German tier 1 supplier ZF Group has secured a significant contract to supply its 430mm heavy-duty clutch systems to one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

The clutch systems, the company shared, is custom-engineered and manufactured locally, specifically adapted to meet the rigorous demands of Indian operating conditions and will power the OEM's higher horsepower engine platforms for both domestic and select export models.

The agreement, signed in May 2025, involves the supply of several thousand units, with the Start of Production (SOP) scheduled for mid-2026. The clutches will be produced at ZF's Chakan plant in Pune, reinforcing the Group's strategy to strengthen its regional manufacturing capabilities and commitment to localisation in India.

The new clutch system is designed for robust performance and features advanced lining materials that promise up to 20 percent longer clutch life, aiming to reduce maintenance costs and optimise the total cost of ownership for fleet operators. It is also designed to be compatible with both Manual Transmission (MT) and Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) systems.

Akash Passey, President - Region India, ZF Group, said, “ZF’s strategic focus on localisation and innovation for the Indian market, is reconfirmed with this business win. With our globally proven technological expertise and leveraging the strong local manufacturing footprint in India, our customers can access advanced technologies that meet global standards while being tailored for their markets. This win highlights our commitment to strengthening India’s role as a key hub in ZF’s commercial vehicles business.”

Paramjit Singh Chadha, Senior Vice President - CVS Division (India), ZF Group, said, “This business win is a strong endorsement of our advanced heavy-duty clutch technology which perfectly addresses the demanding operating conditions in India. This 430mm clutch system offers superior durability, optimised performance and compatibility with future-ready driveline architectures, including AMT. By localising production at our Chakan facility, we reinforce our commitment to the ‘Make in India’ vision and supporting our customers’ growth ambitions for both domestic and export markets.”

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Sona Comstar) has announced its financial results Q4 FY2026 and FY2026, reporting its highest levels of revenue and profitability to date.  The company recorded growth in its electric vehicle segment, with revenue from battery electric vehicles (BEVs) contributing 39 percent share for FY2026.

For Q4 FY2026, the revenue grew by 47 percent YoY to reach INR 12.72 billion, EBITDA at INR 3.11 billion, up 32 percent YoY, PAT at INR 1.92 billion, an uptick of 17 percent YoY. Interestingly, revenue from battery electric vehicles program reached INR 3.59 billion, marking a 22 percent YoY increase.

During the quarter, the company secured four driveline programs. This included three orders from European manufacturers, marking the first time the firm has won three such contracts in a single quarter. These programs include:

• North American BEV Program: An order from a European manufacturer to supply gears, adding INR 2.2 billion to the order book.
• European BEV Program: A contract from a luxury manufacturer for assemblies, valued at INR 1.4 billion.
• Hybrid Platform: An INR 1.2 billion order from a European client for assemblies.
• Indian BEV Platform: An INR 1 billion order to supply assemblies for the Indian market.

For the full financial year, Sona Comstar recorded revenue of INR 44.75 billion, up 26 percent as compared to FY2026.  EBITDA for the year stood at INR 11.07 billion with a margin of 24.7 percent. The company expanded its portfolio by adding nine new electric vehicle programs and three customers, bringing its total to 67 programs across 35 customers.

Vivek Vikram Singh, MD & Group CEO, said, “Q4 FY26 was our strongest quarter financially and an important step forward in our strategic and technology roadmap, with new customers added in Europe and two new railway products commercialised. We delivered our best-ever quarter, with the highest revenue, EBITDA, PAT, BEV revenue and BEV revenue share. Revenue grew by 47 percent YoY, primarily driven by growth in EV traction and suspension motors, differential gears, differential assemblies along with consolidation of railway business. BEV revenue grew 22 percent YoY and BEV revenue share reached an all-time high of 39 percent. During the quarter, we won four driveline orders which includes three EV programs and one hybrid program. For the first time, we won three orders from European OEMs, and this is our first EV program win from Europe in almost four years. The hybrid program wins reinforce our view that hybrids are an opportunity for us, not a risk.”

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Tier 1 component and technology company Schaeffler India has announced its financial results for the Q1 CY2026, maintaining double-digit growth momentum across its primary business segments.

For Q1 CY2026, the company reported an 18.8 percent YoY uptick in revenue at INR 25 billion with a net profit margin of INR 3.19 billion, up 19.3 percent YoY.

