Continental, a global technology company, has partnered with the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) to scale up OnBoard, an innovative solution designed to enhance mobility for visually impaired passengers. This initiative, launched in 2023 under Continental’s CSR programme Conscience, was developed in collaboration with IIT Delhi and the Raised Lines Foundation (RLF). The technology assists visually impaired individuals in safely boarding buses by providing real-time audio cues.

Following a successful pilot on 25 BMTC buses, the project has now expanded to an additional 100 buses, with plans to equip 500 buses across Bengaluru. The announcement was made during a press conference at the BMTC Central Office, attended by Karnataka’s Transport Minister, Ramalinga Reddy.

OnBoard was initially developed at IIT Delhi with support from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The technology was later transferred to RLF, an IIT Delhi-incubated nonprofit. The system uses bus-mounted speakers to announce route numbers and guide passengers to entry doors, ensuring a seamless boarding experience.

So far, installations have been completed on the 401K and 401R routes, with the next phase set to begin in mid-July. Production of additional units is underway, with full implementation expected by August 2024. Extensive field testing conducted by RLF and Enable India in Bengaluru confirmed the device’s effectiveness under various weather conditions, including rain, heat and dust while maintaining stable connectivity.

The launch event featured a live demonstration and media interactions, emphasising the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing inclusive mobility solutions. Continental and BMTC’s collaboration highlights a shared commitment to making public transportation accessible for all.

Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO, Continental, said, “At Continental, we believe that mobility must be inclusive and accessible, it should lie at the very core of innovation. Therefore, through our CSR initiative, we aim to empower every individual with the freedom of movement. Technology has opened up a world of possibilities, and this is just a steppingstone. As a technology company, we see it as our responsibility to help shape the future of mobility, which is not just connected, autonomous, shared and electric but also inclusive. We are proud to work with BMTC in supporting the vision of a more connected and accessible Bengaluru.”

Ramachandran R, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC), said, “This project is a flagship initiative for inclusive urban mobility in Bengaluru. BMTC recognises that OnBoard is a crucial step towards making the city’s public transport system more accessible and inclusive, bringing it on par with other leading global cities. At BMTC, we are fully committed to this initiative and are aligning all internal efforts to ensure its smooth and timely deployment across our fleet.”

Prof M Balakrishnan, Honorary Professor, IIT Delhi and Chairman, Raised Lines Foundation, said, “Industry-academia collaboration has always been crucial while addressing any real-world challenges, and the OnBoard solution is a testament to that. Its deployment across the BMTC network will allow visually impaired individuals to navigate public transport. At IIT Delhi, we are excited and very proud to see a technology we have contributed to making such a meaningful difference in people’s lives, bringing the benefits of inclusive design to the heart of urban mobility. At Raised Lines Foundation, our mission has been empowerment of persons with visual impairment by providing access to inclusive solutions with focus on mobility, education and independent living.”

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Hyundai Mobis has established an integrated data management and validation system designed to test electronic control units (ECUs) for software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and autonomous driving.

The platform links real-world road test data with simulators to replicate driving scenarios, addressing the requirement from global carmakers for data-based validation results spanning tens of thousands of hours.

The system utilises a platform that connects multiple simulators in parallel to reflect various validation scenarios.

Hyundai Mobis intends to expand this infrastructure to link up to 60 simulators, which would allow the company to complete 10,000 hours of evaluation within a one-week period. This process typically requires several years of physical test driving under standard real-world conditions.

By integrating sensors mounted on test vehicles, the system collects data from diverse driving and parking environments. It can replicate specific conditions that are difficult to reproduce consistently in reality, such as nighttime driving, heavy rain and unexpected road incidents, by combining them with virtual simulations.

This approach is intended to assess the recognition performance and stability of radar, cameras, LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors.

Hyundai Mobis will use this system to validate algorithms for autonomous driving sensors and various ECUs as part of its strategy to acquire global orders for SDV components. The company plans to enhance the system through data integration and collaboration with its research hubs worldwide.

Ko Bongchul, Chief of Automotive Electronics R&D at Hyundai Mobis, said, “In the era of SDVs and autonomous driving, evaluation and validation are just as critical as technology development. We expect that establishing this evaluation and validation system will simultaneously expand the speed and scope of validation, thereby significantly boosting our competitiveness in securing orders for core SDV components.”

