The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has introduced the Motor Vehicles Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, a revamped policy aimed at modernising the ride-hailing sector with a focus on safety, driver welfare and transparent operations. Under the new guidelines, a structured fare system and clear cancellation penalties are now in place.

The policy states that the State Government's notified fare will serve as the base fare, wherein aggregators can charge a minimum of 50 percent below during non-peak hours and a maximum of two times the base fare during peak demand (as compared to 1.5x). A base fare for a minimum of 3km is chargeable to compensate for dead mileage.

Drivers are guaranteed at least 80 percent of the fare, with daily, weekly or fortnightly settlements. For aggregator-owned vehicles, drivers receive at least 60 percent of the fare.

A penalty of 10 percent of the fare (up to INR 100) may be imposed for unvalidated cancellations by either the driver or the passenger. No charge for dead mileage will apply unless the ride distance is less than 3km, the fare will only be charged from origin to destination.

The new policy introduces important provisions for aggregators:

Passenger Insurance: A minimum insurance cover of INR 500,000 for passengers is now mandatory.

Aggregators cannot prevent drivers from working with multiple platforms. A mandatory in-app rating system for both drivers and passengers is required to ensure quality service.

Furthermore, a comprehensive mandatory 40-hour Induction Training Programme is now compulsory for drivers, covering app usage, legal provisions, first responder training, safe driving and sensitivity towards gender and Divyangjans.

Drivers must undergo mandatory medical examinations, psychological analyses and police verification. Aggregators will also need to provide a Health insurance (minimum INR 500,000) and term insurance (minimum INR 1 million) for each driver, with annual increases.

Annual refresher training is now mandated, with quarterly training for drivers with low ratings. Aggregators are not allowed to onboard vehicles older than 8 years from their initial registration. The app and website (aggregator) must disclose the proportion of fare and incentives provided to drivers.

To ensure accessibility, the aggregator apps must now include special features for Divyangjans, which also provides for divyangjan-friendly vehicles mandated by State governments.

Aggregators must maintain a 24x7 control room and call centre with the vehicles requiring functional tracking devices linked to government control centres, with in-app mechanisms to detect route deviations and alert authorities.

The aggregators are responsible for the safety of all passengers, particularly children, women and Divyangjans.

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Elektrobit is all set to participate in the upcoming 2025 IAA Mobility conference in Munich, scheduled to be held from 9-14 September 2025. The company will display its growing portfolio of open-source and virtual development tools designed to accelerate the creation of software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The company’s technology supports a wide range of automotive software needs, from human-machine interfaces and over-the-air updates to cloud-native workflows and safety-critical systems.

Located at the AUMOVIO booth in Hall B1.B01, Elektrobit will demonstrate how its solutions enable carmakers and developers to design infotainment and SDV applications independently of hardware. This cloud-native approach allows for early prototyping, helping teams bring high-quality features to market faster and at a lower cost.

Elektrobit will also be featured in several key partner demonstrations. At the AWS booth, a presentation will detail how the EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications enables scalable, ASIL B-compliant development in the cloud. With Google, a session will showcase a no-code method for rapidly transforming UX designs into a functioning Android Automotive system. At the HERE booth, Elektrobit software will be shown powering a virtual ecosystem for next-generation infotainment and navigation. A collaboration with Sonatus will highlight virtual development and efficient over-the-air update capabilities.

Elektrobit’s global executive team, including CEO Maria Anhalt, will be present at the event to discuss the company's vision and its expansive industry ecosystem.

Anhalt said, “IAA Mobility 2025 will demonstrate the fundamental transformation that is happening within the automotive business; as such, it is a significant event for the automotive ecosystem and for the direction of travel for SDVs. More than ever before, partnerships and collaboration are the catalysts for change. Elektrobit is excited to be driving this transformation, along with our partners, with solutions that empower automakers to deliver smarter, safer and more sustainable vehicles offering new levels of speed, flexibility and scalability.”

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The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will host its 19th biennial Symposium of International Automotive Technology (SIAT) from January 28-30, 2026, at the PIECC in Pune. This year's event is themed ‘Innovative Pathways for Safe and Sustainable Mobility,’ continuing a legacy of bringing together key players in the automotive sector.

ARAI, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, has organised this flagship event since 1985. Over the years, it has become a platform for policy formation, with previous editions attracting notable figures like Former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and automotive industry veteran & Padma Shri Dr. Pawan Goenka. The event receives consistent support from the Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

SIAT 2026 is expected to be a major hub for innovation and discussion, with over 2,000 research abstracts already being received, highlighting strong interest from the global research community.

The three-day event will feature 64 technical sessions, three keynote speeches and two expert panel discussions. Topics will cover a wide range of automotive technologies, including e-mobility, hydrogen fuel cells, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and alternative fuels.

In addition to the symposium, the SIAT Expo 2026 will run concurrently, providing a platform for global companies to showcase their latest products and innovations. The previous SIAT in 2024 drew over 2,000 delegates and 7,000 visitors, with dedicated areas for hydrogen technology, ADAS demonstrations and a special pavilion for Indian startups and small and medium-sized companies.

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Pune-headquartered global product engineering and digital services company Tata Technologies has launched ‘WATTSync’, its secure and scalable digital battery passport solution, which it claims advances sustainable engineering from mining to recycling.

The solution is targeted to improve transparency, efficiency and environmental impact, by providing OEMs, battery makers and recyclers with end-to-end traceability.

WATTSync captures and validates battery data from mine to mobility to recycling. It provides a live, shared view of materials, performance, carbon footprint and recovery status. It enables automated compliance reporting against evolving regional rules, which is secure and provides role-based access for suppliers, auditors and regulators on the same digital platform.

The solution connects PLM, MES, ERP and cloud data lakes to build a digital thread for each battery. AI monitors health and anomalies, flags issues before they impact customers, and simplifies audits with guided checks and multilingual assistance. Blockchain safeguards data integrity. Deployment is cloud-agnostic for speed and scale across regions.

Tata Technologies stated that with starting February 2027, EV and industrial batteries sold into the EU will require a digital battery passport. Some automakers have already started, showing how transparency can build market confidence and resale value.

On the other hand, India has announced its intent to roll out a battery passport regime to improve safety, traceability and exports. Many other countries are in the process of announcing their regulatory scope and timelines. WATTSync helps global customers move early and move confidently.

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, is reporting strong adoption of its new Digital Key feature, with a 33 percent enrolment rate. The company sees this as a sign of a growing appetite for tech-driven convenience in cars.

Launched in September 2024 with the Hyundai Alcazar and later in the Hyundai Creta Electric in January 2025, the feature allows drivers to use a compatible smartphone, smartwatch, or a special NFC card to replace their physical car key. Users simply tap their device on the car door handle to lock or unlock the vehicle and place it on the wireless charging pad to start the engine.

The company notes that 35 percent of users are actively sharing access to their Digital Key with family and friends, which is helping to increase the feature’s popularity.

Unsoo Kim, Managing Director, Hyundai Motor India, said, "At Hyundai Motor India, innovation is driven by purpose, offering meaningful solutions that elevate customer experience. As the first OEM to launch connected car technology in India back in 2019, we remain committed to democratising premium features for Indian customers. The enthusiastic response to Digital Key reaffirms our belief in creating technology that adds real value to everyday life."

Using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, the Digital Key can be set up through the Hyundai Bluelink app. Owners can securely share the virtual key with up to three other users or seven linked devices at a time, and they can revoke access at any point. This eliminates the need to carry a physical key and reduces the stress of losing it.

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