OEMs are facing new challenges to improve the existing technologies and develop next-generation ones for the new mobility in shorter times. Reducing market responding time along with new complexities are paving the way for virtual simulation, which displaces physical tests and prototypes by virtually replicating product development, testing and manufacturing with simulations. Emmanuel Leroy, Executive Vice-President Industry Solutions at ESI Group, explains, “We enable our customers to drastically reduce every additional physical prototype by using our solutions. In the end, only one physical prototype is required to validate the whole concept. We envision that one day we may be able to virtually certify a product from end to end.” Excerpts:

Q) How did the Covid impact the software and services businesses of ESI Group?

The Covid pandemic has accelerated the need for more digitalisation within the industrial market. It has also somehow accelerated the readiness level of our customers and made solutions such as virtual prototyping even more relevant. Indeed, we enabled the continuity of our clients’ business. The use of virtual prototyping allowed them to continue designing, testing and prototyping their products. Our human-centric approach – one of ESI Group’s four outcome solutions – was particularly used by our customers to ensure the continuity of their businesses: using virtual reality to experience the product from home.

During pandemic times, we also provided our CFD (computational fluid dynamic) solutions to help investigating different scenarios to demonstrate the effect of occupant proximity, ventilation systems and contamination avoidance unique to each office and plant environment. ESI Group developed different virtual scenario, based on its facilities in India, to optimise the return to offices and on plant – especially on a car assembly line.

How the growing complexity of part process is influencing the virtual testing?

We notice that the automotive industry is facing more and more draconian regulations, disruptive technologies, intensifying competitions and shortening response time. Coupled with these, customers are getting more demanding on quality, reliability, safety and production deadlines in the business. Indeed, end users are no longer looking for products but for results (flight hours instead of engines, number of possible kilometres instead of electric car, etc.) and they seek for committed and responsible automakers to motivate their buys. At ESI Group, we have understood these preoccupations and we have defined four primary solutions answering our customers’ expectations.

The first one is the Pre-certification and Validation, enabling gains in performance and productivity. The purpose is double: meeting certification and validation requirements like crash, safety and fatigue issues in the first attempt and then increasing productivity with predictive models and process automation.

The second outcome is Smart Manufacturing, which enables to establish the right manufacturing processes to meet the performance indicators for industrial products and processes.

The Human-Centric Product and Process Validation, our third outcome, focuses on humans by implementing an operator-centric approach to ensure the efficiency of assembly, maintenance operation and the safety of human interactions.

The last one, Pre-experience, is the most advanced solution of ESI Group. Here, our customers and the operators do not look at the product itself, but virtually experience a product, component, subsystem or system under numerous conditions and environments.

Using these approaches, we identify industry challenges from the customer’s perspective and support them in achieving their results.

Finally, as products are getting more complex, one of our strengths is our end-to-end multi-material assembly solution with modelling of different materials (steel, aluminum, composite) and manufacturing processes, covering all the product development cycle.

What will be the growth drivers for the internal combustion engine-driven vehicles business?

Safety is essential and will remain a key driver in the future. Today, the active safety is gaining traction owing to the regulations and overall trends. There is an increasing demand for smart integrated safety, which caters to both active and passive what?

Alongside there are regulations on Co2. In Europe, the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) Norm is challenging and will eventually be implemented in other countries. Regarding Co2 reduction, we focus part of our research and innovation around engine efficiency, aerodynamics and light-weighting, as we did with Bentley for instance.

OEMs are also looking to reduce the manufacturing cost and development time which are leading demand for virtual prototyping, digital twin and shifting OEMs’ investment from hardware to software. The end-to-end value and the digital continuity from the early design to the production is essential to achieve these goals.

OEMs are exploring possibilities to manufacture ICE vehicles and EVs on the same line. Being a solution provider for the smart manufacturing process, how do you see this as a challenge?

Some OEMs assemble EV and ICE vehicles on the same line and look for flexibility, while others use completely dissociated platforms. We, consequently, must find the right strategy regarding their requirements. The new upcoming challenges in CASE mobility manufacturing will bring even more complexities from components to manufacturing. We have to consider the complexity to train the operators: our virtual reality solutions are key here. We help our customers by providing training, on both ICE vehicles and EVs manufacturing processes to their team, even from different place around the world, gathered on the same interface. This solution gathers all stakeholders (from operators to QHSE officers and plant managers) around the same product. This immersive tool helps getting complementary feedbacks early on in the process.

Where do you find more competencies or comfortability — in the complete vehicle design or component design?

Clearly, we are positioning ourselves on the whole vehicle design as it gives the most significant benefit for the OEM and other customers. We are talking about an end-to-end value that we can demonstrate on full scale CAE demonstrators. When it comes to a standalone component, the complex interactions between components and environment are not well taken into account and can lead to reduced predictiveness. In this case, we come up with a holistic view of the problem itself. It is how we defined the four outcome solutions introduced earlier.

Do you think that virtual prototypes will, at a 100 percent, completely replace physical ones ?