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TomTom, the location technology specialist, has announced the appointment of Mike Schoofs as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Management Board. The decision was formalised following approval by shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM also confirmed the appointment of Co-founder and former CEO Harold Goddijn to the Supervisory Board, alongside Joep van Beurden, while Derk Haank was reappointed as a member.

Schoofs joined TomTom in 2005 after holding positions at KPN-Orange and Samsung. During his tenure, he has served in various commercial leadership roles globally and within specific regions. In 2023, he assumed the role of Chief Revenue Officer, where he managed the company’s commercial strategy and expanded its enterprise business footprint. A Belgian national based in Amsterdam, Schoofs also serves as an advisor to several European startups.

The leadership transition occurs as the company focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence within location intelligence and the provision of data for its partners. TomTom’s strategy remains focused on scaling its commercial presence across all business segments under the new executive structure.

Derk Haank, Chairman of TomTom’s Supervisory Board, said, “Mike brings extensive commercial leadership experience and deep knowledge of TomTom’s business, built over more than two decades with the company. We are confident that he is well positioned to lead TomTom in its next phase.”

Mike Schoofs, said, “I’m excited to lead TomTom at a moment when location intelligence is reaching a decisive turning point, accelerated by AI and the growing need for trusted, real‑world data. I look forward to creating lasting impact for our customers and our partners.”

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IVECO BUS Academy is incorporating virtual reality (VR) into its training curriculum to support the maintenance and operation of electric vehicles across Europe. The initiative follows a year in which the academy trained 6,100 people across 800 sessions in 2025. This integration aims to address the technical skills required for high-voltage vehicle systems while ensuring safety and operational efficiency.

The use of VR technology allows trainees to perform maintenance procedures in a simulated environment, eliminating physical risks associated with incorrect handling of electrical components. The immersive system enables repetitive practice of technical operations and reproduces complex scenarios that are difficult to simulate in conventional training environments. By utilising these tools, the academy seeks to improve knowledge retention and the long-term proficiency of technical teams.

The academy provides training tailored to the requirements of transport operators, updating its content to reflect changes in energy sources, vehicle technology and industry regulations. These programmes are delivered both at the academy's facilities and on-site at customer premises. The deployment of VR is intended to reduce downtime for vehicle fleets by improving the diagnostic capabilities of service personnel.

Teresa Magno, IVECO BUS Academy, said, “At IVECO BUS Academy, we know that delivering sustainable mobility extends far beyond the product itself. A vehicle is only truly efficient when it is supported by the right services. Fleet availability also relies on the expertise of skilled teams. As technologies evolve, so do the competencies required for diagnostics. With these new educational tools, IVECO BUS Academy confirms its ambition to provide comprehensive solutions, where training becomes a real driver of performance, safety and customer satisfaction.”

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IndiGo Ventures has completed a INR 100 million strategic equity investment in Sarla Aviation, marking a formal entry into the Indian electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector.

The funding was part of a recent round led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath. The partnership is intended to establish an infrastructure for air taxi operations across India, specifically targeting transport corridors between zero and 300 kilometres.

Sarla Aviation is a startup focusing on the development of hybrid-electric aircraft platforms. The firm operates a private eVTOL demonstrator and employs an engineering team with previous experience at international firms including Lilium, Joby and Volocopter.

By utilising electric flight technology, the company aims to provide transport services for airport transfers, inter-city commutes and emergency medical runs at lower costs than traditional helicopter services.

The collaboration pairs Sarla's hardware development with the operational infrastructure of IndiGo, India's largest airline. At present, IndiGo operates over 2,000 daily flights across 85 airports and maintains a national network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. This investment aligns with global trends where major carriers, such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have backed eVTOL manufacturers to secure future urban air mobility solutions.

Beyond passenger transport, the investment is expected to influence the domestic aerospace supply chain, including the production of composites, avionics and battery systems. Potential routes identified for future operations include Bengaluru Airport to Electronic City and Gurugram to Noida, which could see transit times reduced from over 90 minutes to approximately 15 minutes.

Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, said, “IndiGo’s investment marks a turning point — not just for Sarla, but for the future of how India moves. For decades, Indians have accepted that distance means delay, that geography is a constraint you live with. We believe that era is ending. Having IndiGo — the airline that made flying accessible to hundreds of millions of Indians — stand behind this vision gives it a weight and credibility that we could not have built alone. India has always dreamed big. Now we have the partners to match the dream.”

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