Factors such as ‘time-to-market’, regulations and costs are tilting the tables in the direction of modular vehicle architecture. This includes the design and assembly of all sub-systems of a vehicle in a modular manner. This also includes design standardisation and that of the production of auto parts in the form of modules.  

The advantage of modular vehicle architecture can be clearly seen at the final 'assembly' stage were numerous variants (read as trims) can be positioned seamlessly and without bringing an entire operation to the halt for the want of a module, part of an assembly tool. 

While the first instance of the employment of modular vehicle architecture in India may be hard to pin point, it was Ashok Leyland that announced the launch of a modular architecture in the form of the medium and heavy-duty AVTR truck platform as the BS VI emission norms came into effect in 2020.  

The move reminded of the comprehensive modular architecture approach of Swedish truck maker Scania. The kind of modularity Scania built into its trucks was such that its customers could choose from a wide range of aggregates such as engines, transmissions, chassis, cabin and more to build a truck that would best address their application requirements.  

Unlike the Scania’s approach to modularity, Ashok Leyland chose to offer its truck buyers the choice of engines, transmissions, suspensions, cabins and superstructure so that they could build a vehicle that met their business needs.  

One of the key reasons why Ashok Leyland chose to go down the modular architecture route was the need to cut down on components such as the exhaust parts. There would have been parts that the company would have to produce in many numbers and types to address the customer requirements in the BS VI era had it not taken to the modular approach.  

Not only did the AVTR modular architecture helped streamline the supply chain and control the costs better, it made sure the buyer of an Ashok Leyland medium or heavy-duty truck could choose from more than 600,000 unique combinations.  

Like Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors has also been quite active in design and development of modular architectures. It developed the modular truck architecture in the form of the Prima many years ago along with its Korean Daewoo commercial vehicle arm. Not limiting itself to the Prima, the company developed modular architectures in the form of the Signa and Ultra. 

It was the modular approach that led to the creation of some brilliant models such at the Signa 3118 and the Ultra 3118.  

On the passenger vehicle side, the ‘ALFA’ modular architecture is being put to good use by Tata Motors in reducing the time to market and in controlling the costs as it competes with some of the most agile global passenger vehicle manufacturers in its home market as well as other markets in the world. 
The ‘ALFA’ modular vehicle architecture is currently supporting the Altroz and Punch. It is also the basis for the electric Punch that is expected to be launched soon in India.  

Allowing a differentiated design approach and subsequently multiple body styles to meet the evolving aspirations of customers in the automotive market, the ‘ALFA modular architecture – termed as ‘Agile Light Flexible Advanced’ and basis for an exciting e 45X concept – is playing a crucial role in meeting the high-volume demand for an entire portfolio of cars at Tata Motors as of now.  

The beauty of the ‘ALFA’ architecture is such that it could be used to create diverse vehicles with distinct body styles with a variety of powertrains (petrol, diesel, CNG and even electric), transmissions, drivelines, suspensions etc, mentioned a source. A combination of body styles, hardware and software could be deployed to offer the necessary attributes, he added.  

Pointing at the recent introduction of Punch CNG with twin-cylinder CNG technology, he informed that the ‘ALFA’ modular architecture is helping to expand the scope of twin-cylinder CNC tech as much.  

The differentiating factor of the technology is that it does not eat into the vehicle storage space. The vehicle body can receive necessary reinforcements to bear the additional weight of the cylinders. In the CNG Punch, the suspension too has been suitably strengthened to handle the additional weight.  

Observing that the CNG Punch is just one part, the source said that the electric Punch would mean that the ‘ALFA’ modular vehicle architecture has truly come to age. Claimed to be undergoing advanced testing and validation, the electric Punch would further enhance Tata Motors’ lead in the electric passenger vehicle space. It is expected to be introduced by the end of this year or early next year.  

