Pune-based automotive seating and interiors product supplier Pinnacle Industries has appointed Rahul Desai as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Desai comes with around three decades of experience in the auto components sector and has expertise in greenfield projects, technology transfers, operational excellence, business transformation, financial strategy, innovation and strategic planning.

He has held senior leadership positions at companies such as CIE India, GKN Sinter Metals and Inteva Products India Automotive.  

At Pinnacle Industries, he will be responsible to oversee operations across manufacturing plants and supporting functions.

Arihant Mehta, President, Pinnacle Industries, said, "Rahul brings the perfect blend of industry experience and a forward-thinking approach that aligns with our vision. His deep understanding of the auto component landscape, combined with his focus on innovation and operational excellence, will be key to refining our strategy and enhancing execution across the organisation.”

Rahul Desai, said, “The automotive components and interiors industry is evolving rapidly, with a growing focus on sustainability, customisation, safety and smart technologies, all driven by changing consumer preferences. At Pinnacle Industries, I see a strong foundation and a clear opportunity to deliver innovative solutions that align with these transformative trends. As I take on this role, my focus will be on driving operational excellence, enhancing customer centricity, and investing in employee development to ensure we are fully equipped for the ambitious growth ahead. We will build on our strengths, embrace change and create long-term value for our customers, employees and stakeholders.”

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Valeo has received a contract from a global automaker to produce interior lighting systems using In-Mold Structural Electronics (IMSE) technology. The programme utilises solutions from TactoTek to integrate lighting and electronics into a single structure. This award brings Valeo’s total order intake for interior lighting to nearly EUR 1 billion since 2024, a figure that includes light lines, pixelated solutions and smart surfaces.

The project focuses on interior structures where electronics are embedded directly into finished parts. This method produces a flush surface and creates a structure that is thinner and lighter than traditional assemblies. The design reduces material usage and energy consumption while increasing the durability of the components. To support the contract, Valeo has commissioned an automated production line designed for the high-volume manufacturing of these integrated systems.

The collaboration with TactoTek provides the foundation for scaling smart surfaces into large-scale production. By replacing multi-part assemblies with unified structures, Valeo aims to meet industry demand for interiors that combine design and functionality. The new production line is intended to optimise processes for the industrialisation of IMSE-based solutions, which the companies claim offers cost competitiveness and flexibility for future design changes.

Maurizio Martinelli, CEO - Light Division, Valeo, said, “This award sets a new benchmark for next generation interior solutions. Valeo’s lighting expertise and industrial capabilities, combined with IMSE technology, are enabling us to bring highly advanced, smart interior systems into large-scale production. It also reflects our commitment to shaping the future of mobility in a way that brings lasting value to customers globally.”

Jussi Harvela, CEO, TactoTek, added, “Our cooperation with Valeo and the commissioning of a dedicated new production line mark an important milestone in the large-scale industrial adoption of IMSE technology, whose cost competitiveness and ability to support future design evolution were decisive factors in securing the award. This collaboration demonstrates how our vision for smart surfaces transforms into a scalable solution that serves leading automotive manufacturers.”

The integration of electronics into structural parts is a direction for the automotive sector as manufacturers seek to reduce vehicle weight and simplify interior architectures.

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A large-scale tree planting effort, Vriksharopan Abhiyan, has been inaugurated at the Jat Regiment premises in Pune’s Lullanagar. This initiative is a collaborative effort between Tenneco Clean Air India, the 15th Battalion of the Jat Regiment and the Vaghmi Foundation. The project involves planting 5,000 saplings with a dedicated 18-month maintenance plan to promote their long-term survival and growth.

Demonstrating a shared commitment to environmental stewardship, the launch saw participation from leadership and personnel across all three partner organisations. To ensure accountability, every sapling will be individually tagged and documented, allowing the Vaghmi Foundation to conduct systematic monitoring and quarterly survival reports. Tenneco and Foundation employees will further support the project through periodic site visits, fostering ongoing environmental responsibility.

As an integral part of the global Tenneco Group, Tenneco Clean Air India combines advanced engineering and manufacturing expertise to supply critical automotive systems within India. The company remains dedicated to responsible operations, with this plantation drive reflecting its broader focus on sustainability and community partnership.

