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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Envalior India Pvt. Ltd. has launched a specialised training hub focused on electric vehicle technology at MM Polytechnic in Pune, marking a significant step in aligning vocational education with the demands of the burgeoning EV sector. The Envalior Centre of Excellence, a product of the company’s CSR initiatives in partnership with the BroadArks Foundation, is intended to serve as a practical workshop where students can transition from theoretical knowledge to applied technical competence.

The facility was formally inaugurated by Christopher Stillings, Vice President –R&D, in the presence of Krijn Dijkstra, Nileshkumar Kukalyekar, Uday Shetty, Susmita Mishra, Hema Rani, Sainath Vaidya and Aniket Nirwan of Envalior, MM Polytechnic leadership and other dignitaries. By embedding this centre within a technical campus, the programme seeks to immerse learners in the realities of EV maintenance and repair, covering not just mechanical functions but also the intricate electrical and software-driven systems that define modern vehicles.

With an annual capacity to reach roughly 250 learners, the centre will cater to students from ITI and polytechnic backgrounds across multiple engineering streams. The coursework is divided into two progressive phases, starting with a foundational module that introduces participants to basic EV architecture, battery safety and routine service procedures. An advanced tier follows, offering deeper instruction on battery management systems, thermal controls, high-voltage safety protocols, motor controllers and complex diagnostic methods.

Beyond traditional lectures, the training environment incorporates interactive lab sessions with real vehicle components, diagnostic tools and industry-relevant projects, ensuring that participants acquire both safety awareness and problem-solving agility. The overarching goal is to produce graduates who are not merely familiar with EV theory but are confident in executing hands-on repairs and system evaluations. Through this scalable framework, Envalior is actively working to narrow the skills gap in India’s automotive sector, creating a direct pipeline of capable talent for the evolving mobility landscape.

Nileshkumar Kukalyekar, Business Director – South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Envalior, said, “The transition to electric mobility is creating a fundamental shift in the skills expected from the automotive workforce. For us, this Centre of Excellence is about ensuring that technical education keeps pace with that change. By giving students the opportunity to work directly with EV systems, understand advanced diagnostics and build capabilities through structured, certified training, we are helping create a stronger bridge between what young technicians learn and what the industry will increasingly expect from them. We see this as an investment not only in individual careers but in the technical talent that will support India’s mobility transition in the years ahead.”

Christophe Stillings, Vice President – R&D, Envalior, said, "At Envalior, we believe the future of mobility depends on developing industry-ready talent today. Through the Centre of Excellence, students will gain hands-on exposure to EV technologies, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry requirements. By bringing together academia and industry expertise, we aim to equip the next generation of engineers with the practical skills, confidence and innovation mindset needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape."

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Tier 1 automotive supplier Schaeffler India has appointed Amit Bhalerao as its Chief Operating Officer, effective 10 August 2026.

In his new role, Bhalerao will oversee the company's manufacturing operations across India. His responsibilities include directing manufacturing strategy, operational performance, digitalisation projects and capability development, as well as managing local production initiatives across the firm's plant network.

Bhalerao will join Schaeffler India's Executive Leadership Team, collaborating with divisional heads to manage the company's operational footprint.

Harsha Kadam, Managing Director and CEO, Schaeffler India, said, "India continues to be a strategic growth market for Schaeffler, and strengthening our manufacturing and operations capabilities is central to our journey as the leading Motion Technology Company. Amit brings extensive experience in leading complex manufacturing operations, driving operational excellence and building high-performing teams. His leadership will further enhance our manufacturing competitiveness, customer focus and innovation capabilities as we continue delivering greater value to our customers and stakeholders. We wish Amit the very best and many successes in his journey at Schaeffler in India."

Bhalerao comes with 23 years of management experience in manufacturing, operations, lean transformation, quality assurance and supply chain management. Before joining Schaeffler India, he held the positions of Managing Director and Vice-President of Operations at Kelvion India, where he managed operations, technology transfer and capacity expansion projects. He has also held leadership positions at Cummins, Eaton and Sterlite Technologies.

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Godrej Enterprises Group's Material Handling Equipment (MHE) business has initiated operations at a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plant located in Khalapur, Maharashtra. This development represents a major step forward in bolstering domestic production capabilities and supporting the anticipated expansion of India's logistics, warehousing and supply chain sectors.

Situated within the expansive 360-acre Naoroji Godrej Industrial Park, the new plant is strategically designed to meet the escalating demands of diverse industries, including manufacturing, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals and automotive. The facility boasts an initial annual production capacity of 6,000 units, with the flexibility to scale up to 15,000 units to align with future market requirements.

The plant's advantageous location near critical transport arteries like Nhava Sheva Port and the forthcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport positions it effectively for both domestic distribution and international exports. Its production portfolio includes a comprehensive range of solutions, notably articulated trucks, a segment where Godrej maintains a unique position as the sole Indian producer. These products are currently exported to over 40 nations.

