Autonomous BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 Kicks Off At ARAI

Autonomous BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 Kicks Off At ARAI

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.

Comments (1)

ADD COMMENT

Audi Introduces Electromechanical Torque Vectoring In New RS 5

Audi RS 5

German automotive luxury brand Audi has launched the new RS 5, featuring a high-performance plug-in hybrid system and a rear transaxle equipped with electromechanical torque vectoring. Marketed as quattro with Dynamic Torque Control, this system manages transverse torque distribution between the rear wheels within 15 milliseconds.

The system enables torque shifts between the rear wheels regardless of the power applied. Unlike mechanical equivalents, it operates during throttle application, off-throttle states and under braking.

It features a High-Voltage Actuator that uses a water-cooled permanent-magnet 400-volt electric motor providing 8 kW and 40 Nm of output. Overdrive Gears components use actuator torque to transfer differences of up to 2,000 Nm to the driveshafts.

The differential consists of a conventional unit with a low lock percentage that distributes applied torque to the left and right shafts.

The technology is designed to reduce understeer and oversteer by directing torque to the wheel with the most grip. If the vehicle begins to oversteer in a bend, the system increases torque at the inside wheel to provide stability. Conversely, it reduces torque at the inner wheel to prevent understeer, redirecting power to the outer wheel for traction.

Control is centralised via the HCP1 (High-Performance Computing Platform), which harmonises driver inputs with environmental data. This platform interprets steering intentions to provide unfiltered transfer to the wheels.

  • Electromechanical torque vectoring at the rear axle works in conjunction with front-axle supports:
  • Electronic Differential Lock: Enhances front-axle traction via the brakes.
  • Brake Torque Vectoring: Provides additional front-end assistance.
  • Adaptive Shock Absorbers: The twin-valve units are calibrated with the rear transaxle to improve throttle response and corner entry.

The system allows for customisable driving characteristics through various drive select modes, ranging from a balanced setup to a rear-biased configuration. Audi states the ‘fixed coupling’ of this electromechanical solution ensures torque distribution remains independent of drive torque, a distinction from clutch-based torque splitters.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

International Motors And Ryder Launch Autonomous Truck Pilot In Texas

International - Ryder

International Motors and Ryder System have commenced a joint autonomous truck pilot, integrating a factory-produced autonomous vehicle (AV) into live freight operations. Ryder is the first participant in the manufacturer's autonomous fleet trial programme.

The pilot operates on a daily 600-mile (965km) route along the I-35 corridor between Ryder locations in Laredo and Temple, Texas. The vehicle used is an International LT Series truck equipped with the S13 Integrated Powertrain.

The autonomous trucks will use factory-installed suite including LiDAR, radar and cameras. AI-based SuperDrive autonomous driving software provided by PlusAI. They are designed to operate within existing infrastructure without the requirement for dedicated autonomous terminals.

Initial data from the trial indicates 100 percent on-time delivery and 92 percent autonomous route coverage, conducted under the supervision of a human safety driver. Pre-trip inspections have been completed in under 30 minutes and the company reports improvements in fuel efficiency.

The pilot project aims to validate autonomous technology within an active long-haul logistics network. Identify value propositions for long-haul transport. Gather operational feedback to finalise product features for commercial launch. Collect data on uptime, serviceability and terminal processes.

James Cooper, Head of Autonomous Solutions, International, said, "In partnering with fleet customers to determine path-to-deployment, we're focused on integrating factory-ready virtual driver software into existing transport operations, without the need for dedicated autonomous terminals. The mission is to deliver a quality, OEM-validated solution to ensure our customers receive the reliability and valued experience they trust from International. As an OEM, our target is to provide our customers with an end-to-end solution including vehicles, digital solutions, and operational support services, allowing customers to operate directly from their existing infrastructure and minimising additional complexity. Ryder's participation underscores our shared commitment to practical autonomous fleet deployment. Together, we're working to turn pilots into scalable, commercial solutions."

