The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) convened its 15th Annual Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, bringing together more than 500 leaders from government ministries, OEMs, tier-1 suppliers, and academia to address the industrial workforce transition driven by smart automation, artificial intelligence, and electric mobility.Centered around the theme “Skilled Hands, Strong Nation: Building India’s Automotive Future,” the conclave mapped out a roadmap to align shop-floor competencies with modern digital factory standards.
Inaugurating the conclave, Union Minister of Heavy Industries H. D. Kumaraswamy emphasized that India’s manufacturing expansion requires human capital capable of meeting stringent international standards for quality, line efficiency, and functional safety. He noted that as assembly lines integrate high-voltage powertrain assembly, automated battery module production, and power electronics calibration, standard assembly proficiencies must pivot toward advanced system diagnostics and digital process controls.
Automation and Factory Digitalization Take Center Stage
Addressing the assembly, ASDC Chairperson Vinkesh Gulati stated that the domestic automotive sector is navigating a fundamental operational shift. The deployment of Industry 4.0 architectures—such as predictive maintenance algorithms, machine vision inspection, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and industrial robotics is redefining plant layouts and labor configurations.
“Electric mobility, advanced manufacturing, AI, and Industry 4.0 are rapidly reshaping not only vehicles and factories, but also the skills required across the automotive value chain,” Gulati stated, pointing out that training programs must match the pace of production line automation to ensure high factory yields and operational productivity.
| Strategic Focus Area | Key Technical Disciplines & Deployment |
| Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0 | Industrial robotics, AI machine vision inspection, MES integration, and predictive maintenance. |
| Advanced Powertrain & EV Systems | Battery pack assembly, high-voltage battery management systems (BMS), and power electronics calibration. |
| Specialized Training Facilities | Seven dedicated hands-on EV technical labs across Vadodara, Chennai, and overseas in South Africa. |
| Bilateral Industry MoUs | Technical training and workforce programs signed with Kia India, Shell, Lucas Indian Service, and Kukje/Rossik. |
Scaling EV Labs and Global Integration
Presenting ASDC’s Performance Report for 2025–26, the leadership detailed the rollout of seven specialized EV skill laboratories located in industrial corridors like Chennai and Vadodara, alongside international centers in South Africa. These centers provide technicians with practical exposure to programmable logic controllers (PLCs), high-voltage safety interlocks, and automated battery testing cells.
The conclave also featured high-level industry panel tracks, with sessions such as “The Last Mile Workforce” and “From Training to Employment,” where technical executives from Mahindra & Mahindra, Lucas Indian Service, and NCVET evaluated pathways to upgrade shop-floor labor into certified mechatronics technicians.
To institutionalize these training pipelines, ASDC formalized bilateral MoUs with key industrial players, including Kia Motors India, Lucas India Service Limited, Shell India, and overseas partners Kukje Business Solution and Rossik East Europe SRL—accelerating cross-border technical mobility and local automation readiness.
