L&T Technology Services Receives Second Consecutive Supplier Certification From Caterpillar

LTTS - Caterpillar

Bengaluru-headquartered engineering R&D company L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has been certified at Caterpillar’s 2025 Supplier Excellence Recognition (SER) event. This marks the second consecutive recognition for LTTS following its initial certification in 2024.

The recertification highlights LTTS's delivery, quality standards and its relationship with Caterpillar in the Mobility segment.

As a strategic supplier, LTTS provides engineering services that support Caterpillar and its customer base. LTTS has worked on Caterpillar’s sustainability goals and has driven engineering innovation and operational performance.

Alind Saxena, Executive Director and President of Mobility and Tech at L&T Technology Services, said, “This recognition means a great deal to all of us at LTTS. Being SER-certified two years in a row is a testament not just to our team’s dedication, but also to the strength of our relationship with Caterpillar. We deeply appreciate Caterpillar’s support and the trust placed in us. Our pledge is to continue raising the bar, adding value, and delivering engineering excellence in everything we do.”

Caterpillar's recognition is awarded to suppliers who meet criteria in areas including quality assurance, timely delivery, innovation and alignment with the company’s values.

Servotech And Electra EV Secure Joint Patent For Low-Voltage EV Charging

EV Charging

Servotech Renewable Power System and Electra EV have been granted a patent by the Indian Patent Office for an ‘Electric Vehicle Charging Device’. The technology is designed to provide charging solutions for low-voltage electric vehicles (EVs).

The device addresses interoperability challenges by enabling fast DC charging for low-voltage EVs with sub-200V DC platforms. This includes vehicles based on GB/T Bharat DC 001 standards. The technology allows these vehicles to utilise widely deployed, conventional high-voltage CCS2 charging infrastructure.

The patented device incorporates power management and voltage conversion systems to facilitate energy transfer to low-voltage battery platforms. The primary focus of the technology is on vehicle segments such as small commercial EVs and pick-up vans, which are used for urban and last-mile mobility.

Key features of the technology include:

  • Interoperability: Enables sub-200V DC platforms to use CCS2 fast-charging stations.
  • Compatibility: Supports vehicles adhering to GB/T Bharat DC 001 standards.
  • Energy Management: Advanced voltage conversion to ensure safe battery charging.
  • Safety: Integrated protocols for stable energy transfer.

The joint ownership of the patent by Servotech and Electra EV is intended to accelerate the development of charging infrastructure for small commercial fleets. The demand for such flexible solutions has increased as adoption of low-voltage EVs grows within the Indian logistics and transport sectors.

Arun Handa, CTO, Servotech Renewable Power System, said, “Securing this patent is an important step in strengthening our innovation-led approach to EV charging technology. Low-voltage electric vehicles are a key part of India’s mobility ecosystem, particularly in segments like small commercial fleets. This patented device has been designed to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable charging for such vehicles, helping make EV adoption through improved charging compatibility.”

NXP Introduces CoreRide Z248 Zonal Reference System For 48V Architectures

NXP Semiconductors

NXP Semiconductors has launched the NXP CoreRide Z248, a zonal reference system combining 48V energy distribution with data routing. The hardware-software foundation is designed to assist OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers in transitioning to software-defined vehicle (SDV) architectures by reducing integration effort and development cycles.

The Z248 is built on NXP’s S32K5 microcontroller series, featuring on-chip Magnetic Random Access Memory (MRAM). This technology is intended to accelerate electronic control unit (ECU) programming during manufacturing and over-the-air (OTA) updates.

The system integrates several 48V-capable components and networking tools:

  • Power Management: Includes eFuses, Power Management Integrated Circuits (PMICs), and DC-DC converters for energy conversion and protection.
  • Networking: Features Ethernet PHY and CAN transceivers for data handling.
  • Software Stack: A pre-validated stack managing smart data energy network (SDEN) functions such as impedance monitoring and diagnostics.
  • Safety: Built-in functional safety and real-time responsiveness for zonal processing.

NXP stated it has validated the Z248 through system-level tests focusing on low-power modes and wake-up response times. The package includes a Board Support Package (BSP) with integrated software from partners including GLIWA for performance monitoring, Green Hills Software for compilers and Vector for embedded tools.

