Introducing significant advancement in automotive semiconductor technology at the recent Snapdragon Summit 2024 with a focus on improving the cockpit and ADAS experience, Qualcomm has reported strong growth in its automotive revenue in the current calendar year. 
The growth story at Nvidia – with a lucrative detour into AI – is indicative of the developments in autonomous vehicle technologies.  
The tech major may not enjoy the popularity or acceptance that Qualcomm has come to command, the fact is, both are seeking an innovative approach to automobiles as their users seek new and exciting features. 
While legacy automotive tier 1 suppliers like Schaeffler, Bosch and others facing the challenge of sluggish demand, the system-to-chip (SoC) technology companies like Qualcomm and Nvidia are engineering a different dimension to the art of automobile design, development and manufacture.  
Enjoying an EBITDA margin of around 30 percent as compared to the five percent EBITDA margin roughly of tier 1 automotive suppliers, Qualcomm and Nvidia are driving the age of software defined vehicles that are already calling for engineers with a deeper understanding of software. 
C++ or Autosar may be the language most automotive software programmes use as the basis, from a features or convenience point of view, even the presence of rain sensing wipers or an air-con that can be switched on or off with a voice command are fast gaining prominence among automotive buyers as they seek a different level of emotion connection with their set of wheels. 
From a vehicle architecture point of view, please consider the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis. It has evolved with the introduction of the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms on the hardware side. 
Aiding faster computing speeds, both the platforms feature the Oryon CPU. This CPU has been optimised for automotive safety standards and designed for 3x faster CPU performance than previous generations, according to Qualcomm sources.  
Aiding to enhance in-vehicle digital experiences by integrating advanced infotainment with autonomous driving capabilities on a single chip, developments like this mark an interesting milestone in the world of automobiles. 
An important milestone will be the plan by Qualcomm to introduce lower-tier versions of these platforms to broaden their applications, enabling automakers to develop cost-effective solutions across various market segments. 
The Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite SoCs are expected to be available to manufacturers starting in 2025, with early adopters such as Mercedes-Benz and Li Auto planning to integrate these technologies into their upcoming models. 
The first vehicles using these platforms are expected to be available by 2026 in China. Releases in other markets in the world will soon follow. 
Talking about Nvidia's lucrative detour into AI, Ola Electric has developed an Ola Digital Twin platform on NVIDIA Omniverse that is helping it to achieve 20 percent faster time-to-market – from design to commissioning for its manufacturing operations.
Built on NVIDIA Isaac Sim, the Ola Digital Twin platform taps into core Omniverse technologies like OpenUSD for data interoperability, RTX for physically-based rendering, and generative AI for accelerated world building to generate synthetic data or training autonomous mobile robots and robotic arms.
Consulting leaders such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Tech Mahindra are developing industrial AI applications and services on Omniverse to help manufacturers develop digital twins for accelerated factory planning, optimised processes, robotics training and large-scale automation, according to an industry source aware of the new developments in AI and industrial automation.

Edge AI and software virtualisation
At Snapdragon Summit 2024, Qualcomm emphasised the benefits of edge AI over traditional cloud-based solutions, particularly in terms of privacy and latency. 
By processing data locally within the vehicle, edge AI enhances data security and ensures that sensitive information remains protected. Recent advancements in AI models, such as Llama 3.0, illustrate that edge AI can deliver strong performance while reducing memory requirements, which may lead to cost savings for manufacturers.
Interesting, use cases covering nearly every aspect of heavy manufacturing — from building virtual factories for real-time factory planning and monitoring, to creating digital twins of aircraft components for immersive training and predictive maintenance, Nvidia’s Omniverse is being used to simulate autonomous vehicles; to enable automotive companies to simulate and validate complex driving scenarios without the need for physical testing. 

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Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) has achieved a new production milestone of rolling out 50,000 units of the Skoda Kylaq from its Chakan facility.

The Kylaq, the company stated, has contributed 36 percent to the Group’s YoY growth in 2025. It achieved this volume by expanding its operations and increasing the use of domestic components.

To support the production of the Kylaq, SAVWIPL increased the capacity of the Chakan plant by 30 percent. The vehicle is built on the MQB-A0-IN platform, a chassis architecture designed for the Indian market. The group has focused on localisation and the development of a local supplier network to support its manufacturing output.

