The 8th ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards and Technology Summit, organised by The Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), was held recently in Delhi. The event themed on 'Gearing up for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainability,' emphasised the significance of innovation and sustainability in the auto component industry. The event was graced by industry leaders, senior government officials, and experts from around the world. 

In his inaugural address, Sunjay J Kapur, ACMA President and Chairman, Sona Comstar, expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for encouraging sustainable development in the country through the 'Panch-amrit' strategy - announced at the COP 26 summit in Glasgow. The strategy aims to establish non-fossil energy capacity, satisfy energy needs with renewable energy, minimise carbon emissions, and attain net-zero emissions by 2070. “As the Indian automotive industry moves forward in 2023 and beyond, it is essential to embrace green and clean technology to remain ecologically relevant. 

He highlighted the need for the auto component industry to be ahead of the curve in adopting new environmentally sound technologies, sustainable manufacturing practices, and business models that minimize carbon footprint while embracing the ethos of a circular economy. 

Distinguished guests from both the Government of India (GoI) and the industry were present at the event, which included notable figures such as Piyush Goyal, Union Minister for Textiles, Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution in the Government of India; Vinod Aggarwal, President of SIAM, and Chairman of the Jury of ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards, as well as the Managing Director and CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles, and R. Dinesh, the President-Designate of CII, Executive Vice Chairman of TVS Supply Chain Solutions, and Director of TVS Automobile Solutions. 

Extending his warm congratulations to all the winners of the ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards, Goyal stated that India's future in technology and innovation hinges on investment in R&D and commitment to indigenisation. He highlighted the pivotal role that the auto components industry can play in leading the charge for self-reliance, through increased investment in new technology and design, and by integrating the informal sector to indigenize the value chain.  Underscoring the importance of building a strong defence industry and promoting indigenous manufacturing, as this will enable India to be self-reliant and become a reliable and trusted supplier to the world, Goyal stressed the significance of India emerging as a supplier to the world and commended ACMA's active role in supporting start-ups and smaller businesses to indigenise the entire value chain and integrate them into the mainstream.  

The eminent jury for the Awards included Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM and MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV), Sunil Kakkar, Sr. Executive Officer - Supply chain, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Rajesh Uppal, Member Executive Board (HR, IT and Safety), Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Anandakrishnan, Sr. VP (Purchase), TVS Motors Ltd., Vipin Kaul, Purchasing Leader Cummins India ABO, Cummins India Ltd., Angela Mans, Head of Foreign Trade and International Relations, German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), V. Sridhar, Senior Director, Purchase, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt Ltd., Ganesh Mani S., President and COO, Ashok Leyland, Sundar, Asst Vice President, Unit Head, HMIL Procurement, Hyundai, Raju Ketkale, Executive Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Pvt Ltd., B. Srinivas, Executive Vice President-Product Strategy and Purchasing, VE Commercial Vehicles.  

The event concluded with the announcement of 68 auto component manufacturers who were awarded the prestigious ACMA Atmanirbhar Excellence Awards across categories of Excellence in Manufacturing, Sustainable Business, Digitisation, Localisation, and Exports.
 

In a landmark development, Uber Freight, in collaboration with Aurora, has announced that fully autonomous lorries (trucks) have been completing return journeys between Dallas, Texas and Houston, Texas (approximately 386km) since April.

These driverless Class 8 trucks are transporting live, commercial freight with no human intervention behind the wheel. This event marks a significant moment as Uber Freight becomes the first logistics platform to offer shippers access to this technology on public roads.

The company shared that the haulage sector has long grappled with issues such as high driver turnover and underutilised assets. Autonomous trucking aims to ease these pressures while providing tangible benefits for shippers, carriers and consumers.

Uber Freight’s autonomous vehicle (AV) carriers have achieved notable results to date:

• Over 500,000 supervised autonomous miles covered on public roads while carrying freight over the past four years.
• The company has moved freight for more than 20 shippers across various industries.
• Goods delivered include everyday essentials such as pet food, paper products, beverages, appliances and packaging materials.

Lior Ron, Founder & CEO, Uber Freight, said, “This milestone is a clear example of what can be achieved when innovation meets logistics leadership. Working with Aurora, we are shaping a future where autonomous lorries enhance the efficiency and reliability of supply chains. This is the kind of value that shippers across the industry are seeking – and why we are dedicated to building a more intelligent and resilient freight network.”

Uber Freight started its journey in autonomous trucking in 2021 with strategic alliances to commercialise AV technology. The integration of the Aurora Driver into the Uber Freight platform has resulted in a seamless end-to-end solution where booking, tracking and load adjustments are managed digitally and efficiently.

This deep integration positions Uber Freight as the first and only logistics network to fully synchronise with autonomous lorries, ensuring freight is matched to suitable routes with minimal human involvement.

With nearly USD 20 billion in freight under management (FUM) and a substantial logistics network, Uber Freight claimed it is well-placed to scale the commercialisation of autonomous lorries. Their leadership in this area extends beyond technology to encompass collaboration and trust-building with shippers, carriers, and partners.

Through initiatives such as the Premier Autonomy Programme, which offers early access to over one billion of Aurora’s driverless miles to Uber Freight carriers through 2030, the company is enabling carriers of all sizes to improve their operations through autonomous technology.

Looking ahead, preparations are underway to support Aurora’s expansion of driverless operations to El Paso and Phoenix by end-2025, opening up new routes and opportunities for the sector.

