German tier 1 supplier Continental’s Gurgaon plant has attained a new production milestone of producing 10 million Electronic Brake Systems (EBS) and 100 million Wheel Speed Sensors (WSS), two components integral to the safety of a vehicle. 

The EBS portfolio comprises Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for passenger cars and Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) for both, passenger cars and two-wheelers. It provides directional stability and steerability of the vehicle whereas, ABS aims to avoid locking of the wheels and keeps the vehicle steerable during braking. Additionally, the signals from the WSS are required for control systems like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

The company states that over 1.3 million people loose their lives in road accidents worldwide every year and more than 50 million are injured. In India, 53 accidents and 19 deaths occur every hour, or an average of 1,264 accidents and 42 deaths daily due to road crashes, according to a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways report in 2023. To enhance road safety in the country, ABS technology was made mandatory in 2019, followed by a proposal for ESC in 2022 by the government.  

Sukhdeep Sandhu, Head of Safety and Motion, Continental Automotive India said, “Safety is non-negotiable. At Continental, we have consistently brought relevant technologies to the market for our customers, helping make vehicles and thereby our roads safer. Our expertise in active and passive safety systems is a key driver in reducing the number of traffic-related fatalities, injuries, and road accidents”.

“Localisation is at the core of company’s strategy in India. Supported by legislations which have played a huge role in ensuring vehicular safety, we have been able to localise both production and R&D, ensuring greater value to our customers in the market. Customers in India are proactive in their adoption approach towards safety technologies”, he added.

Continental’s ‘Vision Zero’ is focussing on ensuring zero road fatalities, injuries and crashes, through technologies, components and systems and ongoing innovations.

The tier 1 supplier is also one of the largest manufacturers of WSS in India. Apart from catering to leading OEMs in India, these components are also exported to other Asian and European regions.

Anudeep Garg, Head of the Gurgaon plant, Continental Automotive India said, “We are proud to achieve this milestone and continue to focus on localisation. As a Tier 1 supplier, we follow global manufacturing standards and have adopted several advanced technologies to create a digital shopfloor. Additionally, industry 4.0 technologies enable us to not only maintain product quality and enhance efficiency but also to effectively streamline our supply chain. We aim to increase the manufacturing capacity of EBS and WSS in double-digit percentages in the next three years for both passenger vehicles as well two-wheelers.” 

Continental’s ‘in the market, for the market’ approach has seen its entire value chain from R&D to design and production being localised. This way Continental is focusing on enabling easy access to safety products by adapting globally proven technologies to suit the local market. Wide-scale production offers economy of scale and ensures cost advantage, thereby contributing to increased democratization of safety features in vehicles across segments in India.

It was in 2016, when Continental set up assembly lines in Gurugram for Antilock Brake Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems for two-wheelers and passenger cars. In 2018, it commenced production for ABS and ESC Electronic Control Units (ECU) at its Bengaluru plant. In the subsequent year, the company achieved the production milestone of one million ABS and ESC ECUs at its Bengaluru plant, and in 2020, reached a milestone of 50 Million Wheel Speed Sensors (WSS) at its Manesar plant. Additionally, Continental entered into a joint venture with Japanese firm Nisshinbo Holdings in 2022, to localise machining for valve blocks for Electronic Brake Systems (EBS) in India. 

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TAFE Motors and Tractors has opened its DEUTZ engine production facility at its manufacturing plant in Alwar, Rajasthan. The facility was inaugurated by Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister for Industry & Commerce, Government of Rajasthan.

Under a licensing agreement with DEUTZ, TAFE Motors will manufacture 2.2-litre and 2.9-litre engines for domestic and international markets, targeting an annual production capacity of 35,000 engines and 50,000 sub-assemblies. The manufacturing setup incorporates Industry 4.0-enabled systems and digital connectivity.

Rajasthan’s Cabinet Minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, while addressing the gathering lauded TAFE's investment in the state, said, “TAFE’s new production facility at Alwar is a strong endorsement of Rajasthan's emergence as a preferred manufacturing destination and exemplifies the vision of 'Made in Rajasthan for the World' while contributing to the national goal of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I reaffirm the state's commitment to fostering a business-friendly ecosystem through progressive policies and ease of doing business. I also commend TAFE’s Chairman & Managing Director, Mallika Srinivasan for her visionary leadership and contributions to nation-building, and I appreciate the commitment of TAFE's workforce, supply chain partners, and next-generation leadership in driving innovation, skilling, and empowering India's farmers through world-class technology and manufacturing excellence”

Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & Managing Director, TAFE, said, "Today marks a defining milestone in TAFE's growth journey. TAFE and the Amalgamations Group, together are one of India’s largest engine manufacturing ecosystems, with a production capacity projected to expand from 400,000 to 550,000 engines annually by 2030.”

She added, “Our partnership with DEUTZ, one of Europe's premier engine manufacturers and a pioneer in diesel engine technology brings together the precision of German engineering and the strength of India's manufacturing capabilities. This venture will also serve as a growth catalyst for the allied engineering industries in Rajasthan, further strengthening the state's position as a manufacturing hub. We extend our gratitude to the Government of Rajasthan for the continued support in enabling this landmark initiative."

