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.

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Bengaluru-headquartered product engineering and digital services company Tata Technologies has signed a strategic partnership with Emerson, an industrial technology leader of advanced automation solutions, to drive innovation in integrated testing and validation solutions for global players in the automotive, aerospace and commercial vehicle sectors.

As part of the understanding, Tata Technologies will combine its deep expertise in systems engineering, E/E architecture, and mobility platform development with Emerson’s industry-leading, software-connected test and measurement solutions to support next-generation mobility requirements such as software-defined, connected, electric and autonomous vehicles.

Nachiket Paranjpe, President and Head of Automotive Sales, Tata Technologies, said, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Emerson to innovate intelligent, automated testing and validation solutions that address the growing complexity of connected, autonomous and software-defined mobility platforms. This partnership reinforces our commitment to engineering a software-defined future, helping OEMs innovate faster and deliver connected, autonomous and sustainable mobility that delivers a great customer experience.”

Interestingly, in a recent pilot engagement the partners were able to accelerate timeline by 67 percent for a European luxury OEM by developing EV powertrain test rigs in just 5 months. In another project, the partners build a fully automated validation setup for next-gen infotainment heads-up display with over 30,000 test scenarios.

Shitendra Bhattacharya, Country Head and Director, Emerson’s Test and Measurement Business in India, said, “This collaboration represents a powerful synergy between Emerson’s test and measurement innovation and Tata Technologies’ engineering scale. Together, we can deliver end-to-end solutions that help customers reduce complexity and stay ahead in a highly dynamic transportation landscape.”

The partners are also piloting programs in India, Europe and North America.

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German embedded and connected software specialist Elektrobit has unveiled the EB tresos AutoCore Light support integration into modern zonal architectures, which it claims not only reduces development complexity, but also the cost for scalable and cost-effective software for software-defined vehicle (SDV).

The company shared that software-designed mobility is not just about adapting new technology, but also about automakers aligning their present and future needs. This means that the products need to be capable to be scalable as per the customer demand.

EB tresos AutoCore Light is said to meet the demands of peripheral ECUs – cost- and resource-optimised micro-controllers designed for Input/Output (I/O) devices, end nodes and smart sensors and actuators.

With its modular software solutions, Elektrobit promises up to a 30 percent reduction in hardware and R&D costs compared to traditional AUTOSAR Basic software.

EB tresos AutoCore Light seamlessly integrates smart sensors and actuators into automotive Electrical/Electronic (E/E) architectures. This modular approach fosters code reuse, simplifies updates and accelerates development timelines.

For zonal ECUs, EB tresos AutoCore and EB zoneo provides the foundational software. By consolidating functions into these zonal ECUs and standardising peripheral ECUs, manufacturers can significantly reduce hardware complexity and associated R&D expenses. Peripheral ECUs can also leverage smaller microcontrollers, further contributing to cost savings.

EB tresos AutoCore Light utilises widely accepted signal-based communication, avoiding new complexities. It is also ASIL-B ready and CSMS certified, ensuring safe and secure implementation even on constrained hardware. OEMs can further expand functionality with tailored add-on packages like J1939 and DLT, depending on available memory.

Jagan Rajagopalan, Head of Strategy & Portfolio, Elektrobit Automotive, said, “The Software-Defined Vehicle is a complex ecosystem, and EB tresos AutoCore Light offers a smart, efficient entry point for customers aiming to build scalable, future-ready software. Tailored for resource-constrained peripheral ECUs, it breaks away from traditional monolithic architectures with a lightweight, modular design. By building on proven EB tresos AutoCore components, it empowers customers to accelerate development, reduce integration complexity, and confidently scale their SDV strategies.”

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Ola Electric, one of India's leading electric vehicle manufacturers, has commenced the mass roll-out of its proprietary MoveOS 5 software for its S1 range of scooters and the recently launched Roadster X motorcycles.

The update is claimed to provide enhanced performance, improved reliability and extended range.

The MoveOS5 roll-out marks the company’s biggest update to date and not only improves the existing range and riding experience, but also new features and controls.

The update optimises Motor Control Unit (MCU) for better range and a more refined riding experience, particularly on Gen 3 platforms. Advanced battery management features are also introduced across all vehicle generations, improving battery performance, health and energy recuperation through enhanced regenerative braking.

Through DIY mode, riders will be able to customise top speed, power, throttle sensitivity and regenerative braking.

Using Road-Trip Mode, Ola customers will be able to ride in groups with real-time tracking, multi-stop route planning and SOS alerts. Using Easy Park, the e-scooter will get in low-speed manoeuvres (up to 4 kmph) for parking in tight spaces.

Through live location sharing, Ola riders can share their vehicle's location via the Vehicle HMI or Ola Electric App.

Find my vehicle features allows users to easily locate the vehicle in crowded areas using a combination of lights and sound activated via the app.

In terms of display, the Ola EV can showcase phone notifications on the vehicle's HMI with customisable settings. The company has also introduced infotainment widgets, which includes a Cricket Widget for live scores and a Weather Widget for real-time updates.

The MoveOS 5 upgrade will be delivered to all S1 and Roadster X models via an Over-The-Air (OTA) update starting this week.

"MoveOS 5 marks the latest advancement in our endeavour to create the most sophisticated and intelligent operating system for EV two-wheelers. This upgrade fundamentally boosts the performance, reliability, and range of our vehicles through smarter energy management, real-time system monitoring, and greater user control over ride settings," said an Ola spokesperson.

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British marquee luxury brand Bentley Motors has unveiled its new Design Studio, converting one of its most historic buildings on site – the famous ‘Front of House’, in Crewe, England.

The facility conceptualised by Bentely’s own design team sports a fresh look and architecture, which was officially opened by Bentley’s Chairman and CEO, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, fellow board members and Bentley’s 4,000-strong workforce in a special event.

Bentley Motors’ expanded Design Studio in Crewe is deeply rooted in the company's history since 1939. This newly revitalised space, which once hosted distinguished visitors including Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, nearly doubles the size of the previous studio and now includes a new third floor.

The expansion is a blend of new construction and renovation, aligning with Bentley's commitment to on-site sustainability and its carbon-neutral factory goals. While preserving the building's historic character, the studio aims to inspire approximately 50 designers to shape the future of Bentley's exterior and interior aesthetics.

For the first time, the new studio brings together various design disciplines under one roof, fostering enhanced collaboration. This includes specialists in colour and trim, Bentley's bespoke Mulliner division and the increasingly crucial user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) teams. This integrated approach is set to redefine how drivers interact with their vehicles, ensuring a seamless and innovative future for Bentley's iconic designs.

Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser, CEO, Bentley Motors, said, “We are currently steering the biggest Bentley design revolution in our history and so to inspire our designers and wider team with an innovative and creative environment that enables the ability to drive the creation of Bentley’s future BEV models, is a necessary positive next step to create the next great chapter for Bentley Motors. Having the ability to form a truly collaborative group within one space will offer a step change in how we work together and that holistic team will enable us to truly achieve success by design.”

Andreas Lehe, Board Member for Manufacturing, Bentley Motors, said, “The modernisation of our site, while at the same time respecting our origins, is something I am particularly proud of in this building, and it gives me great delight to say that our talented design team have a new home they can be proud of. This is just the next step in our state-of-the-art site transformation as we continue to revolutionise our headquarters into benchmark truly digital, innovative, highly-flexible facilities.”

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