Leading insurance technology firm RenewBuy makes strategic foray into automotive loan segment with RB Wheelz brand.

The RB Wheelz brand will provide a full suite of automotive loan products — including new vehicle financing, balance transfers and top-up loans — all accessible through RenewBuy’s upgraded digital platform. The integration is designed to offer consumers a seamless experience by combining financing and insurance under one digital roof.

The company estimates that the automotive financing market is expanding at a CAGR of 15–16 percent, which makes it an attractive opportunity for digital-first players like RenewBuy.

In the final quarter of FY25, RenewBuy disbursed nearly INR 1 billion in automotive loans. Looking ahead, the company aims to onboard approximately 10,000 customers and scale its loan disbursement to INR 15 billion in FY2026. The initial rollout will focus on four-wheelers and fleet vehicles.

Indraneel Chatterjee, Co-Founder, RenewBuy, said, “Having served consumers in the insurance space for nearly a decade, we are now expanding our footprint in the financial services ecosystem. We’re leveraging our technology and a 150,000 strong advisor network to bring loan services to consumers across metros and smaller towns. Over 75 percent of buyers in Tier II and III cities are opting for vehicle financing — a high-potential segment we aim to empower with accessible, seamless, and digital solutions.”

RenewBuy’s upgraded platform now includes a dedicated loan feature, supported by partnerships with 18 leading banks and NBFCs.

Elektrobit, a wholly owned independent subsidiary of Continental, has announced a strategic partnership with Metoak, a Chinese provider of intelligent driving solutions, to accelerate the development and adoption of software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

The collaboration integrates Elektrobit’s EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications – an open-source operating system compliant with automotive safety standards – with Metoak’s high-performance chips and driving algorithms. The first mass production project, now in its initial phase, focuses on stereoscopic vision and multi-sensor fusion technologies for next-generation ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) controllers. Mass production is expected by early 2026.

The project marks the first integration of open-source systems with domestic chips in China’s intelligent driving sector. Elektrobit brings its global software expertise, while Metoak contributes its stereoscopic vision technology, aiming to deliver secure, cost-effective, and updateable SDV solutions for Chinese automakers.

The partnership centres around two areas:

EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications – The world’s first open-source, high-performance computing OS to meet ISO 26262 ASIL B and IEC 61508 SIL 2 safety standards. Its customisability and compliance with the UNECE R155 cybersecurity regulation make it a competitive choice for automakers. Metoak has successfully adapted the OS to its chips, reducing supply chain risks and offering a flexible solution for local manufacturers.

AUTOSAR Software and Autonomous Driving – The partners will co-develop ASIL D-certified Classic AUTOSAR software to optimise real-time communication and safety. They also plan to work on Level 3 autonomous driving algorithms and build a local ecosystem to support the ‘domestic chips + open-source system’ model.

Yaojie Lu, CEO of Metoak, said: “Partnering with Elektrobit combines the flexibility of EB corbos Linux with our stereo vision and AI technology, enabling cost-efficient and precise perception solutions.”

Maria Anhalt, CEO of Elektrobit, added: “The success of SDVs depends on openness and collaboration. We’re proud to see the industry’s first open-source safety-compliant OS entering mass production alongside Metoak.”

The partnership sets the stage for scalable, safety-certified SDV innovations in China and beyond.

Axiscades Technologies, a leading technology and engineering solutions provider, has appointed Anurag Sharma as CEO of add-solution, a Germany-based subsidiary of Axiscades specialising in wiring harness design & testing for aerospace, automotive and industrial sectors.

The German company focuses on specialised drone development and thermal management offering for Axiscades group in Europe.

Alfonso Martinez, CEO and MD, Axiscades, said, “We are excited to welcome Anurag to our leadership team. He embodies the rare blend of technical expertise and executional foresight that defines Axiscades’ ambition. The future of engineering value is being created: at the intersection of electrification, AI-driven industrial transformation and semiconductor-led innovation and he brings these talents to the table. Anurag’s track record in scaling engineering businesses gives add-solution the exact leverage needed to dominate the software-defined era. His work in EDS and cross-border industrialisation aligns with our strategy to embed deeper into European OEMs’ R&D cycles. In Europe, the sector contributes 4 percent to the GDP and is home to several leading premium car manufacturers, making it a highly attractive market. As part of our restructuring, Axiscades is doubling down on aerospace, defence and engineering services powered by Electronics, Semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence (ESAI).”

“add-solution plays a central role in this vision, bringing software-led scale and agility to these high-priority verticals. We're building a leadership team that doesn’t just respond to industry shifts it shapes them,” he added.

Sharma is an alumnus of IIT Roorkee and comes with over three decades of experience across product development, sales & business development, P&L management and successful execution of large-scale engineering programs.

He began his career with L&T and has held several senior roles across Siemens Technology, Segula Technologies, Altran India, Ansys India and Altair Engineering.

Anurag Sharma, said, “Axiscades is at an inflection point where product innovation in the domain of electronics, semiconductor and digital engineering are converging to create long-term value. The EDS (Electrical Distribution Systems) industry is undergoing a major transformation, with embedded electronic systems and 3D designs taking centre stage. As OEMs increasingly shift towards software-defined vehicles and electrification, the demand for highly specialised, domain-driven engineering services is set to rise. I am thrilled to contribute to this vision and bring together add solution’s deep expertise in EDS and component testing to give Axiscades a unique edge. The goal is to deepen global partnerships and build differentiated capabilities by delivering smarter, faster, and more integrated solutions across the value chain.”