Seth deVlugt, Senior Director of RyderVentures and New Product Strategy, Ryder, added, "For Ryder, this pilot represents an important step forward—moving beyond terminal- and maintenance-focused trials to evaluating autonomy in live operations. The insights we gain here will help us further understand how autonomy could potentially be applied across portions of the supply chain. Autonomy is informed by real-world operational experience, not test tracks. Operating an AV in an active logistics network with the supervision of a safety driver allows us to validate the technology where it matters most – on a real lane, moving real freight, for a real customer."

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Versigent Debuts On NYSE Following Separation From Aptiv

Versigent

Versigent has completed its separation from Aptiv PLC and launched as an independent, publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange.

The separation was finalised through a tax-free spin-off. Aptiv shareholders of record as of 17 March 2026 received one Versigent share for every three Aptiv shares held.

Versigent operates as a provider of signal, data and power distribution systems. In 2025, the business recorded revenue of USD 8.8 billion, net income of USD 528 million and adjusted EBITDA of USD 893 million.

The company maintains engineering centres on four continents and manufacturing operations in more than 25 countries. Its core business focuses on the design and delivery of low- and high-voltage electrical architectures for various end markets.

Versigent has established a financial target to reach USD 1 billion in free cash flow by 2028. Management expects to expand EBITDA margins by more than 200 basis points over the next three years, supported by revenue growth exceeding 3 percent.

Joseph Liotine, CEO, Versigent, said, “Today marks an important milestone as Versigent begins its next chapter as an independent company built on a century of leadership in advanced power distribution solution systems. As demand grows for greater capability with less complexity, our unmatched combination of engineering expertise, advanced manufacturing excellence, and global scale gives us a distinct advantage. Versigent is purpose-built to amplify our customers’ urgent needs to power smarter, faster, and safer features without compromise.”

Doug Ostermann, CFO, Versigent, added, “Versigent is well positioned to unlock greater value as we enter the public markets. We launch with clear priorities and a strong financial profile, including top-line revenue growth of more than three percent and industry-leading double-digit EBITDA margins that we expect to expand by more than 200 basis points over the next three years. Our business is globally scaled, highly engineered and consistently cash-generative, with a path to $1 billion in free cash flow by 2028. Through a balanced and disciplined capital allocation strategy, we are investing thoughtfully in the business while prioritizing attractive returns for shareholders.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Geely Auto Group Establishes Geely Technology Europe R&D Hub

Geely

Geely Auto Group has announced the formation of Geely Technology Europe (Geely Tech Europe), a unified research and development centre integrating its engineering facilities in Gothenburg, Sweden and Frankfurt, Germany. The hub will serve as a strategic link to the Geely Research Institute (GRI) in China to develop vehicle platforms for international markets.

Geely Tech Europe aims to provide engineering support for the Zeekr, Lynk & Co and Geely brands. A primary operational goal is to reduce the time gap between Chinese and international product launches to less than 6 months. The organisation plans to double its managed European vehicle projects by 2027 to meet global sales targets.

The hub focuses on three technical pillars:

  • Architecture Development: Co-creating mechanical and electronic/electrical (E/E) architectures.
  • Market Optimisation: Integrating international regulatory requirements and customer needs into vehicle programmes.
  • Digital Innovation: Developing software-defined vehicles using Agentic AI, advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and smart cockpits while maintaining European data privacy standards.

The formation of Geely Tech Europe follows the evolution of China Euro Vehicle Technology (CEVT), established in 2013 and the subsequent Zeekr Technology Europe. The combined teams have previously developed the Compact Modular Architecture (CMA), used in over four million vehicles, and the SEA-S platform, which features a 900-volt high-voltage system.

Giovanni Lanfranchi, CEO, Geely Technology Europe, said, “Europe is more than a key market; it is a global benchmark for automotive excellence and demanding customer expectations. To succeed, it is essential to anticipate and incorporate the needs of all regions from the start of development. Establishing Geely Technology Europe creates a genuinely borderless R&D setup -- a strategic edge that allows us to not only meet global standards, but help set them.”

Comments (1)

ADD COMMENT