India's rapidly evolving mobility sector was the central focus of the 3rd EV & AutoTech Innovation Forum, held at Vivanta, Hinjawadi, Pune, which was organised by Konnect Worldwide Business Media on the theme of ‘Shaping the Future of Mobility.’

The day-long event saw over 300 participants from the automotive stakeholders including EV players, tier-1 suppliers, OEMs, policymakers and tech investors.

The event saw discussions on around the increasing demand for innovative technological features such as connectivity, high-performance computing, driver assistance/autonomous driving & enhanced safety, alongside emerging trends like EVs and stricter efficiency norms. This has led to a growing focus on the role of software in modern vehicles.

Prominent attendees included representatives from Jio, ARAI, Visteon, Harman, Varroc Connect, Tata Motors, Omega Seiki Mobility, MediaTek, Maruti Suzuki India and Stellantis India among others.

Steven Lee, Deputy Director, Intelligent Software Development, MediaTek, said, "India is the fastest-growing connected car market, with a projected CAGR of 18 percent between 2025 and 2030, according to Counterpoint. Government policies, growing presence of global OEMs, seeking alternative sourcing hubs and the rising importance of software in vehicles have together created a strategic opportunity for Indian players to enhance capabilities, accelerate growth and establish India as a global automotive hub. As the sector continues its upward trajectory, it is strategically positioned for transformative growth in the near term, driven by 5G machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity, sophisticated AI integration and premium Multimedia, surpassing traditional 4G frameworks. At MediaTek, we are leveraging our industry-leading expertise in MediaTek Dimensity Automotive portfolio to drive key capabilities including impressive AI, extensive feature integration, innate energy efficiency and leading connectivity solutions. Our collaborations with OEMs help to deliver immersive, advanced in-vehicle user experiences to reach AI defined cockpit with cybersecurity capabilities and enhanced connectivity.”

Mohan Raju, Vice-President & Vertical Head – IoT, Jio, said, “The connected vehicle ecosystem today is a rapidly evolving landscape where vehicles are not just equipped with internet connectivity but also with advanced cloud applications suites, enabling the user to interact with his environment like home, office, shopping lists etc right from the car. Also, the vice versa i.e. Home2Car is fast becoming a reality which involves the user interacting / controlling his car right from the comfort of his car. Icing on the cake - this interaction is increasingly voice commands powered allowing the user to “Speak with the car in his/ her native Indian Language”.

“We are pioneering this experiential transformation and customer preference shifts by bringing first of its kind innovative solutions in close collaboration with Auto OEMs. This approach is fundamentally changing how vehicles are designed, used, maintained and therefore enhancing the overall value and experience of vehicle ownership for the customers," he said.

At the event, the key sessions explored the convergence of AI-ML, edge computing, connected mobility and technological advancements in electric two-wheeler and SDVs. Fireside chats and panel discussions delved into EV ecosystem development, monetisation models and the critical role of telematics and over-the-air (OTA) updates in delivering a seamless in-car digital experience.

Further contributions came from clean mobility disruptors such as Micelio Discovery Studio and Exponent Energy, who presented groundbreaking models in green mobility and localised innovation.

The forum also featured a technical demo zone by Tier-1 OEMs and live vehicle showcases by Tata Motors, Skoda India, JSW MG Motor and Matter Mobility.

Ujjwala Karle, Senior Deputy Director & Head Technology Group, ARAI, said, “With close to six decades of experience in homologation and standardisation, ARAI has expertise in R&D, testing and validation. ARAI has also developed indigenous technologies in the mobility domain through its expertise and in house innovation. Mass-scaling of the technology in India can be achieved by an integrated approach and a combination of virtual and experiential verification and validation process. We are open to collaborate with the manufacturers in automotive domain in the field of R&D, technology development, testing & validation and engineering services.”

Sivakumar Yeddanapudi, Global Vice-President – Digital Cockpit and Connected Services Products, Visteon, said, "India plays a pivotal role in driving the future of global automotive innovation. At Visteon, we're proud to collaborate with MediaTek and other leading partners to accelerate the transition to software-defined, AI-powered vehicles - delivering advanced cockpit technologies that elevate the driving experience."

The day-long event, themed ‘Hello World, Disrupt the Future’, was powered by MediaTek, a world-leading fabless semiconductor company powering nearly 2 billion connected devices a year, as AutoTech partner and supported by ARAI.

Rahul Sindhwani, CEO, Konnect Worldwide Business Media, concluded, "The third edition of the EV & AutoTech Innovation Forum has reaffirmed our resolve to bring together the best minds in mobility. As electric and software-defined mobility gain momentum, the forum served as a catalyst for actionable dialogue, innovation and ecosystem-level collaboration. We are proud to build India’s most definitive platform for future-ready mobility solutions.”

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Vadodara-based Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) company Aimtron Electronics has secured its first order from a European Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The contract, valued at approximately INR 38 million, involves providing box-build solutions for a client headquartered in Europe with manufacturing operations in Spain.

The order marks the company's entry into the European market, serving automotive and industrial sectors. Aimtron anticipates that revenues from this engagement could scale to four times the current size during the 2027 financial year.

