Supporting a smart manufacturing shift across industry sectors by offering robot systems, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), mobility solutions (mobile platforms, mobile robots etc.) and technologies (arc welding, assembly, bonding and sealing, die casting, extrusion etc.), Kuka is confident of its new operating ecosystem iiQKA significantly simplifying robot use. Forming the base of an entire ecosystem that provides access to a powerful selection of components, programmes, apps, services and equipment that are easy to install, operate and use, iiQKA is designed and developed to facilitate newcomers to implement automation without specialised training. Also announcing the upgradation of its simulation software Kuka.Sim.4.0, Kuka is confident of automation benefitting in the medium-term against Covid-19 disruption. As per Peter Mohnen, CEO, Kuka AG, automation can be beneficial in the medium-term against the Covid-19 disruption for manufacturers rethinking their vulnerable, globally networked production and supply chains.

Big shift to flexible automation systems

Stating in his address to the shareholders in the 2020 annual report that the company implemented a cost-cutting drive and focused on a stable financial position, Mohnen averred that Kuka was one of the very few ‘full-range’ suppliers. Keeping a close eye on the developments taking place across the world markets that it is presently in, the company – with sales revenues of EUR 2.6 billion and an employee strength of 14,000 – is confident of its Kuka.Sim.4.0 software to help reach a new level of planning reliability, simplicity and cost efficiency. Stressing on the upgraded software facilitating easy offline programming of the robot and fast cycle time analysis, Kuka is anticipating a big shift to flexible automation solutions with quickly adaptable production cells instead of rigid systems. It is highlighting the prowess of Kuka.Sim.4.0 software in its ability to support the import of CAD data that aids configuration of safety spaces graphically in 3D and to simulate the stopping behaviour of robots.

Affected in 2020 as projects were postponed or abandoned completely, Kuka is of the view that the auto industry is facing a fundamental structural transformation that offers opportunities but poses enormous challenges at the same time. Confident that the Kuka.Sim.4.0 software will particularly aid components suppliers with its ability to facilitate the planning of robot applications across industry sectors, including auto, the company is looking at a growing use of new technologies such as AGVs and AI-based software solutions. Helped by China’s auto industry’s tremendous thrust on robot installation since 2016 in terms of growth, Kuka is banking on the upgraded software’s capability in significantly reducing the area required by a cell. Roland Ritter, Portfolio Manager, Kuka AG, mentioned that it also contains a new robot language called the ‘Kuka Robot Language’ (KRL), which provides two user views for programming the robot. One view is for the experts and the other is for beginners. Ensuring same data is being worked upon by the virtual controller and the real controller, the Kuka.Sim.4.0 supports the new KR Scara and KR Delta robots from its manufacturer. It also assures 100 percent data consistency.

Features, and more features

Aiding the creation of a customised component library using own CAD data along with Kuka.Sim.Modeling add-on, the Kuka.Sim.4.0 software is also supported by a new ‘Connectivity’ add-on that allows users to commission the cell virtually and create a digital twin for greater planning reliability and the best possible implementation. Interestingly, the customised component library could be as kinematic systems, sensors, material flow or physical behaviour. Using behavioural emulators such as WinMOD and SIMIT, the software, with the Arc Welding add-on, aids users to speed up their offline programming for welding applications. The approach positions or the optimum orientation of the robot for the welding process can be defined, for example. A big advantage of the new software, according to Ritter, is export possibilities. Integrators, he adds, will benefit from the ability to export the simulation as a 3D PDF, which can be simply opened with an Acrobat Reader.

Detailed information in 2D for mechanical commissioning can also be provided via the export feature. One of the highlights of this is product presentation using a virtual reality headset. Tablets and smartphones also deliver impressive simulation results on the go via the Mobile Viewer app, informs Ritter. Signing a major contract with Daimler to supply four-figure number of robots and linear units (KR Fortec and KR Quantec), and other Kuka technologies such as software and controllers, the company has maintained a positive outlook despite Covid-19. Working towards strengthening its position as a global player, Kuka is driving the goal of making automation available to everyone. Looking at conquering new areas and new markets, it is stressing on the potential for cobots – sensitive robots – in the auto industry.

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Tata Motors-owned British brand Defender has become the first luxury automotive brand in India to launch an anamorphic display. The installation is located at the Phoenix Palladium in Mumbai from 20–22 February 2026. Following the Mumbai launch, the display will move to Delhi, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Kochi and Chennai.

