Jaguar Land Rover is taking part in pioneering research trials to test the capability of advanced lightweight metals and composites to be used in future vehicles. The research forms part of Gesamtverband der Aluminiumindustrie (GDA), a consortium of aluminium manufacturers and car makers researching the longevity of materials and how they can be made lighter and more durable.

As part of a two-year project, the company will use technology developed for the aerospace industry to understand how materials respond to corrosive environments, in global markets and over rigorous terrains. Samples of new metals and composites planned for use in future Jaguar and Land Rover vehicles will be built into aerospace-grade sensors and put through their paces in some of the world’s most extreme physical conditions, tested for over 400,000km across North America.

Working with industry leaders across quality assurance and manufacturing to develop future lightweight vehicles, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions further is a key part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero vision - a future with zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

The project builds on continued research into future materials, from the REALITY project, a pioneering recycling process which gives premium automotive-grade aluminium a second life, to the development of printed structural electronics, which can reduce the weight of in-car electronics by up to 60%.

The sensors will continuously measure the performance of the materials and share data with the Jaguar Land Rover’s product development team in the UK. With this information, the engineers can accurately forecast the material’s behaviour in the development of future vehicle programmes to ensure that next-generation lightweight metals meet the company’s stringent standards, delivering a longer-lasting, high quality finish.

Matt Walters, Lead Engineer, Metals and Process Materials for Jaguar Land Rover, said, “This research project is a prime example of our commitment to developing lightweight, durable and robust materials for our future vehicles. Using advanced aerospace-grade technology, such as these sensors, is testament to the quality and standards we are achieving. We are working alongside world-class partners on this ground-breaking research project and will improve the correlation between real-world and accelerated testing as we continue to raise the bar for quality and durability.” (MT)

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Pune-headquartered global product engineering and digital services company Tata Technologies has launched ‘WATTSync’, its secure and scalable digital battery passport solution, which it claims advances sustainable engineering from mining to recycling.

The solution is targeted to improve transparency, efficiency and environmental impact, by providing OEMs, battery makers and recyclers with end-to-end traceability.

WATTSync captures and validates battery data from mine to mobility to recycling. It provides a live, shared view of materials, performance, carbon footprint and recovery status. It enables automated compliance reporting against evolving regional rules, which is secure and provides role-based access for suppliers, auditors and regulators on the same digital platform.

The solution connects PLM, MES, ERP and cloud data lakes to build a digital thread for each battery. AI monitors health and anomalies, flags issues before they impact customers, and simplifies audits with guided checks and multilingual assistance. Blockchain safeguards data integrity. Deployment is cloud-agnostic for speed and scale across regions.

Tata Technologies stated that with starting February 2027, EV and industrial batteries sold into the EU will require a digital battery passport. Some automakers have already started, showing how transparency can build market confidence and resale value.

On the other hand, India has announced its intent to roll out a battery passport regime to improve safety, traceability and exports. Many other countries are in the process of announcing their regulatory scope and timelines. WATTSync helps global customers move early and move confidently.

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, is reporting strong adoption of its new Digital Key feature, with a 33 percent enrolment rate. The company sees this as a sign of a growing appetite for tech-driven convenience in cars.

Launched in September 2024 with the Hyundai Alcazar and later in the Hyundai Creta Electric in January 2025, the feature allows drivers to use a compatible smartphone, smartwatch, or a special NFC card to replace their physical car key. Users simply tap their device on the car door handle to lock or unlock the vehicle and place it on the wireless charging pad to start the engine.

The company notes that 35 percent of users are actively sharing access to their Digital Key with family and friends, which is helping to increase the feature’s popularity.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India, said, "At Hyundai Motor India, innovation is driven by purpose, offering meaningful solutions that elevate customer experience. As the first OEM to launch connected car technology in India back in 2019, we remain committed to democratising premium features for Indian customers. The enthusiastic response to Digital Key reaffirms our belief in creating technology that adds real value to everyday life."

Using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the Digital Key can be set up through the Hyundai Bluelink app. Owners can securely share the virtual key with up to three other users or seven linked devices at a time, and they can revoke access at any point. This eliminates the need to carry a physical key and reduces the stress of losing it.

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Irish American automotive supplier Aptiv has opened its new technical centre in Chennai to accelerate the development of advanced vehicle technology in India. The new facility is set to host up to 500 engineers by 2026, focusing on software-defined vehicles, advanced safety and user experience technologies.

Spanning over 34,000 square feet, the new Software, Advanced Safety & User Experience (AS&UX) Technical Centre will be Aptiv's fourth technical facility in India. It will feature advanced labs and test infrastructure, with a specific focus on AI/ML-powered systems for next-generation Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) and in-cabin perception. The move highlights Aptiv's commitment to supporting local automakers and tapping into India's growing automotive market.

The inauguration was attended by senior leaders from both Aptiv and Mahindra & Mahindra, including Javed Khan, Aptiv's Executive Vice-President and President of AS&UX, and R Velusamy, President of Automotive Business (Designate) at Mahindra.

Javed Khan, said, “We are proud to expand our presence in India with the launch of our new technical centre in Chennai. This centre will strengthen our ability to localise AI/ML-powered ADAS and advanced interior sensing technologies for the Indian market, reflecting our confidence in India’s engineering talent and bringing us closer to our customers – so together, we can build a safer, smarter future here in India.”

The new centre will spearhead the development of key technologies, including advanced ADAS perception tools, in-cabin sensing, and software-defined infotainment platforms. It will also contribute to Aptiv’s cloud-native architecture, leveraging integrated hardware, software and edge technologies from Wind River.

This expansion reinforces Aptiv’s existing presence in India, where the company already employs over 13,000 people across eight manufacturing plants, four technical centres, and a tooling centre. The new Chennai facility is expected to play a crucial role in advancing the company’s mission to enable intelligent, software-defined systems for the global automotive industry.

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle major Ather Energy has announced that its fast-charging network ‘Ather Grid’ has surpassed 400 charging points across Tamil Nadu. This expansion aims to alleviate range anxiety for EV owners and support the growing adoption of electric vehicles in the state.

With charging stations now in 38 cities, including tourist destinations like Coonoor and Rameswaram, the network connects key travel routes such as Coimbatore to Bengaluru and Chennai to Pondicherry. The company also noted that a total of 480 fast charging points are available in the state, which includes over 50 LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System) chargers. Developed by Ather, the LECCS standard allows different brands of light EVs to use the same charging network.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been one of our earliest markets and ever since we entered the state in 2019, we have been investing in building a reliable charging network there. Charging has often been seen as one of the key barriers, and it’s something we’ve focused on solving from day one. Crossing 400 fast chargers in Tamil Nadu is a reflection of that commitment. It’s about giving riders the confidence that a charger is never too far away. As our retail footprint grows, the charging network will continue to scale alongside it, making EV ownership truly seamless.”

The company has partnered with local businesses like Coffee Day Global and Ganga Sweets to deploy these charging points. This expansion is part of Ather's broader national effort, which has seen the establishment of over 3,300 fast-charging points across India. The chargers can provide up to 15 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes, making it more convenient for riders on the go.

In addition to its charging infrastructure, Ather maintains a strong presence in the state with 44 experience centres and 42 service centres in 35 cities, offering comprehensive sales and after-sales support.

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