Indore set to host the 5th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA 2012

Indore set to host the 5^th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA 2012

●      All set to promote young talent in the field of engineering

●      250 teams registered to design all terrain vehicles

Indore: SAEINDIA, a professional society of automotive engineers with a vision to continuously enrich knowledge base of Engineers and students, today said that Indore would once again witness the launch of the 5^th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA 2012 with title sponsorship of Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. (M&M Ltd.), a part of the US $12.5 billion Mahindra Group. Aimed to provide an opportunity for showcasing their passion for automobiles to the young, enthusiastic and talented engineering students, BAJA SAEINDIA 2012 will facilitate young talents to conceive, design and fabricate 4-wheeled single-seater All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs).

BAJA SAEINDIA is an educational pursuit for the engineering college students, an out-of-classroom-education system, where engineering students from all over India can participate as a team, giving them pragmatic exposure to real world challenges as faced in the industry. Originally started in the USA by the SAE International as MINI BAJA, today it is being organized in several countries. In India, it is being organized as BAJA SAEINDIA,a student level competition in which teams from universities all over the nation plan, design, analyze, fabricate and validate an ATV which is evaluated during a series of Static, Dynamic and Durability events like design, cost evaluation, presentation, Max speed, acceleration, manoeuvrability, hill climb and endurance.

The 5^th edition of BAJA SAEINDIA 2012 has seen registrations from 250 teams. These teams participated against each other in Virtual BAJA, an elimination round where virtual vehicle mock-ups are created with exact specifications and based on presentation by the teams, the best 100 are shortlisted. The contest scheduled from 17^th to 19^th February 2012, will see these 100 teams competing with their dream vehicles at NATRiP site atPitampur, near Indore, showcasing their skills, understanding and passion for automobiles. For more details, please visit www.bajasaeindia.org.

Dr. Pawan Goenka, President, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra said, “At Mahindra we have championed the cause of BAJA SAEINDIA since its inception in the year 2007. Today Mahindra is delighted to be associated with BAJA SAEINDIA 2012 as the title sponsor and strengthen this association. We are dedicated to honing the skills of young engineering students, which goes a long way towards developing the engineering potential of the youth and the technical human resource required for India. Events like these will help young engineering talent to use their dexterity in formulating newer technologies and engineering processes. Further the idea is to build a sustainable talent pipeline for the industry and help students at a young age to engage in nurturing their imaginative acumen in maths, science and engineering”.

Dr. Goenka further added, “In fact as an organization we have always promoted and provided opportunities for auto enthusiasts to engage in, through unique initiatives such as Auto Quotient.Today more than 25 BAJA team members work in Mahindra, who are selected through BAJA HR Meets scheduled at the end of each BAJA event”.

According to Dr. K. C. Vora, Advisor BAJA SAEINDIA and Dy. Director& Head of ARAI Academy, ARAI, Pune, “This is a unique event that blends the out-of-class-room education and hands-on-experience for enhancing leadership, team work and innovation among engineering students.  The participation of Automotive Industry is fuelled by the energy and creativity of large number of professionals and technicians engaged in the form of organizers, technical inspectors and judges. Every year, the sponsoring industry gives on-the-spot-offer-letters to select students, immediately after the event during the BAJA HR meet. Especially in India, where our industry is rapidly gaining maturity on a global scale, we will need to plan for a large intake of motivated and qualified young talent”.

“NATRIP (National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project) is pleased to be associated with BAJA SAEINDIA and has provided 268 acres of land for the torture moto-cross track in its upcoming National Automotive Test Track (NATRAX) site in  Pithampur” said Dr. N. Karuppaiah, Additional Director & Site Head, NATRIP. He said that BAJA provides the students out-of class engineering education and NATRAX is the perfect platform for the budding engineers to prove their mettle in design, development and racing of vehicles.

The other sponsors include ARAI, ANAND GROUP, ANSYS, BPCL, CUMMINS, EATON, FIAT, GENERAL MOTORS, JOHN DEERE, JOHNSON MATTHEY, NATRiP, VARROC, etc.ANSYS has thoroughly trained the teams in analysis, in addition to providing them its simulation and design software, whereas Briggs & Stratton are sponsoring new engines with subsidised cost. Mr. Mahendra Kumbhar, Convener of BAJA SAEINDIA confirmed that “We are shifting from Lombardini to Briggs & Stratton engine to make 2013 as international event, since teams worldwide are employing Briggs & Stratton engine in Baja vahicles”.

For further information, please contact

Atul Malikram

9827092823