Skoda Auto Volkswagen India has announced that it has achieved a major manufacturing milestone in its operations. The company recently rolled out its 500,000th made-in-India Skoda vehicle.

The milestone comes after 24 years since the company introduced the first Skoda Octavia from its Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar facility (formerly Aurangabad) in 2001.

At present, the company manufactures vehicles across two facilities in India – Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Pune, with them now supporting the company’s new manufacturing plant in Vietnam with parts and components.

Over the years, Skoda has rolled out its iconic products such as Octavia, Laura, Superb and Kodiaq to new products like the Kushaq, Slavia and its first sub-4-meter Kylaq.

Andreas Dick, Board Member for Production and Logistics, Skoda Auto, said, “Reaching the milestone of 500,000 cars produced in India is a proud testament to our strategic vision of unwavering commitment to India and operational excellence. By nurturing local engineering talent and embedding global manufacturing processes, we’ve built an ecosystem that is agile, scalable, and responsive to a dynamically changing environment that meets the highest international standards. This achievement reflects the synergy between world-class innovation and India’s growing industrial prowess.”

Piyush Arora, CEO & Managing Director, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “It is not just about manufacturing 500,000 cars, but building and nurturing 500,000 connections. Every car that rolls out of our production lines, shares DNA of European engineering with unmatched quality, crafted with precision; delivering supreme comfort, safety, technology and driving dynamics. This achievement belongs as much to our customers as it does to our employees. Because what we’re manufacturing here isn’t just mobility, it’s a belief in what India can make for domestic as well as international markets. India plays a pivotal role in the Group’s growth strategy. I am glad to mention that we achieve this manufacturing milestone in the same year as Skoda Auto celebrates 130 years of legacy globally and 25 years of presence in India.”

The company revealed that approximately 70 percent of the vehicles manufactured in India were rolled out from its Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar plant.

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The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI) showcased India's industrial sector at the 24th International Forging Congress (IFC 2025) in Frankfurt, Germany.

Yash J Munot, AIFI President, delivered a keynote presentation on India's manufacturing capabilities, technological advancements and vision for global partnerships. He highlighted India's status as the world's second-largest producer of forgings and its position in the global supply chain.

In his address, ‘Forging India’s Future – Partnering with the World,’ he discussed India’s journey of modernisation, global integration and sustainable growth.

"India has transformed from being a land of opportunity to a land of action. The forging industry stands as a true reflection of this transformation, built on the pillars of scale, skill and sustainability and ready to co-author the future of global manufacturing. We have evolved from a labour-intensive past to a capital-intensive, technology-driven present, powered by significant investments in Industry 4.0, AI, automation and smart manufacturing practices. In an era shaped by geopolitical shifts, fluctuating material costs and the global call for sustainability, India’s forging industry offers reliability, quality and resilience. We are not here merely as suppliers, but as partners and collaborators, committed to forging a stronger, more innovative and sustainable industrial future for the world,” he said.

India’s forging industry produces 2.9 million metric tonnes annually, with an installed capacity of 4.8 million MT, representing investments worth USD 3.8 billion. The sector employs over 300,000 people. It supplies components to sectors including automotive, railways, aerospace, defence, construction equipment and engineering. Around 30 percent of total production is exported to Europe, North America and Asia.

The industry has adopted Industry 4.0 technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, digital simulation and data analytics. The focus on energy-efficient furnaces and circular manufacturing reflects the sector’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

Munot highlighted the upcoming Forging Simulation Centre in Pune, designed to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) improve productivity and minimise environmental impact through digital technologies.

He also announced the 4th edition of Forgetech India, AIFI’s biennial exhibition and conference, scheduled for October 2026.

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VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, is set to invest INR 5.44 billion towards production and final assembly of the Volvo Group’s globally proven 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT).

The company is establishing a new greenfield factory at Vikram Udyogpuri Integrated Industrial Township, near Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The new facility will have an initial capacity to produce 40,000 units per annum, with production and local content to be gradually ramped up. The transmissions will benefit Eicher Heavy Duty truck customers in India and Volvo Group in India, along with plans to export to select markets in Asia-Oceania region.

The development builds upon the 18-year-old alliance between the two companies, with VECV already manufacturing Volvo Group’s 5-litre and 8-litre (MDEP) engines in India since 2013.

The new AMT facility will have an initial capacity to produce up to 40,000 units p.a., with production and local content to be gradually ramped up in line with Volvo Group’s global processes and quality standards.

