Aligarh-headquartered automotive component maker Pavna Industries is forming a a 80:20 joint venture with Taiwan-based SmartChip Microelectronic Corporation (SMC).

As per the understanding, Pavna will undertake and carry on the business of inter-alia making electronic components for the automobile industry (ICE & EV) and other industries, including hardware for residential/commercial industries, aero and medical, among others in India.

The JV will leverage Pavna’s operational, manufacturing and procurement expertise, as well as its deep understanding of the Indian automotive market, to oversee and manage the operations in India.

On the other hand, SMC will contribute its present and future technical skills, innovations and R&D capabilities in automotive e-lock systems, EV components like motor controller, throttle body, dashboard for two-wheeler & three-wheeler, EV charging piles and e-locking solutions for residential and commercial applications. SMC’s engineering and product development expertise will ensure the JV remains technologically advanced and globally competitive.

Swapnil Jain, Managing Director, Pavna Industries, sai,d "This strategic partnership is an important milestone on our path to emerging as a mobility solutions leader in advanced technologies. By merging Pavna's manufacturing and market capabilities with SMC's state-of-the-art electronics knowledge, we expect to speed up the penetration of EV technologies in India as well as grow into new high-growth markets. With this partnership, we will also further enhance our capacity to serve domestic and global markets with innovative, dependable, and sustainable solutions."

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Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. has introduced a newly designed automotive air conditioning register that features a nearly invisible aperture, significantly enhancing the visual appeal of vehicle cabins. This innovative component made its debut on the Toyota bZ7, which launched in China during March 2026.

As electrified and autonomous driving technologies advance, car interiors are evolving from mere transportation spaces into comfortable, lounge-like environments. This shift has increased the demand for instrument panels with sleek, uncluttered appearances. In response, Toyoda Gosei employed flow analysis simulation to develop an airflow direction control mechanism that optimises air movement. This innovation allows the vertical airflow adjustment fins, which previously created bulky openings, to be concealed entirely.

The result is a seamless instrument panel where the register integrates effortlessly without compromising air conditioning performance. Beyond improved aesthetics, the system replaces conventional manual controls with an electronic interface operated via the screen, adding a modern, sophisticated touch.

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Schaeffler, the motion technology company, has been awarded the German Innovation Award in the ‘Large Companies’ category for its Industrial Metaverse. This digital ecosystem integrates artificial intelligence (AI), simulation models, and software to connect physical manufacturing floors with virtual environments. The platform is designed to facilitate a transition towards autonomous production, specifically supporting the deployment of humanoid robots and automated guided vehicles (AGVs).

The Industrial Metaverse functions by combining three-dimensional digital maps of production sites with simulations of physical processes. By evaluating sensor signals through physical AI, the system identifies patterns and determines actions for autonomous resources. This allows robots to practice motion sequences and enables the optimisation of assembly processes in a virtual space before physical implementation. Currently, the technology is operational at ten Schaeffler locations, with a target to expand to 50 percent of its global plants by 2030.

The award is presented annually by WirtschaftsWoche in partnership with Accenture, the BMW Foundation, and O2 Telefónica, under the patronage of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. It recognises innovations that contribute to the competitiveness of German and European industry. Schaeffler’s application of the metaverse is intended to automate complex processes that were previously considered uneconomical.

Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO, Schaeffler, said, “We are very pleased to have received the German Innovation Award in the ‘Large Companies’ category. With the Industrial Metaverse, we are not only creating a digital twin of our plants but also a learning ecosystem in manufacturing that will help secure our long-term competitiveness. By using AI in industrial applications and deploying humanoid robots in manufacturing, we are laying the foundation for the factory of the future.”

Dr. Jochen Schroder, COO, Schaeffler, said, “For us, the Industrial Metaverse is far more than just a means to optimize processes. It is the key enabler for the scaling up of humanoid robots, as cyber-physical systems can already be trained by physical AI in the virtual space quickly and efficiently. By using the Industrial Metaverse, we are paving the way for flexible, high-level automation and greater efficiency in our worldwide volume production.”