Rishi Verma, President, Tenneco India, said, “The Vriksharopan Abhiyan is a meaningful step in Tenneco’s larger ambition to contribute to India’s environmental priorities. Our focus is on nurturing long-term green cover through structured care, protection and scientific monitoring. Through this collaborative effort, we aim to create healthier, more resilient ecosystems that benefit the community for years to come.”

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Mativ Holdings, Inc. has announced an equity investment in Miru Smart Technologies to advance the commercial production of electrochromic window technology. The investment strengthens a partnership established in 2024, focusing on technical validation and readiness for vehicle platforms.

Based in Georgia, Mativ operates across two segments: Filtration & Advanced Materials and Sustainable & Adhesive Solutions, with manufacturing facilities on three continents.

The collaboration utilises Mativ’s Argotec polymer films within Miru’s manufacturing process. Since the start of their joint development, the companies have produced a compound-curved electrochromic sunroof measuring 1.5 m by 1.6 m and fulfilled purchase orders from glass manufacturers in 2025. The current agreement aligns Miru’s 2028 objective of deploying 10 million square feet of windows with Mativ’s extrusion capacity.

The partnership integrates TPU-based films into a patented process to meet automotive performance standards and solar heat control requirements. According to the companies, the technology provides a neutral tint and clarity that can increase the range of electric vehicles by up to 10 percent.

The infrastructure is being optimised to support volume manufacturing for the automotive and architectural sectors. The solutions have previously been presented at industry events including Glasstec 2024 and Glass Performance Days 2025.

Shruti Singhal, President and CEO, Mativ, said, “Mativ pioneers engineered materials designed to tackle the world’s most complex challenges through innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability. Building on our strong 2025 performance, this investment underscores our confidence in Miru’s technology and our shared goal to establish eWindows, integrated with Argotec technology, as the global standard for energy-efficient glazing.”

Curtis Berlinguette, Founder and CEO, Miru, said, “Miru’s growth reflects the work of translating breakthrough technology into a production-ready vehicle platform. This progress has been shaped by close collaboration with our partners, and Mativ has played an important role in that journey. With this investment, we strengthen our manufacturing capabilities and supply chain to bring the next generation of smart windows to market.”

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Harman, a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., has announced updates to its Ready product line and car audio offerings. These solutions are available for integration by automakers to manage hardware and software cycles and provide upgradeable vehicle experiences throughout the car's lifecycle.

The company focuses on execution across software, hardware and artificial intelligence. The updated portfolio is designed to address integration complexity and lifecycle costs for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

The updated toolchain includes Ready CQuence Loop for cloud-native validation across virtual and physical targets. It also features Ready CQuence Run, a Type-1 automotive hypervisor used for secure isolation in 20 million electronic control units (ECUs). For fleet management, the Ready Link Marketplace and Smart Delta technology support updates for over 80 million vehicles, offering access to 190 applications.

Harman has introduced Ready StreamShare, which utilises a Bluetooth hub and low-latency headphones to create four personalised media zones. This allows for individual listening and cabin conversation. The HALOsonic system provides electronic sound synthesis for vehicle signatures, while branded audio updates include Genre Optimiser and Smart Bass Impact to adjust cabin acoustics using AI.

The Ready Care system uses in-cabin intelligence to monitor driver and occupant vitals, including heartbeat detection. For external awareness, Ready Connect provides telematics supporting 4G, 5G and satellite communication. Ready Aware utilises vehicle-to-network (V2N) connectivity to provide hazard alerts, supported by machine learning to filter information and acoustic sensing to detect emergency vehicles.

The display range includes Ready Display, utilising Samsung Neo QLED technology. This is the first automotive display to receive HDR10+ certification. For the driver's line of sight, Ready Vision QVUE provides a windshield display featuring gaze-aware brightness tuning and eMirror Live View for navigation.

Christian Sobottka, Chief Executive Officer and President, Automotive Division, Harman, said, “In the vehicle, AI, Machine Learning and other emerging technologies are no longer a differentiator on their own. Execution is what wins. What sets Harman apart is our ability to orchestrate software, hardware, AI, audio, and visual technologies into holistic, road-ready experiences that meet consumer demand. With our integrated product portfolio and advanced developer tools, we’re helping OEMs solve key challenges like integration complexity and lifecycle costs, so that they can deliver rapid, consumer‑focused innovation across evolving vehicle platforms that bring their customers genuine delight behind the wheel.”

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