The 35 x 16 feet screen uses anamorphic effects to create a 3D visual experience where the vehicle appears to emerge from the display. The content was produced in collaboration with Inventech, a Laqshya Media Group company.

The activation marks a shift toward digital storytelling within the Indian luxury automotive sector. By utilising forced perspective, the display aims to visualise the vehicle’s design and presence without physical hardware.

Rajan Amba, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover India, said, “Defender has a tremendous following and aspirational value in India stemming from its iconic heritage and off-road legacy that continues to inspire admiration across generations. Bringing India’s first luxury automotive anamorphic display to life is a natural extension of this legacy.”

Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, said, “This activation is not merely a showcase of an iconic 4x4; it’s a statement of how innovation, creativity and experiential storytelling can converge to redefine engagement in luxury automotive. Through initiatives like this, we aim to inspire, captivate and connect with our audience in ways that reflect the unmatched capability, vision and spirit of Defender.”

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The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) concluded its four-day Sustainability Week 2026 by hosting the inaugural International Conference on Automotive Material Compliance & Sustainability (AMCS) at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The event convened global regulators, industry leaders, technology experts and policymakers under the theme ‘Driving Circularity, Compliance and Innovation in the Global Automotive Supply Chain'.

The opening session, ‘India's Transition towards Sustainable Mobility & Material Compliance’, was addressed by SIAM Executive Director Prashant K Banerjee, who emphasised India's role as the world's third-largest auto industry in advancing sustainable mobility through global safety standards and circular economy principles. He noted that compliance with the End-of-Life Vehicles Rules 2025 strengthens structured vehicle scrappage and resource recovery. During this session, a context paper titled ‘Strengthening Automotive Material Compliance Across the Vehicle Value Chain’ was released.

Jaywant Hardikar, Senior Advisor at ICAT, addressed attendees by framing sustainable mobility as a legacy for future generations. He called for circularity in product life cycles, strong linkages between vehicle end-of-life and material reuse and quantifiable targets such as sustainability indexes or digital product passports for every vehicle. Hardikar emphasised that government-registered scrapping facilities would play key roles in ensuring proper material segregation from the design stage onward.

Sanjeev Jain, Director of Purchase at Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, shared insights on India's journey towards global green mobility leadership through circular economy principles and resilient supply chains. He pointed to policy measures including Extended Producer Responsibility mandates, vehicle scrappage norms and CAFE standards as key drivers for achieving 45 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030 through clean technologies including flex fuels, electric vehicles, charging networks, green logistics and green hydrogen.

Frank Nottebom, Account Delivery Executive for IMDS & CDX at DXC Technology, highlighted India's strategic importance for the International Material Data System, noting that active Indian users had grown from 3,600 to 21,000 in 2025. Hanno Focken, Managing Director of Catena-X, discussed global automotive value chain complexity and advocated for open, neutral and industry-governed solutions as India positions itself as a central link in global digital automotive supply chains. Dr Prabhakar Bhangare, CEO of Global PCCS, delivered the vote of thanks, emphasising shared commitment between manufacturers and service providers towards zero pollution goals.

The first technical session focused on ‘Policy and Regulatory Framework for End-of-Life Vehicles Worldwide’, moderated by SIAM Senior Advisor Dr Rashid Hasan. Dr A Ramesh Kumar, Principal Scientist at CSIR-NEERI, explained that Persistent Organic Pollutants are regulated under the Stockholm Convention requiring controls on 37 listed substances. International presentations followed from Europe delivered by Naina Agrawal of Marelli representing CLEPA and SaiKishore Uddandi of Joison Safety System representing CLEPA. From United States, Shridhar Rajappanavar of Key Sustainability represented AIAG. From Japan, Yoshihito Tanaka and Yosuke Miyake represented JAPIA.

The second technical session addressed ‘Digital Transformation in Supply Chain Transparency’, chaired by Frank Nottebom. Key presentations included Asmita Sathaye of Tata Motors on IMDS data best practices, Muthukumar N of Ashok Leyland on IMDS data accuracy and Hanno Focken on building digital ecosystems. Anja Lang of BMW Group and Shanawaz Sheik addressed product carbon footprint integration in IMDS. Deepti Kapil, Additional Director at CPCB, provided insights on end-of-life vehicle management guidelines.

