INDEA has formed a strategic collaboration with ATS India (Automotive Test Systems), operating under the auspices of the XLRI Centre for car Design & Management (XADM), India's first school specifically dedicated to automobile design and management. This partnership represents a critical turning point in the school's development. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Avik Chattopadhyay, Chairperson of XADM and Founder of INDEA, and S Ramanathan, Managing Director of ATS India.

In keeping with its pioneering role in the field of automotive education, ATS will supervise the whole project management process as part of the MoU. This includes designing, setting up and commissioning the proposed design studio and prototyping facility within the school. The duties include defining the necessary servers, software, hardware and other equipment as well as the civil infrastructure, which includes the water and energy supplies. In order to guarantee ongoing operational effectiveness, the MoU also calls for the selection of premier suppliers and partners in addition to long-term maintenance agreements. The goal of this partnership is to increase capacity building and knowledge sharing between the two companies, all the while maximising resource utilisation for testing and research.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Fr K S Casimir, Director, XLRI Delhi-NCR, said, “The partnership with ATS is a significant step in the direction of building a world-class design facility as part of the design school. We value their expertise and experience. Together, we will bring the best brands in the business as partners in setting up an institution for the greater good that will do the nation proud.”

Avik Chattopadhyay, Chairperson – XADM and Founder – INDEA, added, “To create a global benchmark, one needs the best domain experts, and we at XADM are privileged to have ATS as one at the initial stages of the setting up of India's first dedicated automobile design school. They will get the best from across the world for the design and prototyping facilities that are core to the school. Ramanathan and the ATS team share our dream and commitment towards building a world-class institution.”

S Ramanathan, MD, ATS India, commented, “The setting up of the state-of-the-art centre focusing on Automotive Design Management by XLRI is a first in India. It’ll give an opportunity for the students to learn the nuances of designing and developing as well as managing an automotive ‘protoshop’. They’ll get to learn design management, parts manufacturing, vehicle integration as well as basic testing and validation. It will benefit the industry in a big way, especially start-ups who can come and use these facilities for their product development. We expect this project to set up a great example of industry-academia collaboration in the automotive space and are really happy to be associated with such a prestigious project.”

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Uno Minda has launched a new range of four-wheeler LED bulbs for passenger cars for the aftermarket at prices starting at INR 3,500.

The LED range is offered in power output options of 90W, 110W, 150W, 170W, 220W and 300W, generating 6000K light output. It features AC/DC electrical compatibility, an internal copper core for heat dissipation and an anti-rust powder coating to prevent corrosion. The design provides low and high beam patterns intended to replace factory-fitted halogen bulbs across multiple car models.

Anand Kumar, Business Head, Uno Minda Aftermarket, said, “In line with our commitment to Driving the New, Uno Minda introduces the upgraded 4-Wheeler LED Bulb range, engineered to combine enhanced road safety, superior performance, and modern styling. Emitting a 6000K Crystal White Light with a precise high/low beam pattern, these bulbs maximize visibility of lane markings and road signs for safer night driving. Built for exceptional durability and heat management, the range features a high-conductivity Copper Core, robust anti-rust powder coating, and broad AC/DC compatibility. Available in multiple wattage options, Uno Minda LED bulbs deliver a premium aesthetic upgrade and long-lasting dependability for modern passenger cars.”

The component range is priced between INR 3,500 and INR 18,000 for the 150W, 170W and 220W variants.

The LED range can be purchased through traditional automotive retail stockists as well as e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart and the company's dedicated portal, Uno Minda Kart.

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Spinny, a leading used car buying and selling platform, has announced partnerships with car manufacturers Nissan, JSW MG Motor India and Tesla to expand its services across buying, selling, exchange, evaluation, refurbishment and retail operations in India.

The agreements connect vehicle manufacturer operations with Spinny's platform to service internal combustion engine and electric vehicle transactions. At present, Spinny operates across 80 cities in India, maintaining 57 car hubs, 17 Spinny Parks and 15 integrated restoration centres.

Under the partnership with Nissan India, Spinny provides a 55-minute vehicle exchange program offering exchange benefits up to INR 75,000 for customers exchanging vehicles for new Nissan models. Nissan dealerships will accept Spinny-issued buying letters to complete the exchange process.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “At Nissan Motor India, we remain committed to creating greater value for both our customers and dealer partners through innovative and customer-centric solutions. Our collaboration with Spinny as a preferred exchange partner represents a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening our vehicle exchange ecosystem, enhancing the overall customer experience and contributing meaningfully to dealership growth.”