Virtual prototypes are step by step replacing physical prototypes. Nevertheless, I think physical prototypes remain today essential to certify the product at the very end of the development phase. To give an example, in 2019 Renault succeeded a 5-star rating of its Clio 5 on the Euro NCAP safety certification test with a single physical prototype, the one needed for the consumer test. Virtual certification is a topic discussed within the automotive ecosystem, allowing to solely relying on the simulation from end to end. But we are not at that point right now.

Which is your largest market for automotive business?

The automotive industry is the most significant contributor to our total revenues. Today, Japan is the largest market for our automotive business. However, India has been an important market for ESI, and it has been growing quite well over the years.

Most of our engineering developments teams, for both our software and our platforms, are based in India.

What are the challenges in the business?

The increasing complexity I mentioned before is definitely a challenge, but it also brings opportunities to us. Our end-to-end multi-material, multiprocess solutions and chaining capabilities are key to overcome the challenges of the automobile market. Due to the ever growing content of electronics, system simulations and systems of systems techniques are improving as well. Our focus is to strengthen our collaboration with partners in the ecosystem to support the customers in solving their complex problems. (MT)

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Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has launched a new brand campaign ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, featuring its brand ambassadors Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. The campaign builds on the success of the earlier men’s World Cup initiative titled ‘Deewane India ka Deewana Humsafar’ but presents a distinct narrative focused on celebrating the rising support and admiration for women’s cricket in India.

The campaign directly challenges the traditional label of cricket as a gentleman’s game with the bold message that the ‘gentle’ has been removed from the sport. Through strong visuals, it highlights the determination, skill and barrier-breaking performances of women cricketers, showing how their passion is transforming the game and deepening India’s love for cricket.

As a Premier Partner of the ICC, HMIL plans to engage fans during the tournament with curated digital content and targeted outreach. These efforts aim to amplify the excitement of the Women’s T20 World Cup, bring fans closer to the action and strengthen Hyundai’s emotional connection with cricket enthusiasts.

Virat Khullar, Head – Marketing, Hyundai Motor India Limited, said, “At Hyundai, we believe sport has the power to unite communities, inspire dreams and create meaningful connections. The overwhelming response to our ‘Deewane India Ka Deewana Humsafar’ campaign reaffirmed the deep emotional bond between cricket and its fans. With the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, we are proud to celebrate a new chapter of this passion by recognising the growing influence of women’s cricket and the millions of fans who continue to champion the game. This campaign aims to celebrate that shift and spotlight the incredible journeys of players like Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, who continue to break stereotypes and inspire millions. As a proud partner of the ICC, Hyundai remains committed to supporting this new era of cricket and standing alongside the champions who embody the true spirit of ‘Deewangi’.”

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Vega Auto Accessories, a leading helmet manufacturer, has announced a strategic investment in Tageze Medical ID System, a Pune-based emergency technology platform operated by Techsocio Projects.

The transaction marks a direct entry for the traditional protective gear manufacturer into the connected safety and digital emergency response sectors, moving the brand's product ecosystem from pure accident prevention into active medical response coordination.

Tageze develops a decentralised, application-free medical identification platform. Utilising ruggedised, weather-proof QR-code tags integrated directly onto the helmet shell, the technology creates an immediate digital profile for first responders.

During a critical road incident (golden hour), bystanders, emergency responders, or healthcare professionals can simply scan the helmet-mounted QR code with any standard smartphone camera. The system instantly loads a secure, cloud-hosted medical profile outlining: primary and secondary emergency contact routing; blood group categorisation, known allergies, chronic medical conditions and current medications; health and vehicular insurance policy details to expedite hospital admission procedures.

Because app installation requirements often introduce friction during high-stress rescue operations, the platform operates entirely via a responsive mobile web interface. It supports multilingual localisation, dynamically translating medical profiles based on the browser settings of the first responder – a critical feature for long-distance touring riders navigating diverse linguistic states and countries.

The capital injection from Vega will be utilised to expand Tageze's technical infrastructure and scale its market footprint across India and its existing international distribution nodes.

For Vega, the alignment signals a broader shift occurring across the personal protective equipment (PPE) sector. As global motorcycling demographics demand higher technology integration, manufacturers are shifting beyond standard impact testing (such as ECE 22.06 or DOT standards) to capture the digital layer of post-crash telemetry and identity verification. The companies confirmed that the investment will fund a dedicated R&D pipeline aimed at embedding next-generation, hardware-level emergency tracking chips and intelligent response systems directly into future Vega and AXOR helmet lineups.

"At Vega, rider safety has always been at the core of everything we do. Through our partnership with Tageze, we are looking at safety beyond the helmet itself by enabling faster access to critical information during emergencies. We believe this is an important step towards building a more connected and responsive rider safety ecosystem," Vega said in a statement.

Deepak Gaikwad, Founder & CEO, Tageze Medical ID System, added, "Our mission has always been to make life-saving information accessible when it matters most. Partnering with Vega allows us to expand the reach of this technology and bring emergency preparedness closer to riders across India and global markets."

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Ireland-headquartered intelligent power management company Eaton has entered into a definitive agreement to separate its Mobility Group business and combine it with Dana Incorporated in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction.

