Competitive Priorities for Indian Car Manufacturing Industry (2011–2020) for Global Competitiveness

The present paper seeks to identify competitive priorities and their relative importance for Indian Automotive Industry, specifically for passenger cars, during the decade 2011–2020. The relative importance of the competitive priorities and the factors within each priority has been determined based on the responses collected from senior executives and consultants working with the Indian automotive industry. A response sheet has been prepared listing the competitive priorities along with important factors under each priority, based on the study of published research work and consultant reports. A sample industrial survey by getting the response sheet filled from senior executives and consultants of major automotive industries in India has been carried out for determining the ranking of competitive priorities in the order of their importance and weightage of various factors under each priority. The research findings indicate highest preference for the consumer perspective followed by quality and cost. Innovation and product technology have been adjudged as next important competitive priorities. However, delivery has been given comparatively low preference by Indian Automotive manufacturers which shall have to be given preference in the near future for global competitiveness. Flexibility and sustainability, have been assigned low priorities at present but shall have to be given more significance towards the end of this decade. The knowledge of competitive priorities and their relative importance leads to better understanding of manufacturing strategies for the Indian automotive manufacturers during the next decade 2011–2020.