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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NXP Semiconductors has launched the NXP CoreRide Z248, a zonal reference system combining 48V energy distribution with data routing. The hardware-software foundation is designed to assist OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in transitioning to software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures by reducing integration effort and development cycles.

The Z248 is built on NXP’s S32K5 microcontroller series, featuring on-chip Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM). This technology is intended to accelerate electronic control unit (ECU) programming during manufacturing and over-the-air (OTA) updates.

The system integrates several 48V-capable components and networking tools:

• Power Management: Includes eFuses, Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMICs), and DC-DC converters for energy conversion and protection.
• Networking: Features Ethernet PHY and CAN transceivers for data handling.
• Software Stack: A pre-validated stack managing smart data energy network (SDEN) functions such as impedance monitoring and diagnostics.
• Safety: Built-in functional safety and real-time responsiveness for zonal processing.

NXP stated it has validated the Z248 through system-level tests focusing on low-power modes and wake-up response times. The package includes a Board Support Package (BSP) with integrated software from partners including GLIWA for performance monitoring, Green Hills Software for compilers and Vector for embedded tools.

The reference system is designed for deployment across internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid, and battery electric vehicle (BEV) platforms. It supports ECU consolidation by managing energy distribution and data protocols within a single architecture.

Sebastien Clamagirand, SVP and General Manager, Automotive Systems & Platforms, NXP Semiconductors, said, “The NXP CoreRide zonal reference system Z248 delivers a performance-optimized, scalable 48 V foundation that intelligently fuses power, data and software, while dramatically simplifying system integration, reducing time to market, and enabling OEMs to focus on vehicle differentiation and long‑term value creation.”

Peter Gliwa, CEO and Founder, GLIWA, added, “NXP understood that the eco-system, the tooling around a new platform is essential for its success. With our Analysis Suite T1 built into the NXP CoreRide Z248 zonal reference system, high efficiency, proper timing analysis and timing verification are very well addressed.”

Jochen Rein, SVP Business Unit Software Platform, Vector, stated, “The combination of the NXP CoreRide platform and Vector’s software foundation provides a robust basis for next‑generation zonal architectures. We enable our joint customers to reduce their time- to-market due to a pre-integrated and highly optimized software stack.”

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Justdial, a local market discovery platform, has released data showing a rise in consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs) across India. An analysis comparing search volumes from February 2025 – January 2026 against the previous year reveals growth in searches for infrastructure, dealerships and power systems.

The company data points out that searches for ‘Electric Vehicle Charging Stations’ increased by 127 percent at a national level. This growth indicates a shift in consumer focus toward infrastructure and location discovery. In terms of city-wise searches, Delhi led the charge with 98 percent growth, followed by Mumbai at 82 percent and Pune with 38 percent.

The data also points to an increase in purchase intent and ecosystem awareness. Searches for Electric Vehicle Dealers rose by 40 percent across India, with Delhi recording a 51 percent rise in this category.

Furthermore, searches for EV Batteries and Power Systems climbed by 96 percent. This trend suggests a focus on energy storage solutions and battery performance among Indian consumers.

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Dutch technology and map specialists TomTom has announced that its Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Harold Goddijn will step down from his role and the Management Board at the Annual General Meeting on 16 April 2026. The Supervisory Board has nominated Mike Schoofs, the current Chief Revenue Officer, to succeed him as CEO.

The transition also marks the end of Alain De Taeye’s term as a member of the Management Board. Following the meeting, the board will be reduced to two members: Mike Schoofs and Chief Financial Officer Taco Titulaer.

Goddijn, who Co-Founded the company in 1991 and has served as CEO since 2001, has been nominated to join the Supervisory Board. Under his leadership, TomTom transitioned from a consumer navigation start-up to a provider of location technology and mapping systems for the automotive and enterprise sectors.

Schoofs joined the company in 2005 and as the Chief Revenue Officer since 2023, he managed the global sales organisation and strategic partnerships across the automotive and platform segments.

The leadership change occurs as TomTom continues its shift towards AI-driven mapping and platform technology. The company has recently simplified its product portfolio and modernised its technology stack to serve automotive manufacturers and enterprise clients.

Harold Goddijn, said, “Building and leading TomTom has been the privilege of my professional life. We have built a company with deep technology, strong customer relationships, and extraordinary people. The time is right for the next phase of leadership. As the architect of our global commercial organization, Mike is uniquely positioned to lead the company forward. I am certain that under his leadership the company will continue to prosper.”

Mike Schoofs, stated, “TomTom has built a differentiated technology platform and strong customer relationships. My focus will be on disciplined execution, scaling our automotive and enterprise businesses, and delivering long-term value for customers and shareholders.”

Derk Haank, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, added, “I want to express our deep appreciation to Harold and Alain for their extraordinary entrepreneurship over more than thirty-five years. They built businesses from start-ups into a global leader in location technology, guiding the company through multiple profound transitions, from consumer navigation to automotive partnerships, platform technology, and today’s AI-driven mapping technology. Thanks to their vision, TomTom now stands on a strong foundation, with a simplified product portfolio, a modern technology stack, and a talented leadership team ready to lead the company into its next chapter of growth. We are pleased that Harold wishes to remain involved and intends to join the Supervisory Board.”

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RoboSense has announced that its EM4 and E1 digital LiDAR systems have been selected for the Robotaxi GXR. The vehicle is a joint development between WeRide and Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group, a subsidiary of Geely.

The Robotaxi GXR fleet is scheduled to commence production in Q3 2026. The companies plan to deliver 2,000 units to domestic and international markets.

The Robotaxi GXR utilises the GEN8 autonomous driving suite, which incorporates WeRide's Sensor Suite 8.0 (SS8.0). This system uses the RoboSense EM4 as the primary LiDAR and the E1 as the blind-spot LiDAR.

Key specifications of the LiDAR units include:

• EM4 (Primary LiDAR): A digital LiDAR system capable of customisation up to 2,160 beams. It features a detection range of 600 metres and increased point cloud density to improve hazard identification at high speeds.
• E1 (Blind-spot LiDAR): A solid-state digital LiDAR with a 120deg x 90deg Field of View (FoV). It is designed to eliminate near-field blind spots and is mass-produced for automotive use.

The combination of long-range and near-field sensors is intended to maintain performance during rain or fog. This configuration provides 360-degree coverage around the vehicle.

At present, WeRide operates commercial services in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Beijing and Guangzhou. As of January 2026, the global fleet reached 1,023 vehicles. With the addition of the 2,000 GXR units scheduled for delivery this year, the total operational fleet is expected to exceed 2,600 vehicles.

RoboSense claims that it maintains partnerships with over 90 percent of leading Level 4 (L4) autonomous driving companies. The company provides the perception hardware for various platforms within the global robotaxi sector.

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