Germany-headquartered automotive major the BMW Group and Tata Technologies, a global product engineering and digital services company, have announced the official launch of their joint venture BMW TechWorks India with offices in – Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai.

The JV which goes on stream in November 2024, will initially start with 100 employees at these three locations and rapidly scale to four-digit number of employees by end-2025, with a strong focus on attracting top-tier Indian talent. The BMW Group and Tata Technologies will each hold 50 percent of the shares in this JV.

The management team of BMW TechWorks India is comprised of seasoned executives from both partner companies. Representing Tata Technologies are Aditya Khera as CEO and Sweta Girinatham as CFO of this JV. From the BMW Group, Oliver Scheickl will hold the position of COO of Automotive Software in this new JV and Stefan Flader will serve as COO of Business IT.

BMW TechWorks India complements BMW Group’s global strategy by engineering seamless, scalable software solutions for next-gen vehicles and delivering leading digital experiences. Tata Technologies will bring its expertise across the entire product value chain, from conceptualisation to detailed engineering and turnkey SDV (Software Defined Vehicles) development, will drive key software projects for the BMW Group’s premium mobility solutions and facilitate access to India’s impressive talents.

The partners aim to leverage India’s engineering and IT talent in developing strategic software solutions for SDVs, automated driving, digital infotainment, and automotive digital services.

In addition to automotive software, the JV will also provide digital innovations for the BMW Group's Business IT. Consequently, BMW TechWorks India will expedite the digital transformation of the car manufacturer's global production network, along with enhancing its digital customer journey and sales processes. Another key area of focus will be the development of AI applications and platforms, which will increase the speed and efficiency of all core business processes.

Christoph Grote, Senior Vice-President of Electronics and Software BMW Group said, “BMW TechWorks India is a significant addition to our global vehicle software development initiatives. India’s software talent will be a great asset for our Software-Defined Vehicles of the future. With agile processes and state-of-the-art tools, engineers at BMW TechWorks India will co-create innovative automotive digital experiences, such as automated driving and next-gen infotainment systems.” 

Alexander Buresch, CIO, and Senior Vice-President, BMW Group IT stated, “With BMW TechWorks India, we are steadily advancing our international IT-Hub strategy and broadening our global Business IT presence. The partnership with Tata Technologies represents a strategically important step and provides excellent conditions for developing innovative software solutions along our value chain. We are excited to welcome Indian tech talents to join us in driving the digital transformation of the BMW Group.”

Warren Harris, CEO and MD, Tata Technologies said: “Our joint venture with the BMW Group, BMW TechWorks India, underscores our deep expertise in Software-Defined Vehicles (SDV) and reflects our commitment to driving innovation in both automotive software and business IT. By leveraging Tata Technologies' strong brand presence in India, this JV will attract top talent and provide a platform to develop forward-thinking solutions that redefine the future of mobility. We are excited to partner with the BMW Group in engineering premium, software-driven vehicles, enhancing digital experiences, and accelerating their digital transformation journey.”

Nachiket Paranjpe, President of Automotive Sales, Tata Technologies commented, "The rapid evolution of automotive technology is transforming the way vehicles are developed, with Software-Defined Vehicles at the forefront of this shift. At Tata Technologies, our deep automotive expertise and end-to-end solutions across the value chain – from concept and detailed engineering to manufacturing engineering and turnkey SDV development – position us perfectly to support the BMW Group in shaping the future of mobility. Through this joint venture, we will push the boundaries of automotive technology, creating vehicles that are not only cutting-edge but also deliver exceptional driving experiences to consumers worldwide."

Aditya Khera, CEO, BMW TechWorks India: “With the launch of BMW TechWorks India, we are establishing a world-class software hub that will play a critical role in the BMW Group's automotive software and business IT strategy. By combining the BMW Group's and Tata Technologies' leadership in software-defined vehicles and product engineering excellence, we are poised for innovation and growth, offering India's top talent the opportunity to shape the future of the BMW Group's mobility solutions.”

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Vega Auto, the parent company of helmet brand Axor, has commenced production of Revo optical-coated helmet visors in India, marking the start of local manufacturing for the component.

The production launch follows an investment of over INR 20 million in optical coating technology and manufacturing infrastructure. The company plans to produce up to 2.4 million units of the coated visors at its domestic facilities.

The visors utilise multilayer optical coating technology designed to control light glare in bright environmental conditions and reduce visual fatigue. The product engineering focuses on glare management and optical clarity during daylight riding, expanding safety design beyond structural impact protection to address rider visual field requirements and road environment awareness.

Girdhari Chandak, Managing Director, Vega Auto Accessories, said, "At Axor, we believe rider safety begins long before impact, it begins with vision. A rider who can see more clearly can anticipate better, react faster and ride with greater confidence. Becoming the first company in India to manufacture Revo Optical Coated Helmet Visors is a proud milestone for Vega Auto. Our investment of over INR 20 million in advanced optical coating technology reflects our commitment to building world-class innovation in India. Revo is more than a premium visor. It represents a new approach to helmet innovation, one that combines protection with superior visual performance, comfort and rider confidence. This is only the beginning of our journey to redefine rider vision technology."

