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.    

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Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. has released technical details regarding the Front AI Communication Ecosystem (F.A.C.E.), a system featured on the electric version of its FX Super One MPV.

The technology replaces the traditional front grille with a display and an AI avatar designed to act as a co-pilot and communication interface.

The system utilises multimodal interaction, including voice, gesture and touch, to respond to user needs. It is controlled via a smartphone application, allowing for the display of custom graphics, logos and streaming video while the vehicle is stationary. The hardware incorporates sensors that enable the AI agent to perceive its surroundings and interact with individuals outside the vehicle.

The F.A.C.E. system uses a Large Language Model (LLM) reasoning layer to interpret user intent and execute actions. Its functionality includes role-awareness personalisation, which distinguishes between owners, family members and unknown persons to provide appropriate responses.

The system supports proactive communication, such as initiating responses when someone approaches the vehicle to improve safety. Users can also interact with the vehicle’s voice assistant from the exterior to check status or request access. The FX Super One platform is engineered to support both battery electric and AI hybrid extended range (AIHER) powertrains.

The FX Super One is positioned as a mass-market MPV for the United States. Faraday Future has established a three-stage delivery structure for the model:

• Phase One: Deliveries to FX Partners are expected to begin in the second quarter of this year.
• Phase Two: B2B partner deliveries and production ramp-up are scheduled for the third quarter.
• Phase Three: Full-scale consumer market deliveries are targeted for the final quarter of this year or the first quarter of 2027.

Max Ma, Global CEO, FX, said, “Offering technology like our unique F.A.C.E system in a new category of vehicle will be a game changer in the marketplace. It will allow users to connect with the world in a totally new way. It can express itself and communicate to the world in a way never seen before in a vehicle. The FX Super One is not just a new MPV, it is the first mass-market, first-class Embodied AI MPV designed for the U.S. market, where intelligent space, AI interaction, sensing, computing and power and extended-range capability come together in a single platform.”

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German component supplier Schaeffler is leading the ReDriveS research project, an initiative funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The project, which includes 25 partners from industry and academia, aims to develop an automated and scalable recycling concept for electric axle drive systems.

The project has a volume of over EUR 25 million, with funding exceeding EUR 16 million over a 36-month period. The technical focus is on robot-guided disassembly to recover materials such as rare earths, copper, aluminium and steel. This approach is intended to support the repair of drives, the reuse of subcomponents, or the recycling of materials to meet statutory requirements and secure supply chains.

A central component of the project is the development of a digital twin that processes data throughout the lifecycle of an axle drive. This digital model assesses the condition and geometry of units to determine whether they should be dismantled into main components – such as the motor, inverter, or transmission – or broken down further for material recycling.

The system is designed to be manufacturer-independent, allowing the technology to be used as an industry solution for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and recyclers. The project also explores data-based business models for axle drives enabled by this digital ecosystem.

Prof. Dr. Tim Hosenfeldt, Head of Central Technologies at Schaeffler, said, “With ReDriveS, we are launching a key project for the circular economy in electric mobility as consortium leader, together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and strong partners. Our goal is to make electric axle drives significantly more resource-efficient through digital twins, automated disassembly and high-quality recycling – thereby securing raw materials and supply chains, reducing CO2 emissions, and strengthening Germany as a location overall.”

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BYD has updated its warranty terms for the Blade Battery in Europe, increasing the mileage limit to 250,000km while maintaining the 8-year duration. The extension applies to both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and Super Hybrids and includes a guaranteed State of Health (SOH) of at least 70 percent. This change is retroactive, covering existing owners alongside new customers.

The Blade Battery utilises lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which avoids the use of nickel and cobalt. Its design allows cells to act as structural elements, increasing the vehicle's torsional rigidity. This configuration reduces the volume occupied by the battery by 50 percent compared to traditional designs, intended to optimise interior space.

The battery has undergone testing, including nail penetration, where surface temperatures remained below 60deg Celsius. It has also been subjected to overcharge tests, oven tests at 300deg Celsius, and crush evaluations. According to BYD, the battery can exceed 3,000 charge and discharge cycles, indicating a service life of approximately 1.2 million kilometres.

Current models utilising this technology include the BYD SEAL, which reports a range of 570km on the combined cycle and the BYD SEALION 7, capable of DC charging from 30 percent to 80 percent in 18 minutes at a power of 230 kW.

Under the new terms, the specific battery cover sits alongside the standard vehicle warranty of six years or 150,000km. The electric drive unit remains covered for eight years or 150,000km, while the anti-perforation warranty continues at 12 years with unlimited mileage. The extension is designed to address user confidence regarding the longevity of energy storage systems in the European market.

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Suzuki R&D Center India (SRDI), a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation, has launched the Suzuki e-Micromobility Innovation Lab for Ecosystem (SMILE). Located within the International Automobile Center of Excellence (iACE) in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, the facility functions as a platform to develop Versatile micro e-Mobility (VmeM) solutions.

The laboratory connects technology from Japan with ideas from Indian startups and component manufacturers. The objective is to design mobility systems from a customer perspective and strengthen co-creation within the Indian ecosystem. The VmeM platform, previously announced in Japan as MITRA, was showcased during the Vibrant Gujarat event in Rajkot on 11-12 January before the opening ceremony on 13 January.

SMILE operates within iACE, an institution founded in 2015 by the Government of Gujarat and Maruti Suzuki India. The centre focuses on training and skill development, having provided education to over 10,000 individuals in automotive engineering and mobility systems. The establishment of SMILE follows a memorandum of understanding signed between iACE and SRDI in December 2024.

The lab intends to integrate vehicle manufacturing with technology from the startup sector to address infrastructure needs. Target applications include warehousing, air cargo, manufacturing plants, agriculture, and municipal services.

Katsuhiro Kato, Director and Executive Vice-President, Suzuki Motor Corporation, said, “We are pleased to see the VmeM, designed and developed by Suzuki, introduced in India through Suzuki R&D Center India. The VmeM platform represents Suzuki’s commitment to evolving future mobility. With the launch of SMILE at iACE, we will work closely with Indian industry, startups and government stakeholders to drive co-creation on valuable mobility solutions that support growth and sustainability. We also aim to serve the role as a key base for the global deployment of the VmeM platform by promoting continuous technological development.”

The initiative positions Gujarat as a base for the global deployment of the VmeM platform through ongoing technological development and stakeholder collaboration.

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