The Autonomous BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 (aBAJA) kicked off with great fanfare, marking the first day of the one-of-a-kind student competition centred on autonomous all-terrain vehicles (AATV).

This 3-day competition (from 4 to 6 October 2024) is hosted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune, and marks a milestone for BAJA SAEINDIA as autonomous vehicle technology was introduced to the engineering competition. Five teams from throughout the country compete in the event, each of which must complete a unique set of tasks meant to evaluate the performance of their vehicles and teamwork.

Pre-event preparation tests were carried out at ARAI, Kothrud, Pune, from 30 September to 3 October, in the run-up to the tournament. Among these were comprehensive technical examinations, in which vehicles' electrical, mechanical and autonomous systems were carefully assessed to make sure they complied with competition regulations. Assessments of team preparedness and safety briefings were also conducted. To help teams test and improve their autonomous vehicles and make sure they matched the competition's rigorous requirements, trial run tracks were built up for the dynamic events such as Object Detection, Classification and Tracking (ODCT) and Remote Driving System (RDS).

On the first day, static events like the design evaluation and business presentation took main stage. These occasions gave the teams a chance to showcase their creative approaches and intricate designs, emphasising the intricacy and foresight required to create autonomous systems. Teams will test their vehicles' capabilities in real-world scenarios on the second day, which is expected to feature exciting activities that highlight engineering ingenuity and expertise.

Highlighting the significance of hosting the event at ARAI during the welcome address on behalf of ARAI, Ujjwala Karle, Joint Convener, Phase 3 of aBAJA SAEINDIA 2024 & Deputy Director, Technology Group, ARAI, said, “It is an honour for ARAI to host Phase 3 of aBAJA SAEINDIA 2024. This event highlights our commitment to bridging academia and industry. It is inspiring to witness students exhibit the passion and boldness necessary to tackle the complexities of the automotive landscape. BAJA SAEINDIA serves as a vital ‘Introduction to Industry’ (i2i), providing hands-on experience with real-world challenges. Furthermore, initiatives like the iNTELLIMOBILITY Ideathon empower participants to address pressing mobility issues with innovative solutions. We at ARAI are proud to support BAJA SAEINDIA and wish all participants great success in this year’s event.”

Emphasising the importance of technological innovation in shaping the future of mobility, the Chief Guest for the event, Umesh Shah, Managing Director, Autoliv, said, “aBAJA represents a confluence of creativity, engineering, and technology. It is through such initiatives that we inspire the next generation to think beyond conventional solutions and tackle real-world problems with courage and a spirit of innovation. I congratulate the participants for taking up this challenge and encourage them to bring forward their passion and ideas that will shape the mobility landscape in India and beyond. The efforts of the organising committee and all those involved in this competition are commendable. Their dedication ensures that aBAJA continues to be a platform where emerging engineers are not only tested but also encouraged to innovate and grow. I wish all the participants the very best in their endeavours and extend my best wishes to BAJA SAEINDIA as they continue to break new ground with aBAJA SAEINDIA 2025."

Shahkar Abidi, Assistant Editor at Autocar, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Stressing the importance of continuous learning and practical exposure for engineering students, he said, “Autonomous driving and intelligent mobility are no longer just concepts; they are the future. BAJA SAEINDIA has always been ahead of the curve in providing hands-on experiences to students, and aBAJA is a testament to this vision. The passion and drive I see among these students will surely propel them to become future leaders in the automotive industry.”

The grand inaugural ceremony also saw the presence of esteemed dignitaries from both industry and academia, including Ganesh Rao, Director of R&D at Continental; Shantanu Sonar, DGM at Daimler Truck Innovation Centre India (DTICI); Dr P Rajalakshmi from TiHAN, IIT Hyderabad; Balraj Subramaniam, Chairman of the Organising Committee of BAJA SAEINDIA and Saurabh Chitnavis, Joint Convener of aBAJA SAEINDIA 2024.

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  - Dr Kamal Vora October 06, 2024 06:55 AM

  Autonomous BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 is a great initiative of SAEINDIA and I would like to congratulate BAJA Committee members, ARAI, Ajeenkya DY Patil University and all the sponsors & supporters for this initiative. The registration of BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 with early bird incentive starts on 6th Oct 2024 from 8 to 10 pm. For sponsorship or registration, please contact vorakc04@gmail.com

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka to establish its global ‘TKM Bizintel Hub’ in KWIN City, Bengaluru.

The automaker will infuse INR 12 billion as initial capital over the next five years, marking the first anchor investment for the smart city development project.

The facility will be spread across 300 acres along the Doddaballapur–Dabaspet Highway. The hub will serve multiple corporate objectives, including the testing and evaluation of new mobility solutions, digital transformation across supply chain operations and the implementation of intelligent vehicle manufacturing systems. The initial phase of the project is expected to generate approximately 200 jobs.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Large and Medium Industries Minister Dr M.B. Patil. KWIN (Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation) City and is being developed in phases across a total area of 5,800 acres, with a focus on integrating technology, healthcare and educational sectors.

Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, said, “Toyota Kirloskar Motor has been a trusted long-term partner in Karnataka’s growth journey. The MoU marks another important milestone as we work together to deepen technology-led investments, create quality employment and promote sustainable industrial development. This partnership further strengthens Karnataka’s leadership as a global investment destination and reinforces our commitment to innovation‑ driven growth.”

Masakazu Yoshimura, Chairman, MD & CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, stated, “We are grateful to the Government of Karnataka for its continued support and collaboration over the years which has played a key role in our journey. India has always been a strategically important market for Toyota to drive innovation and sustainable mobility initiatives. The TKM Bizintel Hub will support testing and evaluation activities, advancements in digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing across the entire supply chain business, leveraging on India’s robust information technology ecosystem with skilled talent. Anchored in TKM’s focus on localization and responsible growth, this initiative aligns with the company’s multi pathway approach towards achieving carbon neutrality goals and meeting the national priorities such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

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The UK government has opened applications for operators to run self-driving cars, allowing citizens to book autonomous taxi and bus-style services across Great Britain later this year.

The pilot scheme will allow technology firms to deploy autonomous vehicles on public roads to gather real-world performance evidence. These services will be subject to safety assessments and rigorous regulatory approval checks by the government, including verification of protections against cyber and security threats. Local transport authorities, such as Transport for London, must also provide local consent to ensure operations align with regional infrastructure priorities.

Learnings collected from these commercial pilots will guide the development of permanent self-driving vehicle regulations. This regulatory framework follows a formal government call for evidence that concluded in March. Data shows that human error currently contributes to 88 percent of collisions on UK roads, and the implementation of automated systems aims to improve overall road safety. Industry projections estimate that the British automated passenger services market could be worth up to GBP 3.7 billion annually by 2040.

Simon Lightwood, Roads and Buses Minister, said, “Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, while driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK. This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.”

Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery, Uber, stated, “This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK. London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year.”

Ben Loewenstein, Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, Waymo, added, “The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services. We hope to soon become part of London’s transport network and demonstrate the safety, accessibility and sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles through the government’s pilot scheme. We are working closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to ensure our operations align with their goals.”

Sarah Gates, VP of Global Affairs and Assurance, Wayve, noted, “The UK has all the ingredients to become a global leader in the deployment of self-driving vehicles and today’s launch of the automated passenger services scheme marks an important milestone. Wayve has been developing its technology in the UK for nearly a decade and we’re excited to bring our supervised passenger service to market here this year.”

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, SMMT, commented, “Today is a significant milestone in the safe and responsible rollout of automated vehicles on British roads. For the first time, legislation will allow operators to offer passenger-carrying commercial services – such as robotaxis – to the general public. Government’s decision to bring forward this legislation has positioned Britain as a leading European market for automated vehicles and a frontrunner in physical AI investment, development and deployment.”

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Chinese technology company Hesai Group has secured a new design win from a top-tier European automotive manufacturer for its advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) solution.

The multi-year contract exceeds one million units and will cover more than 10 vehicle models across the manufacturer's joint venture brands in China.

The agreement follows Hesai's recently announced Level 3 autonomous driving program partnership with Mercedes-Benz, highlighting the company's full-stack in-house application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) development and volume manufacturing capabilities.

The contract will be fulfilled using the Hesai ATX, a compact, long-range LiDAR sensor configured specifically for L2 ADAS architectures.

Since entering mass production in 2025, the ATX platform has logged over one million deliveries. The company reports a current order backlog exceeding six million units for the ATX platform. The sensor utilises proprietary addressable photon isolation technology to improve hazard detection timelines and vehicle active safety functions.

Hesai said it continues to expand its market share within the automotive sensor supply chain with secured design wins from around 40 automakers, spread over more than 160 vehicle models, to date.

The company said, according to data from the Yole Group, Hesai ranked first globally in long-range ADAS LiDAR shipments for the 2025 period, commanding a 43 percent share of the global market.

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Horse Powertrain, a leading supplier of powertrain solutions, has launched the V20 engine through its Aurobay Technologies division with production already underway at its Skovde, Sweden, manufacturing facility.

The V20 engine aims to assist automakers in meeting emission regulations for 2026 and 2027 with units destined for customers in Europe, the US and Asia. The 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder engine features a single architecture offered in two variants: a 400-volt plug-in hybrid and a 48-volt mild hybrid. The plug-in version provides a reduction in fuel consumption of seven per cent compared to the predecessor.

The platform design intends to reduce material costs. Hardware for the plug-in variant includes a crankshaft-mounted starter-generator, a mechanical water pump, and a re-routed cooling system. Additional updates include a multi-injection fuel system, an engine management system, and an air induction system.

Ingo Scholten, Managing Director, Aurobay Technologies Sweden and Deputy CTO of Horse Powertrain, said, “Designing one engine to meet three different regulatory regimes is harder than designing three separate engines. As the regulatory map is fragmenting, one engine that meets all three sets of rules delivers greater value to our customers, ensuring we can offer greater economies of scale. Pulling that off requires serious engineering. Further, the Skovde team also successfully changed production lines while keeping current production running.”

The Skovde plant integrated a final assembly line with the base assembly line to improve material flow. This transition occurred during ongoing operations. Output is scheduled to increase through 2026 and 2027 to meet demand.

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