Neolite ZKW Lightings held a commemorative ceremony on 23 January 2026 for its new manufacturing plant in Pune, Maharashtra. The facility, which began operations in December 2025, is situated near the Mumbai-Pune-Nashik-Aurangabad automotive cluster. This location allows the company to manage inventory and provide services to customers including Tata Motors, Stellantis, JSW MG Motor India, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles and Piaggio Vehicles.

The facility includes an independent design centre featuring simulation software, optical design tools and 3D modelling capabilities. This centre supports product development, prototyping and validation to meet global regulatory standards. The Pune plant focuses on manufacturing processes such as moulding, surface treatment and assembly for lighting products and components.

Neolite ZKW Lightings produces lighting solutions for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles and two-wheelers. Its portfolio is powertrain agnostic, supplying components for both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles. Following the commencement of the Pune facility, the group intends to focus on opening its next plant in Kancheepuram.

Won Yong Hwang, CEO, ZKW Group, said, “India continues to emerge as a strategic market for the global automotive industry. Neolite ZKW’s expansion in Pune represents a positive step toward advancing next-generation automotive lighting solutions, and we look forward to continued collaboration in technology and innovation”.

Rajesh Jain, Chairman and Managing Director, Neolite ZKW Lightings, said, “Our new Pune plant reflects our commitment to invest in capacity, technology and talent to support the next phase of growth for our customers and for Neolite ZKW. With this facility, we are better positioned to respond timely to customer requirements, drive innovation in automotive lighting, and create employment opportunities in the region. After this, our next focus will be to get our Kancheepuram facility up and running and we are working very hard to get that done”.

Rajesh Soni, CEO, Neolite ZKW, added, “The Pune facility is designed to focus on manufacturing of automotive lighting products and components including moulding, surface treatment and assembly. Further, in line with the shift toward electrification and sustainability, we also offer certain electric vehicle focused lighting products. At the same time, our portfolio is powertrain agnostic that serves both EVs and internal combustion engine vehicles”.

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American seating major Adient has announced the launch of ModuTec, a seating design intended to alter the manufacturing process for vehicle interiors. The solution utilises modularity to simplify assembly and increase the potential for automation within production facilities.

The ModuTec system moves the build of seat modules offline. These completed units are then sequenced into the main Just-in-Time (JIT) production line. According to the company, this method reduces final assembly time from minutes to seconds. By shifting from integrated, labour-intensive processes to a modular workflow, the system aims to lower costs and reduce the factory floor space required for seat production.

The design allows for the integration of components before the seat reaches the main line, which supports higher levels of automation. Beyond manufacturing efficiency, the modular approach is intended to assist with vehicle serviceability, as it enables easier upgrades or repairs at the dealership level. The architecture also addresses engineering criteria and craftsmanship standards while seeking to improve seat comfort and warranty outcomes.

Griffin Brown, Vice-President of VAVE, Innovation, Mechanisms BU, Americas, Adient, said, "ModuTec will fundamentally change how seats are made going forward. By balancing all aspects of cost efficiency, engineering criteria and manufacturing best practices, ModuTec is a bold step in the direction the industry needs today and into tomorrow."

The introduction of ModuTec follows an analysis of the requirements of automakers and consumers. Adient expects the solution to set a new standard for efficiency and modular design within the automotive seating sector.

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Maruti Suzuki India, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation and the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it is set to acquire land from the Government of Gujarat for the construction of a new production facility.

The decision follows a basic agreement reached with the state government in January 2024 to establish a second manufacturing base in the region.

The site in Sanand covers approximately 1,750 acres valued at INR 49.6 billion. Once operational, the facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of 1 million units.

The company cited Gujarat’s supply chain, infrastructure and proximity to ports as factors for the selection. The location provides access to highway and railway networks, supporting its function as both a domestic production base and an export hub for vehicles.

Current and Planned Production Capacity

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Ashok Leyland, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers in the country, has opened a new integrated manufacturing facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The greenfield facility, located near Lucknow Airport in Sarojini Nagar, was inaugurated by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, alongside Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and H D Kumaraswamy.

The 70-acre site is designed to produce 5,000 vehicles annually, with a primary focus on electric buses and other green mobility solutions. The facility employs a workforce predominantly from Uttar Pradesh, including a high percentage of women. To support its sustainability goals, the plant features rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and zero-discharge water systems.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, "The inauguration of this new plant marks the beginning of an important new chapter for Ashok Leyland in the vibrant state of Uttar Pradesh. Our Group remains deeply committed to unlocking further opportunities that drive economic growth, create meaningful employment, and foster long-term prosperity in the region. This manufacturing plant reaffirms our resolve to help shape the future of India’s commercial vehicle industry, and we are confident that it will make a strong contribution towards employment generation while advancing sustainable mobility. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future and take one step further to achieve our Net Zero emission goals."

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, "As one of India’s largest and most progressive states, Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development, making it a natural partner in our green mobility journey. This coupled with Ashok Leyland’s ambition to achieve Net Zero by 2048 has been a key catalyst for establishing this state-of-the-art facility in Uttar Pradesh. Equipped with most modern technology and high levels of automation, the plant reflects our focus on world-class quality and innovation. With a strong emphasis on electric buses, this facility marks a significant step towards building a cleaner, future-ready mobility ecosystem for India.”

The plant's logistics are managed using battery-operated vehicles to maintain its status as a green facility. This expansion aligns with Ashok Leyland's target to reach Net Zero emissions by 2048 and supports the state of Uttar Pradesh's transition toward electric transportation.

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Bharat Forge and Germany-based Agile Robots have agreed to explore a collaboration to develop AI-driven robotics and industrial automation. The partnership combines Bharat Forge's domain expertise with Agile Robots' automation solutions to deploy technology for the automotive, healthcare, and consumer electronics industries.

The agreement focuses on civilian industry and manufacturing. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the companies will co-develop and offer solutions in manufacturing, industrial CPG and logistics for markets in India and Southeast Asia. The partnership also aims to develop vision and AI-based robotic systems to enable autonomous ‘dark’ factories.

Amit Kalyani, Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge, said, “This strategic collaboration with Agile Robots is a reinforcement of Bharat Forge’s ambition to provide state-of-the-art intelligent robotic and automation solutions across multiple industries while driving manufacturing efficiencies at home. Manufacturing in India is on a steep growth path, and I am very excited that with Agile Robots we are going to deploy bespoke, modular and intelligent automation solutions across the sectors.”

Rory Sexton, Executive Director, Agile Robots, said, “By partnering with Bharat Forge, Agile Robots is strengthening its position in India's rapidly growing manufacturing sector. Combining Agile Robots’ proven leadership in AI driven robotic automation with Bharat Forge’s sectoral expertise will allow us to improve the efficiency and precision of entire production systems.”

The collaboration intends to set up capabilities for bespoke solutions while utilizing existing Agile Robots technology. By integrating AI into production systems, the companies aim to improve precision and efficiency across manufacturing sectors in the region.

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