TCS to support General Motors with engineering and design
IT services firm Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has cemented a partnership with General Motors (GM) to work with the latter’s Bengaluru Technical Center, providing engineering and design services. More than 1,300 GM professionals from the Technical Center will move to TCS under the partnership terms.
Financials of the transaction have not been revealed, although TCS is set to support the American car manufacturer’s global operations through its affiliation with GM's Bengaluru hub, to an extent revealing a sizeable contract. The GM Technical Center in Bengaluru will act as a base for solutions across the globe.
The 1,300 plus GM employees that will move to TCS under the agreement are set to work on developing solutions for propulsion systems, vehicle engineering, controls development, testing, creative design and special projects. The transition process is set to be complete by the end of September.
GM joins a host of other automotive companies in turning to IT consultants, as the sector looks to make the most of Industry 4.0 applications to enhance the production process. Consumer demands from the automotive sector are evolving in tandem with technological changes, and the pressure is on to deliver.
New solutions emerging at GM's Technical Center will not be available for the Indian market, given that the car manufacturer terminated sales in the country in 2017, in a move to reduce its spending across the globe. The firm previously marketed only one of its brands – Chevrolet – in India, but struggled to make headway in the country, given that it had occupied less than 1% of the market share over two decades.
Nevertheless, the Bengaluru hub and a manufacturing unit were kept open, as the company sought to retain the benefits drawn from India’s low-cost manufacturing landscape. With support from India’s largest IT services firm, the technology centre will now develop comprehensive solutions for the global market.
“This partnership will make both companies stronger: GM will benefit from the scale and cross-sectoral knowledge of TCS, while TCS will benefit from the influx of world-class engineering talent,” said Brian McMurray, Vice President of Engineering & Operations at the Technical Center in Bengaluru.
Global Head of TCS’ Engineering and Electricals Practice, Regu Ayyaswamy added, “We are delighted to elevate our long-standing relationship with GM to a strategic partnership. TCS is excited to be part of GM’s efforts in next generation mobility, helping them design and engineer world class vehicles that set new benchmarks in driving experience, safety and emissions.”
