The first day of May 2025 is set to become a landmark in the history of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as the Fastag Authentication System (FASTag) ends.

The FASTag electronic toll collection system in India, which uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, was introduced to enable seamless toll payments without stopping at toll plazas. This is set to be replaced with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that will collect toll through a device, possibly fitted in the vehicle number plate. This system will calculate tolls through GPS and GPS-aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) as per the actual distance travelled.

This will eliminate the need to pay tolls for the entire highway if one is getting off earlier. With its introduction, toll transactions are expected to see a reduction in technical glitches, helping clear long queues faster. The government of India has received feedback for a more efficient upgrade to FAStag, the bank-based digital wallet system that has been in use since 2016.

So far, users crossing a single toll plaza multiple times a month are issued monthly passes worth INR 340, which means INR 4,080 a year. On the other hand, a yearly pass for INR 3,000 is being proposed for the whole year, allowing unlimited travel across various national highways of India. As per Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), GNSS with annual and lifetime passes for private cars is the solution to decongest Indian highways.

Though originally slated for 1 April, the launch of the new toll collection system has now been scheduled for 1 May. As per media reports, a better network of India’s satellites are being activated for it. GNSS will be in operation alongside FAStag during the initial stages, with select lanes receiving technology for the new system.

The trials with the new technology are already underway on Panipat-Hisar and Bengaluru-Mysore national highways.    

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Audi Revolut F1 Team has reached a technical milestone by completing the first ‘fire-up’ of its 2026 Formula 1 car. The event took place at the team's facility in Hinwil on 19 December 2025, where the Audi Power Unit was operated for the first time while installed within the chassis.

The procedure serves as a verification of the integration between the powertrain, developed in Neuburg, Germany, and the chassis, designed in Hinwil, Switzerland. The project also involves the Technical Centre in Bicester, UK. This phase confirms that the core components of the vehicle function together before moving into the next stages of dynamic testing.

Gernot Dollner, CEO of Audi AG, said, “For Audi, entering Formula 1 is a key part of our brand’s ongoing renewal. This milestone is a clear demonstration of our ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ ambition. It is the result of seamless teamwork and a relentless pursuit of excellence that will serve as a guiding example for the entire Audi organisation. This project is a catalyst for change, fostering pride, identity, and enthusiasm. With the fire-up, the hard work of the teams in Hinwil, Neuburg and Bicester now truly comes to life, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in Audi’s motorsport history.”

Mattia Binotto, Head of the Audi F1 Project, added, “A fire-up is always a special moment, but this one marks a new beginning. It is the tangible result of our collective ambition and the dedicated work of our teams in Neuburg and Hinwil. Seeing everything come together for the first time gives the entire project incredible energy. We have built a solid foundation for what will be a long journey, defined by our relentless drive to improve.”

Jonathan Wheatley, Team Principal, commented, “This successful fire-up is a critical milestone that validates the quality of the work and collaboration across all departments. It energises the entire team and provides a clear focus as we prepare for the next phases of development, including the moment we first bring the car to track. This achievement brings our first race in Melbourne into sharp focus, and we will build on this foundation as one united team.”

The team is scheduled to hold a launch event in Berlin on 20 January 2026, where the race livery and identity will be revealed. This will be followed by collective testing in Barcelona at the end of January. A content hub will also be launched to provide media updates throughout the inaugural season.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ather Energy has announced the rollout of the 'Infinite Cruise' feature on the Ather 450X model. The software feature is being enabled via an over-the-air (OTA) update and will be provided as standard.

First introduced on the Ather Apex 450 in August 2025, the system is designed for urban riding conditions in India. Unlike conventional cruise control that disengages upon braking or acceleration, Infinite Cruise is said to remain active and adapts to rider inputs. The system recalibrates to new speeds without requiring manual reactivation, aimed at reducing throttle intervention in traffic. The feature operates within a speed range of 10 kmph to 90 kmph, covering city speeds typically excluded by traditional systems.

The update incorporates three specific control modes:

• CityCruise: Adjusts to speed changes in urban traffic.
• Hill Control: Maintains speed on inclines and descents using a regenerative braking algorithm.
• Crawl Control: Stabilises low-speed movement on uneven surfaces, supported by traction control.

