CSM Tech, a prominent Indian IT firm, joins forces with the esteemed Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) setting an ambitious target to craft the world’s premier autonomously driven electric race car by 2025.
With a significant global footprint spanning Africa, Dubai, the US, and Canada, CSM Tech has found a strong ally in Raftar, IIT-M’s motorsport team. Born as a student initiative in 2012, Raftar brings together 40 enthusiastic members from varied disciplines, all drawn by their love for automotive engineering and motorsport.
This pioneering partnership was cemented with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) sealed between Priyadarshi Nanu Pany, the dynamic founder of CSM Tech, Lagna Panda, CHRO of the company, and l Manu Santhanam, Dean of Industry Contribution and Sponsored Research at IIT-M. Distinguished individuals like Associate Professor Aravind Kumar Chandiran from the Department of Chemical Engineering and the dedicated members of Raftar graced the event.
Pany, expressing unwavering confidence in the venture, voiced, “This is the future. I am backing it.” He underscored the prowess of IIT-M students and faculty, spotlighting their indigenous strides in electronics, embedded systems, and diverse domain mastery. He championed Raftar’s potential, foreseeing transformative impacts on passenger transport, heavy-duty vehicles, telemetry, and vehicle tracking.
Each year, a formidable team of 40 students, representing eight diverse disciplines, converge at the Centre for Innovation, IIT Madras. Their shared aspiration is to build an unmatched Formula Student race car. Their ambition transcends domestic boundaries, striving to position India on global motorsport charts and championing the Formula Student ethos within the nation.
Their tenacity is evident from their accomplishments. Not only have they claimed the top spot at Formula Bharat three times – the zenith of motorsports for educational institutions in India – but they’ve also made their mark internationally. Their achievements resonate in events like Formula Germany, securing their reputation in university-level combustion and EV segments.
This collaboration, while signaling India’s ascent on the global automotive stage, epitomizes a commitment to technological breakthroughs, indigenous innovation, and shaping the future of automotive racing.
EDITOR’S PICKS | Renault’s Alpine Charts Hydrogen Path for Europe’s Racing Future
