Volvo Group in India, Ericsson and Bharti Airtel have come together to explore the potential of Extended Reality (XR), digital twin technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) in the manufacturing sector. The partnership aims to leverage 5G and 5G Advanced to transform industrial operations, improve workforce training and real-time process optimisation.

As per the understanding, the research will be conducted at the Volvo Group Factory and Volvo Group’s R&D Centre in Bengaluru. The facilities will explore industrial Metaverse applications including human and machine interaction and collaboration, which means a blend of physical and digital worlds. The idea is to enhance efficiency, foster innovation in manufacturing and real-time optimisation using AI technologies.

The partnership will leverage high-speed 5G network to test ‘what if’ scenarios and improve production workflow. They will also explore potential new revenue streams and business models for the telcos.

Kamal Bali, President & MD, Volvo Group India, said, “Our industry is undergoing a once in a lifetime transformation driven by the emerging trends across automation, connectivity and alternative energy carriers – tools which will be key in our ambitions to be net zero and shape a sustainable future for all. This transformation also includes the way we work and collaborate across our industrial and R&D sites. 5G, coupled with extended reality applications, will help foster innovation as well as collaboration between our sites and engineers, in real-time, through the power of connectivity & digitalization backed by advanced AI technologies.”

Sharat Sinha, Director & CEO, Airtel Business, said, “We are thrilled to leverage the capabilities of our advanced 5G network for innovative industrial applications in partnership with Ericsson and Volvo Group. Through this collaboration, our high-speed, low latency 5G network will redefine and transform the manufacturing sector by enabling real-time XR applications for enhanced productivity and efficiencies, unlocking new revenue streams and accelerating the adoption of Industry 4.0 applications.”

Nitin Bansal, Managing Director, Ericsson India, said, "As India embraces Industry 4.0, 5G will be a game-changer towards enabling intelligent, connected, and immersive industrial experiences. This collaboration with Airtel and Volvo Group underscores Ericsson’s commitment to driving innovation through 5G and extended reality. By combining our expertise in network technology with cutting-edge XR applications, we are creating an ecosystem that will help industries to transform manufacturing. The research insights will be instrumental in shaping the future of industrial digitalization, not just in India but globally."

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TASARU Supplier Hub has announced agreements with five global Tier-1 suppliers to localise manufacturing operations in Saudi Arabia. The announcement, made during the 4th PIF Private Sector Forum, marks a step in the development of the national automotive ecosystem and the Kingdom’s industrial infrastructure.

TASARU Mobility Investments, a PIF company, launched the hub to attract suppliers and support production for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as Lucid Motors and CEER, the Saudi electric vehicle brand.

The five companies will establish operations within the hub to produce essential vehicle components:

• Shin Young (South Korea): Specialising in metal stamping and body-in-white assemblies for vehicle structures.
• JVIS (USA): Providing injection-moulded parts for exterior body panels and bumpers via JVIS KSA.
• BENTELER (Germany): Focused on steel and chassis solutions, including subframes, axles and hot-formed components.
• Fangxin (Global): Manufacturing interior systems such as instrument panels, centre consoles and door panels.
• Lear Corporation (Global): Producing automotive seating and foam for local OEMs.

The TASARU Supplier Hub is located within Masarat Mobility Park at King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). The site provides access to port infrastructure and road connectivity within the King Salman Automotive Cluster. The facility utilises a shared infrastructure model to promote supply chain collaboration and production scale.

Michael Mueller, Chief Executive Officer of TASARU Mobility Investments, said, “TASARU Supplier Hub is the manifestation of Saudi Arabia’s industrial aspiration. By attracting the Tier-1 global critical suppliers, the Kingdom is not just participating in the automotive race; it is building the track. These partnerships advance economic diversification and deliver long-term industrial resilience through strategic localisation.”

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DAF Trucks Vlaanderen is celebrating 60 years of manufacturing at its facility in the Belgian Kempen region. Established in 1966 to meet demand for truck cabs, the site has expanded into a production hub for both cabs and axles within DAF’s international network.

The facility in Oevel began operations in the first half of 1966 on a 400,000 sqmt site. Axle production was transferred from Eindhoven to Westerlo in 1971. Today, the site employs 2,000 people and works with 1,000 suppliers.

Over the past decade, DAF has invested more than EUR 650 million in the Westerlo plant. These funds supported the introduction of the XD, XF, XG and XG+ truck generations, as well as their electric variants. The facility was named ‘Factory of the Future’ by the Belgian technology federation Agoria in 2024.

Key infrastructure developments include:

• Cab Paint Shop: A facility nearly 150 metres long utilising robots to apply 3,000 colours while reducing emissions by 50 percent.
• Body Department: A section featuring 145 robots for fully automated production of body-in-white cabs.
• Axle Factory: Automated lines designed to increase output and optimise working conditions.

