The SAEINDIA International Mobility Conference (SIIMC 2022), the tenth edition of the Society of Automotive Engineers INDIA’s (SAEINDIA) flagship event, kicked-off on Wednesday, which is being hosted at Bengaluru, India. The three-day event will bring together the mobility ecosystem, with a phygital event to be held between 12 October to 14 October, 2022.

The theme for this year’s conference is “Sustainable Multi-Modal Mobility Ecosystem”, which takes forward SAEINDIA’s commitment on advancing and promoting mobility engineering. Dr Murugesh Nirani, Minister of Large and Medium Industries, Government of Karnataka, was the chief guest of the inaugural session. Along with the inaugural session, there was also an exclusive press meet.

Sharing his thoughts on sustainable multi-modal solutions, Mahesh Babu, SIIMC 2022 Conference Patron, and CEO at Switch Mobility India, said, “A robust mobility framework is the need of the hour to mitigate the impact of growing emissions and rapid urbanisation. Sustainable multi-modal solutions will help de-carbonise 100 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030. SIIMC 2022 is a platform where all three stakeholders – the government, the industry and the communities have come together to make sustainable multi-modal mobility a reality.”

How is SIIMC 2022 different?
At the press meet, K Venkataraj, Deputy Director General, SAEINDIA, put across that with the tenth edition of the conference, each edition enhances itself. “This is because the transportation sector has gone through so much of transformation,” he remarked and continued, “We are actually living through the mobility sector transformation era. In order to address the present-day challenges, SAEINDIA’S duty is to bring in experts to the knowledge-takers and knowledge-givers. It’s a K2K business we are in. So, we bring in worldwide experts, who present it in terms of number of papers.”

All for the need for sustainability
Munirathinam Dhananjayan, Chair-Organising Committee, Founder and MD of Focus Group, said that the SIIMC 2022 three-day event will see over 700 mobility experts, including industry leaders and professionals from research and development, manufacturing, and services come together and network under one roof. “The key highlight of the tenth edition of the SIIMC 2022 is going to be the presentation of more than 180 papers and 543 abstracts on engineering innovations, with a focus on promoting sustainable and multi-modal mobility in the country. SIIMC 2022 will see a host of panel discussions and individual presentations, putting the spotlight on trends and innovations shaping the future of mobility,” he mentioned.

Some of the key sessions of the conference will see speakers coming together and discussing themes, states SAEINDIA. Some of these themes include the role of the automotive industry in meeting the challenges of global warming, the design and development of low cost electric microcars for urban commuting, edge-computing for multi-modal and intermodal mobility, building globally connected car platforms – unearthing complexity, balancing energy efficiency, driving excitement and comfort in battery electric vehicles, and if battery swapping is a viable alternative to accelerate the electric vehicle adoption in India.

Talking about the focus areas and theme of the SIIMC 2022 conference, Venkataraj said, “This year’s conference theme, “Sustainable Multi-Modal Mobility Ecosystem”, resonates well with the present-day reality, where mobility is considered to be playing a big role in achieving sustainable development by promoting goals, like a clean and green environment and equitable livelihood.”

Venkataraj went on to assert, “We are in a very critical and early stage of production of sustainable solutions in mobility. Which is why, this year’s conference is going to help technocrats, stakeholders, etc, where they can learn from one another about what is happening in other countries. This way, India and other nations can gain knowledge from this conference.”

Additionally, while at the event, Suhas Gopinath, CEO, Globals Inc., inaugurated TechHive, claimed SAEINDIA. TechHive is a one-stop shop for start-ups to showcase their products and services to the global and Indian automotive market. It works towards facilitating networking and supporting new business opportunities, by bringing together start-ups, the automotive industry and investors.

The government’s role
When asked about the Government of India’s initiatives to set up multi-modal logistics parks across the country, Rashmi Urdhwareshe, President, SAEINDIA, cited that the government is addressing this in multiple ways. “One is improving the infrastructure by way of private connectivity,” she informed and went on, “The second is working on efficient goods transformation – we have even seen in one of the presentations how important it is to address goods transportation across the country. The third initiative is to look at greener solutions – not at just electrification but others, too, like LNG for example, which has great opportunity.”