The reference system is designed for deployment across internal combustion engine (ICE), hybrid, and battery electric vehicle (BEV) platforms. It supports ECU consolidation by managing energy distribution and data protocols within a single architecture.

Sebastien Clamagirand, SVP and General Manager, Automotive Systems & Platforms, NXP Semiconductors, said, “The NXP CoreRide zonal reference system Z248 delivers a performance-optimized, scalable 48 V foundation that intelligently fuses power, data and software, while dramatically simplifying system integration, reducing time to market, and enabling OEMs to focus on vehicle differentiation and long‑term value creation.”

Peter Gliwa, CEO and Founder, GLIWA, added, “NXP understood that the eco-system, the tooling around a new platform is essential for its success. With our Analysis Suite T1 built into the NXP CoreRide Z248 zonal reference system, high efficiency, proper timing analysis and timing verification are very well addressed.”

Jochen Rein, SVP Business Unit Software Platform, Vector, stated, “The combination of the NXP CoreRide platform and Vector’s software foundation provides a robust basis for next‑generation zonal architectures. We enable our joint customers to reduce their time- to-market due to a pre-integrated and highly optimized software stack.”

EV-Related Searches Surge Across India, Charging Station Queries Up 127%

EV

Justdial, a local market discovery platform, has released data showing a rise in consumer interest in electric vehicles (EVs) across India. An analysis comparing search volumes from February 2025 – January 2026 against the previous year reveals growth in searches for infrastructure, dealerships and power systems.

The company data points out that searches for ‘Electric Vehicle Charging Stations’ increased by 127 percent at a national level. This growth indicates a shift in consumer focus toward infrastructure and location discovery. In terms of city-wise searches, Delhi led the charge with 98 percent growth, followed by Mumbai at 82 percent and Pune with 38 percent.

The data also points to an increase in purchase intent and ecosystem awareness. Searches for Electric Vehicle Dealers rose by 40 percent across India, with Delhi recording a 51 percent rise in this category.

Furthermore, searches for EV Batteries and Power Systems climbed by 96 percent. This trend suggests a focus on energy storage solutions and battery performance among Indian consumers.

TomTom Co-Founder Harold Goddijn Steps Down, Mike Schoofs Nominated As CEO

TomTom

Dutch technology and map specialists TomTom has announced that its Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Harold Goddijn will step down from his role and the Management Board at the Annual General Meeting on 16 April 2026. The Supervisory Board has nominated Mike Schoofs, the current Chief Revenue Officer, to succeed him as CEO.

The transition also marks the end of Alain De Taeye’s term as a member of the Management Board. Following the meeting, the board will be reduced to two members: Mike Schoofs and Chief Financial Officer Taco Titulaer.

Goddijn, who Co-Founded the company in 1991 and has served as CEO since 2001, has been nominated to join the Supervisory Board. Under his leadership, TomTom transitioned from a consumer navigation start-up to a provider of location technology and mapping systems for the automotive and enterprise sectors.

Schoofs joined the company in 2005 and as the Chief Revenue Officer since 2023, he managed the global sales organisation and strategic partnerships across the automotive and platform segments.

The leadership change occurs as TomTom continues its shift towards AI-driven mapping and platform technology. The company has recently simplified its product portfolio and modernised its technology stack to serve automotive manufacturers and enterprise clients.

Harold Goddijn, said, “Building and leading TomTom has been the privilege of my professional life. We have built a company with deep technology, strong customer relationships, and extraordinary people. The time is right for the next phase of leadership. As the architect of our global commercial organization, Mike is uniquely positioned to lead the company forward. I am certain that under his leadership the company will continue to prosper.”

Mike Schoofs, stated, “TomTom has built a differentiated technology platform and strong customer relationships. My focus will be on disciplined execution, scaling our automotive and enterprise businesses, and delivering long-term value for customers and shareholders.”

Derk Haank, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, added, “I want to express our deep appreciation to Harold and Alain for their extraordinary entrepreneurship over more than thirty-five years. They built businesses from start-ups into a global leader in location technology, guiding the company through multiple profound transitions, from consumer navigation to automotive partnerships, platform technology, and today’s AI-driven mapping technology. Thanks to their vision, TomTom now stands on a strong foundation, with a simplified product portfolio, a modern technology stack, and a talented leadership team ready to lead the company into its next chapter of growth. We are pleased that Harold wishes to remain involved and intends to join the Supervisory Board.”