Technology group MAHLE is demonstrating its commitment to a multi-faceted approach for sustainable transportation at the 2025 IAA Mobility exhibition (being held from 9 to 14 September 2025) in Munich, Germany. The company is showcasing (in Hall A1) a portfolio of production-ready innovations designed to accelerate the decarbonisation of road traffic, emphasising that its solutions address immediate customer challenges rather than being distant concepts.

A central theme of MAHLE's strategy, encapsulated under the ‘Efficiency³’ banner, is technological diversity. The group is advancing solutions across three core areas: electrification, thermal management and sustainable internal combustion engines. This broad approach is presented as vital for effective climate protection, enhancing European competitiveness and safeguarding employment, positioning it as a necessary alternative to a single-technology pathway.

A key innovation for electrification is a new range extender system. This compact unit acts as an onboard generator, dramatically alleviating range anxiety by enabling electric vehicles to achieve up to 1,350 kilometres on a single charge. The system's 800-volt high-voltage generator boasts a peak efficiency of over 97 percent and is designed for cost-effective integration into existing vehicle platforms. By allowing for a smaller, right-sized battery, it also contributes to reducing both material costs and charging times on long journeys.

Complementing this is a novel thermal management module, which directly tackles the issue of battery range loss in cold weather. Acting as the central interface for the vehicle's cooling and refrigerant cycles, the module integrates a high-efficiency heat pump. This elegant solution eliminates the need for additional energy-draining heaters, maintaining optimal temperatures for the drivetrain and passenger comfort while increasing overall range by up to 20 percent. Its compact, future-proof design is compatible with current and next-generation refrigerants.

For the existing global vehicle fleet, MAHLE is presenting a pragmatic solution for immediate carbon reduction with its ethanol-powered Power Cell Unit. This package of specially developed engine components, including wear-resistant pistons and adapted valves, allows internal combustion engines to run on pure bioethanol (E100). Lifecycle analyses indicate this technology can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70 percent, offering a viable and immediate path to decarbonise millions of vehicles without compromising performance.

Beyond powertrains, MAHLE is leveraging biomimicry and artificial intelligence to enhance component efficiency. A revolutionary bionic radial blower, its blades inspired by the aerodynamic efficiency of penguin flippers, was developed using an AI-assisted process termed ‘superhuman engineering’. The result is a component that is significantly quieter and 15 percent more energy-efficient than conventional blowers.

The company's exhibit also features its smart charging infrastructure solutions. The established chargeBIG system offers a scalable, cable-based charging network, now including a compact wallbox and a mobile unit for temporary sites. Furthermore, MAHLE is advancing inductive charging with a convenient positioning system, recently recognised as a global standard by SAE International, which ensures optimal vehicle alignment for energy transfer efficiency exceeding 92 percent.

Additional highlights include diagnostic tools like the E-HEALTH Charge unit, which can assess a high-voltage battery's health in just 15 minutes, and an intelligent cabin climate control system that uses AI to personalise the environment for each occupant. Through this comprehensive array of products, MAHLE is positioning itself as a pivotal force in shaping a efficient and sustainable mobility landscape.

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Mercedes-Benz India has introduced a transformative new Dealer Management System named SKYLine, a custom platform developed in collaboration with Zoho. This system represents a significant technological leap, engineered entirely in India to meet the specific demands of the local luxury automotive market. SKYLine is built to overhaul the entire customer service journey, creating a seamless and digitally integrated experience from the moment a vehicle is booked for service until it is returned to its owner.

The platform marks a strategic departure from older, fragmented systems by implementing a modern, decentralised architecture. A key feature of this new approach is that each Mercedes-Benz dealership across India now operates on its own dedicated instance of Zoho CRM. This grants individual locations a high degree of operational autonomy while still ensuring they adhere to the brand’s centrally governed standards and processes. A critical technical achievement was the system's ability to integrate flawlessly with the manufacturer's existing European headquarters infrastructure without requiring any modifications to those core systems, facilitated by a sophisticated co-developed middleware layer.

By digitising the complete service lifecycle, SKYLine introduces unprecedented operational efficiency and transparency. The system manages a comprehensive suite of processes, including service booking, digital check-in, vehicle inspection and job card creation. It also enables skill-based assignment of technicians, allows for live job tracking and automates customer communications. This connected workflow eliminates previous inefficiencies, creating a cohesive and paperless journey for the customer. The platform's scope extends beyond core services to also streamline other dealership operations, such as managing courtesy car availability through visual dashboards and centralising processes for the growing pre-owned vehicle business.

The deployment of SKYLine was supported by an extensive rollout programme involving thousands of man-days dedicated to user training and testing to ensure widespread and effective adoption. Orchestrated by Zoho’s Enterprise Business Solutions team, the project stands as one of the most technically sophisticated and strategically important Dealer Management System implementations in the region, fundamentally modernising the customer ownership experience for Mercedes-Benz in India.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “SKYLine represents a significant step towards managing our customer service operations, being a key lever that will significantly enhance customer’s experience. This bespoke DMS is built by Zoho for our dealer partners, making it seamless and highly integrated into our global systems, redefining customer journey. With SKYLine, we are setting a new benchmark in customer experience by blending technology with personalised service. We are proud that Zoho developed a world-class, highly secured and local ‘no code-no source’ platform like SKYLine for the Indian customers, underlining the unmatched prowess of Indian technological innovation, having international adaptability. SKYLine brings transparency, efficiency and control into every service interaction, empowering customers while delivering an elevated experience which they desire from Mercedes-Benz.”

