Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd (M&M Ltd) has inaugurated the Mahindra India Design Studio (MIDS), a state-of-the-art creative facility that marks a significant leap ahead in the company’s automotive and industrial design capabilities. 
Located in the group’s automotive manufacturing site at Kandivali in Mumbai, MIDS marks the expansion of the existing design studio at the same location with the addition of new and modern equipment such as the Kolb clay milling machine with two five-axis milling centres on a single ‘bed’ that would enable prototyping of two projects – an exterior or interior of a vehicle, two exterior works or more – at the same time in an effort to contribute to time-to-market. 
Marking the doubling of the studio size and reaffirming M&M's commitment to design excellence as a cornerstone of the product development strategy, the MIDS has also acquired a new paint booth to support paint design and development activities regarding new designs. 
With ‘Heartcare’ design philosophy driving the group’s push into the SUV space, the MIDS will also work on other automotive areas such as commercial vehicles and tractors. 
Marking a significant upgrade of a facility that was originally set up in 2015 as a dedicated studio to support M&M's auto and farm business, the newer and bigger set up is already tapping the growing talent in the respective field in the country.  
To be headed by Ajay Saran Sharma, the MIDS will have a 100 strong team to drive design project management, concept design, digital designing, physical modelling, studio engineering, CMF design, design quality/Realisation and HMI/UI/UX. The finer elements would include exterior and interior designing, visualisation, clay modelling, prototyping and more. 
Capable of supporting working progress on two or three projects at the same time and not just regarding passenger vehicles but also regarding commercial vehicles and tractors, MIDS will serve as a collaborative bridge between India and Mahindra’s global design outpost – the Mahindra Advanced Design Europe (MADE). 
Aiming to inspire innovation by blending digital tools with hands-on craftsmanship, MIDS will play a central role in shaping vehicles and experiences that are distinctly global, yet Indian. 
“It is a pleasure to have this new avatar of Mahindra India Design Studio commissioned. With state-of-the- art design spaces and machinery backed by world-class skills that hugely expands its capability and capacity, the footprint of the space stands doubled to take on and deliver the ever-expanding project portfolio across businesses. The end-to-end delivery on projects from the first concept sketch through to production stands further strengthened with the new working structure that along with the classic design verticals includes new functions such as HMI Design, Design Quality & Realisation,” explained Sharma. 
Pratap Bose, Chief Design and Creative Officer, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, averred, “We are thrilled to inaugurate our future ready Mahindra India Design Studio bringing world class design technologies and tools to create stunning, design outcomes across our Auto and Farm businesses. The new studio will attract the best design talent from India and become a leading automotive design centre in India. The influence of MIDS on our products will be felt for many years to come.” 

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German automotive major the BMW Group has received the ‘Global New Energy Vehicle Innovative Technology’ award at the 2026 World New Energy Vehicle Congress (WNEVC) in China.

The company was recognised for its sixth-generation (Gen6) high-voltage battery system, which uses round battery cells with a high-nickel cathode. The BMW Group was the sole non-Chinese automotive manufacturer to receive a technology award at the event.

The Gen6 battery system serves as a component of the company's upcoming ‘Neue Klasse’ vehicle platform, which will be integrated across its electric vehicle lineup. In developing the sixth-generation eDrive technology, the BMW Group filed over 500 patent applications. The battery architecture utilises an 800-volt system, bidirectional charging capability and a cell-to-pack design that integrates cylindrical cells directly into the battery pack without intermediate module structures.

Jochen Goller, Member of the Board of Management, BMW AG responsible for Customer, Brands, Sales, said, “We are very proud to receive this international award for our Gen6 high-voltage battery. It confirms our long-term approach of combining technological innovation with the highest standards of quality and safety and genuine customer relevance. With the Neue Klasse, we are setting new benchmarks in this area.”

Thomas Engelhardt, Senior Vice-President Development High-Voltage Batteries, Charging at the BMW Group, said, “The Gen6 high-voltage battery represents a technological leap across all customer-relevant features. Its innovative, flat design with cylindrical cells paves the way for greater range and faster charging, while maintaining the highest level of safety. As a core technology of the Neue Klasse, it forms the foundation for fully-electric driving pleasure across the entire BMW portfolio.”

The battery system incorporates steel-housed round cells, multi-stage insulation and thermal management features. The energy management functions are directed by the ‘Energy Master’ unit, featuring hardware and software developed in-house by BMW to manage power distribution, vehicle electrical system supply and battery data processing. The Energy Master system provides compatibility with both 400-volt and 800-volt charging infrastructure and allows for the integration of alternative cell chemistries.

