Announcing that Prime Minister Modi’s message was motivating for the Indian auto industry to work together towards new age technology, world class manufacturing, and next generation infrastructure, Kenichi Ayukawa, President, SIAM and MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki, in his address during the opening session, said that there was a need to achieve sustainable and productive growth with quality and safety, and protect our environment, resources and raw materials. Stressing on the need for focused efforts, Ayukawa mentioned that SIAM and ACMA have together worked out a localisation roadmap with a target of about 15 to 20 percent further localisation in the next 2 to 5 years. Revealing that SIAM has prepared an approach paper for long term regulation roadmap that takes care of all aspects and gives clarity on future investments, Ayukawa San said that the auto industry is working on new powertrain technologies. He appreciated the government’s announcement of the scrappage policy and PLI scheme. 

Amitabh Kant.

Recognising the contribution of the Indian automobile industry to the Indian economy, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Government of India, said that his ministry is working consistently for the growth of the automotive sector. Acknowledging the rise in localisation supported by the PLI initiatives of government, Dr Pandey said that these efforts would make the industry more robust. He stressed on the need to develop EV charging infrastructure as well as manufacture quality products that would help the Indian automobile industry to be regarded as the best in the world. T V Narendran, President, CII and MD, Tata Steel Ltd, in his address, mentioned the need for the right policy support to make India a five-trillion-dollar economy by 2025-26. It is important that the Indian manufacturing sector is strong. He called on the auto industry to focus on six key areas – electric vehicles, circularity, urbanisation, resilient supply chain and an ability to reap in functionality and embed sustainability, going forward. 
 

R C Bhargava.

In his speech, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog, said that the future direction of the auto industry is in the area of shared, connected and electric mobility. He opined that there are four prominent growth drivers that the industry should focus on. These include the expansion of investment in R&D, more focus on innovation in small format mobility segment, establishment of massive charging infrastructure across the country and provision of export impetus to the industry. Kant said that EV should be an integral part in every OEM’s plans. Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke about the government’s aim to increase the contribution of the automotive sector towards the nation’s GDP. Currently, the sector contributes roughly 7.1 percent towards the GDP, he said. Revealing that the government would like to see the contribution rise to 12 percent, the union minister stated that it would amount to a huge step towards making India a five-trillion-dollar economy. Expressing gratitude to the dignitaries for their presence, Vipin Sondhi, Vice President, SIAM and MD, Ashok Leyland Ltd, drew attention towards the effect of Covid-19 on sales. 
 

Appreciating the efforts of the Ministry of Heavy Industries to create world-class testing and R&D infrastructure in all the auto hubs of the country, he spoke about how the auto industry will take advantage of localisation, PLI scheme and EV charging infrastructure. These efforts, he added, will contribute to the government’s initiative of ‘Make in India’. In a session focusing on the outlook of the Indian auto industry and its role in the economic growth, Venu Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Motor Company, and R C Bhargava, Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., drew attention to the new policies introduced over the past few years. The duo stressed on the high taxation structure on automobiles and the mandatory insurance costs. These, they said, have hugely bumped up the pricing to make vehicles expensive. Srinivasan touched on two-wheelers being taxed at 28 percent despite being the most basic means of transport. This, he added, is almost equal to cars which are a luxury item. Opining that the prices of vehicles have risen over the past few years with the switch to BS IV and subsequently to BS VI, and the change in safety norms, R C Bhargava mentioned that mounting challenges have had an effect on the sales. 
 

Venu Srinivasan.

Revenue Secretary Tarun Bajaj said that the government is open to discussing a change in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates on automobiles. Seeking to know from the auto industry whether it is the GST rate on cars that is preventing the sector from growing, Bajaj questioned the reason behind SUV sales going up and not that of the cars in economic terms. Stating that the tax rates were higher in some states before GST came into force, he suggested the auto industry to examine in detail the reasons behind the dip in sales. Covid-19 and other factors could be at play, he reasoned. Bajaj called on the industry to keep pace with the changing technology.

Kenichi Ayukawa.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tata Technologies has announced a partnership with Synopsys, a provider of engineering solutions, to accelerate the shift towards Software-Defined Mobility (SDV). The collaboration aims to accelerate the development, verification and validation of automotive electronics systems, helping Original Equipment Manufacturers address the complexity of SDVs.

The collaboration will combine Tata Technologies’ expertise in vehicle engineering with Synopsys’ virtualisation solutions to enable the deployment of electronics digital twins (eDTs).

The companies have already worked with a leading European luxury OEM in a pilot engagement, delivering a blueprint to transition the manufacturer's existing electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture to a next-generation software-defined design. Pilot programmes with other major OEMs are also underway across North America, Europe and India.

The joint effort will focus on major SDV domains, including ADAS, powertrain, chassis, infotainment and electrification. Key areas of focus include:

• Shift Left Enablement: Developing virtual prototypes and simulation models for early software bring-up.
• Analysis: Using Synopsys tools for performance, power, safety, and reliability analysis for faster ECU development cycles.
• Verification: Providing embedded systems and software verification and validation services aligned with ISO 26262 and ASPICE standards.