Mani Vembu, CEO, Zoho, said, “SKYLine is a technology marvel born of close collaboration and co-creation. When Mercedes-Benz India came to us with a vision that had no off-the-shelf solution, we saw an opportunity to build something truly unique. Together, we have built a decentralised platform that empowers each dealership with autonomy while maintaining central control and real-time HQ integration. To meet these complex needs, we co-developed middleware capabilities alongside our evolving Qntrl platform, enabling seamless communication across legacy protocols. This project reflects what’s possible when product teams and customers come together with a shared sense of purpose and a commitment to solving real-world challenges.”

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Ola Electric has announced that it has secured ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India) certification for its indigenously developed and manufactured 4680 Bharat Cell battery packs in a 5.2 kWh configuration. The certification was granted under the latest AIS-156 Amendment 4 standards.

This makes Ola Electric the first EV company in India to receive certification for a completely in-house developed 4680 cell battery pack.

With this milestone, Ola Electric will soon begin delivering vehicles powered by its own 4680 Bharat Cells. The certified pack is set to debut on the S1 Pro+ 5.2 kWh, making it the first Ola vehicle to use the company's homegrown cell technology.

The company states that the shift from third-party cells to its own 4680 Bharat Cells is a decisive step toward vertical integration in EVs. This is expected to significantly enhance range and performance, improve unit economics and reduce dependence on global supply chains as its upcoming Gigafactory scales production.

The certification process involved rigorous testing regimes for safety, electrical reliability and performance across extreme operating conditions, including successful clearance of water immersion, vibration durability and thermal shock resistance.

An Ola Electric spokesperson said: “With the ARAI certification of our 4680 Bharat Cell battery pack, we are ready to deliver our first vehicles powered by our own cells. This is a defining milestone in our mission to build India’s EV technology leadership and reduce reliance on global supply chains. Customers will soon be able to experience the enhanced range, performance and reliability that our homegrown cells bring to our scooters and motorcycles.”

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German automotive major Volkswagen has now produced over two million models equipped with Car2X technology for Europe, marking a step toward reducing road traffic accidents and achieving the company's ‘Vision Zero’ goal.

The Car2X technology enables networked vehicles to communicate with each other and with local traffic infrastructure in real-time, using the principle of local swarm intelligence.

The vehicles can exchange data in milliseconds without needing a mobile network connection, allowing the traffic hazard alert assist system to display warnings in the digital cockpit for occupants. These alerts are crucial in situations requiring fast transmission, such as emergency braking, sudden traffic queue ends or approaching emergency vehicles.

Connectivity is increasing through intelligent roadside units that send warnings to vehicles about events like wrong-way drivers, traffic jams, objects on the road and unusual weather.

Road operators and rescue services across Europe are integrating Car2X. Autobahn in Germany has equipped over 1,000 roadworks trailers with the technology, while Austria has installed roadside units across its motorway network. Other countries, including Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovenia, have also installed a number of roadside units and equipped emergency vehicles.

The technology enables, for example, compatible road users receive a warning indicating the direction from which an emergency vehicle such as fire truck is approaching.

The technology acts as a virtual sensor that supplements on-board vehicle sensors. For instance, the optional Travel Assist with ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) can reduce the vehicle's speed even if the end of a traffic queue is not yet visible.

Veronica Lehr, Head of Driver Assist Systems in Volkswagen’s Development department, said, “With the increasing use of Car2X, road traffic can become more cooperative and anticipatory in many areas. The technology is therefore a key component for our ‘Vision Zero’ – traffic without serious accidents. In addition, Volkswagen is laying the foundation for the mobility of the future, which is set to be safer, intelligent and connected.”

The Car2X direct communication in Volkswagen models uses the Wi-Fi p standard, allowing vehicles to exchange warnings and location data within a radius of up to 800 metre. The process is open and standardised, enabling communication across manufacturers. To protect privacy, the notifications are anonymised.

The traffic hazard alert assist system with Car2X-technology is currently available in models such as the Golf, T-Roc, Tiguan, Passat, ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and is standard in the ID.7. Volkswagen was recently awarded the AutomotiveINNOVATIONS Award 2025 by the Centre of Automotive Management (CAM) as the most innovative volume brand, with electric mobility and connectivity highlighted.

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South Korea-based tier 2 supplier Mobase Electronics Co. and California-based UltraSense Systems have announced the production ramp of a solid-state infotainment touch bar now shipping on a high-volume global SUV platform.

The new touch bar aims to modernise the cabin interface by replacing previous mechanical interfaces. It pairs UltraSense’s Force HMI Controller with in-plane piezoelectric force sensing, localised haptics and capacitive touch to deliver a sleek design and a ‘press-to-confirm’ feel.

The force-based approach reduces false triggering compared with capacitive-only designs and offers tuneable force thresholds. The solution also meets automotive Grade-B operating requirements.

The companies highlight that the technology aligns with Euro NCAP’s 2026 direction encouraging tactile controls for functions, as the solid-state bar beneath the display allows drivers to adjust settings by feel rather than visually navigating menus.

Kwangyoon Lee, Vice-Chairman & CEO, Mobase Electronics, said, “Working with UltraSense, we’re delivering a contemporary interface that elevates both feel and manufacturability. The combination of capacitive touch, piezoelectric force and haptics gives drivers confident control with a modern look.”

Mo Maghsoudnia, Founder & CEO, UltraSense Systems, said, “Mobase has been an excellent partner from concept to SOP. Our Force HMI Controller with in-plane sensing brings a robust HMI solution with a premium experience, supporting the modern interior designs automakers want.”

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