India Among The Top Five Manufacturing Destinations

India Among The Top Five Manufacturing Destinations

As per a recent post on X (earlier Twitter) by China’s official newspaper Global Times where it shared a list of world’s top 10 nations in terms of their manufacturing output, India ranked among the top five with a manufacturing value add of USD 456 billion. 

Not forgetting to underscore China as the world’s manufacturing powerhouse, the post is of importance because of the nation where it originates from. China is not only a neighbour of India, it is also the largest trading partner with USD 118.4 billion two-way commerce in FY2023-24, according to the economic think tank GTRI’s data.

China’s per capita GDP USD 12,174 in 2023 as compared to the per capita of India at USD 2,239 USD. Against this economic difference, it is interesting that China’s newspaper has in its post acknowledged India’s rising manufacturing prowess. 

This is certain to change the way India as well as its manufacturing sector is perceived. There are tailwinds and plenty of headwinds the Indian manufacturing sector continues to experience. Its performance is however a reflection of its abilities and grit. 

The manufacturing sector in India is emerging as an integral pillar of the country’s economic growth. The key industries that are contributing to its stellar performance are auto, chemicals, consumer durables and engineering. 

The manufacturing sector’s consistent performance as also indicated by the PMI figures. With government policies and changing world markets – not to exclude geopolitical and regulatory challenges for industries like auto in particular – an important factor is the rise of respective sector, there’s clearly more to be done. 

With that, it wouldn’t take long to move up the ladder. 

Marelli Introduces ORION Motorsport Intelligence Platform At Cologne Expo

Marelli - ORION

Marelli presented ORION, a data cloud artificial intelligence platform for motorsport intelligence, at the Professional MotorSport World Expo 2026 in Cologne, Germany.

The platform is engineered to integrate disparate motorsport data sources, structure information in the cloud and apply artificial intelligence (AI) to support analytics, decision-making, fan engagement and auditable services for teams, federations, promoters and media organisations.

Alongside the platform, the company exhibited technologies including the HSC 130 high-speed camera featuring 500 frames-per-second full high-definition recording, the SA-140 LTE smart antenna telemetry system, and the IPS 290 six-axis redundant inertial platform with real-time kinematic multi-band global navigation satellite system.

The display also featured the vehicle edge controller family – including the VEC 480, VEC 200 and VEC 320 – alongside electronic control units, data loggers, dashboards, telemetry systems, fuel systems, ignition technologies, power electronics and the REV-500 electric front powertrain.

Horse Powertrain Reveals First Production-Ready Hybrid V8 Powertrain

Horse Powertrain Reveals First Production-Ready Hybrid V8 Powertrain

Horse Powertrain, a global player in low-emission and innovative powertrain systems, has unveiled its first production-ready V8 engine, the HORSE W40. Developed for high-performance hybrid vehicle platforms, the 4.0-litre eight-cylinder unit ranks among the market's most power-dense V8 offerings, weighing just 200 kg while producing over 500 kW and 800 Nm. That blend of strong low-end torque and high peak power makes it suited to sports cars, pick-up trucks and off-road vehicles alike.

The engine is laid out longitudinally with twin top-mounted turbochargers in a hot-V configuration, and it borrows advanced direct fuel injection, extensive lightweighting and a shortened turbo intake path from across the company's portfolio to achieve its power and torque density. Complementing it is the HORSE 8LDCT, an eight-speed transmission with a sportscar-grade wet dual clutch that delivers a pre-fill time below 50 ms and shift response under 20 ms, plus a silicon carbide control system, power module, variable-displacement mechanical pump and support for up to 1,050 Nm.

Both components will make their world debut as an integrated set in Lotus's upcoming Type 135 supercar, the brand's first entry into the category. The pairing is intended to cement the W40's position as the leading hybrid engine for top-end vehicles, combining high output with hybrid-ready efficiency. Horse Powertrain says the integrated package demonstrates how its portfolio technologies can be brought together to serve demanding performance applications.

Matias Giannini, CEO, Horse Powertrain, said, “The HORSE W40 marks another landmark achievement for Horse Powertrain’s engineering teams, with our world-class technology powering one of the most power-dense V8s in automotive history. This hybrid-first engine has been built with our company’s full-powertrain perspective and expertise, designed for integration from the outset with our landmark HORSE 8LDCT transmission. In powering the Lotus Type 135, Horse Powertrain is both advancing the state of the art of automotive engineering while making a historic contribution to the world-renowned Lotus brand.”