Ather will extend this feature to over 44,000 existing customers who purchased the 450X from 1 January 2025. The company stated that this backward compatibility is a result of hardware choices made during the development of the 2025 series.

The Ather 450X is priced from INR 147,998 (ex-showroom) in Bengaluru. The company continues to use software updates to modify the capabilities of its vehicle fleet over time.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chinese technology company Quectel Wireless Solutions has launched the AR588MA, a 5G-advanced (5G-A) automotive-grade cellular module. Based on the MediaTek MT2739 platform, the component is the first to comply with the 3GPP R18 standard protocol.

The module integrates NB-NTN and NR-NTN satellite communication capabilities and supports Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) technology to manage connection stability.

Designed for in-vehicle communication and smart antenna applications, the AR588MA complies with the AEC-Q104 Grade 2 automotive standard. It includes a six-port antenna design and dual-band GNSS supporting L1 and L5 bands with a 30 Hz output. The hardware supports European eCall, NG eCall and China’s AECS systems. It is also compatible with the AG581A, AG56xN and AG519M module series to assist manufacturers with integration timelines.

Min Wang, President of the Automotive Business Unit, Quectel Wireless Solutions, said, “The move to 5G-Advanced represents a major milestone in automotive connectivity, addressing the growing demands of next-generation vehicles for higher data rates, ultra-low latency and uncompromising reliability. As the world’s first 5G-Advanced automotive-grade cellular module, the AR588MA reinforces Quectel’s commitment to advancing in-vehicle connectivity and supporting the evolution of intelligent, connected vehicles worldwide.”

The module features a transmission capability designed for high-speed data transfer and low latency. Its software can switch connection modes based on connectivity needs to maintain network speed. The integration of proprietary power compensation technologies is intended to provide wireless coverage across different environmental conditions.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Kazam, an electric vehicle (EV) charging and energy-management platform, has reported revenue of INR 400 million for FY2025, which it claimed is a 3.5-fold increase YoY.

Furthermore, Kazam expects to reach an annual revenue run-rate of INR 1 billion for Q4 CY2025.

At present, the platform has integrated more than 120,000 chargers and facilitated over 7 million charging sessions. Over the last 6 months, charger integrations rose by 76 percent, while energy sessions increased by 60 percent.

The platform manages over 9,000 MWh of energy transactions monthly, supporting more than 100 charger brands. Kazam's network covers residential societies, workplaces, fleet depots, bus operations and public charging networks.

Currently, Kazam has established partnerships with 14 major brands such as Maruti Suzuki India, as well as energy providers like ONGC and regional distribution companies (DISCOMs). Its infrastructure footprint includes 150 residential associations across Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune, along with 45 bus depots.

Akshay Shekhar, Co-Founder & CEO, Kazam, said, “India’s EV transition is entering a new phase, from just creating charging availability to building a reliable, intelligent, and interoperable energy layer that the entire industry can depend on. That is the market we have been building. Our growth this year reflects the trust that OEMs, fleets, DISCOMs, and CPOs are placing in a unified, device-agnostic platform that can scale across vehicle categories and geographies. As electrification accelerates, our focus is on enabling India’s EV ecosystem to move from fragmented experiences to a seamless, grid-aware infrastructure that can support millions of daily energy transactions.”

Ram Balasubramanian, CFO, Kazam, said, “India is moving from the ‘availability phase’ of EV infrastructure to the ‘reliability and optimisation phase,’ and Kazam’s growth this year shows we’re creating industry standards along with profit benchmarks. With increasing platform throughput and sustained cost optimisation, we are on track to achieve a INR 1 billion annual run-rate and profitability by early 2026”.

The company has raised USD 19.2 million to date, including a Series B round completed in June 2025. These funds are being used for research and development, geographic expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and the development of energy services such as demand response and peer-to-peer energy sharing. The platform provides tools for both individual home charging and enterprise-level fleet management to create a unified energy layer that functions independently of specific hardware manufacturers.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!