The division will provide expertise, resources and equipment, enabling some customers to carry out testing that they wouldn’t have been able to previously and others to meet strict deadlines.

Regulatory and consumer testing is expanding rapidly, placing increasing pressures on manufacturers. In 2014, the Euro NCAP assessment included 6 ADAS test scenarios, in 2020 it is now 39, an increase of 650 percent. On top of this, the drive for safety has meant that advanced technologies that were once the preserve of prestige vehicles are now commonplace at all price levels, resulting in a growing number of vehicle models requiring driver assistance and crash avoidance testing. By 2022 many advanced driver assistance systems will be made mandatory for all new cars in 40 countries.

Wesley Hulshof, Senior Applications Engineer – Testing Services, AB Dynamics, said, “Vehicle testing and assessment is more complex and requires more resources than ever before and this trend is likely to continue as the scenarios evolve. This poses a significant challenge, whether you are a major vehicle manufacturer or test laboratory lacking the resource to carry out the required quantity of testing, or a start-up that doesn’t have the test equipment or expertise. Our service is a scalable and flexible solution to meet the customers’ specific needs.”

“By taking advantage of our extensive knowledge, clients can negotiate even the most complex of testing scenarios. This allows them to progress projects as efficiently as possible, achieve greater testing capacity and enhance the skillsets of their own teams. In particular, customers may find our support most beneficial in staging increasingly common swarm testing environments that require the accurate control of 7, 8 or more vehicles or targets. These swarm scenarios, which are becoming essential for developing Autonomous Driving technologies, can quickly strain an entire lab’s resources and knowledge. This type of test requires a significant investment in testing equipment and choreographing the scenario can be incredibly complex,” Hulshof said.

AB Dynamics’ unique Simpia toolchain software is used throughout all of its products, meaning complicated ADAS or AV test scenarios need only be generated once and can then be precisely replicated from virtual testing on the simulator to real life on the test track or vice versa, achieving considerable time savings.

The flexibility of the service is particularly beneficial for smaller companies who only have a limited need for testing, perhaps for a standalone project. It allows them to complete their own programme without the need for heavy investment in personnel and equipment, giving access to an ‘on-demand’ service that provides the opportunity to bid for bigger projects.

The service is tailored to an individual customer’s requirements, whether it's consultancy, training or the completion of physical testing. Using its extensive suite of industry-leading test products, the company can provide a ‘turn up and test’ service, supplying and operating the test objects only, or, if preferred, control the entire scenario on a customer-supplied test vehicle. With several international bases and the ability to transport teams and equipment, it is a global service offering.

“Our robots and test systems have long been adopted worldwide as the first choice for vehicle testing. By passing on this expertise to our customers, we are ensuring that they can successfully overcome any testing challenges as a result of evolving technology and, if they do already have the relevant knowledge, help them to optimise their workload and efficiency,” he added. (MT)

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French automotive major Renault Group has announced the appointment of Carine Damois as Chief Financial Officer, effective 14 November 2026. She will report to Francois Provost and join the Group's Leadership Team.

She comes with over 20 years of experience in corporate finance, financial governance and digital transformation within international organisations. Her background includes oversight across management control, treasury, risk management, tax, strategic planning, consolidation and sustainable finance.

Since 2021, she has served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer of Michelin, managing finance functions across more than 100 countries. Her prior career includes senior leadership roles across manufacturing, logistics, energy, and operations within Michelin and the AREVA Group. She is a graduate of ESSEC Business School.

The appointment comes as Renault Group continues the implementation of its futuREady strategic plan, aimed at maintaining financial performance and operational agility.

François Provost said: "I am delighted to welcome Carine Damois to Renault Group. Her recognised financial expertise, strong industrial background and international perspective make her the ideal leader for our Finance function. As we continue to execute our strategy and aim to maintain a high level of financial performance, I am confident that Carine will play a decisive role in achieving our ambitions. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to Duncan for his commitment and contribution to the Group's development over nearly three decades."

