44 teams to compete for the coveted title
- SAE has societies all over the world including Germany, US etc
- The SUPRA SAE competition is brought to India for the first time by Maruti Suzuki and SAE India.
- 44 teams to compete in the finals
- Participation of over 1100 engineering students across India
- Maruti Suzuki is providing 44 complete powertrain systems to lower the costs to the students.
- Prototypes to undergo rigorous static, dynamic and durability tests.
- A distinguished panel headed by Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, Chairman, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (and former CMD, Maruti Udyog) to adjudge the teams.
The much awaited 'Maruti Suzuki-SUPRA SAEINDIA 2011’, was inaugurated with much zeal and fervor amidst notable members of SAE, Maruti Suzuki and over 1100 young and enthusiastic engineering students at Sriperumbudur race track today. 44 teams are competing for the coveted trophy and would showcase their Formula-1 racing prototypes over the next three days. The winners of the competition will be declared on July 3rd after three days of intense scrutiny and concept design evaluation of the Formula-1 racing prototypes.
This is the first time in India that such a competition is being organized for under graduate and graduate engineering students. India’s leading car manufacturer, Maruti Suzuki has teamed up with SUPRA SAEINDIA to facilitate this initiative. Through such initiatives, Maruti Suzuki is connecting with the youth and is nurturing their skills in automotive technology. This is one more step by the company towards aligning itself with the overall Automotive Mission Plan (AMP 2016) a dream to make India an International Automotive Hub.
Maruti Suzuki’s vision is to enhance its R&D capability that can work collaboratively with Suzuki to design cars for the global markets. Like SUPRA SAEINDIA Formula-1 car prototype designing, Maruti Suzuki has undertaken several initiatives in the recent past to connect with the youth such as holding guest lectures, offering sponsorships and providing engineering infrastructure support through engine, transmission and other vehicle systems.
Explains Mr. Sudam Maitra, Managing Executive Officer, Supply Chain, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, “We are proud to be associated with this initiative. Our effort is to engage with young engineering students. Events like the SUPRA SAEINDIA are part of Maruti Suzuki’s overall R&D capability journey. By 2020, India could very well be the third largest car market after USA and China. This translates into multiple models, multiple power trains, multiple variants. Many of today’s budding engineers will be designing these cars. The SUPRA SAEINDIA initiative will help to prepare the young minds for bigger roles.”
As part of the competition, young engineering students conceive, design, fabricate and compete on a working model or a prototype of a F1 type racing car. The event offers a 'real world’ engineering challenge to students.
Adds Mr. Maitra, “The competing prototypes have been developed under constant mentoring and guidance of Maruti Suzuki engineers. Since its flag-off in early March this year, many senior Maruti Suzuki engineers have undertaken special training modules for the young teams where they shared the best practices of designing cars. To encourage participation, the company has provided 44 units of power-trains, including engines, transmission systems and ECU to the participating teams, for use in the prototypes.”
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By providing the transmission system, Maruti Suzuki has made is easier and affordable for many students to be a part of this event. This is also the first time when a car company is arranging a complete Powertrain unit – engine, transmission and ECU for the students.
The competition will pick three after the three rigorous rounds. The winning team will get an opportunity to participate at the Delhi Auto Expo 2012. Maruti Suzuki is keen to take forward this partnership in the coming year. The company has invested over 1.5 cr. towards this year’s event.
The event culminates into an HR recruitment drive from 4th July onwards.
About the competition and Maruti Suzuki’s role:
- To encourage participation, the company has provided 44 units of Maruti 800 engines and transmission systems to the teams, for use in the prototypes.
- Incidentally, it is the same trusted, reliable and fuel efficient F8 engine which powers the best seller M-800. It is the smallest engine in MSIL stable responsive and peppy engine is best suited for a racing prototype. The engine delivers superb power and returns high fuel efficiency even on a racing prototype.
- 4 Maruti Suzuki engineers are part of the technical inspection team of the SUPRA SAEINDIA judges panel. In all there are 30 inspectors (SAE, Maruti Suzuki and other automobile companies).
- In addition, 4 Maruti Suzuki engineers are part of the Cost evaluation panel
- Maruti Suzuki engineers on regular intervals have visited and mentored the teams from ITM Gurgaon, Manav Rachna International University, PEC Chandigarh and UPES (University of Petroleum and Energy Studies) from Dehradun
- As a market leader, MSIL has to constantly update its products and services in tune with the changing needs and aspirations of the younger consumer. Just in the past five years the average age of its car buyers has seen a sharp drop of 10 years. For these younger customers MSIL makes youthful and energetic cars, while not compromising on the value of fuel efficiency. This initiative with SAEINDIA helps to reinforce Maruti Suzuki’s strong connect with the youth
- More than 50% of India’s population is 25 years of age and are the future customers. With such initiatives Maruti Suzuki is building its brand and aims to capture a mind share of these future customers.