Engineered as a forward-looking manufacturing hub, the facility incorporates advanced Industry 4.0 technologies, including robotic welding and smart quality assurance systems. Operational sustainability is a core focus, achieved through energy-efficient processes and automated systems, a commitment recently recognised with an EcoVadis Gold Medal. This new facility underscores the group's dedication to innovation-led manufacturing and its role in advancing India's status as a global manufacturing centre.

Anil Lingayat, Business Head, Material Handling Equipment Business, Godrej Enterprises Group, said, "The commencement of operations at our Khalapur facility marks an important milestone in strengthening India's material handling manufacturing ecosystem. The facility combines advanced automation, digital manufacturing and indigenous engineering to deliver world-class solutions for a rapidly evolving logistics landscape. As India strengthens its manufacturing and logistics capabilities, efficient movement of goods will be critical to economic growth. Through this facility, we are not just expanding capacity but helping build stronger supply chains, supporting self-reliance and contributing to national priorities such as Make in India, PM Gati Shakti and Viksit Bharat."

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Moove, a mobility fintech – revenue-based vehicle financing and financial services to mobility entrepreneurs globally, has raised USD 250 million in a Series C funding round, bringing its valuation to USD 2.1 billion. The round was led by Mubadala Investment Company and co-led by Woven Capital, Toyota’s Growth Fund and Ion Pacific.

The funding round also included investments from BlueCrest Capital Management, Sona Asset Management and The Raptor Group, joining existing investors such as BlackRock, MUFG, Franklin Templeton, Uber, Left Lane, Silverbacks Holdings, Square Associates, The Latest Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst and the Ontario Power Generation Pension Plan.

The company plans to use the capital to expand its autonomous vehicle business, fund fleet ownership and construct ‘Nests’ depot infrastructure for charging, servicing and maintaining autonomous vehicles. The capital will also support new market launches globally. Moove projects its autonomous vehicle workforce will grow from approximately 150 employees to around 500 by the end of the year.

Since its launch in 2020, Moove has grown to employ 3,300 people across 29 cities in 13 countries, operating approximately 42,000 vehicles and reaching USD 420 million in annualised recurring revenue. The company has expanded through organic operations and acquisitions, including Kovi in Brazil and Tokyo Taxi in Japan. In the autonomous vehicle sector, Moove works as a third-party fleet operator in partnership with Waymo, running operations in Phoenix and Miami, with planned expansion to London.

Ladi Delano, Co-Founder, Co-CEO and Advisory Board Chairman, Moove, said, “Every major technology revolution becomes an infrastructure race. The internet required data centres. AI required compute. Autonomy requires fleets, charging, maintenance, data systems and 24/7 operations in every city - and that is what Moove is building. In our view, as autonomy scales, infrastructure ownership and operations will define the category leaders. We are building to be one of them. We started in Lagos with a simple insight: mobility demand is abundant, but supply cannot scale unless capital, technology and operations move together. Five years later, that insight has evolved into a global platform. Today, we are focused on building the platform that will redefine mobility and enable billions of autonomous journeys worldwide. From our anchor in the UAE, and backed by long-term strategic capital, Moove now has the platform to help take autonomy from breakthrough technology to everyday transportation. This is not a departure from our mission, it is the fullest expression of it.”

Ali Eid AlMheiri, Executive Director of Diversified Assets, UAE Investments Platform at Mubadala, said, “As autonomous mobility moves from innovation to scaled deployment, the infrastructure supporting it becomes increasingly important. Moove is building an integrated operating platform that combines fleet ownership, operational capability, and technology to support the next phase of growth in autonomous mobility. This is particularly important for the UAE. Mubadala is investing in enabling infrastructure and scalable platforms like Moove that support economic diversification and strengthen the UAE’s role as a hub for advanced technologies. Since Mubadala’s initial investment three years ago, Moove has been a great partner and we are glad to continue partnering with Moove in its next phase of growth.”

Betty Lee, Principal at Woven Capital, said, "Moove has demonstrated an exceptional ability to execute across markets, building a global platform across traditional and autonomous vehicle fleets. The next wave of mobility is an infrastructure problem as much as a software one, and Moove is building the foundational layer to solve it. Few companies at this stage have proven they can move with the speed and operational excellence that Moove has demonstrated across so many markets. We’re excited to be part of what they are building and help accelerate their path as they scale."

Michael Joseph, Co-CEO & Co-Founder, Ion Pacific, said, “We’ve partnered with the Moove team for more than five years, and their execution has consistently impressed us. As autonomous mobility moves from possibility to reality, Moove is building a critical infrastructure layer for the sector - one that is complex, adaptive and essential to scaling AVs. We’re excited to be part of that journey.”

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