Feng Qingfeng, CEO, Lotus, said, “We are excited to partner with Horse Powertrain to bring its advanced V8 engine and hybrid transmission technology to the upcoming Lotus Type 135. The HORSE W40 V8 engine and 8LDCT hybrid transmission represent significant advances in powertrain engineering, combining exceptional power and torque density with a highly integrated design. By bringing these technologies together with Lotus’ expertise in lightweight engineering and chassis dynamics, we aim to deliver a new generation of supercar performance, combining outstanding power, efficiency and the precise, engaging driving experience that defines Lotus.”

Ten-Nine Technologies Partners Rune Nordgaard Consulting To Expand TENIX In Japan

Tenix

US-headquartered Ten-Nine Technologies has entered a market development partnership with Tokyo-based Rune Nordgaard Consulting (RNC) to expand the evaluation and commercialisation of its 'TENIX' battery additive across Japan's battery value chain.

Headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Ten-Nine Technologies is said to have developed proprietary nano-scale materials that improve battery performance, longevity and stability across lithium-ion chemistries. The company claims its flagship technology, christened TENIX, is a cathode additive engineered to extend cycle life, improve thermal performance and unlock more value from every cell.

TENIX is a powder additive blended into cathode active materials during manufacturing at 0.5 to 2 percent of cathode weight without requiring equipment modifications or battery redesigns. In third-party evaluations across nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and lithium-manganese-oxide (LMO) chemistries, the additive increased charge-discharge cycles by over 75 percent, extending electric vehicle battery lifespans from 150,000 to over 265,000 miles while reducing cost per kilowatt-hour by approximately 40 percent, lowering resistance by 10 percent and decreasing lifetime heat output by around 40 percent.

Under the agreement, RNC will act as Ten-Nine's representative in Japan, facilitating engagement with automotive original equipment manufacturers, battery makers, cathode producers, trading houses and research institutions.

Since May 2026, RNC has introduced TENIX to battery manufacturers, automotive firms, and cathode materials producers in Japan to support technical evaluations and customer qualification processes.

Paige Johnson, CEO, Ten-Nine Technologies, said, “Japan has played a foundational role in the development of the global lithium-ion battery industry. RNC’s deep understanding of the Japanese battery ecosystem and extensive industry network make them an ideal partner as we continue expanding our global presence.”

Rune Nordgaard, Founder, Rune Nordgaard Consulting, said, “Japan is one of the world’s most important battery markets, but success here requires trust, technical understanding, and strong local follow-up. TENIX has demonstrated excellent performance in NMC and LMO cathode chemistries, with strong potential for all-solid-state batteries as well, and I believe it will be of real interest to battery and battery-related companies across Japan. We’re pleased to support Ten-Nine, whose professionalism, technical rigour, and commitment to customers give us confidence in introducing TENIX to potential partners in Japan.

Audi Introduces Bidirectional Charging And Three Battery Variants On A2 e-tron

Audi A2 e-tron

German luxury carmaker Audi has detailed the battery architecture and bidirectional charging capabilities of the Audi A2 e-tron, which is available to order in three battery configurations of 52, 61 and 84 kWh.

The EV features Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality to power devices and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capability to supply electricity to households when paired with a DC wallbox, with Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) functionality planned to feed energy into the power grid in the future.

The 52 kWh and 61 kWh variants use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries arranged in a cell-to-pack layout, while the 84 kWh variant uses a nickel-manganese-cobalt battery. Depending on the configuration, direct current charging powers range between 100 and 183 kW, charging the battery from 10 to 80 per cent in 24 minutes for the 52 kWh version, 26 minutes for the 61 kWh version, and 29 minutes for the 84 kWh versions.

The vehicle incorporates an OCDC 2.0 unit that integrates the on-board charger and DC/DC converter, utilising metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs) and alternating current output management software. A thermal management system regulates battery temperature, current flow, and state of charge during charging and discharging cycles, while a battery management controller employs an algorithm to track state of charge, ageing, and range calculations across the LFP cells.