DAF Vlaanderen operates on a 'just-in-time' principle, delivering components to assembly plants in Eindhoven and Leyland, Great Britain, based on customer orders. In 2021, the facility produced its 3 millionth axle, and it is scheduled to manufacture its 1.5 millionth cab this year.

Jos Habets, member of the DAF Board of Management responsible for Production, stated, “Sixty years of production in Belgium is a tribute to the generations of employees who have built DAF in Westerlo into what it is today: an ultramodern, future-focused production site. And, of course, it is also a fantastic recognition for our 2,000 employees and 1,000 suppliers, including around 400 in Belgium. Thanks to their dedication and commitment, we are able to build trucks that lead the industry in terms of reliability, comfort, and quality. With our ongoing investments in DAF Trucks Vlaanderen N.V., our Belgian factory has a bright future ahead.”

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Qualcomm Technologies and Tata Electronics have announced a partnership to manufacture Qualcomm Automotive Modules in India. Tata Electronics will join Qualcomm’s network of manufacturing partners to address demand for modular platforms in the automotive sector.

Production is scheduled to take place at Tata Electronics’ Outsourced Semiconductor Assembly and Test (OSAT) facility in Jagiroad, Assam. This facility, built with an investment of USD 3 billion, is the first indigenous site of its kind in India.

The collaboration focuses on the production of modules for digital cockpits, infotainment, connectivity and vehicle systems. Qualcomm Automotive Modules combine Snapdragon Digital Chassis system-on-chips (SoCs) with system components into a single unit. These modules are intended to simplify vehicle design and support the transition to software-defined vehicles.

The Assam facility will utilise several platform technologies, including:

• Wire Bond: For electrical connections between chips and leadframes.
• Flip Chip: To enable high-density connections for performance.
• Integrated Systems Packaging (ISP): For combining multiple components into a single package.

The partnership is intended to diversify the global semiconductor supply chain and support the ‘Make in India’ initiative. By establishing local manufacturing, the companies aim to provide automakers in India and international markets with greater supply chain flexibility.

Nakul Duggal, EVP and Group GM, Automotive, Industrial and Embedded IoT, and Robotics, Qualcomm Technologies, said, “Our work with Tata Electronics marks an important milestone in our automotive growth strategy. As the industry accelerates its shift toward integrated, module-based architectures, expanding manufacturing capacity in key regions becomes essential. Tata Electronics brings worldclass expertise, trusted production capabilities, and a shared commitment to strengthen India’s role in the global semiconductor and automotive ecosystems. Together, we will support automakers with scalable, high-performance solutions built in India.”

Dr Randhir Thakur, CEO & MD, Tata Electronics, added, “We are excited to partner with Qualcomm Technologies to manufacture their advanced automotive modules in India. This collaboration supports Tata Electronics’ objective to become a global hub for high‑technology manufacturing as a trusted partner to our leading semiconductor and automotive customers worldwide. We will leverage our Integrated Systems Packaging (ISP) solutions and deliver high quality, high-performance products to support Qualcomm Technologies’ global product leadership.”

Savi Soin, Senior Vice-President & President, Qualcomm India, added, “Modules are central to Qualcomm Technologies’ vision for the future of vehicle electronics. By providing comprehensive, ready-to-integrate solutions, we help automakers reduce design complexity and bring next-generation vehicles to market more quickly. Manufacturing in India through Tata Electronics enhances our ability to support both Indian and global OEMs with greater flexibility and supply chain resilience.”

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Rockwell Automation, Inc. has concluded the seventh edition of India Inc On The Move (IIOTM) in Mumbai. The event brought together industry leaders and technology innovators to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation and sustainability on Indian manufacturing.

The conference, themed 'The Future Is Here: Smart. Sustainable. AI-Driven Manufacturing', addressed how technology can accelerate transitions in sectors including semiconductors, electronics, automotive, life sciences and food & beverage. These developments are intended to support the manufacturing sector’s role in the Viksit Bharat 2047 initiative.

IIOTM 2026 recorded over 1,200 attendees and included 30 sessions with 70 speakers. The event featured an expo floor with 30 booths displaying interactive technology solutions.

Key areas of discussion included:

• Autonomous Operations: Utilising AI to manage manufacturing processes.
• Software-Defined Manufacturing: Transitioning hardware control to software-based systems.
• Intelligent Sustainability: Implementing digitalisation to track and reduce environmental impact.
• Sector Focus: Strategies for semiconductors, life sciences and automotive industries.

Dilip Sawhney, Managing Director, Rockwell Automation India, said, “IIOTM stands as a catalyst for transformative thinking, bringing leaders together to envision how artificial intelligence can redefine modern manufacturing, unlock new possibilities at scale, and shape a resilient, sustainable industrial future for India.”

“India stands at a pivotal moment, where artificial intelligence, digitalisation and sustainability are converging to redefine industrial competitiveness. The next era of ‘smart’ manufacturing will be shaped by autonomous, software‑defined operations. For the industrial world, however, AI must rise to a higher purpose – being deterministic, explainable, and fully auditable,” added Sawhney.

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