Baidu Enters 3-year Agreement With Velodyne Lidar For Lidar Sensors
- By MT Bureau
- October 13, 2020
Velodyne Lidar, the US-based technology company that specialises in lidar sensors, has entered into a three-year sales agreement with Baidu, a Chinese multinational technology company that specialises in internet-related services and products and artificial intelligence. As per the agreement, Velodyne will supply its Alpha Prime lidar sensors to Baidu and its Apollo partners for the coming three years. The lidar sensors will be used for autonomous applications.
Baidu’s Apollo program is an open-source autonomous vehicle software platform. According to the developers at Baidu, Alpha Prime has good range, resolution and field of view that collectively address the high-performance requirements for autonomous vehicles. Quality 3D lidar vision is a critical component for autonomous vehicles to accurately perceive the environment.
Eyes on the road and around
Velodyne’s Alpha Prime is a next-generation lidar sensor that utilises Velodyne’s patented 360-degree surround-view perception technology to support autonomous mobility. A result of over ten years of lidar development and learning, the Alpha Prime supports autonomous operation across a broad range of road settings, including urban and highway environments.
The Alpha Prime sensor produces millions of data points per second, enabling precise, reliable navigation in real time to detect objects, vehicles and people that might pose a collision threat. The Alpha Prime can help autonomous vehicles navigate roadways at various speeds, traveling in a range of road conditions such as rain, sleet and snow.
Yaoming Shen, Senior Optical Engineer, Baidu, said, “In fulfilling our intelligent driving mission, Baidu works with innovation leaders like Velodyne to bring a safe, efficient autonomous driving experience to everyone.”
Wei Weng, Executive Director of Asia, Velodyne Lidar, said, “Velodyne greatly values our relationship with Baidu, a strategic business partner and investor, and we are deeply committed to our combined work in the Chinese market. They are a trailblazer of intelligent driving technology and deployment, and their accomplishments and influence span global markets. Alpha Prime provides safe, efficient navigation for autonomous vehicles.”
Velodyne has multiple manufacturing sources available, including in the United States, Japan and Thailand, to produce high-quality sensors at scale to address customer needs. Baidu has been a strategic investor in Velodyne since 2016. Baidu and Velodyne share a strong commitment to advancing autonomy and safety on roadways.
Ather Energy Expands Charging Network in Tamil Nadu, Reaching 400 Fast Chargers
- By MT Bureau
- August 12, 2025
Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle major Ather Energy has announced that its fast-charging network ‘Ather Grid’ has surpassed 400 charging points across Tamil Nadu. This expansion aims to alleviate range anxiety for EV owners and support the growing adoption of electric vehicles in the state.
With charging stations now in 38 cities, including tourist destinations like Coonoor and Rameswaram, the network connects key travel routes such as Coimbatore to Bengaluru and Chennai to Pondicherry. The company also noted that a total of 480 fast charging points are available in the state, which includes over 50 LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System) chargers. Developed by Ather, the LECCS standard allows different brands of light EVs to use the same charging network.
Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been one of our earliest markets and ever since we entered the state in 2019, we have been investing in building a reliable charging network there. Charging has often been seen as one of the key barriers, and it’s something we’ve focused on solving from day one. Crossing 400 fast chargers in Tamil Nadu is a reflection of that commitment. It’s about giving riders the confidence that a charger is never too far away. As our retail footprint grows, the charging network will continue to scale alongside it, making EV ownership truly seamless.”
The company has partnered with local businesses like Coffee Day Global and Ganga Sweets to deploy these charging points. This expansion is part of Ather's broader national effort, which has seen the establishment of over 3,300 fast-charging points across India. The chargers can provide up to 15 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes, making it more convenient for riders on the go.
In addition to its charging infrastructure, Ather maintains a strong presence in the state with 44 experience centres and 42 service centres in 35 cities, offering comprehensive sales and after-sales support.
Japan’s TDK Ventures Makes Strategic Investment In Ultraviolette
- By MT Bureau
- August 12, 2025
Bengaluru-headquartered premium electric two-wheeler company Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a strategic investment from TDK Ventures, the venture capital arm of Japan’s TDK Corporation, along with participation from backing from existing investors Zoho Corporation and Lingotto (previously Exor Capital), among others.