The deal values the combined company at over USD 10 billion in enterprise value and values Eaton’s Mobility Group at approximately USD 5.1 billion. The transaction is scheduled to close in Q1 of CY2027, subject to approval by Dana shareholders and regulatory clearances.

Under the terms of the agreement, Eaton will receive a tax-free cash distribution of approximately USD 1.1 billion, which will be funded by newly issued debt from the mobility entity. Eaton shareholders will receive shares in the combined business, resulting in a post-transaction ownership structure where Eaton shareholders hold at least 50.1 percent of the outstanding shares and Dana shareholders own approximately 49.9 percent.

The transaction allows Eaton to alter its corporate focus toward its electrical and aerospace divisions, which align with market trends in electrification, data centres, infrastructure modernisation and aerospace defence.

The combined entity will merge Dana’s portfolio of axles, driveshafts, thermal management and sealing products with Eaton’s commercial vehicle transmissions, clutches and engine emissions technologies. The merged entity will target internal combustion, hybrid and electric vehicle platforms across commercial and light vehicle manufacturing sectors.

The combined entity will retain the name Dana Incorporated and continue its public listing on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DAN. The business is projected to generate approximately USD 11 billion in pro forma revenue and USD 1.7 billion in pro forma estimated 2026 adjusted EBITDA. The integration plan targets USD 250 million in annual run-rate cost synergies to be fully achieved within 24 months of closing.

Furthermore, Byron Foster will become the Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and Timothy Kraus will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer. R. Bruce McDonald will serve as Executive Chairman, while Erin Rowse is named as the incoming Chief Human Resources Officer. Dana’s board of directors will expand from eight members to include three additional directors appointed by Eaton.

Paulo Ruiz, Chief Executive Officer, Eaton, said, "We are pleased to have reached this agreement, which delivers significant value to Eaton and its shareholders and represents a major milestone in Eaton’s 2030 growth strategy to lead, invest and execute for growth. Eaton shareholders will benefit from the meaningful upside created by the combined company, and the transaction will provide substantial cash value for Eaton to deploy to our highest-growth and highest-margin opportunities. Looking ahead, our portfolio will be closely aligned with the powerful megatrends driving generational growth in our Electrical and Aerospace businesses, and we look forward to continuing our momentum to drive meaningful value for our customers and shareholders."

R. Bruce McDonald, Dana Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are excited to bring together Eaton’s Mobility Group with Dana. The addition of Mobility Group’s leading positions in commercial vehicle transmissions, clutches and power management technologies, combined with Dana’s strengths in axles, driveshafts, electrification, thermal management and sealing products, will create a truly differentiated global platform. Together, we will be better positioned to serve our customers, invest in innovation and drive long-term value creation for shareholders of the combined company.”

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Bajaj Auto Foundation, the CSR arm of Bajaj Auto Limited, has announced a significant INR 4 billion commitment over the next decade to support women engineers through the Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering (RRBSWE). The initiative is aimed at increasing female participation in core technical fields.

The scholarship, recognised as India’s largest such programme for women in core engineering, targets meritorious students pursuing disciplines like Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Industrial Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Robotics. Scholars at 40 leading institutes, including IITs, NITs, IIITs and reputed state and private universities, can receive up to INR 800,000 in financial aid throughout their engineering education.

Beyond monetary support, the programme focuses on holistic leadership development. It offers structured mentorship, industry immersion and professional networking opportunities to cultivate future women leaders in engineering and manufacturing sectors. The launch event at Bajaj Auto Ltd.’s Pune headquarters also celebrated the first cohort of 506 scholars, with chief guest Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Rajiv Bajaj in attendance.

The foundation highlighted that this effort tackles the persistent underrepresentation of women as advanced manufacturing and deep technology grow critical for India’s economy. Unveiling its overarching proposition, ‘Where there’s a skill, there’s a way’, the foundation reaffirmed its dedication to skilling and education for the nation’s future workforce.

Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Limited, said, “Women possess inherent skills of patience, empathy and diligence, which are very strong attributes to excel in core engineering jobs. We identified this long back and made women engineers a significant part of our workforce. In fact, from virtually no women in our operations till around a decade back, today they account for nearly 20 percent of our workforce. This has brought a meaningful difference to our way of working and contributed to Bajaj Auto’s global scale, thereby making us the World’s Favourite Indian. This programme would extend our learning with the larger manufacturing industry.

“The Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering holds a special place in my heart, as it carries the name of my beloved mother, Rupa Rahul Bajaj. Her dedication to education and her belief that women can drive change in their communities inspire this programme. The Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship is an investment in talent, ambition and the belief that opportunity can unlock extraordinary potential. We are deeply committed to ensuring that women play a far greater role in shaping the future of engineering and manufacturing.”

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon Limited, said, “The future of science, engineering and manufacturing must be built on inclusion and equal opportunity. Encouraging more women to pursue core engineering disciplines is not just a social imperative but an economic one. Initiatives like the Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship can help create a stronger and more diverse innovation ecosystem for India.”

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