The ambitions that Tata Motors has regarding its EV portfolio could be derived from the fact that on 29 August 2023 it announced a new brand identity TATA.ev for its EV business. It is aligned with Tata Motors' commitment towards sustainability and innovation.

EVs influence modular vehicle architectures
EVs are turning to be a big factor for the creation of modular platforms lately as they promise less complexities pertaining to platform engineering, keeping them to the bare minimum. Modular electric vehicle architectures are also enabling the development of core platforms with standardised design and production of auto parts in the form of modules and a streamlined as well as compact final 'assembly' as per the positioning of models. 

The R&D and production costs, shortening the development cycle of new models, facilitating the unification of quality standards and improving the overall strength of products, modular electric vehicle architectures are enabling unique ‘oil-to-electricity’ transformations as well.  

Dedicated modular electric vehicle architectures are enabling clever integration (read as badge engineering) across brands and as a part of the new cooperation strategies. With software defined vehicles the order of the day, electric vehicles especially, the tilt towards modular vehicle architecture is proving to be beneficial in terms of offering a differentiated user experience, to keep control over the supply chain and to keep control over the costs and to test and validate. 

(Image for representation purpose only)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tata Technologies has announced a partnership with Synopsys, a provider of engineering solutions, to accelerate the shift towards Software-Defined Mobility (SDV). The collaboration aims to accelerate the development, verification and validation of automotive electronics systems, helping Original Equipment Manufacturers address the complexity of SDVs.

The collaboration will combine Tata Technologies’ expertise in vehicle engineering with Synopsys’ virtualisation solutions to enable the deployment of electronics digital twins (eDTs).

The companies have already worked with a leading European luxury OEM in a pilot engagement, delivering a blueprint to transition the manufacturer's existing electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture to a next-generation software-defined design. Pilot programmes with other major OEMs are also underway across North America, Europe and India.

The joint effort will focus on major SDV domains, including ADAS, powertrain, chassis, infotainment and electrification. Key areas of focus include:

• Shift Left Enablement: Developing virtual prototypes and simulation models for early software bring-up.
• Analysis: Using Synopsys tools for performance, power, safety, and reliability analysis for faster ECU development cycles.
• Verification: Providing embedded systems and software verification and validation services aligned with ISO 26262 and ASPICE standards.

Sriram Lakshminarayanan, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Technologies, said, “The digital shift is redefining the future of mobility, and our partnership with Synopsys is a purposeful step towards realising a future led by software-defined innovations. As OEMs move to new ways of working, there is a growing demand for engineering and digital services. Together, we are empowering OEMs to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable vehicles that enhance the human experience and accelerate the industry’s transition to a software-defined future.”

Tom De Schutter, Senior Vice-President, Product Management & Markets Group at Synopsys, said, "The complexity of SDV systems requires a new level of collaboration across the automotive ecosystem. By bringing together our world-class digital twin, verification, and IP platforms with Tata Technologies’ engineering expertise and global delivery, we are enabling OEMs to accelerate development, validation and delivery of complex software- and AI-defined vehicles. The collaboration is a great example of how the automotive ecosystem is coming together to accelerate innovation while reducing risk and time to market in a dynamic mobility landscape.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mobileye, a leading provider of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving technologies, is set to be a focus at the inauguration of the ADAS Test City on 12 December 2025 in Pune, India.

The ADAS Test City dubbed India’s first testing track dedicated to ADAS and autonomous vehicles, has been developed by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

Mobileye’s participation highlights its commitment to India’s evolving automotive landscape. The ADAS Test City is designed as a pseudo-urban test environment to validate key ADAS features such as Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Lane Keeping Assist (LKA), Pedestrian Detection and Adaptive Cruise Control under realistic driving conditions.