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Switch Mobility, the electric bus and light commercial vehicle brand of the Hinduja Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Adhiyamaan College of Engineering to establish a Skill Development Centre for Electric Vehicle Technology in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

The facility will function as a dedicated training site to upskill students and industry personnel in electric commercial vehicle technology. The curriculum will focus on practical applications, including battery technology, power electronics, charging infrastructure, real-world vehicle systems and electric mobility operations.

The initiative marks the establishment of a specialised electric vehicle skilling hub in the Hosur industrial belt, aiming to supply trained technical workforce to the region's expanding commercial electric vehicle manufacturing sector.

R G Venkataraman, Chief Commercial Officer, Switch Mobility, said, "As part of the MoU, Switch Mobility will extend its technical expertise and support towards this initiative. This program will entail practical industrial exposure, learning and skill development."

Radhakrishnan, Principal of Adhiyamaan College of Engineering, said, "We are proud to be associated with an industry leader like Switch Mobility. We believe that this collaboration will provide our students with valuable hands-on exposure to EV technologies and strengthen the industry–academia partnership in the field of electric mobility. With this Centre, our vision is to offer a practical learning environment to enhance their employability and prepare them to meet the evolving demands of the electric mobility industry."

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country, has announced five of its employees were awarded the Medallion for Excellence at the 48th WorldSkills Competition 2026, held in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September 2026.

Competing across three skill categories – mechatronics, additive manufacturing and robot systems integration – the company's employees secured five of the total 20 Medallions for Excellence won by the Indian contingent.

The WorldSkills Competition featured over 1,400 participants from 68 countries competing across 64 technical trade categories. The Medallion for Excellence is awarded to competitors who meet international standards by achieving performance benchmark scores below the gold, silver and bronze medal positions.

In the Mechatronics category, Deepu Mudigerepalya Srinivasa and Jayanth Kariyappa received the recognition. Pavan Bhadravati Suresha was awarded in Additive Manufacturing, while Abhishek Somanna Shignalli and Vinay Muttayya Hiremath received medallions in Robot Systems Integration. Additionally, TKM employees Tejas B.S. and Praveen Yankappa Hunakunti represented India in the Auto Body Repair and Welding categories respectively.

G Shankara, Chief Strategy Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "The achievements of our employees at the WorldSkills Competition 2026 exemplify the spirit of excellence, innovation and continuous learning. Five of our employees winning Medallions for Excellence in 3 categories on a global stage is a proud moment for Toyota Kirloskar Motor and for the nation. Their success reinforces our commitment to nurturing world-class talent and supporting India's journey towards becoming the global skill capital. We hope their journey inspires the next generation of young professionals to pursue excellence in technical and vocational careers."

Toyota Kirloskar Motor conducts technical training through the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), established in 2007 to provide a three-year residential programme for students from rural Karnataka. The automaker has trained over 140,000 individuals through vocational initiatives, including partnerships with over 120 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), 30 Government Tool Room & Training Centres (GTTCs), the Toyota Technical Education Program and Toyota Kaushalya.

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Japanese tier 1 supplier Denso Corporation and Niterra Co., have agreed to terminate their business transfer agreement concerning Denso's Spark Plug and Exhaust Gas Sensor business, which was originally executed on 1 September 2025.

The initial agreement followed a memorandum of understanding signed in July 2023, under which both companies explored transferring Denso's spark plug and exhaust gas sensor operations – including oxygen sensors and air-fuel ratio sensors – to Niterra to streamline internal combustion engine (ICE) component manufacturing amidst global vehicle electrification.

The revision in the original plan is said to be due to changes in the market environment, which led Denso to reassess its strategy under its ‘CORE 2030’ Mid-Term Management Plan.

While vehicle electrification has progressed, global market conditions, regional energy supplies and regulatory environments have sustained demand for internal combustion and hybrid powertrains longer than projected. Following strategic reviews, Denso concluded that maintaining its spark plug and sensor business in-house remains optimal for supporting multi-powertrain vehicle systems, prompting the mutual agreement with Niterra to dissolve the transfer deal.

Denso stated that it will continue operating the business independently to meet powertrain requirements and supply chain demands across global markets.

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