Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched ‘Hero For Startups’ (HFS) programme that will support innovative startups that are working on mobility solutions.

Startups shortlisted for the initiative will get exclusive access to Hero MotoCorp’s world-class Research and Development facilities in Germany and India, the company’s dealers, suppliers and partners, along with mentorship.

An opportunity to work on paid Proofs of Concept (PoCs), which the company believes will enable successful PoCs to integrate their solutions into Hero MotoCorp's diverse product portfolio. This will not only unlock valuable market exposure, but also accelerate growth and visibility of their innovations.

Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Hero For Startups is our commitment to shaping the future of mobility and beyond through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. Rooted in the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat, it is a transformative platform that empowers India to excel on the global stage. Inviting dreamers, doers, and visionaries, this initiative is a catalyst for extraordinary ideas to tackle real-world challenges for Bharat while opening doors to unprecedented opportunities. Hero For Startups accelerates India’s rise as a global leader, setting new benchmarks for innovation and impact and creating a world of possibilities for generations to come.”

Hero For Startups will work towards –

Fostering innovation by driving development of cutting-edge technologies and disruptive solutions to transform the mobility sector.

Strengthening innovation by collaborating with emerging startups, providing them with resources and support to create technology-driven innovation that invigorates the automotive industry.

Sustainability and long-term impact to shape the future of mobility through innovation that is scalable and sustainable.

They will also get technical support giving them access to manufacturing and business teams, which will allow startups to test, develop, and deploy their solutions.

Tailored bootcamps will focus on enhancing the technological and operational capabilities of startups, preparing them for future industry challenges and ensuring the sustainability of their solutions

Lastly, startups will get guidance from experienced industry professionals and strategic mentorship from Hero MotoCorp’s leadership team, empowering them to scale their ventures and make a transformative impact on the mobility sector.

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Marelli has developed an AI-driven System Test Generation (STG) Agent in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The tool automates the creation of system test cases from engineering requirements, addressing a traditionally labour-intensive phase of the automotive validation cycle.

The STG Agent was developed alongside the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center and utilises Amazon Nova foundation models, Amazon Bedrock Knowledge Bases and the Strands Agents framework.

The system is designed to integrate with existing requirement management tools and automotive engineering workflows. By automating the analysis of system requirements, the tool identifies expected behaviours and generates structured, traceable test cases to verify that product features align with customer specifications.

As vehicle platforms transition toward software-defined architectures, engineering teams must manage increasing volumes of data and specifications. The STG Agent aims to reduce validation time for new vehicle functionalities, improve consistency in product behaviour across global programmes and accelerate product development for vehicle manufacturers.

Daniele Russo, Head of System Performance Optimisation in Marelli’s Electronics Engineering team, said, “The STG Agent represents an important step forward in how we validate solutions for software-defined vehicles. By combining our engineering expertise with advanced AI capabilities from AWS, we significantly accelerate validation cycles and ensure consistent quality across global programs. This solution enables us to support our customers faster and more efficiently, strengthening the foundation for the next generation of software-defined vehicles.”

Giulia Gasparini, Country Leader of AWS Italia, commented, "Marelli's approach to automating system validation demonstrates the transformative potential of generative AI in automotive engineering. By leveraging Amazon Nova foundation models and Amazon Bedrock, companies are setting new standards for how software-defined vehicles are developed and validated. This solution shows how advanced AI can accelerate innovation while maintaining the rigorous quality and safety requirements that define the automotive industry."

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Nawgati, an Indian fuel-tech company, has been named the title sponsor for the 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Petrol Dealers Association Pune (PDAP). The association represents over 900 petroleum dealers within the Pune district.

The AGM is scheduled for 21 March 2026 at the Hotel Westin Koregaon Park, Pune. The event includes an industry exhibition designed to showcase technological solutions and services within the petroleum retail value chain.

Attendees will include senior bureaucrats, officials from oil marketing companies and representatives from dealer associations across Maharashtra. The gathering focuses on the convergence of digital innovation and existing fuel retail infrastructure.

Nawgati is utilising the platform to highlight Aaveg for Dealers, an operating system developed for fuel retailers. The platform integrates several operational functions into a single interface: real-time accounting and inventory management, sales intelligence and automated invoicing, digital contracts and credit control systems.

The company currently operates across India and has established subsidiaries in the UAE and Sri Lanka to scale its connected fuelling ecosystem.

Vaibhav Kaushik, Co-Founder & CEO, Nawgati, said, “The Petrol Dealers Association Pune AGM is bringing together stakeholders who are directly involved in these discussions through this Annual General Meeting, and Nawgati is pleased to support a platform that encourages meaningful exchange within the sector, as such conversations are important in shaping practical solutions that benefit both dealers and consumers.”