Elie Luskin, Vice-President, India and China, Mobileye, said, “The successful launch of India’s first dedicated ADAS testing track by ARAI marks a major milestone, underscoring the market’s commitment to scaling ADAS adoption and improving road safety – an ambition that aligns seamlessly with Mobileye’s long-term mission both globally and in India. As a global leader in ADAS and autonomous driving, Mobileye brings cutting-edge expertise and solutions to India, working alongside local partners to unlock new opportunities and deliver safer roads for all. We are proud to support ARAI in this important step and to continue strengthening our role in India’s ADAS journey.”

Mobileye’s leadership will play a central role in the event's dialogue:

• Keynote Presentation: Elie Luskin will deliver a keynote outlining Mobileye’s global roadmap and its impact on India’s drive toward safer mobility.
• Panel Discussion: Dhairyashil Gaekwad, Director, Business Development & Strategy, India, will participate in a panel on ‘ADAS for the Indian Market – From Premium to Mass Adoption,’ sharing insights on integrating safety systems across all vehicle segments.

The ADAS Show brings together automotive leaders from OEMs and suppliers to accelerate India’s transition toward intelligent mobility.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Sibros, the company behind the Deep Connected Platform for software-defined vehicles (SDVs), has appointed Vijay Sharma as its new Chief Customer Officer (CCO).

In his new role, Sharma will lead global customer success, solution engineering and customer programmes to support Sibros' expanding portfolio of connected vehicle solutions and growing customer base.

His leadership is expected to strengthen Sibros' capabilities across its Deep Connected Platform, as well as in areas like functional safety (FuSa), security, applications, systems, diagnostics & electronic and electrical architecture. This focus will enable end-to-end SDV partnerships with customers.

Sharma brings nearly two decades of global experience from FEV, where he served as Managing Director and Technical Director at FEV India. At FEV, he led large-scale vehicle software, connectivity and energy mobility programmes for Indian and global customers.

Hemant Sikaria, CEO, Sibros, said, “Vijay’s combination of deep technical insight and customer-focused execution aligns perfectly with our mission to power the software-defined future of mobility. As we scale our solutions and support a broader range of OEMs worldwide, his leadership will ensure our customers can deploy, adopt, and evolve with confidence.”

Vijay Sharma, said, “The industry is transitioning from one-time launches to continuously updatable, software-driven vehicles. Sibros is uniquely positioned to enable that shift, and I’m excited to help our customers around the world implement the platforms and programs needed to unlock their SDV strategies.”

As CCO, Sharma will guide the full customer lifecycle, bridging product, engineering and business teams to drive successful outcomes. This move comes as OEMs and innovators across passenger, commercial, two-wheel and off-highway segments adopt the Sibros platform.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Tier 1 supplier Mahle is entering the stationary battery storage systems (BESS) market after securing its first series order for a cooling module. These storage solutions are used for providing and stabilising power grids and for the temporary storage of renewable energy from sources like wind and solar power.

The company shared that its customer is an international commercial vehicles and drivetrain manufacturer that builds its own battery storage systems. Mahle will leverage its experience in developing cooling modules for electrified buses for this new sector. The newly developed cooling module will go into series production in 2026.

Christian Kuechlin, Vice-President, Mahle Industrial Thermal Systems, said, “We can easily transfer the knowledge of cooling modules we have gathered in the transportation sector to stationary battery storage system in containers. Since the space in the container is mainly to be used for battery stacks, Mahle develops space saving, compact and efficient cooling solutions in line with customer requirements.”

Older stationary BESS were cooled by simple air conditioning systems. However, the higher energy density in modern lithium-ion batteries generates more waste heat, requiring a higher cooling capacity.

The Mahle module provides up to 42 kW of liquid cooling. This ensures the batteries operate in the optimal temperature range of 20deg Celsius to 30deg Celsius, which is vital for long service life, durability and stable load management.

Mahle is expanding its business beyond the automotive sector. In industrial thermal management, the company is also developing modules for liquid-cooled cables in fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Thermal management technologies can also benefit high-performance computing, data centres and manufacturers of heat pumps or photovoltaic systems.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!