2024 Altair Enlighten Award Winners Are From Diverse Fields

2024 Altair Enlighten Award Winners Are From Diverse Fields

Altair has announced the winners of the 2024 Altair Enlighten Award, which is presented by it in association with the Center for Automotive Research (CAR). 

The award winners are companies with diverse backgrounds such as DuPont, BMW M GmbH, Dow Inc., Toyota, General Motors, CompositeEdge GmbH, WEAV3D, Braskem and Clemson Composites Center and reflect sustainability and light weighting advancements that successfully reduce carbon footprint, mitigate water and energy consumption and leverage material reuse as well as recycling efforts. 

The prestigious Enlighten Award have a 12-year history and have become a coveted prize for automotive industry’s most forward-thinking companies, according to Altair. 

Recognised by EV Magazine as a top 10 sustainability award in 2024, the award looks at products, processes and organisations that are ushering in the next generation of groundbreaking automotive technology. “We are thrilled to once again recognise the organisations creating a more sustainable future. This year’s winners can consider themselves the best innovators meeting those challenging targets,” said James R. Scapa, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Altair. 

Alan Amici, President and Chief Executive Officer, Center for Automotive Research, averred, “We cannot wait to recognize this year’s winners, and we are once again thrilled to present this award in conjunction with Altair and the rest of our valued partners.”

 

Image for representative purpose only.

Nissan and Honda Conclude Agreement To Standardise Next-Generation SDV ECUs And Software

Nissan Motor Co - Honda Motor Co

Japanese automakers Nissan Motor Co and Honda Motor Co have entered into a joint development agreement to standardise electronic control units (ECUs) alongside the in-vehicle operating system, middleware and vehicle control software for next-generation software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

The electrical and electronic architecture incorporating the standardised components is scheduled for deployment in next-generation SDVs produced by both companies from fiscal year 2029 onward. The initiative forms part of a strategic partnership between the two automakers targeting carbon neutrality and traffic safety goals.

As per the agreement, Nissan and Honda will establish common technical specifications for multiple core ECUs within the vehicle architecture. The joint development program encompasses the in-vehicle operating system layer along with key elements of the middleware and vehicle control software.

The collaboration is designed to combine engineering resources to increase development speed and achieve investment efficiencies. The partners to reduce individual research and development costs while generating economies of scale across their vehicle lineups by standardising foundational software and hardware layers.

LG Innotek To Supply Camera Modules For Zoox Robotaxi Fleet

Zoox RoboTaxi

LG Innotek has expanded its partnership with Zoox to supply camera modules for the serial production of its purpose-built robotaxis. The agreement marks an extension of the multi-year relationship between the two companies as Zoox scales up its autonomous vehicle manufacturing.

It was last year, Zoox opened a serial production facility in Hayward, California, to manufacture its robotaxis and launched a ride-hailing service in Las Vegas.

As per the agreement, LG Innotek will supply high-resolution automotive cameras as part of the robotaxi's sensor suite, which provides 360-degree coverage through overlapping fields of view.

The camera modules feature five fields of view depending on their mounting positions across the vehicle. Built with optical design technology adapted from mobile camera modules, the units are waterproofed to operate under varied environmental conditions. The components are currently being fitted to Zoox robotaxis as part of the vehicle's core perception hardware system.

Gabriel India Partners South Korea’s HL Klemove For Autonomous Driving Tech

Gabriel India

Gabriel India, the listed flagship company of Anand Group, has entered into a joint venture with South Korea-based HL Klemove to acquire a 30 percent minus one share stake in HL Klemove India for USD 98.44 million (INR 9.35 billion).

The joint venture will focus on the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of autonomous driving components, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and automotive electronics.

The product portfolio includes radar, front cameras, LiDAR, automated driving and parking control units with embedded ADAS software, brake electronic control units, steering electronic control units, chassis control units and torque sensors.

Jaisal Singh, Vice-Chairman, Anand Group, said, “As a key growth engine of the Anand Group, Gabriel India is focused on building scale, enhancing competitiveness, and broadening its presence across high-growth automotive segments. Our latest joint venture with HL Klemove represents a strategic step forward in this endeavour.”

Anjali Singh, Executive Chairperson of Anand Group and Gabriel India, said, “Bolstering our position across critical automotive systems while expanding our participation in future-oriented mobility and automotive technology segments, this new JV for autonomous driving and automotive electronics marks an important inflection point, enabling Gabriel India to further diversify its portfolio and strengthen its participation in emerging mobility segments.”

Mahendra K Goyal, Group CEO, Anand and Managing Director of Gabriel India, said, “Beyond unlocking new opportunities for growth, this collaboration will foster deeper OEM engagement, expand our participation in future mobility solutions and create enduring value for all stakeholders.”

The investment aligns with Gabriel India’s strategy to expand into automotive sectors, following previous joint ventures in sunroofs, lubricants, electric vehicle fluids and precision fasteners.

CarYaar Taps Tech Veteran Sahaib Singh To Drive Digital Overhaul Of India’s Car Servicing Sector

CarYaar Taps Tech Veteran Sahaib Singh To Drive Digital Overhaul Of India’s Car Servicing Sector

CarYaar Auto Private Limited, a DPIIT-recognised technology startup, has announced the appointment of Sahaib Singh as its new Co-Founder and Head of Technology. The company, which operates within India’s fragmented car servicing ecosystem, is focused on integrating transparency and digital trust into the automotive aftermarket. Singh’s arrival marks a pivotal moment for the firm as it works to expand its technological infrastructure and formalize a sector traditionally characterised by informal practices.

Bringing over a decade of experience as a full-stack technologist across mobility, freight and artificial intelligence platforms, Singh will now spearhead the company’s technology strategy and product development. His leadership comes at a critical juncture as CarYaar advances its integrated digital platform, which aims to seamlessly connect car owners, workshops and other stakeholders within the automotive service network. The company is prioritising practical solutions over complex enterprise systems, developing a mobile-first, offline-capable and WhatsApp-native interface to ensure accessibility for multi-brand workshops and customers alike.

Under Singh’s technical direction, the platform is being tailored to serve three distinct user groups with specific operational tools. Workshops are equipped with digital job cards, photo-based inspections, parts tracking and billing systems, while service advisors and managers receive web-based applications for estimate creation and analytics. For car owners, the service enables booking, real-time job tracking and digital payments through WhatsApp, eliminating the need for a separate application. The overarching goal is to use technology not merely to digitise existing processes but to fundamentally enhance the relationship between vehicle owners and service providers.

CarYaar’s model emphasises transparency through features such as real-time photo documentation, pre-approved estimates and digital billing, offering customers clear visibility into their vehicle’s service journey. Currently operating with a network of certified empanelled workshops in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the startup is actively building a broader technology-enabled ecosystem that includes multi-brand services, roadside assistance and spares management. This strategic expansion reinforces the company’s commitment to developing simple, accessible and genuinely useful technology for the Indian workshop environment.

Joel Daniel D’Souza, Co-Founder & Director, CarYaar Auto Private Limited, said, “Sahaib brings a strong combination of technology depth and experience across mobility and emerging technology platforms. As we scale CarYaar, technology will be central to how we connect customers and workshops, create transparency and bring greater efficiency to the entire ecosystem. His leadership will be critical as we move from building the foundation to scaling the platform.”