Connected vehicles, predictive maintenance, and data-driven fleet management are fast becoming the tools that separate high-performing fleets from the rest, says, Mr. Sudeesh Karimbingal, Managing Director India & VP – OE RoA and MEA, MANN+HUMMEL.
The automotive and commercial mobility sector is entering a decade of profound transformation driven by electrification, digitalisation, sustainability, and evolving customer expectations.
While electrification will continue to accelerate, the future will not be defined by a single technology. “We expect a diversified mobility ecosystem comprising battery electric, hybrid, hydrogen, and increasingly efficient conventional powertrains, each serving specific applications and market needs, Mr. Karimbingal said.
For commercial mobility, the focus will shift from ownership to operational efficiency, with connected vehicles, predictive maintenance, and data-driven fleet management becoming key differentiators. Sustainability will also move from compliance to business imperative, as emissions, energy efficiency, and circularity regulations increasingly shape product development and investment decisions across the value chain.
India is uniquely positioned within this transformation. With its strong engineering talent, manufacturing ecosystem, and growing innovation capabilities, the country is increasingly becoming a global hub for product development and technology solutions serving worldwide markets, he mentioned.
The Road Ahead
“At MANN+HUMMEL, our vision is centred on enabling cleaner mobility, cleaner air, cleaner water, and cleaner industry through advanced filtration technologies. Guiding this vision is our purpose of ‘separating the useful from the harmful’—whether it is protecting critical vehicle systems from contaminants, improving air quality, enabling access to cleaner water, or supporting more sustainable industrial processes,” he said.
As one of the world’s leading filtration specialists, the company is continuously investing in innovation to support the evolving needs of mobility and industrial applications. Its focus extends from advanced air and fluid filtration to solutions supporting electrification, thermal management, hydrogen technologies, and environmental protection.
“A key milestone in this journey is the launch of our Global Technology & Innovation Center (GTIC) in Tumkur, India, our largest development center outside Germany. The center integrates advanced R&D, testing, digital engineering, and analytics capabilities, enabling faster innovation and stronger customer collaboration globally,” he noted.
Looking towards 2030, MANN+HUMMEL’s priorities are clear — accelerating innovation, expanding digital capabilities, advancing sustainable product design, and developing energy-efficient filtration solutions. As mobility systems become smarter, cleaner, and more connected, filtration will play an increasingly important role in enhancing performance, protecting critical systems, and supporting long-term operational efficiency, Mr. Karimbingal added.
“With its strong engineering talent, manufacturing ecosystem, and growing innovation capabilities, India is increasingly becoming a global hub for product development and technology solutions serving worldwide markets.”