With this TDK Ventures joins the likes of Qualcomm Ventures, Zoho Corporation, Speciale Invest, Lingotto (Formerly Exor Capital), and TVS Motor Company as a strategic investor in the EV company. It also counts the likes of Sriharsha Majety (Co-founder & CEO, Swiggy), Ankit Nagori (Co-founder, Cure Foods; former Chief Business Officer, Flipkart), Aprameya Radhakrishna (Co-founder, TaxiForSure), and Dulquer Salmaan (renowned actor and automotive enthusiast) among its early backers.
At present, Ultraviolette sells the F77 electric motorcycle and is gearing up to expand its product offerings along with manufacturing, research and distribution network globally.
Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “Mobility is undergoing a radical transformation, and at Ultraviolette, we are leading that change through cutting-edge innovation. Our partnership with TDK Ventures fast forwards our efforts, from advanced battery platforms to intelligent vehicle systems. This collaboration not only accelerates our vision of future ready mobility but also reinforces our commitment to delivering electric vehicles that are aspirational and globally relevant.”
Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-founder of Ultraviolette, said, “Through this partnership with TDK Ventures, Ultraviolette will continue to innovate in deep-tech to shape the future of mobility. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries in building safer, smarter, and a more efficient electric mobility eco-system.”
Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures, said, “We look forward to bringing our TDK Goodness to Ultraviolette and their ambitious plan to design the next generation of energy efficient and performance EV 2W platforms. TDK Ventures is excited to support Ultraviolette in their relentless pursuit of growing their global reach."
Geely's Satellite Constellation Expands With New Launch
- By MT Bureau
- August 12, 2025
In a significant step toward creating a global ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) ecosystem, Geely Holding Group’s aerospace subsidiary, Geespace, successfully launched 11 new satellites into orbit on 9 August 2025. The launch took place in Shandong Province, China, and marks the fourth successful orbital deployment for the company's Geely Future Mobility Constellation (GEESATCOM).
With this latest launch, Geespace now operates 41 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), bringing it closer to its goal of having 72 satellites in operation by end-2025. The company plans to accelerate deployments over the next two months to reach 64 operational satellites, which will establish comprehensive global satellite IoT coverage.
The GEESATCOM project is a key part of Geely's vision to build an integrated space and earth mobility ecosystem. The LEO satellite network is designed to provide highly reliable, wide-coverage communication services for various strategic industries, including:
- Connected vehicles and urban air mobility
- Emergency response and maritime operations
- Energy infrastructure
This network will support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle platforms by providing crucial data for precision positioning and connectivity. Geespace has already established partnerships with telecom operators in over 20 countries and its proprietary satellite communication chips and high-precision positioning modules are now in mass production across Geely's vehicle portfolio.
To further demonstrate the technology, Geely is providing high-precision positioning and emergency satellite communications for official vehicles at the World Games 2025 Chengdu, showcasing the practical applications of its satellite infrastructure in real-world scenarios.
Kia India Partners ASDC For Promoting Skill Training
- By MT Bureau
- August 11, 2025
Kia India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer in the country, has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with ASDC (Automotive Skill Development Council) to promote automotive skill training in the country.
The partnership will promote a 30-day training model module combining classroom-based theoretical learning and practical on-the-job experience. The course includes 15 days of foundational training at ASDC-certified training centers covering core automotive concepts and dealership functions. In addition, it will also feature Kia-specific process to familiarise candidates with brand standards, systems and product knowledge. The curriculum will provide students with 15 days of experiential learning at authorised Kia dealerships under expert supervision.
Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “This collaboration with ASDC represents a pivotal step in Kia India’s commitment to shaping a future-ready ecosystem, one that is anchored in skilled human capital and elevated customer experience. By creating a robust talent pool through structured training and certification, we are not only empowering India’s youth with meaningful employment but also reinforcing our dealer network with professionals who embody Kia’s values of quality, care, and innovation. Ultimately, this initiative will translate into a more seamless, informed, and rewarding journey for every Kia customer across the country.”
The co-developed learning model aims to provide candidates with the technical know-how and workplace readiness to be effective from day one. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will undergo an evaluation at the ASDC centre, get certificate jointly awarded by Kia India and ASDC, and eligible for the direct recruitment by Kia dealerships into Sales and Service roles.
Comments (0)
ADD COMMENT