For Tesla, Spinny operates as an exchange partner under the Switch and Save program, facilitating the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles for buyers transitioning to Tesla models, including the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive.

The partnership with JSW MG Motor India focuses on pre-owned electric vehicles across models including the MG Comet EV, MG Windsor EV and MG ZS EV. Spinny provides battery health assessments, certifications, refurbishment and warranty continuity across cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Coimbatore.

Vinay Raina, Chief Commercial Officer, JSW MG Motor India, said, “Our aim is to become a leading NEV brand in the country and as electric mobility continues to gain momentum in India, building a strong and trusted pre-owned ecosystem will be critical to accelerating adoption. Our partnership with Spinny enables us to extend confidence across the ownership lifecycle while making electric mobility more accessible, transparent and rewarding for customers.”

Niraj Singh, Founder and CEO, Spinny, said, “The future of automotive is not just about selling cars, but about building a more connected ownership ecosystem. At Spinny, we believe trust will be at the heart of that evolution. Our partnerships with Nissan, JSW MG Motor India and Tesla bring together OEM expertise and reach with our capabilities across buying, selling, evaluation and restoration, all with a sharp focus on customer experience and value. Alongside partners, we are bringing together different parts of the automotive journey to make it simpler, more transparent and more rewarding for customers, from discovering and buying a car to selling, exchanging, upgrading and owning it.”

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SMK Helmets has received a four-star safety rating for its Typhoon full-face helmet from the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme, the UK Department for Transport's testing body. The result makes SMK the first Indian helmet manufacturer to obtain a 4-star rating under the scheme.

Established in 2007, the UK programme conducts independent evaluations of helmets purchased directly from retail outlets. The evaluation protocol subjects seven samples across size ranges to 32 impact tests. These tests involve striking five areas of the helmet at impact velocities of 6.0, 7.5 and 8.5 metres per second to measure energy transmission to the head, before assigning a final rating out of five stars.

The Typhoon full-face model is constructed with an Energy-Impact-Resistant Thermoplastic shell and weighs 1.6 kilogrammes. It features a drop-down sun visor, Pinlock 30 lens, anti-scratch coatings, multi-point ventilation channels and a quick-release buckle system. Certified to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ECE 22.06 standard, the helmet is produced in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXXL and sells in India from INR 5,200.

Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SMK, said, “SMK has engineered helmets around top protection for years – The SHARP rating is simply independent, public validation of that approach. The Typhoon's score reflects a standard we've held ourselves to well before any external test came along to measure it: materials, construction and design built to perform, not just to pass. Indian riders deserve helmets tested to the same yardstick as the world's best-known brands, and this is a step toward making that the norm rather than the exception.”

The certification coincides with SMK's appointment as technical helmet sponsor for the Moto4 Latin Cup. SMK currently distributes its product range in more than 40 international markets.

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Zoomcar, a leading peer-to-peer car-sharing platform and ride-hailing company Uber have formed a partnership to integrate outstation travel options within the Zoomcar application.

As per the understanding, users searching for self-drive vehicles on the Zoomcar platform can access and book Uber Intercity chauffeur-driven rides. The integration allows travellers to compare self-drive rentals alongside chauffeur-driven options on single-trip and round-trip routes within a single interface.

The service has launched across Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Mumbai, with plans to extend the integration to additional cities over time.

The collaboration aligns with shifting consumer preferences in India toward shared mobility access and flexible transport options over vehicle ownership across urban and intercity travel routes.

Deepankar Tiwari, CEO, Zoomcar Holdings, said, “Zoomcar is where India’s most intentional travelers come to plan how they move. Some of them want the freedom of a self-drive car. Others, on other days or other trips, want the comfort of being driven. Both needs are valid, and both deserve a world-class experience. By partnering with Uber, we’re making sure that when a Zoomcar user faces that choice, they don’t have to leave our platform to find the answer. That’s what serving the traveler fully looks like.”

Rishant Ghosh, Director of Consumer & Growth at Uber India & South Asia, said, "Uber Intercity has increasingly become the preferred choice for travel across cities, with demand growing across Tier-2 and metro markets alike. We're also seeing more Indians choose road trips for weekend getaways, family visits and holidays. Through this partnership with Zoomcar, we're making Uber Intercity accessible to even more travelers, giving them another convenient way to book reliable, comfortable outstation rides."

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