Igus India Expands Presence With New Manufacturing Plant

Igus India Expands Presence With New Manufacturing Plant

Motion plastics manufacturer, Igus India expanded its footprint in the country by inaugurating a new manufacturing plant spanning 92,000 square feet in Bengaluru Thursday. 

The state-of-the-art plant in Mandur near Budigere in Bengaluru comes at a point when the company prepares to focus on new divisions dedicated to the semi-conductor and renewable energy sectors, areas poised for substantial growth. The expansion is part of Igus’s long-term strategy to enhance its operational capabilities and support its extensive customer base in India.

The newly inaugurated facility is a testament to the company’s long-term commitment to India, involving an investment of over INR 1 billion. This financial outlay reflects the company’s dedication to maintaining its competitive edge through innovation and cutting-edge technology. 

Of the total investment, INR 200 million have been allocated for setting up the factory, INR 400 million for advanced injection moulding machines and INR 200 million for enhancing the manufacturing process. The plant’s infrastructure is designed to meet the high standards of motion plastics production, ensuring that Igus India continues to deliver world-class products tailored to the unique demands of the Indian market.

Since its establishment as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 2000, Igus India has become a prominent player in the motion plastics industry, catering to over 19,000 customers across the country. The company’s extensive product catalogue boasts 125,000 parts, which are used in a variety of customer-driven assemblies, many of which are customized and assembled locally. This vast array of products underscores Igus’s commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, with over 200 new products introduced annually. The company’s ability to adapt to the evolving needs of its customers has been a key driver of its success in the competitive Indian market.

Looking ahead, Igus India has ambitious plans to further strengthen its operational capabilities and market presence. The company is eyeing significant revenue growth, with expectations of reaching INR 3.4 billion in revenue this year. To support this growth and enhance its logistical efficiency, Igus India plans to establish new logistics and assembly centres in Pune, Gurugram and Noida. These new facilities will enable Igus to better serve its customers across India, reducing lead times and improving overall service delivery.

The focus on emerging industries like semi-conductors and renewable energy is a strategic move by Igus India to align itself with sectors that are poised for substantial growth in the coming years. As India continues to invest in its semi-conductor manufacturing capabilities and renewable energy infrastructure, the demand for high-quality motion plastics is expected to rise. Igus India’s expansion positions the company to capitalise on these opportunities, offering innovative solutions that meet the specific needs of these rapidly growing industries.

The opening of the new manufacturing facility in Bengaluru marks a significant milestone for Igus India, reinforcing its position as a leader in the motion plastics industry. With a strong commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction and market expansion, Igus India is well-positioned to achieve its growth objectives and continue delivering value to its customers across the country. 

Emphasising the strategic importance of this expansion, Igus India Managing Director Deepak Paul stated, “The Indian market presents tremendous potential for Igus as demonstrated by our continued growth and investment here. Our objective is to deliver cutting-edge products and solutions not only to our customers in India but also on a global scale. Igus’s global focus on cost-sensitive and sustainable solutions, encapsulated in our motto ‘Tech up, cost down,’ is perfectly aligned with the Indian approach to technology and innovation. This alignment has been a key driver of our significant growth in the country. As we look forward, our plans include expanding beyond Bengaluru, with logistics and assembly centres set to be established in Pune, Gurugram, and Noida.”

 Igus India is currently the 6th largest subsidiary among Igus’s 38 global subsidiaries, a position that reflects its strong performance and growth potential. Over the past two years, Igus India has doubled its market growth, with revenue figures climbing from INR 1.99 billion to INR 3.13 billion. The company expects this upward trajectory to continue. Additionally, Igus India has invested in a clean room testing facility in Germany and plans to establish a similar setup in India, further enhancing its product development and quality assurance capabilities.

Commenting on the occasion, Country Manager and Director Santhosh Jacob said, “Technology and innovation are at the core of everything we do at Igus. With a catalogue of 125,000 parts and 247 new products introduced this year, we are constantly inspired by our customers’ needs to push the boundaries of what is possible. Our ongoing expansion of the motion plastics product world, coupled with the integration of digitalization and AI, is a testament to our long-term corporate strategy. We are making significant progress in embedding digitalization as a key technology at Igus, which will play a crucial role in our future growth and success.”

Audi Revolut F1 Team Completes Initial Engine Fire-up for 2026 Season

Audi R26 Concept

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.

Ather Energy Brings Infinite Cruise Tech On Ather 450X

Ather 450x

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.

Quectel Intros 5G-A Automotive Grade Cellular Module

Quectel

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.

Kazam Clocks INR 400 Million Revenue For FY2025, Targets INR 1 Billion Revenue In Q4 CY2025

Kazam

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.