Vedanta Aluminium has announced that it has appointed Luca Zipponi as the CEO of Rolled Products. 

With more than 30 years of experience, Zipponi brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise for his new role. In this role, he will be responsible for driving growth and overseeing all operations related to the product group, which finds various applications in automotive, insulations, power projects, electrical, and packaging sectors to name a few. 

Ensuring the best use of technology to drive innovation and deliver greater value to customers, Zipponi will enhance Vedanta Aluminium's market leadership and operational excellence. Having previously served as the Group Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director UK at Reflexallen Group, his extensive background in operations and strategy is expected to be instrumental in advancing Vedanta Aluminium's rolled products business.

The company has a unit in Korba (Chhattisgarh) with state-of-the-art rolled products setup with a capacity of 0.72 lakh tonnes per annum (LTPA). The setup comprises casting stations, continuous caster, hot rolled mills, and cold rolled mills.

A part of Vedanta Limited, the company is India's largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India's aluminium – 2.37 million tonnes in FY2023-24. It is also a leading player in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. 

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Hyundai Mobis and Wind River have announced the launch of a new, integrated software development environment called Mobis Development Studio. The platform is designed to accelerate the creation of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) by combining Hyundai Mobis' cloud-based infrastructure with Wind River's Studio Developer platform.

Mobis Development Studio is a web-based, unified development platform that provides an intuitive user interface for specific electronic control units (ECUs). It includes features like high-speed build capabilities and automated testing tools to improve software quality and development efficiency. This system will help Hyundai Mobis advance its transformation into a software-centric mobility technology company.

Key Features and Collaboration

The new platform leverages key features from Wind River Studio Developer, including:

• Collaboration tools: To streamline teamwork among developers.
• Automation frameworks: To automate repetitive tasks and improve efficiency.
• Shift-left testing modules: To allow for earlier validation of software in the development lifecycle, catching potential issues sooner.

Sandeep Modhvadia, Chief Product Officer, Wind River, said, “As the automotive industry continues to evolve towards a more intelligent and autonomous future, software is the key driver of transformation. In collaboration with Hyundai Mobis, we have introduced a next-generation development framework that spans both cloud and edge environments and delivers robust lifecycle management. Together, we are empowering automakers to innovate faster, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate the future of the software-defined vehicle. We congratulate Hyundai Mobis on achieving this important milestone.”

Soo-Kyung Jung, Executive Vice-President, Hyundai Mobis, added, “Through this collaboration with Wind River, we expect to significantly enhance automation across the entire vehicle development lifecycle and accelerate innovation in next-generation intelligent vehicle software development. This development environment is not only highly automated but is also rapidly expanding into an AI-driven next-generation development system.”

The partnership aims to deliver a state-of-the-art software infrastructure optimised for SDVs by aligning development methodologies to speed up the design, development, and deployment of automotive systems.

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Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Simple Energy has announced that it has achieved a significant breakthrough in its indigenous technology, by becoming the country's first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to commercially manufacture heavy rare-earth-free motors.

This achievement, the company claims, was made possible by the company's strong in-house R&D capabilities and its state-of-the-art, 200,000 sqft manufacturing facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu.

This new motor technology delivers the same high performance and torque as conventional motors but without the use of heavy rare earth elements. It represents a paradigm shift for the industry, especially as global EV players face increasing scrutiny over their reliance on critical raw materials.

Simple Energy stated that for years, heavy rare-earth magnets have been the standard for EV motors due to their high torque density and compact size. In response to global material restrictions, Simple Energy's in-house R&D team developed a patented motor architecture. The team explored and tested alternative compounds to achieve performance on par with heavy rare-earth-based systems. This innovation is combined with proprietary in-house algorithms that precisely control heat, magnetic fields and torque delivery.

Unlike most EV companies that rely on external suppliers, Simple Energy designs and manufactures its own motors, giving it complete control over the entire process. This approach has drastically reduced R&D time, allowing the company to bring these new motors to market at an unmatched pace.

Suhas Rajkumar, CEO and Co-founder, Simple Energy, said, “Global supply chain disruptions and material dependencies have made one thing clear: the future of electric mobility must be built on self-reliance. Deep localisation and a ‘Make in India’ approach are no longer aspirations – they’re imperatives. This patented, in-house technology replaces heavy rare earth magnets with optimised compounds and is powered by proprietary algorithms that manage heat and torque in real time. Already in production, it proves that high performance can be achieved without compromising sustainability or strategic independence.”

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Japanese auto major Toyota Motor Corporation has announced the start of sales for its e-Palette BEV, a new battery-electric vehicle designed for a wide range of mobility services. The e-Palette, which went on sale 15^th September, is not just a form of transportation but a versatile platform that can be transformed into a mobile store, service space, or entertainment vehicle.

The e-Palette features a spacious interior and large windows, creating an open, customisable environment. Its design allows for multi-use applications throughout the day, such as serving as a shuttle bus in the morning and a retail space later on. The vehicle is also designed with accessibility in mind, featuring a low floor, wide sliding doors and an electric ramp to accommodate wheelchair users.

While currently supporting Level 2 automated driving, Toyota aims to introduce vehicles with Level 4 automated driving systems to the market by fiscal year 2027. The e-Palette will be deployed in areas like Toyota Arena Tokyo and the upcoming Toyota Woven City for transportation and mobile retail services. Additionally, Toyota plans to conduct automated driving demonstrations in collaboration with partners to advance its mobility vision.

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Tata Technologies Ltd has announced its strategic acquisition of German automotive engineering firm, ES-Tec Group, for EUR 75 million. The deal, which will be paid over two years and includes performance-based earn-outs, is set to significantly bolster Tata Technologies’ capabilities in next-generation mobility solutions and expand its European footprint.  

The move is expected to accelerate the company’s engineering research and development (ER&D) growth, specifically in high-demand areas like Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Connected Driving and Digital Engineering. The acquisition also adds a substantial talent pool of over 300 skilled engineers with deep expertise in systems engineering.  

The acquisition aligns with Tata Technologies’ global growth strategy, placing it in a stronger position within Germany, a key hub for automotive innovation. The company's management believes the deal will unlock significant commercial synergies, allowing for cross-selling opportunities and broader access to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) accounts. The transaction is projected to be EPS accretive from the first full year of operations. The automotive industry is in a state of flux, with European OEMs increasing investments in electrification and software-defined vehicle platforms. Tata Technologies is positioning itself to capitalise on this trend, with the market for Engineering Service Providers (ESPs) in Europe projected to grow from EUR 4.5 billion in 2020 to EUR 11.7 billion by 2030.  

Warren Harris, MD & CEO, Tata Technologies, said, “The acquisition of ES-Tec Group is a strategic leap that enhances our ability to deliver end-to-end product engineering solutions across the automotive value chain and represents our commitment to expand our global footprint in accessing innovative engineering capabilities. Technical depth, customer centricity and regional strength align perfectly with our strategic vision to be the first partner choice for global OEMs navigating the shift towards intelligent, connected, and sustainable mobility.”  

Marc Wille, MD & CEO of ES-Tec, said, “Joining forces with Tata Technologies is a key step for the ES-Tec Group to extend the breadth and depth of capabilities and expand our international presence. Together, we are ready to take on the future challenges of the automotive industry – delivering real value for our customers through competitive pricing, outstanding quality, and faster development cycles.”

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