Japanese tier 1 supplier Toyoda Gosei Co, which specialises in rubber and plastic parts, has developed a new technology to recycle high-quality plastic from end-of-life vehicles.

This technology aims to meet the growing demand for recycled plastic in the automotive industry against strengthened environmental regulations, which is pushing towards decarbonisation and circular economy through its use in various vehicle models, starting with the Toyota Camry.

The company shared that till now, it was difficult to obtain recycled plastic that could meet similar performance equivalent to new material due to impurities and other factors. Generally, waste plastic was burned to recover heat or refused for lower performance requirements.

But now Toyoda Gosei’s technology allows recycled plastic to have performance equivalent to that of new material even with 50 percent ELV plastic (polypropylene). 

For this, the company collaborated with Isono Co, to procure quality raw materials for recycling and leveraged Toyoda Gosei’s original material modification technology, meeting the quality standards for automotive parts for practical application. 

The tier 1 supplier shared accelerates horizontal recycling for reuse in the same parts and contributes to CO2 reduction.

Toyoda Gosei claims this is the first time in the world that recycled plastic containing 50 percent ELV plastic is used in interior parts such as glove boxes that require impact resistance.

It is also further advancing recycling plastic and rubber with decarbonisation as a key aim, based on its medium-term and long-term 2030 Business Plan. Going forward, Toyoda Gosei aims to expand applicable products, such as those associated with vehicle design, and will move ahead with the improvement of recycled plastic.

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Chennai-headquartered commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group flagship, has commenced construction of a greenfield battery pack manufacturing plant at Pillaipakkam, Tamil Nadu. The project involves an investment of INR 4-5 billion, forming part of a broader investment plan outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2025.

The facility aligns with the Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy 2023 and the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage. The project is intended to localise the production of battery packs for the commercial vehicle sector and reduce reliance on imported components.

The Pillaipakkam site marks Ashok Leyland's tenth manufacturing presence in Tamil Nadu. The company aims to use the facility to strengthen the domestic supply chain for its electric vehicle (EV) portfolio and its subsidiary, Switch Mobility.

Ashok Leyland has invested over INR 90 billion in Tamil Nadu since 1948. The new plant is expected to create jobs in high-technology manufacturing and advanced skill development. The foundation plaque was unveiled by M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of state officials and company leadership.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “Our journey has been closely intertwined with the growth of Tamil Nadu for more than seven decades. Ashok Leyland, along with its subsidiary, Switch Mobility, have already developed a vast range of electric Commercial Vehicles, and have taken a lead position in the EV market. The groundbreaking of the new battery pack manufacturing facility marks an important step in our electric mobility journey and reinforces our commitment to building a strong domestic EV ecosystem.”

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, added, “Battery pack technology is central to the future of electric mobility and energy storage. This facility will enable us to build advanced battery pack solutions with greater efficiency, safety and reliability while supporting the battery supply chain localisation It will also contribute to developing specialized talent and creating new opportunities in high-technology manufacturing within Tamil Nadu.”

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Swiss technology major ABB has announced that it is set to further invest around USD 75 million in India for 2026. The capital expenditure is directed at expanding the company’s manufacturing footprint and research and development (R&D) capabilities across five locations: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik and Vadodara.

This move follows a USD 35 million investment in 2025 and forms part of ABB’s ‘local-for-local’ strategy. Currently, 85 percent of the products ABB sells in India are manufactured within the country. The expansion is expected to create 300 skilled jobs in engineering, research, and operations.

The investment is distributed across several key hubs to support electrification, motion, and automation:

• Nelamangala, Bengaluru (USD 14 million): Expansion of Campus 1 and 2 to scale converter manufacturing for high-speed rail and metro segments. It includes a tenfold increase in production for uninterruptable power supply (UPS) solutions.
• Peenya, Bengaluru (USD 21 million): Funding to increase capacity for low-voltage drives and specialised motors, including flameproof and smoke-venting variants. The site will add an innovation lab and remote monitoring facilities.
• Nashik (USD 22 million): Expansion of the circuit breaker factory and the Vacuum Interrupter (VI) facility. This site will drive the localisation of 33kV Primary Gas Insulated Switchgear and SF6-free technologies by 2028.
• Hyderabad (USD 12 million): Completion of phase one of a new R&D and engineering hub, including a high-power testing laboratory.
• Vadodara (USD 6 million): Scaling of the synchronous generator and induction motor factories to serve the metals, oil and gas and wind sectors.

ABB’s revenue in India reached more than USD 1.5 billion in 2025, representing roughly 4 percent of the Group’s global total. The company identified grid modernisation, data centre development and renewable energy transition as the primary drivers for the increased capacity.

Morten Wierod, Chief Executive Officer, ABB, said, “This investment in India is an important part of our strategy to support infrastructure build-out and growth in one of our fastest growing markets. We are seeing strong demand driven by the country’s energy transition, grid modernization, data center development, and the rapid expansion of the metro and high-speed rail segments. Our expanded facilities will ensure we meet this demand while enhancing our capabilities to serve other markets in the region.”

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American technology company Aptiv has announced that its Board of Directors has approved the spin-off of its Electrical Distribution Systems business into a new publicly traded entity – Versigent.

Versigent provides signal, power and data distribution systems for the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors. It operates engineering centres across four continents and manufacturing facilities in more than 30 countries, focusing on low-voltage and high-voltage electrical architectures.

The separation will be executed through a distribution of Versigent ordinary shares to Aptiv shareholders. Stockholders will receive one ordinary share of Versigent for every three ordinary shares of Aptiv held as of the record date.

Aptiv shareholders are not required to take action, pay consideration, or exchange existing shares to receive the Versigent stock.

Following the separation, Aptiv will continue its operations as an industrial technology company focused on vehicle automation, electrification and digitalisation. Versigent will maintain its legacy in designing and manufacturing advanced vehicle architectures for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

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Honeywell has announced that its AI-powered Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (Battery MXP) is being integrated into the Alabama Mobility and Power (AMP) Center’s research lab at the University of Alabama. The platform is designed to automate battery production, improve cell yields and accelerate the startup of manufacturing facilities.

The AMP Center serves as a research hub for mobility and power technologies, including electric vehicle charging infrastructure and energy storage systems. The Honeywell platform will be used as the automation standard to train engineers and battery professionals in scaling production for industrial requirements.

Honeywell is also collaborating with FOM Technologies at the AMP Center to focus on the electrode production process. This phase of manufacturing is identified as a significant challenge in battery assembly; the partnership aims to use Battery MXP to automate this stage and improve the safety of cells for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Key objectives of the integration include – workforce development, operational excellence and industry access.

The lab is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2026. The deployment is intended to support the automotive industry while addressing energy requirements for data centres, grid stability, and regional electrification goals.

Mike Oatridge, Executive Director of the Alabama Mobility and Power Center, said, “The AMP Center was created to connect industry, academia, and state initiatives around the future of mobility and power. The deployment of Battery MXP supports Alabama’s automotive industry while advancing solutions for data center growth, grid stability, and the state’s long-term electrification and economic development goals.”

Russ Ford, President, Honeywell Process Automation Solutions, stated, “The rapid evolution of battery technology calls for a skilled workforce and advanced production capabilities at large scale, including comprehensive automation platforms powered by AI. AMP’s use of Battery MXP is poised to be a catalyst to empower the next generation of engineers in this important industry as it continues to grow.”

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