Sofia Frandberg, Chairperson, VE Commercial Vehicles and Senior Leader, Volvo Group, said, “This investment by VECV represents yet another win-win synergy with the Volvo Group and leverages the technical and industrial capabilities that have been built-up over the past 18 years. During this time, VECV has repeatedly demonstrated its leadership in the commercial vehicle market through timely introduction of future-ready solutions that address customer needs in the rapidly transforming industry.”

Siddhartha Lal, Chairman, Eicher Motors, said, “Since its inception in 2008, our VECV JV has progressively delivered joint programs of growing importance and technological complexity. The new investment to assemble and produce the Volvo Group AMT is built on the bedrock of this trust and technical capability. It marks another significant step towards our vision of becoming a leading CV player in India and other emerging markets by driving modernisation in commercial transportation.”

Jens Holtinger, Executive Vice-President Group Trucks Technology and Chief Technology Officer, Volvo Group, said, “This new manufacturing hub at VECV is an excellent example of how the Volvo Group has leveraged partnerships to make our manufacturing supply chain more efficient. It is also a testament to the amount of trust we put in the competence of VECV. Over the past 18 years, VECV has become a core part of Volvo Group supply chain for critical components and aggregates, and we now write a new chapter in our successful relationship.”

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “As the Indian commercial vehicle industry moves towards higher capacity vehicles, Eicher truck customers and drivers will have access to Volvo Group’s globally leading AMT, which is proven to reduce driver fatigue and improve fuel economy, productivity and Uptime in demanding operations. The new AMT factory will be built to Volvo Group’s global standards and is very much aligned with the Government of India’s vision for Make in India. We thank the Government of Madhya Pradesh for their unstinting support.” 

Image for representational purpose only.

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Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has attained a new production milestone with the roll-out of its 500,000th unit – an Ather Rizta e-scooter – from its plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The company shared that the Rizta e-scooter has become a growth driver for the brand since its launch last year.

Swapnil Jain, Co-Founder & CTO, Ather Energy, said, "Crossing 500,000 scooters is a major milestone for Ather. From our very first prototype to today, our journey has been about building not just vehicles, but a scalable, reliable and consistent manufacturing ecosystem. This achievement reflects years of focused engineering, rigorous testing, and meticulous attention to quality at every stage of production. It also highlights the dedication of teams across the company and the trust and support of our owner community, who have been with us throughout this journey."

Ather has built a portfolio of performance and family scooters. The Rizta, in a year since its launch, accounts for over one-third of total production volumes. Ather has recently expanded its presence in the Middle and North India, focusing on tier 2 and 3 cities, alongside metro markets.

Ather currently runs two manufacturing facilities in Hosur, Tamil Nadu – one for vehicle assembly and one for battery production. The Hosur plant has a capacity of 420,000 scooters a year. To meet demand, Ather is setting up its third plant, Factory 3.0, in Bidkin, AURIC, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. The facility will be developed in two phases, integrating digital technologies. Once both phases are running, Factory 3.0 will increase Ather’s total installed capacity across all facilities to 1.42 million electric two-wheelers annually.

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Tata AutoComp Hendrickson Suspensions (THSL) has become the first commercial vehicle suspension manufacturer to be awarded the prestigious Deming Prize. 

The Deming Prize recognises companies that have achieved distinctive performance improvements through the application of TQM. For THSL, the award validates years of painstaking work in standardising processes, enhancing product reliability and ensuring customer delight.

Incepted in 2006, as a 50:50 Joint Venture between Tata AutoComp Systems and Hendrickson, THSL focusses on suspension solutions that could conquer the unique challenges of Indian roads and maintenance practices. The company didn't just import technology; it customised it.

The 8x2 Truck Revolution: THSL became a major enabler for the fuel-efficient and versatile 8x2 truck segment in India, largely due to its innovative Lift Axle Suspension system. They played a significant role in developing the robust 37-tonne truck segment.

Leveraging Hendrickson's deep global product knowledge and combining it with their own extensive experience of Indian operating conditions, THSL continually focused on quality and innovation across its product lines:

• Auxiliary suspensions (Lift Axle): Enabling flexibility and better load management in Pusher/Tag positions.
• Robust tandem solutions: Developing advanced bogie suspensions and rubber-metal suspension systems essential for medium and heavy-duty tippers and haulage tractors.
• Comfort on the move: Pioneering modern bus air suspension systems for city buses, coaches and luxury intercity travel.
• Comprehensive range: Offering air suspension systems for various truck and tractor applications, alongside traditional, durable parabolic springs.

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