The milestone follows 25 years of the group's presence in India, during which it has developed an integrated ecosystem and a local talent pool. By increasing production and localisation, the company aims to support the government’s manufacturing initiatives while deepening its engineering and sourcing capabilities within the country.

H D Kumaraswamy, Union Cabinet Minister of Heavy Industries and Minister of Steel, said, “I congratulate Skoda Auto Volkswagen India on achieving this production milestone and for their continued commitment to the ‘Made in India’ initiative.”

Piyush Arora, MD & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “The 50,000‑unit milestone for the Kylaq reflects the deep trust and affection our customers have shown for this product. Built on the proven MQB‑A0‑IN platform, the Kylaq’s success is a powerful validation that vehicles designed in India, both for India and the world, continue to earn admiration and confidence from customers domestically and globally.”

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Hindalco Industries has announced an INR 210 billion expansion of its aluminium smelter in Sambalpur, Odisha. The project will add 360,000 tonnes per annum of capacity to the Aditya Aluminium complex. Additionally, the company has commissioned a manufacturing facility for flat rolled products (FRP) and battery-grade aluminium foil following an investment of INR 45 billion.

The facilities form part of a growth programme involving INR 370 billion of planned expenditure in Odisha. The battery-grade foil plant is intended to provide raw materials for the production of lithium-ion cells, with a capacity to support 100 GWh of manufacturing. The expansion of the FRP unit aims to reduce India’s reliance on imported flat-rolled aluminium, which currently accounts for 40 percent of domestic consumption.

The smelter expansion incorporates plans to use round-the-clock renewable energy for a portion of its power requirements. This project connects upstream resources with downstream manufacturing, linking bauxite mining and alumina refining to the production of foil and high-grade materials. The company expects the next phase of investment to create 15,000 jobs in the region, adding to its current workforce of 23,000 in the state.

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman, Aditya Birla Group, said, “India’s manufacturing growth depends on integration, value addition and sustainability. Through Hindalco, we are building a fully integrated aluminium ecosystem that spans from upstream resources to high-value downstream products. Our long-standing partnership with Odisha continues to play an important role in this journey. This strategy strengthens India’s self-reliance, supports critical sectors, and accelerates the nation’s transition towards advanced, sustainable manufacturing.”

Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, added, “The FRP expansion and smelter growth at Sambalpur exemplify our integrated upstream–downstream growth strategy. This enables Hindalco to deliver high-quality aluminium solutions across packaging, defence, electric mobility, renewable energy and advanced manufacturing, positioning us strongly to support India’s industrial ambitions while creating long-term value.”

Hindalco’s roadmap in Odisha includes the Kansariguda alumina refinery, the Meenakshi coal mine, and units for white fused alumina. The company has invested over INR 250 billion in the state over the last 15 years. These developments are part of a wider INR 550 billion capital expenditure plan across India.

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Japanese automaker Nissan and China’s Chery have reached an agreement for the acquisition of Nissan’s manufacturing facilities in Rosslyn, South Africa, which is subject to regulatory approvals and the fulfilment of specific conditions.

As per the understanding, Chery will purchase the land, buildings and associated assets, including the stamping plant, in mid-2026. Chery will offer employment to the majority of Nissan’s current staff at the site on terms and conditions similar to their existing contracts. The move follows a period of impact on the utilisation and viability of the plant within Nissan's global operations.

Despite the sale of the production facility, Nissan will maintain its commercial presence in South Africa. The company plans to continue its sales and service operations and has scheduled several vehicle launches for the 2026 fiscal year, including the Nissan Tekton and Nissan Patrol.

The acquisition allows the Rosslyn site to remain an active part of the South African automotive manufacturing sector. The preservation of the facility also aims to maintain opportunities for the existing local supplier network that services the plant.

Jordi Vila, Nissan Africa President, said, “Nissan has a long and proud history in South Africa and has been working to find the best solution for our people, our customers and our partners. External factors have had a well-known impact on the utilisation of the Rosslyn plant and its future viability within Nissan. Through this agreement we’re able to secure employment for the majority of our workforce thereby also preserving opportunities for our supplier network. This move also ensures that the Rosslyn site will continue contributing to the South African automotive sector.”

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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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