The development follows the announcement of the India–Europe Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which aims to improve the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers. Aimtron intends to leverage its manufacturing operations in India and the United States to diversify supply chains for European customers.

This European foray follows the company’s recent acquisition of a US-based electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) firm to strengthen its engineering capabilities for global OEMs.

Sneh Shah, Whole-time Director, Aimtron Electronics, said, “Meeting European automotive requirements demands a high level of process discipline, quality governance, and execution consistency. Aimtron has invested steadily in building these capabilities across box-build, traceability, and program management. This engagement reflects that readiness and provides a clear pathway to scale programs across European end-markets.”

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MAHLE has introduced an advanced heat recovery system that enhances the efficiency of cabin heating in electric vehicles, directly addressing the challenge of reduced range in cold weather. This innovation, the MAHLE HeatX Range+, reclaims thermal energy from the vehicle's exhaust air. As interior air is expelled, it passes through the air conditioning evaporator, where its heat is transferred to the refrigerant. This captured energy is then used to preheat incoming fresh air before it enters the cabin.

This process reduces the total energy demand for the vehicle's climate control system by approximately 20 percent compared to conventional methods. In practical testing with a mid-size electric vehicle at an outside temperature of -7°C and a cabin target of 20°C, the system extended the driving range by nearly 10 kilometres. Beyond range extension, the continuous influx of fresh air maintains high interior air quality and minimises window fogging.

Engineered for seamless integration, the system has no adverse effect on airflow or acoustics. Its modular design allows manufacturers to incorporate it into existing vehicle architectures easily and cost-effectively. MAHLE developed the technology drawing on its extensive expertise in thermal management, and the current configuration for refrigerant R1234yf can be readily adapted for use with future alternative refrigerants.

Martin Wellhoeffer, Member of the MAHLE Group Management Board, responsible for the business unit Thermal and Fluid Systems, said, "Our HeatX Range+ heat recovery concept maximises the everyday practicality of electric vehicles in winter and makes a decisive contribution to further increasing the attractiveness of electric mobility.”

Dr Uli Christian Blessing, Vice President – R&D Thermal and Fluid Systems, MAHLE, said, "As early as the 1990s, MAHLE introduced the '’Economizer'’, the first cabin heat recovery system concept for passenger and commercial vehicles, thereby pioneering today’s trend towards efficient cabin climate control.”

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Tata Technologies has announced that its battery intelligence platform, WATTSync, is now equipped to meet India’s upcoming Battery Aadhaar requirements. The digital identity and traceability framework aligns with the EU Battery Regulation (EU BR 2023/1542).

The platform supports India’s mandated 21-character Battery Pack Aadhaar Number (BPAN), which allows manufacturers to manage identifiers across production, operations and recycling workflows.

WATTSync utilises a QR-code-enabled identity engine to provide access to both static and dynamic battery data. The system manages manufacturer identifiers, material composition, chemistry and battery carbon footprint (BCF).

To meet mandates for dynamic data, the platform integrates with Battery Management Systems (BMS) to track – State of Health (SoH), charge-discharge cycles, thermal events and operational parameters.

The architecture is cloud-ready and supports API-based data exchange with government-authorised central servers, ensuring traceability across the supply chain.

The platform includes Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) to provide structured data views for suppliers, operators, and regulators. Additionally, AI-driven analytics are used for predictive maintenance, including thermal anomaly detection and Remaining Useful Life (RUL) estimation.

For manufacturers under the ACC-PLI scheme, WATTSync provides provenance documentation to verify cell origin. The platform also tracks recovered materials and carbon footprints to support circular economy objectives and recycling chain mandates in both India and the EU.

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Chinese technology company Pony.ai has announced that the first mass-produced bZ4X Robotaxi, developed in partnership with Toyota, has rolled off the production line. This marks the transition to scaled production and commercial deployment for the collaboration.

The partners plan to produce over 1,000 bZ4X units in 2026. These vehicles will be introduced into commercial services across Tier 1 cities in China, supporting Pony.ai's objective to expand its fleet to over 3,000 vehicles by the end of the year.

The bZ4X Robotaxi is equipped with Pony.ai’s seventh-generation (Gen-7) autonomous driving system. Key features of the hardware include:

• Automotive-Grade Components: 100 percent of the core components meet automotive standards.
• Cost Efficiency: The bill of materials (BOM) cost for the autonomous driving kit has been reduced by 70 percent compared to the previous generation.
• User Features: The system includes Bluetooth unlocking, in-cabin voice interaction, and climate control, with software tuning to reduce motion sickness through refined acceleration and braking.

The vehicle was developed by Pony.ai, Toyota Motor China and GAC Toyota, with production managed by GAC Toyota. The assembly process integrates the Toyota Production System (TPS) and adheres to Toyota’s Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR) principles. Dedicated systems for quality and safety management have been established to support large-scale operations.

The collaboration between Pony.ai and Toyota began in 2019. Since then, the companies have established a joint venture focused on Robotaxi design and manufacturing. This milestone follows the launch of other Gen-7 models that entered commercial service in November last year.

The partners stated that this production milestone demonstrates a pathway for autonomous technology to move from limited validation to mass production.

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