Sriram Lakshminarayanan, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Technologies, said, “The digital shift is redefining the future of mobility, and our partnership with Synopsys is a purposeful step towards realising a future led by software-defined innovations. As OEMs move to new ways of working, there is a growing demand for engineering and digital services. Together, we are empowering OEMs to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable vehicles that enhance the human experience and accelerate the industry’s transition to a software-defined future.”

Tom De Schutter, Senior Vice-President, Product Management & Markets Group at Synopsys, said, "The complexity of SDV systems requires a new level of collaboration across the automotive ecosystem. By bringing together our world-class digital twin, verification, and IP platforms with Tata Technologies’ engineering expertise and global delivery, we are enabling OEMs to accelerate development, validation and delivery of complex software- and AI-defined vehicles. The collaboration is a great example of how the automotive ecosystem is coming together to accelerate innovation while reducing risk and time to market in a dynamic mobility landscape.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mobileye, a leading provider of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies, is set to be a focus at the inauguration of the ADAS Test City on 12 December 2025 in Pune, India.

The ADAS Test City dubbed India’s first testing track dedicated to ADAS and autonomous vehicles, has been developed by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

Mobileye’s participation highlights its commitment to India’s evolving automotive landscape. The ADAS Test City is designed as a pseudo-urban test environment to validate key ADAS features such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control under realistic driving conditions.

Elie Luskin, Vice-President, India and China, Mobileye, said, “The successful launch of India’s first dedicated ADAS testing track by ARAI marks a major milestone, underscoring the market’s commitment to scaling ADAS adoption and improving road safety – an ambition that aligns seamlessly with Mobileye’s long-term mission both globally and in India. As a global leader in ADAS and autonomous driving, Mobileye brings cutting-edge expertise and solutions to India, working alongside local partners to unlock new opportunities and deliver safer roads for all. We are proud to support ARAI in this important step and to continue strengthening our role in India’s ADAS journey.”

Mobileye’s leadership will play a central role in the event's dialogue:

• Keynote Presentation: Elie Luskin will deliver a keynote outlining Mobileye’s global roadmap and its impact on India’s drive toward safer mobility.
• Panel Discussion: Dhairyashil Gaekwad, Director, Business Development & Strategy, India, will participate in a panel on ‘ADAS for the Indian Market – From Premium to Mass Adoption,’ sharing insights on integrating safety systems across all vehicle segments.

The ADAS Show brings together automotive leaders from OEMs and suppliers to accelerate India’s transition toward intelligent mobility.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Sibros, the company behind the Deep Connected Platform for software-defined vehicles (SDVs), has appointed Vijay Sharma as its new Chief Customer Officer (CCO).

In his new role, Sharma will lead global customer success, solution engineering and customer programmes to support Sibros' expanding portfolio of connected vehicle solutions and growing customer base.

His leadership is expected to strengthen Sibros' capabilities across its Deep Connected Platform, as well as in areas like functional safety (FuSa), security, applications, systems, diagnostics & electronic and electrical architecture. This focus will enable end-to-end SDV partnerships with customers.

Sharma brings nearly two decades of global experience from FEV, where he served as Managing Director and Technical Director at FEV India. At FEV, he led large-scale vehicle software, connectivity and energy mobility programmes for Indian and global customers.

Hemant Sikaria, CEO, Sibros, said, “Vijay’s combination of deep technical insight and customer-focused execution aligns perfectly with our mission to power the software-defined future of mobility. As we scale our solutions and support a broader range of OEMs worldwide, his leadership will ensure our customers can deploy, adopt, and evolve with confidence.”

Vijay Sharma, said, “The industry is transitioning from one-time launches to continuously updatable, software-driven vehicles. Sibros is uniquely positioned to enable that shift, and I’m excited to help our customers around the world implement the platforms and programs needed to unlock their SDV strategies.”

As CCO, Sharma will guide the full customer lifecycle, bridging product, engineering and business teams to drive successful outcomes. This move comes as OEMs and innovators across passenger, commercial, two-wheel and off-highway segments adopt the Sibros platform.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tier 1 supplier Mahle is entering the stationary battery storage systems (BESS) market after securing its first series order for a cooling module. These storage solutions are used for providing and stabilising power grids and for the temporary storage of renewable energy from sources like wind and solar power.

The company shared that its customer is an international commercial vehicles and drivetrain manufacturer that builds its own battery storage systems. Mahle will leverage its experience in developing cooling modules for electrified buses for this new sector. The newly developed cooling module will go into series production in 2026.

Christian Kuechlin, Vice-President, Mahle Industrial Thermal Systems, said, “We can easily transfer the knowledge of cooling modules we have gathered in the transportation sector to stationary battery storage system in containers. Since the space in the container is mainly to be used for battery stacks, Mahle develops space saving, compact and efficient cooling solutions in line with customer requirements.”

Older stationary BESS were cooled by simple air conditioning systems. However, the higher energy density in modern lithium-ion batteries generates more waste heat, requiring a higher cooling capacity.

The Mahle module provides up to 42 kW of liquid cooling. This ensures the batteries operate in the optimal temperature range of 20deg Celsius to 30deg Celsius, which is vital for long service life, durability and stable load management.

Mahle is expanding its business beyond the automotive sector. In industrial thermal management, the company is also developing modules for liquid-cooled cables in fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Thermal management technologies can also benefit high-performance computing, data centres and manufacturers of heat pumps or photovoltaic systems.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!