Often Indian students, especially those pursuing higher education in automobile sector, aspire to go to Germany which is known as the epitome of automotive excellence.

However, Nicolaus Vorwerk and Adrian Fuegert, students from HSBA-Hamburg school of business administration, Germany, recently visited India for a three-month long study trip to the Sona Groups’ Headquarters at Gurgaon. Before their departure from India, Nicolaus and Adrian shared their experiences of learning on the job and the City life, with Metrolife.

“The automotive industry in India is almost as developed as the German automotive industry. The market in Germany is mostly concentrated with fewer but large players, while in India the market is very fragmented with a long value chain. There are a lot of small players for a big market. The resources might be insufficient but the way the people work here is impressive,” shares Nicolaus.

Both were assigned three projects related to employee satisfaction, training effectiveness and brand strategy, which they carried out after field work at Kashmere Gate and other automotive markets.

“Experiencing the vibrant automobile industry in Delhi was definitely very astonishing,” shares Adrian. Both feel that more than anything ‘the chance to work in a family managed company where human values of respect and friendship are lived every day’ has influenced them the most.
During their study trip, they realised that human relationships, as the basis of motivation, is missing in the German working culture. “We were very grateful and excited about the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge about one of the fastest growing countries in the world.”

Besides work, they will always cherish their visit to the Taj Mahal. “We explored Delhi and visited the Red Fort, Akshardham Temple, Purana Quila, Connaught Place, India Gate and Chandni Chowk. We walked through the narrow streets of Chandni Chowk and saw the vibrant life of India and thus discovered the ‘bazaar culture’ in India besides finding some top notch suit and shoemakers tucked into Connaught Place and Khan Market. Everybody was more than keen to help us, if we had any questions,” says Adrian. 

“We initiated our trip with some doubts about our ability to adjust in an emerging market like India. But now we can say that we would come back for more!” he says with enthusiasm.