The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) launched the project on development of ‘Motor Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool (Bharat VECTO) for Real Drive Fuel Consumption/CO2 Emissions’, a landmark project in India’s homologation process, at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. ARAI is showcasing its technology and services at stall no H11-04, Bharat Mandapam; stall no H2-02, Yashobhoomi and stall no H1-A14, India Expo Centre & Mart from 17 to 22 January 2025.

Minister of Road, Transport and Highway Shri Nitin Gadkari; Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI; P K Banerjee, Chief Executive Director, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Dr Sukrut S. Thipse, Senior Deputy Director – ARAI and Bharat VECTO Project Leader graced the event.

In accordance with Europe, the United States, Japan, China and other countries, the developed Bharat VECTO will be used to compute the realistic fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) (GVW > 3.5 tonnes) on a driving cycle basis. The BS-VII regulation will include it. Various mission profiles will be created under the Bharat VECTO project to address all HDV classifications, driving styles, road topography etc. Before being finalised for usage, the created tool will be tested on a few vehicle classifications. Along with project partners, ARAI will make every effort to create Bharat VECTO. It will be made available in Bharat Stage-VII and will serve cars powered by internal combustion engines, electric vehicles (EVs), fuel cell EVs and flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) in a phased way.

At Bharat Mandapam, a concept demo of the Over-Head Automated Charging Device (OH-ACD), one of ARAI's projects in collaboration with IIT-Madras, is on exhibit. Fast charging is possible with the 600-kW charging power, 1000V voltage and 600A current, which is made to satisfy the needs of the changing transportation environment. In addition to OH-ACD, the company is showcasing its in-house ADAS Validation Platform, a Light Commercial Vehicle with a 117 HP engine and an E-Axle for European customers and a Training Kit for the Battery Management System.

Stall number H2-02, Yashobhoomi, lists ARAI's specialised service portfolio for certification and support in developmental validation for components, systems and sub-systems. Along with engine models and lightweight components from the ARAI Fatigue Material Centre of Excellence, ARAI is also exhibiting the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) Bike and Battery Management System Kit, which was constructed by ARAI engineers.

Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, said, “It is a great pleasure to host Hon’ble Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and have his presence for the launch of Bharat VECTO project. Ministry of Road Transport and Highway has played a significant role in enabling ARAI guide the auto industry towards one direction. Hence, ‘Motor Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool for Real Drive Fuel Consumption/CO2 Emissions’ will be instrumental in accelerating the momentum for industry-wide adoption of green mobility. ARAI, while being a major stakeholder in homologation and developmental testing and standardisation has also been fundamental in innovating technologies for sustainable mobility like Over-Head Automated Charging Device, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain, which are at display at Bharat Mobility Global Expo. We are thrilled to showcase these technologies and drive conversations for greener tomorrow.”

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European automotive group Stellantis has appointed Sandeep Bhambra as the head of design for the Citroen and DS Automobiles brands, effective 2 November 2026.

Bhambra succeeds Pierre Leclercq at Citroen and Thierry Metroz at DS Automobiles, reporting directly to Gilles Vidal, Head of Design for Stellantis European brands. He will also join the management teams of both brands under Xavier Chardon, CEO of Citroen and DS Automobiles.

Leclercq transitions to Head of Design for Opel and Vauxhall, succeeding Mark Adams, who is retiring. Thierry Metroz will transition to support Gilles Vidal on European design strategy.

"The arrival of Sandeep Bhambra marks a new step in our ambition to strengthen the identity and appeal of our brands. His experience, creativity and vision of Design will be valuable assets in supporting Citroën and DS Automobiles in expressing strong and distinctive identities, true to their heritage while firmly looking to the future. I would also like to thank Pierre Leclercq for his work and contribution to Citroën. His talent and vision have helped shape several key projects and reinforce the brand’s distinctive character. I wish him every success in his new role at Opel," said Xavier Chardon.

Gilles Vidal said, "I am particularly pleased to entrust Sandeep with the responsibility for the Design of Citroën and DS Automobiles. His background, combining creativity, strong product expertise and a strategic vision of Design, will be a major asset in supporting the ambitions and transformation of both brands. I would also like to warmly thank Pierre Leclercq for his commitment and contribution to the development of Citroën Design, and wish him every success in his new role leading Design at Opel. Finally, I would like to thank Thierry Metroz for his talent, passion and contribution to DS Automobiles Design. His experience and vision will be invaluable in his new role."

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BendPak has launched the OctaFlex Series, turning its eight-arm car lift concept into production reality. The two-post lift aims to improve bay productivity, technician ergonomics and operational precision, making cab-off repairs, EV battery replacement and other demanding tasks efficient enough to pay for itself. The OctaFlex 12DPS is now shipping and will appear at the SEMA Show from 3–6 November in Upper South Hall Booth #36129.