Dr Lakshmi Venu, Vice Chairman, TAFE, said, " India's manufacturing sector is entering a new phase, driven by technology, operational excellence and globally benchmarked capabilities. The TAFE Motors - Deutz production facility reflects our commitment to and investments in, advanced manufacturing rigorous quality systems and continuous capability development that will enable us to respond to an evolving India and International market demand. With a 40 percent women workforce, the TAFE-DEUTZ production facility continues to advance gender diversity goals."

Sandeep Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, TAFE, said, " The TAFE-Deutz facility integrates high levels of automation across manufacturing, testing and logistics, along with vision systems, robotics and cobots for critical assembly functions and reaffirms our ability to manufacture world-class products at scale. We are creating a world-class platform that will deliver exceptional value to customers in India and across international markets. Further, the facility also incorporates a state-of-the art engine testing and an advanced quality laboratory with complete digital traceability to ensure global quality standards."

Dr. Sebastian Schulte, Chief Executive Officer, Deutz, said, “The inauguration of the new DEUTZ engine assembly line in Alwar marks an important milestone in our cooperation with TAFE. It reflects the commitment and strong collaboration of both teams in turning our shared vision into industrial reality.”

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto has produced its one millionth Karoq SUV - a Karoq 1.5 TSI 110 kW finished in Graphite Grey - from its Kvasiny plant.

Since its launch in 2017, the Karoq has been built at the Kvasiny facility, which also produces the Octavia and Kodiaq, and maintains an annual production capacity exceeding 300,000 vehicles. The successor model is scheduled to be unveiled by CY2028.

Andreas Dick, Responsible for Production and Logistics at Skoda Auto, said, “Since production began in 2017, the Skoda Karoq has become an established part of our portfolio and an especially important model for the Kvasiny plant. Reaching the one-million mark reflects the commitment and teamwork of many people over the years. I would like to thank all colleagues in Kvasiny for their dedication, as well as our social partner KOVO for our long-standing, constructive and trusted cooperation.”

The Karoq is sold in around 60 markets, with Germany, the Czech Republic and the United Kingdom serving as its primary markets. The model range includes petrol and diesel engines with power outputs ranging from 85 to 140 kW. As per the company, 73 percent of Karoq buyers select an automatic transmission, while 27 percent choose a manual transmission.

In 2025, the Kvasiny plant manufactured 301,500 vehicles, and production of the Octavia Combi was added to the site in May 2026.

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Zelio E-Mobility, an electric two-wheeler company, has opened its new manufacturing facility in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The company invested up to INR 10 million in the site.

The new plant will support its expansion in South India is spread across 39,000 sqft and will be used for assembly, storage and logistics operations. The facility has an annual production capacity of 60,000 units, increasing the company's total manufacturing capacity to 240,000 units per annum.

Production is expected to start with 24,000–30,000 units annually before scaling to meet market demand. The plant currently employs 30 workers, with plans to add over 100 personnel.

Kunal Arya, Managing Director, Zelio E-Mobility, said, “The launch of our Coimbatore facility marks a major milestone in Zelio E-Mobility’s growth journey. South India represents one of the most promising electric mobility markets in the country, and this expansion strengthens our ability to serve customers, dealers, and partners with greater speed and efficiency. This facility will play a crucial role in supporting our next phase of growth, improving supply chain responsiveness, and reinforcing our commitment to accelerating EV adoption across India.”

For FY2026, Zelio E-Mobility reported its revenue grew 81.8 percent YoY to INR 3.13 billion in FY2025–26, with a revenue CAGR of 121 percent over the past four years.

The company maintains a network of over 400 dealers across 25 states and intends to increase this to over 550 dealerships by FY2027.

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Renault Group has reached the milestone of producing one million electric vehicles in France. This achievement, spanning 15-years of manufacturing, reflects the company’s focus on the electric vehicle value chain within the country.

The company’s electric vehicle production began in 2010 with models such as the ZOE and Kangoo ZE. Production now includes light commercial vehicles like the Trafic Van E-Tech electric and the Master E-Tech electric. The group plans to introduce a Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) in the commercial segment with the launch of the New Trafic E-Tech electric in late 2026.

Francois Provost, CEO, Renault Group, said, “The milestone of one million electric vehicles produced by Renault Group in France is, above all, a source of collective pride: pride in our teams and suppliers who build them, pride in our customers who choose them, and pride in a Group that has made a long-term commitment to France. Since 2021, we have invested EUR 13 billion to build the electric vehicle value chain across our operations in France. Provided the right conditions are in place, we plan to invest a further EUR 13 billion as part of our mid-term plan, futuREady.”

In the industrial hub of Electricity, which encompasses sites in Douai and Maubeuge, the company has produced 600,000 electric vehicles. The Renault 5 E-Tech electric, produced at this hub, reached a production figure of 100,000 units by end-2025 and is projected to exceed 200,000 units this year. The Maubeuge facility also produces the Renault 4 E-Tech electric.

To support this growth, the hub has created 700 permanent jobs between 2022 and 2025, with an additional 300 positions expected by 2027. The northern production sites are multi-brand, manufacturing vehicles for Renault, Alpine, Nissan, Mitsubishi and Ford.

Beyond production, Renault Group has implemented an internal training programme called Reknow University, which has trained 53,000 employees in areas including electrification, battery technology, artificial intelligence, and the circular economy. The company notes that its electric vehicle operations support 35,000 indirect jobs within its supplier network.

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