The presentation marks the fifth consecutive year and sixth time overall that the BMW Group has received recognition at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress, an annual industry conference bringing together automotive, academic and government representatives to discuss electric vehicle developments.

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Japanese automotive component supplier Toyoda Gosei Co has announced plans to establish a new manufacturing facility in the Bidkin Industrial Area in Maharashtra.

The plant will produce interior and exterior components, including bumpers and instrument panels, alongside safety systems such as airbags and steering wheels and functional components like plastic fuel filler pipes.

It will commence operations in the first half of 2029 to supply Japanese car manufacturers operating in the country, including Toyota Kirloskar Motor, which is constructing a vehicle plant in the same industrial zone.

The development represents Toyoda Gosei’s eighth location in India and will operate as a branch plant under its subsidiary, Toyoda Gosei South India.

The site covers approximately 78,400 square metres of land with a planned building area of 29,200 square metres. Toyoda Gosei plans an investment of approximately INR 5.758 billion (JPY 9.3 billion) for the project, with projected workforce numbers reaching around 570 employees by 2030.

The facility will incorporate equipment including electric injection moulding machines with automated mould-changing systems, a bumper painting booth, automated guided vehicles and rooftop solar panels.

Production processes will integrate Internet of Things technology, digital transformation systems, collaborative robots, and mechanical mechanisms derived from Karakuri design principles.

The expansion comes as product demand in India shifts from compact cars toward sport utility vehicles. Toyoda Gosei intends to utilise the new facility to expand its local development and manufacturing network across the region.

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Pune-headquartered automotive company Kinetic Engineering has announced an investment of approximately INR 570 million to support its capital expenditure requirements and expand its electric two-wheeler segment.

The company shared that it intends to deploy INR 170 million toward CAPEX, while INR 400 million will be directed toward electric vehicle manufacturing and distribution. The capital injection is being executed through the final tranche conversion of 4,451,000 warrants issued to promoters in March 2025.

The investment follows an increase in the company's dealer network and product distribution footprint. Kinetic Engineering has signed letters of intent with over 150 dealers across India, with 60 dealerships operational featuring sales, service and spare parts operations. Promoter shareholding in Kinetic Engineering has increased from 50 percent to 69.27 percent over the past four years.

In its electric two-wheeler business, the company is focusing on its Kinetic DX and DX+ scooter models, which incorporate 3.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs that deliver a range of up to 132 kilometres under Indian Driving Cycle test conditions.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Kinetic Engineering, said, "Kinetic Engineering is entering an exciting phase of growth, with strong momentum across both our automotive components and electric mobility businesses. Our auto-components business is seeing a healthy pipeline of new orders, which will support growth and help us work towards our target of improving EBITDA margins to around 12%. At the same time, the response to our Kinetic DX electric scooter has been encouraging, giving us confidence to expand our presence across markets. With continued investments in capacity, technology and our retail network, we are focused on scaling both businesses and building Kinetic into a leading and enduring player in India’s electric mobility segment."

The company aims to secure a position among the top ten electric vehicle brands in India as industry projections indicate electric two-wheeler market volumes could expand from 1.8 million units to 7 million units by FY2030.

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Fluid transmission solutions provider Imperial Auto has opened its new Global Technology Centre in Backnang, Germany, expanding its engineering footprint within the European automotive sector.

Situated in the Stuttgart metropolitan area, the facility will function as a hub for technology development, engineering and customer collaboration. The centre is designed to support OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers across passenger cars, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery, off-highway equipment and mobility applications by integrating European client requirements with Imperial Auto's global manufacturing infrastructure.

Vikram Wagh, Managing Director and CEO, Imperial Auto, said, “Europe is an important market for Imperial Auto, and establishing a dedicated technology centre in Germany is a significant step in our global growth journey. The centre will strengthen our ability to work closely with customers, understand their evolving technology and product requirements, and translate these insights into innovative solutions. Being closer to our customers will enable faster technical responses, more effective collaboration and stronger product development. The Backnang centre will also facilitate the exchange of engineering knowledge, technologies and best practices across our global network, helping us accelerate innovation and deliver reliable, future-ready solutions to customers across markets.”

The Backnang facility will house teams dedicated to product development and technical support, aiming to accelerate decision-making cycles and facilitate joint engineering initiatives between regional clients and the company's central development units.

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