What else to expect at the conference
SIIMC 2022 will see panel discussions that will be led by industry experts and researchers. As per SAEINDIA, the speakers will be from India’s leading automotive and technology organisations, as well as science and engineering institutes. The key organisations participating in the conference include Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Volvo, Ashok Leyland, Bosch, Indian Oil Corporation and Indian Institute of Science.

According to SAEINDIA, C V Raman, CTO at Maruti Suzuki, Vijay Nirani, Managing Director at MRN Group, Vinay Harne, CTO at TVS Motors, Brian McMurray, President at General Mortors, Korea, Dr Sri Srinath, President at SAE International and Prashant Doreswamy, President at Continental Automotive India are some of the prominent industrialists who will be delivering various sessions at the conference.

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The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) and Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a rating system for commercial driving. The partnership aims to establish a framework for driving standards, insurance assessments and background checks.

The project focuses on creating a technology stack to support a digital public infrastructure for a nationwide rollout. This initiative addresses the current difficulties in monitoring commercial driver performance, safety and well-being, which are often affected by inconsistent standards and limited accountability.

The system will use data-driven approaches, leveraging smartphone inputs and vehicle sensor data to evaluate driving behaviour. The goal is to provide fleet operators, insurers and government bodies with a tool to track performance and compliance in real time.

Prof Gitakrishnan Ramadurai, Project Coordinator at IIT Madras, said, “Trucks and truck drivers are the backbone of our country. This project provides them an aadhaar for their good work. The driver rating system rewards good driving and helps correct risky driving thereby saving lives, money and time for all stakeholders.”

The collaboration combines academic research with industrial application to translate data into scalable products. By incentivising responsible driving, the system is intended to improve employability for drivers and provide data for policymaking.

Prof. Ashwin Mahalingam, Dean of Alumni and Corporate Relations at IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras has been at the forefront of research in road safety and mobility, with the goal of building systems, processes, and infrastructure that ensure safer outcomes for our roads, drivers and commuters. Our partnership with Daimler is a testament to our shared commitment to this vision and also emphasises how industry-academia collaborations play a crucial role in translating research into impactful, scalable and ready-to-implement products and processes that deliver meaningful societal impact.”

For Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, the partnership aligns with corporate sustainability goals focused on driver professionalism and safety within the transport ecosystem.

Alexander Schoen, Chief Financial Officer, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, stated, “At DICV, road safety and responsible mobility are central to how we approach sustainability. This collaboration with IIT Madras reflects our commitment to using technology and data-driven innovation to create meaningful, scalable solutions that improve driver safety, professionalism, and well-being across the commercial transport ecosystem. By contributing to the development of a universal driver rating framework, we aim to support safer roads, stronger livelihoods, and a more accountable mobility system for India.”

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German technology company ZF Group has appointed Jake Morris as the Site Leader for ZF Hub UK, located in Solihull, effective from 1 January 2026.

Morris assumes responsibility for the leadership of the technical centre, which opened in 2021 to support the company’s research, development and manufacturing footprint in the UK.

He has spent over 25 years with ZF, holding positions in portfolio management, finance, purchasing and engineering. In addition to his new role, he will continue to oversee the global steer-by-wire strategy, a technology that replaces mechanical steering connections with electronic signals. His previous experience as Portfolio Director involved managing steering product strategies for mobility technologies.

At present, the Solihull facility serves as a centre for advanced engineering and testing across the automotive, industrial and aerospace sectors. The site has contributed to the development of autonomous driving systems and steer-by-wire technologies. It houses a testing facility used by both ZF and external customers to validate new technologies within the UK’s automotive sector.

Morris succeeds Bal Panaser, who is retiring following a career of more than 40 years in the automotive industry. Panaser was involved in the establishment and management of ZF’s operations in the UK. Morris will now focus on the site’s integration into ZF’s global technology roadmap and the delivery of engineering solutions.

“I am proud to take on this role and to lead the talented teams at the ZF Hub UK. The site has a strong legacy within both ZF and the automotive industry, with significant history of automotive technology development and testing. For instance, technologies including ZF’s autonomous driving and Steer-by-Wire technologies began life at the site. I look forward to working closely with colleagues and partners to continue delivering innovative technology solutions for our customers and supporting ZF’s long-term success,” said Morris.