The manufacturing process incorporates multilayer coatings applied directly to the visor surface to produce a reflective finish while maintaining light transmission properties. Vega Auto will integrate the locally produced visors into its Axor product portfolio while continuing the development of component manufacturing capabilities in India.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has commenced commercial production at Plant D, the fourth manufacturing unit at its Hansalpur facility in Gujarat.

The new line adds 250,000 units of annual capacity, raising the total annual production capability at the Hansalpur site from 750,000 units to one million vehicles. The expansion makes Hansalpur the first manufacturing location across Suzuki's international network to achieve a million-unit annual capacity and establishes the site as the largest single-location passenger vehicle manufacturing plant in India.

The commissioning of Plant D increases Maruti Suzuki's total installed manufacturing capacity across India to 2.9 million units per year. Total investment in the Hansalpur site stands at INR 252.88 billion, which includes INR 39 billion allocated for the construction and equipping of Plant D. Initial assembly operations at the new plant will focus on the company's battery electric vehicle, the e Vitara.

In addition to the e Vitara, the Hansalpur manufacturing complex produces the Fronx, Baleno and Swift models. The site serves as a primary export hub for Maruti Suzuki, generating approximately 47 percent of the company's total overseas vehicle shipments during the 2025-26 financial year.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Gujarat has emerged as a manufacturing and export hub for Maruti Suzuki, backed by strong infrastructure and a progressive industrial ecosystem. The start of commercial production at the fourth plant of our Hansalpur facility augments its annual production capacity to one million vehicles, making it India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturing facility at a single location. The new line will further strengthen our ability to meet the growing demand from customers in India and overseas while advancing our ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision and expanding our global footprint.”

“Together, the Hansalpur and the upcoming Sanand facility in Gujarat will play a pivotal role in achieving our long-term ambition of producing 4 million units annually in India. These projects reflect our commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness, creating employment, boosting exports, and contributing towards Viksit Bharat,” he added.

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Godrej Enterprises Group's Tooling business is expanding its engineering and manufacturing capabilities to support domestic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 suppliers as the Indian automotive sector increases localisation and develops new mobility platforms.

With over 85 percent of its business linked to the automotive industry, the division supplies precision tooling solutions across passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, commercial vehicles and electric vehicle platforms.

At present, 95 percent of the tooling supplied to its automotive client base is manufactured locally within India, driven by government initiatives such as Make in India and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes that encourage domestic supply chain resilience.

The business produces press tools, die-casting dies and precision tooling systems. Alongside its core automotive operations, the unit supplies components to industrial machinery, railways, metro rail networks and defence manufacturing sectors.

Pankaj Abhyankar, Business Head – Tooling at Godrej Enterprises Group, said: "India's automotive industry is evolving rapidly, driven by localisation, changing mobility technologies, and the need for greater manufacturing agility. As vehicle architectures become more advanced, tooling is playing an increasingly important role in enabling precision, productivity, quality, and faster product development cycles. Our focus remains on building advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities that help customers meet these evolving requirements while supporting India's manufacturing ambitions."

To meet changing manufacturing standards, the division is integrating digital simulations, additive manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring systems and large-tonnage dye equipment into its production processes. The business is also utilising vacuum-assisted systems, thermo-regulation processes, squeeze casting and conformal cooling methods.

The expansion comes as the Indian tooling market experiences increased demand driven by capital investments in automotive manufacturing, electric mobility infrastructure, railways and defence production. Godrej Enterprises Group aims to scale its domestic manufacturing output to support long-term supply chain localisation across these industrial sectors.

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SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation), one of the largest petrochemicals manufacturers globally, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CEER, Saudi Arabia's electric vehicle brand, to explore cooperation in applying SABIC's materials and solutions in the design, development and manufacture of electric vehicles.

The signing ceremony took place at SABIC's headquarters in Riyadh, with attendance from SABIC CEO Dr. Faisal M. Alfaqeer and CEER CEO James DeLuca.

The agreement establishes a framework for evaluating the use of SABIC materials in EV applications and jointly developing material and processing solutions. The collaboration also covers knowledge sharing on sustainability and technology, exploring strategic sourcing opportunities to build a local supply chain and identifying joint areas of cooperation.

Dr. Al-Faqeer, said, “The memorandum represents a strategic collaboration which leverages SABIC’s global expertise in advanced material solutions for the electric vehicle industry. Through this partnership, we aim to accelerate innovation, enhance local content and build an integrated national supply chain that enhances global competitiveness. This collaboration also reflects our shared commitment to contribute to Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Industrial Strategy, empowering national talent, and strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional hub for future industries and technologies.”

James DeLuca, said, “This strategic collaboration with SABIC marks a significant step in CEER's journey toward designing, engineering and manufacturing a world-class electric vehicle right here in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In order to develop next-generation electric vehicles with leading safety and efficiency performance, we are partnering with global prominent companies that share our commitment to innovation. By integrating SABIC’s materials and deep technical expertise into our vehicles, we are building a robust and reliable local supply chain while enhancing CEER’s rule as a key player in the Kingdom’s transformation into sustainable advanced hub for mobility and technology, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.”

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