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Marelli has appointed Frederick ‘Fritz’ Henderson as interim Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. He succeeds David Slump, who remains on the board of directors until the company concludes its Chapter 11 restructuring. Following Henderson’s interim tenure, the company’s lenders intend to appoint Laurent Favre as the permanent Chief Executive Officer.

The company has also announced the appointment of Roberto Fioroni as Chief Financial Officer and Helen Redfern as Chief Human Resources Officer, with both scheduled to join on 1 May 2026.

Fioroni and Redfern move to Marelli from Dowlais Plc, where they served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief People Officer respectively. Fioroni replaces Alanna Abrahamson in the finance role.

Henderson’s career includes tenures as the Chief Executive of General Motors and Suncoke Energy, as well as the non-executive Chairmanship of Adient. His appointment is intended to provide stability as Marelli completes the final months of its financial reorganisation. The new leadership team will focus on the company's strategic roadmap and its transition into a growth phase following the legal proceedings.

Dinesh Paliwal, Executive Chairman of the Board, said, “These appointments are designed to transition Marelli’s leadership team as we seek to complete our restructuring. Fritz’s operating experience and automotive expertise will be invaluable to Marelli as we work through the final months of this process. The Board thanks David Slump for his contributions to the company’s operational and commercial restructuring and for guiding the business through a critical period under Chapter 11, ensuring continuity and stability across our global operations. We are grateful for his leadership, discipline and commitment to Marelli and its stakeholders.”

Frederick Henderson, stated, “Marelli is distinguished by its exceptional technology, long-standing customer relationships and tremendous global talent. As Marelli’s Interim CEO, my focus is on ensuring stability and continuity while translating the company’s strengths and potential into sustainable performance and long-term value. In the near term, my priorities are to finalise our strategic roadmap and support a successful emergence from Chapter 11. I am also pleased to welcome Roberto Fioroni as CFO and Helen Redfern as CHRO. Their experience and capabilities will further strengthen Marelli and support the company through this important transition and into its next phase of growth.”

David Slump, commented, “As Marelli finalises its strategic roadmap and prepares for its next phase of growth, now is a natural time to transition leadership. I’m proud of our team’s achievements over the past four years, particularly the steps taken in innovation and technology, and I am optimistic that Marelli will continue to build on its legacy following emergence from chapter 11. I want to thank Alanna for her leadership and contributions and wish her the best in future endeavours.”

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KRAIBURG TPE has introduced an innovative material solution built upon its well-established THERMOLAST K product line, specifically engineered for automotive sealing applications. This new variant combines proven performance traits with enhanced ecological benefits, incorporating a recycling content that exceeds 50 percent derived from both post-industrial and post-consumer sources. Despite this high proportion of recycled material, the compound does not compromise on the stringent quality, functional reliability and processability standards demanded by the automotive sector.

In close collaboration with long-term partner SaarGummi, an international automotive supplier, KRAIBURG TPE set out to create a more sustainable alternative that could seamlessly replace conventional materials in existing applications. The partnership began development work in 2023, focusing on increasing recycled raw material usage while preserving the high mechanical load capacity, resistance to various environmental factors and dependable industrial processing characteristics required for automotive components. Early-stage testing under comparable conditions confirmed that the new recycling-based variant met all relevant requirements and could be reliably integrated into standard production workflows.

The joint effort has yielded a thermoplastic elastomer solution featuring a recycling content of approximately 56 percent, composed entirely of post-industrial and post-consumer recyclates. This outcome enables a material option with significantly reduced resource consumption for demanding automotive uses, answering the growing need for sustainability across the entire value chain without sacrificing quality or manufacturing efficiency.

Alexander Mayer, Senior Business Development Manager, KRAIBURG TPE, said, “The first results have shown that we are on the right track with this development. Our aim was to design a materials solution that saves more resources while meeting the high quality standards of the automotive industry.”

Sebastien Roux, TPE Material & Process Specialist, SaarGummi, said, “The new material meets the requirements of our application and can be reliably combined with existing components. At the same time, the increased recycling content makes an important contribution to greater sustainability. It was possible not only to increase the recycling content but also to reduce the product carbon footprint (PCF) of the material compared to that of the previous variant.”

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