Aalaap Nair, Co-Founder, Nawgati, added, “Through Aaveg for Dealers, we are introducing an all-in-one operating system designed specifically for modern fuel retailers. It brings together real-time accounting, inventory management, and sales intelligence into a single, seamless platform. By enabling greater control over credit, customers, and cash flow, supported by smart insights, automated invoicing, and digital contracts, Aaveg is simplifying operations and helping dealers run more efficient, scalable fuel businesses.”

Dhruv Ruparel, President of the Petrol Dealers Association Pune, stated, “The Annual General Meeting serves as an important forum for the dealer community, as it gives us a platform to engage on operational and industry-related developments. Nawgati’s association this year as the “title sponsor” reflects the increasing role of tech-led solutions in fuel retail, which is strengthening these operations. We are looking forward to constructive discussions that support the sector’s continued progress.”

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Japanese technology company TIER IV and Isuzu Motors have announced the deployment of Level 4 autonomous buses using the Nvidia Drive Hyperion computing platform. The technology will be integrated into Isuzu ERGA electric and diesel models, featuring the Nvidia Drive AGX Thor system-on-chip (SoC) to provide safety and performance redundancy.

The autonomous transit vehicles combine TIER IV’s Level 4 software stack, based on the open-source Autoware platform, with Isuzu’s vehicle architecture and Nvidia’s AI compute. The objective is to create high-capacity public transit solutions capable of scalable deployment.

The system is designed to be hardware-agnostic and fail-operational, addressing operational requirements for public services and national challenges such as driver shortages.

Shinpei Kato, Founder and CEO, TIER IV, said, “This collaboration marks a definitive milestone for autonomous transit. By fusing Isuzu’s legendary engineering with NVIDIA’s Thor AI compute, we have built an unmatched foundation for Level 4 transit driven by Autoware. Unveiling this Level 4 autonomous bus deployment at Nvidia GTC 2026 proves that when you combine world-class hardware with the power of the Autoware ecosystem, safe and scalable public transit is no longer a goal – it is a reality.”

Hiroshi Sato, Senior Executive Officer and Vice-President, Engineering Division, Isuzu, commented, “Our partnership with TIER IV and Nvidia represents a significant leap in commercial vehicle intelligence. Deploying Level 4 autonomous driving on both our ERGA EV and diesel models ensures that we provide versatile, sustainable, and highly efficient solutions for any fleet. We are bringing Isuzu’s world-renowned reliability to the autonomous age, ensuring safe and high-performance transit at scale.”

Rishi Dhall, Vice-President of Automotive, NVIDIA, added, “The transition to highly automated commercial transport demands fail-operational, high-performance computing without compromise. TIER IV and Isuzu are frontrunners in the public transit vertical, utilizing Nvidia Drive AGX Thor on the Drive Hyperion platform in the Isuzu ERGA to power TIER IV’s Autoware-based Level 4 software stack. Their scalable solution addresses critical real-world needs, such as Japan’s national driver shortage, while delivering the operational rigor necessary for essential public services.”

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Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation has entered into a partnership with Orion Racing India, the Formula Student team of K J Somaiya School of Engineering, Mumbai.

The collaboration is intended to support engineering students at the grassroots level and strengthen the development of electric mobility capabilities within India.

The partnership focuses on hands-on learning and experimentation in the design of electric and autonomous vehicle platforms. Lauritz Knudsen aims to foster skills in power distribution systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, areas central to the company’s industrial focus.

Orion Racing India has operated in student motorsport for nearly 20 years, transitioning from internal combustion engines to electric prototypes in 2019. The team uses electric race cars as a platform for students to address challenges in – energy management, power systems, vehicle safety and performance engineering.

Naresh Kumar, COO, Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation, said, “India’s electric mobility journey will be shaped by the ecosystem we build today. At Lauritz Knudsen, we believe meaningful change begins early, when young engineers are encouraged to build, experiment, and apply their learning to challenges. By engaging with students who are actively working on electric vehicle technologies, we are helping develop future ready talent that will play a defining role in India’s mobility and energy future.”

Dr. Ukrande, Director of K J Somaiya School of Engineering, added, “Orion Racing India has a long and proud legacy of representing K J Somaiya School of Engineering at Formula Student competitions over the years. What makes this journey special is the continuity each batch of students builds on the learning, experience, and spirit of those before them. Through hands-on work on electric racecars, our students move beyond textbooks to real engineering challenges. Support from industry partners like Lauritz Knudsen further strengthens this learning ecosystem and motivates students to innovate in areas critical to India’s mobility future.”

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