L-R: Tarun Mehta, Co-Founder & CEO, Ather Energy and Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT.

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ather Energy to accelerate growth of India’s clean mobility and advanced manufacturing sectors. The collaboration is part of the Build in Bharat initiative led by the Startup Policy Forum (SPF), a coalition of over 50 innovation-focused startups.

As per the understanding, the partners will focus on strategic mentorship for deep-tech startups, infrastructure support for startups in the EV value chain, joint innovation programs such as the Bharat Startup Grand Challenge, co-hosted talent and skill development initiatives and participation in events like Startup Mahakumbh along with on-ground exposure visits.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Sanjiv Singh, Joint Secretary, DPIIT and Tarun Mehta, Co-founder and CEO, Ather Energy.

Sanjiv Singh, said, “The electric mobility sector in India is entering a transformative phase. Through this partnership with Ather Energy, we aim to catalyse the development of an enabling environment where startups can contribute meaningfully to EV manufacturing, battery innovation, and clean energy solutions.”

Tarun Mehta, said, “We are happy to collaborate with DPIIT to strengthen support systems for hardware and deep-tech startups. With policy support and stronger industry participation, this initiative can help founders tackle core technology challenges and scale high-quality products from India.”

Shweta Rajpal Kohli, President and CEO, Startup Policy Forum, added, “This partnership between DPIIT and Ather Energy brings to life the Startup Policy Forum’s Build in Bharat initiative. Unlocking the potential of India's manufacturing sector through collaboration is key to building a globally competitive innovation ecosystem.”

Israel-headquartered UVeye, a global leader in AI-powered vehicle inspection, has announced a significant expansion of its automated inspection systems to include commercial fleets.

The company’s new heavy-duty platform is specifically engineered for Class 6–8 trucks and buses, addressing critical challenges faced by fleet operators in the US and UK.

The new system, which is compliant with CTP AT17 requirements, provides an automated 17-point inspection process. By utilising its proven AI-powered drive-through scanners – referred to as the ‘MRI for vehicles’ – the platform performs a complete 360-degree scan in seconds. This allows for the rapid detection of mechanical flaws, external damage and foreign objects.

Amir Hever, CEO and Co-Founder, UVeye, said, "Extending UVeye into the trucking and bus market is a pivotal milestone. We've already scanned millions of vehicles for OEMs and dealerships, and now we're bringing that same proven accuracy and transparency to fleets. It's all about helping operators maximise uptime, reduce costs and deliver a better customer experience."

Commercial fleets frequently struggle with low vehicle uptime and costly delivery delays. UVeye's new platform aims to tackle these issues head-on by providing a comprehensive, end-to-end solution that integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. The system generates a shareable digital report with annotated images, providing fleet managers, drivers and compliance officers with a new level of clarity.

The AI computer vision systems can detect a wide range of issues, including:

• Tyres: Worn treads, mismatched sets and compliance issues.
• Underbody: Leaks, cracks, rust and hidden structural damage.
• Exterior: Hard-to-spot flaws like scratches and dents.

At present, UVeye counts the likes of Amazon, Hertz and GM, among its customers. With this latest expansion, the same proven technology will now be available to commercial operators, enabling them to improve safety, streamline compliance and minimise costly downtime.

Nawgati, an Indian fuel-tech platform, has partnered with Seed Group, a company from The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, to modernise the fuel retail industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The collaboration aims to deploy advanced digital tools to improve efficiency at petrol stations across the country.

The partnership will give Nawgati access to Seed Group's extensive regional network and market expertise, accelerating its entry into the UAE. By combining Nawgati’s technology with Seed Group's local influence, the partners expect to reduce congestion at busy fuel outlets, enhance operational efficiency and improve compliance monitoring.

Vaibhav Kaushik, Co-founder and CEO, Nawgati, said, “This partnership with Seed Group marks a significant milestone in Nawgati’s journey as we step out of India and into global markets. Having proven our capabilities with some of the largest energy companies back home, we are now ready to bring the same efficiency, transparency, and innovation to the UAE’s fuel retail ecosystem. The UAE is at the forefront of adopting future-ready mobility solutions. With Seed Group’s regional leadership and our technology, we are confident in transforming the fuelling experience, empowering operators with smarter tools, reducing congestion for consumers, and setting new benchmarks for operational excellence and sustainable mobility across the region and beyond.”

Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group, said, “Nawgati brings a digital solution that modernises fuel retail operations, a sector vital to mobility and economic growth. With steady growth expected in the UAE’s fuel retail sector by 2030, the company’s expertise is a timely addition to our portfolio. We are confident this will empower regional businesses to streamline processes and deliver smarter customer experiences.”