The company attributed the robust results to strong performance in Automotive Technologies and Vehicle Lifetime Solutions, which fuelled stable earnings quality to increased localisation and improved capital efficiency.

While revenue grew significantly compared to the same period last year, it saw a marginal decline of 5.1 percent compared to the preceding quarter (Q4 CY2025).

Harsha Kadam, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to report continued strong growth momentum across all our business segments. Automotive Technologies, Vehicle Lifetime Solutions, and Exports delivered robust double-digit growth, driven by successful business wins in our key focus areas. Despite ongoing supply chain challenges and inflationary headwinds, we successfully maintained the quality of our earnings. This reflects the effectiveness of our strategic focus on localisation and capital efficiency. We remain fully committed to achieving our financial and operational targets, capitalising on market opportunities and delivering consistent value to our stakeholders.”

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KRAIBURG TPE has introduced a range of soft-touch, durable, and low-odour thermoplastic elastomer materials specifically designed to enhance in-car robot assistants. These compounds offer reliable adhesion and full colourability for automotive interiors, addressing the growing demand for advanced interactive vehicle systems that integrate physical controls, digital interfaces and ergonomic design elements to improve user experience, safety and driving efficiency.

As a global manufacturer of customised TPE solutions, KRAIBURG TPE produces automotive-grade compounds that combine high-performance mechanics with smooth, non-sticky surface ergonomics. The materials demonstrate excellent adhesion to substrates such as PC, ABS, PC/ABS, ASA and SAN, which streamlines insert moulding and overmoulding processes. This capability allows designers to create compact, integrated components with fewer manufacturing steps while sealing properties against dust and water protect sensitive electronics in demanding in-car environments.

The company’s TPEs deliver a soft, non-sticky tactile experience for components like thumb wheels, push buttons, switches, seals and handles, along with anti-rattle and damping functionality to reduce noise and vibration. With controlled emissions, low odour and full colourability, these compounds ensure visual harmony and premium quality across functional zones and branding elements. They are particularly suited for in-car robotic assistant applications, producing user-friendly interiors with consistent high-volume results.

Sustainability remains a core focus, with KRAIBURG TPE offering bio-based TPEs and compounds containing post-consumer or post-industrial recycled content. Select materials are certified under GRS and ISCC PLUS, and product carbon footprint data is available upon request. Having earned an EcoVadis Gold Medal in 2025 and committed to the Science Based Targets initiative, the company aligns its goals with global climate action while delivering reliable performance worldwide.

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Marelli is presenting its vehicle dynamics and suspension technologies at Auto China 2026 in Beijing. The company is demonstrating how these systems influence safety, performance and user experience.

The exhibits include the Active Camber system, the Electromechanical Lifter and Hybrid Electromechanical suspensions. These systems utilise software control and electromechanical actuators to manage vehicle behaviour across driving conditions.

The Active Camber system adjusts the inward or outward tilt of wheels in real time. It uses an electronically controlled actuator with sensors to monitor the road surface. A control unit processes data every millisecond to alter wheel angles, which reduces body movement and increases grip during cornering. This mechanism also assists in maintaining tyre contact for braking and acceleration.

The Electromechanical Lifter is a device integrated into the shock absorber to adjust vehicle height. It provides automatic levelling to maintain balance. In performance cars, it lifts the chassis for ramps or speed bumps, while in SUVs, it lowers the vehicle at speed to reduce drag. The system is oil-free and designed for integration by carmakers.

Marelli is also displaying its Hybrid Electromechanical Suspension. This architecture combines actuators on the front suspension with semi-active dampers at the rear. The system integrates an Electronic Control Unit to manage damping and reactive forces to counteract roll and vibration. These electromechanical solutions are designed to recover kinetic energy, achieving up to 80 percent energy efficiency compared to passive systems. Such technologies aim to reduce motion sickness as autonomous driving functions become more common.

Piero Monchiero, Advanced Innovation VP of Marelli’s Ride Dynamics business, said, “The importance of vehicle dynamics technology spans all propulsion systems, giving automakers a decisive tool to drive vehicle distinctiveness while offering end users a wide range of personalization options. This is particularly evident in China, where customer expectations for vehicle dynamics and ride comfort continue to rise.”

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