At the Auto SCM Summit 2025 in Chennai, leading voices from the automotive and logistics industries came together to explore how supply chains can evolve from local strength to global resilience. The panel, featuring Girish DM (VP Trucks Purchasing, Volvo Group), Sahil Seshadri (Head of Global Sourcing India & SEA, Knorr-Bremse Systems for Commercial Vehicles India), Ponraj Pandian (Head of Materials Management, ZF Commercial Vehicles), and N. Shyam Sundar (Area General Manager – South & East India, CMA CGM), tackled critical themes shaping the future of automotive supply chains.
Discussions ranged from trade tariffs and diversification strategies to the “China Plus X” approach and the shift from Best Cost Country to Best Sourcing Country. The panel, moderated by Reji John, Editor, STAT Publishing Group, highlighted practical approaches in supplier development, risk management, and digitalization, while emphasizing sustainability as a long-term priority.
With insights spanning procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and global sourcing, the session offered real-world perspectives on balancing local competitiveness with global integration. This conversation sheds light on how India and Southeast Asia are becoming pivotal hubs in building smarter, greener, and more resilient supply chains.