Nawgati, which already works with major Indian companies like Indraprastha Gas and Mahanagar Gas, will now bring its solutions to the UAE, marking its first step into international markets. The partnership is expected to strengthen Nawgati’s position as a homegrown company with global relevance.

JSW MG Motor India is expanding its flagship ‘JSW MG Nurture’ initiative, a program designed to equip technical educators with the skills needed for the country's fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Now in its third year, the program aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry demands by training faculty members from engineering, diploma and ITI institutions.

The initiative, launched in 2023, has already trained more than 80 faculty members across over 50 institutions. The program provides hands-on workshops covering critical topics like EVs, autonomous driving, connected mobility and artificial intelligence. By focusing on educators, JSW MG Motor India aims to indirectly impact thousands of students nationwide.

Yeshwinder Patial, Senior Director of Human Resources, JSW MG Motor India, “JSW MG Nurture reflects our long-term commitment to skill development and industry-academia collaboration. By investing in faculty development, we are strengthening the roots of technical education and preparing students for the future of mobility.”

The JSW MG Nurture initiative also aligns with the government's NEP 2020 vision for industry-academia collaboration and the EV 2030 roadmap, which anticipates a need for over 10 million skilled professionals in the EV sector.

In partnership with education company Skill-Lync, the program has co-designed modules and delivered tailored training. Looking ahead, JSW MG Motor India plans to scale the initiative to hundreds of institutions, with new modules on advanced battery systems, robotics and AI-powered solutions.

Krishna Bandaru, Co-Founder, Skill-Lync, said, “It gives us great pride to partner with JSW MG Motor India on this inspiring initiative. By nurturing educators, the JSW MG Nurture program is shaping the future of students and classrooms alike. This thoughtful and progressive effort is already making a meaningful difference and stands as a shining example of how industry can drive social impact.”

File photo for representational purpose only.

Chennai-based automotive major TVS Motor Company has partnered Noise, a leading Indian lifestyle brand, to introduce a first-of-its-kind innovation: an electric vehicle-smartwatch integration.

The new feature connects TVS's iQube electric scooter with a custom Noise smartwatch, offering riders real-time access to key vehicle information directly from their wrist.

The special edition smartwatch acts as a mobility companion, providing riders with instant updates on their electric scooter’s status, including battery level, tyre pressure and estimated range. The integration also includes important safety features like tow alerts and crash detection, giving riders a smarter and more connected experience.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in India's mobility sector, transforming the smartwatch from a simple lifestyle accessory into a practical tool for daily commutes. The new smartwatch will be sold exclusively on the TVS iQube official website.

With over 650,000 units sold, the TVS iQube is already a leader in the Indian EV market. This partnership with Noise aims to enhance the customer experience by providing seamless access to vehicle data, empowering riders with the information they need for a safer and more convenient journey.

Key Features of the EV-Smartwatch Integration:

• Vehicle Status Monitoring: Riders can check if their scooter is locked, unlocked, on a ride, or charging directly from the watch.
• Battery and Range Info: The smartwatch displays the State of Charge (SoC), including visual cues for charging progress and the Distance to Empty (DTE) to help riders plan their trips.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPMS): The watch provides live pressure values for both tyres, with alerts for low pressure on select models.
• Charging Updates: Get real-time updates on charging progress, including the time it will take to reach a full charge and a ‘Charging Complete’ notification.
• Safety Alerts: The system includes Tow/Theft Alerts with haptic and visual prompts if motion is detected, as well as Crash/Fall Detection that sends an on-wrist alert followed by a notification to a linked mobile app.
• Geofence Notifications: Riders receive an alert if their vehicle crosses a predefined boundary.
• Low/Full Charge Alerts: The watch notifies you when it's time to connect or unplug the charger.
• Safety Visual Cues: Color-coded tiles (green for optimal, red for attention) provide quick, easy-to-understand updates to help minimise distractions while riding.

Aniruddha Haldar, Senior Vice-President — Head Commuter & EV Business and Head Corporate Brand & Media, TVS Motor Company, said, “We are committed to reimagining the future of mobility by seamlessly blending technology, sustainability and customer-centric innovation. Our partnership with Noise is a testament to this vision, transforming the smartwatch from a lifestyle device into a smart riding assistant. By integrating the TVS iQube with a connected smartwatch, we are empowering our riders with smarter, safer and more intuitive journeys while shaping the future of mobility in India.”

Amit Khatri, Co-Founder, Noise, said, “At Noise, our vision has always been to build technology that empowers people to live, move, and stay connected with ease. This partnership with TVS Motor Company is a powerful step in that direction, bringing meaningful innovation to the wrist by turning the smartwatch into a mobility companion. As consumers look for smarter, more integrated ways to move through their day, this first-of-its-kind experience reflects our commitment to pushing boundaries, delivering purposeful technology and shaping the future of connected living in India.”