A New Gen Of Trailblazers
The Indian auto sector, among the older legacy industries, is also one of the fastest in adopting technology, going green and embracing ‘electric’ to become future-ready in a sustainable and self-reliant India. Celebrating this transformation, BW Auto World, the auto community of the 41-year-old BW Businessworld group, brought together industry captains and top decision-makers to honour a new generation of trailblazers.
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways graced the occasion as Chief Guest of the initiative felicitating the top 40 leaders under the age of 40 in the automotive industry in India.
“The future of the Indian automotive industry is very bright. Presently, the size of the industry is around Rs 7.5 lakh crore and I’m confident that by the end of 2025, it will be more than Rs 15 lakh crore. The new startups in the sector, in electric vehicles (EV), battery manufacturing, green hydrogen, and the aluminium air technology segments are performing well in India,” said Gadkari.
The minister further added, “Conversion of knowledge into wealth is the future of the country. Today, this industry is creating employment opportunities for more than four crore potential youth of our country. In the next five years, there will be an addition of one crore new jobs in the sector. I give my best wishes to all the winners of the BW Auto World 40 under 40 Awards.”
Finding the winners
In its quest to find these leaders, BW Auto World reached out to more than 700 industry professionals under the age of 40. More than 380 nominations were received, out of which nearly 100 were presented to a screening jury and an awards jury. A day of pitches and rigourus judging lead to the power list of BW Auto 40 under 40.
“It’s an honour for all the winners of the BW Auto World 40 under 40 Awards to be felicitated by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari. Gadkari ji is an innovator and a visionary who proactively pursues his work and inspires the youth of our country,” commented Annurag Batra, Chairman and Editor-In-Chief, BW Businessworld and Founder, Exchange4media.
He further added, “These awards are jury-led and executed transparently. From the team at BW Businessworld, I would like to wish the best to the winners for the impact they make and I sincerely hope these awards drive them to do even better.”
Nearly 23 winners in the BW Auto World 40 under 40 power list represent the Indian startups and disruptors. Automobile aggregators, manufacturing, self-drive and rentals, pre-owned and communications category make up the rest of the winners.
The Jury comprised names such as Kamal Bali, President & MD, Volvo Group India; Hemalatha Annamalai, Investor, Founder Ampere Electric; Prashanth Doreswamy, President & CEO, Continental; Annurag Batra, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief, BW Businessworld and Founder, Exchange4media and Noor Fathima Warsia, Group Editorial Director, BW Businessworld Group.
To the leaders
The awards were preceded by the BW Auto World New Generation Trailblazers Summit 2022, conceptualised as the most definitive gathering of change makers, innovators and game changers of the Indian auto sector. Top experts analysed and discussed pertinent issues impacting their businesses and the industry as a whole through various discussions on the day, wherein nearly 40 industry leaders took the stage.