After introducing the concept in 2024, BendPak spent two years refining it through customer feedback and lab testing. The OctaFlex 12DPS pairs a traditional 12,000-pound-capacity two-post lift with an integrated 6,000-pound lift-assist system, described as an industry first. Four primary arms support the vehicle while four secondary arms raise, lower or hold cabs, drivetrains, EV batteries, suspension assemblies and other heavy components without extra equipment, helpers or bays. The auxiliary arms move out of the way when not needed, allowing standard two-post operation.

The patent-pending series also features a magnetic pendant controller with two-speed controls, letting technicians stand back from the columns for better visibility. Each set of arms operates independently at normal or slow speed, supporting the fine alignment needed for EV battery installation or single-handed cab and chassis removal.

Dave’s Auto Center in Centerville, Utah, services trucks nationwide and performs multiple cab-offs daily across 25 bays. Owner Dave Bell said the installed OctaFlex saves hours, easing cab removal and allowing chassis work while the cab is airborne. He called it significantly more efficient than completing the cab-off before remaining repairs.

BendPak says shops save an average of two hours per cab-off. A bay pulling 20 cabs monthly at a USD 150 hourly rate could add USD 6,000 monthly, or USD 72,000 annually. Customers can calculate returns by visiting the OctaFlex page on the company website. Savings also come from eliminating a second technician and completing work in one bay instead of two.

Because OctaFlex holds chassis and cab, technicians stand comfortably with everything at eye level, improving ergonomics and eliminating manual lifting of heavy components. The lift features BendPak’s Automatic Swing Arm Restraint System with a 360-degree grip and 10 times traditional holding power. It is third-party tested and ALI Certified as model EV12DPS.

Jeff Kritzer, President and CEO, BendPak, said, “As dealers and independent repair shops continue to struggle with an ageing and shrinking technician workforce, they also face surging demand for labour-intensive tasks like cab-off repairs and EV service. OctaFlex eases the pressure by helping technicians handle complex jobs independently with greater efficiency and less physical strain, maximising throughput and profit potential.”

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Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand vehicle safety and crash testing infrastructure in Chakan, Pune.

Under the agreement, SAVWIPL will transfer a land parcel adjacent to its Chakan car manufacturing plant to ARAI. The site will be used by ARAI to construct an advanced crash test facility for future mobility vehicles, covering both battery electric vehicle (BEV) and internal combustion engine (ICE) models. The facility will expand domestic validation capacity for electric vehicles, support faster implementation of Bharat NCAP requirements and enable testing needed for international export markets.

H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel, Government of India, said, "Expanding local R&D and safety testing infrastructure is essential as India's automotive sector advances. This initiative between ARAI and Škoda Auto Volkswagen India strengthens domestic testing capacity for electric vehicles and safety standards. By establishing this facility in Chakan, we are supporting the faster implementation of future Bharat NCAP requirements, helping address India-specific road safety challenges. It will also strengthen the capabilities of OEMs in India to develop vehicles that meet stringent export market requirements."

Piyush Arora, MD & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, "Vehicle safety and local engineering capability are central to our operations in India. When ARAI required land for a specialised crash test facility adjacent to our Chakan plant, we adjusted our future expansion layout to support their request. As the company whose INDIA 2.0 vehicles were the first India-made cars to achieve 5-star Global NCAP ratings for both Adult and Child Occupant Protection, we have always believed that raising safety standards benefits the entire industry. This strategic partnership will help accelerate the development of safer vehicles in India by shortening EV development timelines, strengthening Bharat NCAP testing, and expanding the country's overall automotive engineering capabilities."

Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, said, "The future of mobility will be defined not only by innovation but also by the strength of the ecosystem that enables safe, sustainable, and globally competitive vehicle development. This MoU represents a strategic milestone in India’s automotive testing and safety infrastructure. As vehicle technologies evolve rapidly, the need for advanced validation, crashworthiness assessment, and regulatory compliance capabilities will continue to grow. We view this partnership as an important step towards building world-class capabilities that will serve the mobility sector for decades to come."

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Rajendra Petkar, President and long-time Head of Engineering at Tata Motors, is to step down after an illustrious career of nearly four decades, according to media reports.

Petkar has rich experience in vehicle engineering and technology development across passenger cars and commercial vehicles. He has played a key role in reshaping the latest product portfolio at Tata Motors as he drove technological transitions managing Emerging Mobility & Technology Strategy at the automaker.

In his tenure as President and Chief Technology Officer of Tata Motors, Petkar managed an engineering division of over 5,000 personnel spanning technical centres in India, the United Kingdom and Italy.

Petkar led the introduction of battery electric vehicle platforms, the commercialisation of hydrogen fuel cell buses and the initial deployment of hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks. Before re-joining Tata Motors, Petkar was deployed from Tata Technologies to Tata Motors between October 1999 and September 2015.

Beyond his corporate roles at Tata Motors, Petkar served as President of the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) from 2021 to 2023, Chairman of the Sustainable Mobility Group at the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), and Member of the National Automotive Board, alongside holding positions as an Independent Director across multiple corporate boards.

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