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Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) and Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) have announced plans to establish a new standalone bus company, which will be headquartered in Kawasaki, Japan.

The new entity will be led by Katsuto Kora as the designated Chief Executive Officer. The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals.

The partnership involves Mitsubishi Fuso Bus Manufacturing (MFBM) and Foxtron Vehicle Technologies, which will cooperate on the development, production, supply chain management and sales of zero-emission buses, starting with the MODEL T and MODEL U models. Operations will be based at a plant in Toyama, where vehicles will be manufactured under the FUSO brand.

The new OEM brand will focus on the launch of electric buses for domestic and international markets while maintaining the existing internal combustion engine portfolio. By using local development and production, the company aims to comply with Japanese regulations and quality standards. The project integrates Foxconn’s software and electronics expertise with MFTBC’s experience in commercial vehicle manufacturing.

The new entity will function as a dedicated original equipment manufacturer (OEM). The collaboration follows a previous memorandum of understanding regarding zero-emission mobility. MFTBC is 89.29 percent owned by Daimler Truck AG, with the remainder held by Mitsubishi group companies.

Karl Deppen, CEO, MFTBC, said, “We are excited to join forces with Foxconn. This collaboration will combine the strengths of both parties to accelerate our transformation in the bus sector. By combining FUSO and Foxconn’s extensive experience and technological know-how, we will offer customers state-of-the art solutions for public transport, thereby contributing to society both in Japan and abroad.”

Jun Seki, Foxconn Chief Strategy Officer for EVs, added, “Mobility is a strategic priority for Foxconn. This collaboration with MFTBC will provide a comprehensive electrification solution for Japan’s transportation ecosystem. This approach will significantly shorten development cycles and enhance cost-efficiency.”

Katsuto Kora, designated CEO of the new company, stated, “The new joint venture will integrate the corporate cultures of both companies, blending Japan’s spirit of manufacturing excellence with Foxconn’s agility and technological prowess. Given the extensive existing partnerships of both shareholders, we expect even broader collaboration opportunities in the field of future technologies in the years to come. Our focus will be on meeting customer expectations not only for current conventional ICE improvement but also for zero-emission transportation and leading FUSO bus into a new era of digitalisation and electrification.”

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Ashok Leyland, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has reintroduced the Taurus and Hippo nameplates to its heavy-duty truck portfolio.

In its new avatar, the Taurus will serve as the brand’s high-horsepower tipper range, while the Hippo anchors the tractor segment. Both vehicles are built on the AVTR modular platform, allowing for various configurations to meet specific haulage requirements.

The new range is powered by an 8.0-litre A-Series 6-cylinder engine, producing 360 HP and 1,600 Nm of torque. These vehicles feature reinforced chassis and heavy-duty drivetrains designed for mining, infrastructure and construction applications. The modular architecture is intended to improve component life and fuel efficiency while reducing driver fatigue through updated cabin ergonomics.

The Hippo was a prominent heavy hauler from the 1980s until the early 2000s, while the Taurus was known as the first multi-axle truck in India. The reintroduction of these names targets the medium and heavy commercial vehicle (MHCV) industry, specifically segments involving bulk commodities, industrial raw materials and over-dimensional cargo (ODC) transportation.

Bookings and deliveries for both ranges have commenced through dealerships nationwide. The company aims to use these models to consolidate its position in the high-horsepower segment of the Indian market.

Shenu Agarwal, Managing Director & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, “Taurus and Hippo are purpose-built for heavy-duty requirements of mining, infrastructure, and construction applications. The new truck range is powered by Ashok Leyland’s A-Series 6-cylinder engines, now with industry-leading peak torque and power, delivering unmatched durability and reliability, higher productivity and faster turnaround times.”

Sanjeev Kumar, President – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, added, “Hippo and Taurus aren't just product names; they are legends that earned the trust of generations of Indian transporters. These names became synonymous with heavy-duty performance across Indian highways and mining sites, and that's the legacy we're building upon. Tippers and tractors are among the fastest-growing segments in the MHCV industry, playing a critical role in India’s infrastructure growth. Operating in harsh terrains and extreme conditions, these vehicles demand superior reliability, robustness, and driver comfort.”

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