&D is increasing and so is the remuneration being offered to match their skill sets.
Engineers are flying home to chase growth opportunities in what is emerging as one of the fastest-growing automotive markets of the world.
The research and development departments of many Indian companies like Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland are headed by engineers with stints at General Motors and Ford overseas.
Mahindra & Mahindra’s automotive sector president, Pawan Goenka, who was instrumental in developing M&M’s best-seller Scorpio, spent 15 years at General Motors in Michigan. His return coincided with the torrid pace of growth in the Indian automotive industry.
“Abroad, Indian engineers like us are one among hundreds of others. But here, we head prestigious projects that give us a sense of pride and the feeling of giving something back to our country,” says Mr Goenka.
His colleague at GM, V Sumantran, was till recently with Tata Motors, where he was steering its ambitious Rs 1-lakh car project.
Arun Jaura, who joined as vice-president-R&D, M&M, was with the Ford Motor company in the US, heading the vehicle engineering department.
Aravind Bharadwaj, head of advanced engineering at Ashok Leyland, has worked with Delphi and GM in the US for over a decade.
He is virtually on a recruitment spree, hiring US-based engineers. Having brought in four to five of his Indian colleagues, he is trying to rope in more.
Mr Bharadwaj has recruited professionals from Ford Motor and Dana Corp. They are now heading the testing group and advanced vehicle engineering systems at Ashok Leyland.
Apart from the motivation of being near home, the huge pay packets at Indian automotive companies are also a big draw for engineers.
According to Mr Bharadwaj, the importance given by Indian companies to R&D is increasing and so is the remuneration being offered to match their skill sets.
posted by InCar Group Press Room at 10:51
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