The third technical session featured a panel discussion on ‘Overcoming Product Compliance Challenges in OEMs & Component Manufacturers’. Dr Prabhakar Bhangare served as moderator, delivering a context presentation on IMDS adoption levels and supplier maturity in India. Martin Eichhorn of DXC Technology addressed the session. The panel included Auto OEM representatives Arun Kumar of TVS Motor Company and Paurnima Barwe of Volvo. Auto Component Manufacturers were represented by Dr Naveen Verma of DENSO, Deepak Patil of Uno Minda and Sharad Raut of Southco. Sri Vinnakota of APA Engineering represented allied industries, concluding the four-day Sustainability Week 2026.

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Pluto Mobility, a Delhi-based electric mobility startup focused on last-mile logistics, has just closed a seed funding round at USD 2 million. The investment was steered by Version One Ventures, with Grad Capital also contributing. Notably, the round drew interest from founders and senior figures at companies like Delhivery, OfBusiness, Pixxel and Boom Supersonic, signalling strong vote of confidence from within the logistics and tech ecosystems.

The startup was launched by Akshat Bhatia and Himanshu Panda with a specific mission: to design electric vehicles from the ground up for the rigors of Indian urban logistics. Rather than adapting existing two-wheelers, they are building something purpose-built. The funds will go towards sharpening their engineering focus, growing their team and setting up pilot runs in key city markets.

What sets Pluto apart is its vehicle design. It is roughly the size of a scooter but fully enclosed, offering protection against rain and heat. More importantly, it can accommodate twice the number of parcels per trip compared to a standard two-wheeler. That efficiency gain is not accidental. The founders have rethought everything – from chassis layout to cargo space – based on how delivery agents actually work. The result is a vehicle that boosts throughput without asking operators to compromise on safety or manoeuvrability.

This matters because most delivery fleets today still run on vehicles built for personal commute. They are not equipped for the stop-start, high-volume nature of e-commerce or quick-commerce deliveries. Operators often end up overloading bikes or switching to bulkier vehicles that cannot navigate narrow lanes. Pluto aims to fill that gap with a solution that is compact, durable and weather-resistant.

Pilot deployments are scheduled to begin later this year, with a focus on quick-commerce and e-commerce players looking for smarter ways to move goods through crowded cities.

Akshat Bhatia, CEO, Pluto Mobility, said, “India’s last-mile challenge isn’t speed, incentives or apps. It’s that delivery operations are built on vehicles never designed for delivery workloads. That mismatch caps how much can be moved per trip, increases failures at scale and quietly affects delivery economics.”

Boris Wertz, Founding Partner, Version One Ventures, said, “Pluto Mobility is taking a fundamentally different approach to last-mile delivery by designing vehicles specifically for throughput and operational reliability.”

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Andreas Mindt, Head of Design for the Volkswagen brand, has been appointed to lead Group Design for the Volkswagen Group, effective 1 March 2026. He succeeds Michael Mauer, who is departing as part of a transition.

He will hold this role alongside his current position at the Volkswagen brand. His appointment follows Mauer’s previous handover of responsibilities at Porsche to a successor.

Andreas Mindt joined the Volkswagen Group in 1996. His career includes work on the first-generation Tiguan and the Golf 7. Between 2014 and 2021, he led exterior design at Audi, overseeing models from the A1 to the e-tron GT. He later served as Director of Bentley Design, where he developed the design language for the Bentley Batur, before becoming Head of Design for Volkswagen Passenger Cars in 2023.

Michael Mauer joined the Group in 2004 as Head of Design at Porsche. During his tenure, he oversaw the Cayenne revision, the Panamera, and the 918 Spyder. He has served as Head of Group Design since January 2023, focused on establishing brand identities across the portfolio.

The role of Group Design is to differentiate the various brands within the Volkswagen Group by defining their specific identities. The strategy focuses on making each brand recognisable while ensuring products meet regional market requirements and customer expectations.

Oliver Blume, CEO, Volkswagen Group, said, “I would like to warmly thank Michael Mauer for his outstanding work and for the close and collaborative working relationship over the years. He shaped an era at Porsche. As Head of Group Design he also established a design philosophy across all brands that provides orientation and ensures recognition – with clearly defined brand and product identities. His work has shaped the style of our brands and will remain visible in the future.”

“I am looking forward to working more closely with Andy Mindt. With his track record at the Volkswagen brand and his expertise, he has made a significant impact in a short time and played a key role in ensuring that our cars are clearly recognisable as genuine Volkswagen models again,” added Blume.

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