With a priority to provide a seamless customer experience by tackling common pain points like ride rejections among others, the app-cab aggregator Rapido has established cab zones at airports in cities like Visakhapatnam and Surat. 
Keen to expand its presence, the company is working to expand its reach to other cities with airports such that it can tap airport routes with competitive fares and well-conditioned vehicle fleet. 
Revealing that they are expanding their airport services across other metro cities in the current quarter of FY2024025, Rapido Cabs Head, Rajiv Bhyri, mentioned at an event in Kolkata that they see airport routes as a key area for growth due to the high demand for reliable, round-the-clock transportation options. 
“With the increasing number of travellers, we believe our airport services will offer riders the lowest prices while our zero-commission model maximises captains' earnings,” he averred. 
Providing an insight into Rapido’s strategy to address the ride rejections faced by commuters that use app-based aggregators, Bhyri said, “Rapido is focused on providing a seamless customer experience and resolving common pain points such as ride rejections that many commuters face with app-based aggregators. With the rise in airport traffic, our strategy emphasises affordability and reliability. By offering competitive fares and maintaining a fleet of well-maintained vehicles, we aim to ensure a dependable and pleasant journey for our customers.”
Entering an association with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Rapido has already began offering affordable and seamless commute solutions to travellers at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata. The service was inaugurated by State Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty. State Transport Secretary Dr Saumitra Mohan and others were also present. 
To set up dedicated cab service zones at Kolkata Airport where travellers can easily access safe, reliable and budget-friendly rides through its platform, Rapido is emphasising on tech-powered SaaS business model. This business model is designed to guarantee real-time ride availability and highly competitive pricing. 
"With the launch of this service at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, we're not just offering cost-effective travel solutions but also creating valuable employment opportunities for our local drivers. The technology-driven approach aligns with our vision of making West Bengal a leader in smart mobility and we're confident this initiative will set new benchmarks,” expressed Chakraborty.
Rapido Co-founder Pavan Guntupalli explained: "At Rapido, our mission is to revolutionise mobility by delivering reliable, safe and affordable solutions through innovation. Our collaboration with the Airports Authority of India to introduce dedicated cab zones at major airports is a significant step in enhancing the traveller experience while empowering local communities through job creation. With Rapido’s technology-driven platform, passengers can expect seamless airport commutes at the most competitive prices."
 

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Maruti Suzuki India (Maruti Suzuki) has announced an investment of nearly INR 20 million to pick up 7.84 percent stake in Bengaluru-based mobility insights start-up Ravity Software Solutions. The start-up claimed to be a global platform for AI-driven connected mobility intelligence, which transforms vehicle data into business value.

This marks the automaker’s third such move through ‘Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund’, which makes strategic investments in innovative and high-potential start-ups that can support Maruti Suzuki India’s operations.

The company made its first investment of INR 20 million in Sociograph Solutions in June 2022, followed by the same amount in Amlgo Labs in March 2024.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Aligning to our core value of keeping customer at the core of our business, we are focused on enhancing vehicle ownership experience. In the age of open innovation, we strive to co-create business solutions with specialized entities operating in the particular field. Startups are ideal partners as they bring agility, fresh thinking, and cutting-edge solutions, to support our goal of ensuring customer delight. Our investment in Ravity Software Solutions will enable us to elevate customer experience through data-driven insights. We have been associating with startups since 2019 under our Maruti Suzuki Innovation programs. Through this initiative, we are investing in a culture of innovation, building strategic partnerships, and unlocking new opportunities, in line with Government’s ‘Startup India’ initiative to promote entrepreneurship in the country.”

Vikas Rungta, Founder, Ravity Software Solutions, said, “It is an honour to be associated with an industry leader like Maruti Suzuki, whose name is synonymous with bringing personal mobility to millions in India as well as across the globe. An automobile major like Maruti Suzuki partnering with a startup speaks volumes about its forward-thinking mindset, humility, and openness to learn and collaborate to explore new ideas. With our excellence and expertise in AI, analytics and mobility, we are committed to upholding the trust Maruti Suzuki has placed in us. We believe that the high complementarity of our strengths: Maruti Suzuki’s scale of business and our agility and entrepreneurship, will further enhance customer experience and delight.” 

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LG Display has secured two CES 2026 Innovation Awards from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for two automotive display innovations: Dual View OLED and Under Display Camera-infrared (UDC-IR) OLED.

Both products were honoured in the In-Vehicle Entertainment category for delivering space efficiency, superior picture quality and high standards of safety.

The Dual View OLED solution allows a single automotive display to show different content based on the viewing position. For example, the driver can view navigation while the front passenger streams content. Optimised pixel structure ensures the driver’s touch operation does not interfere with the passenger’s entertainment. The product utilises a Tandem OLED device structure for picture quality and operates reliably in environments ranging from -40deg C to 85deg C.

The UDC-IR OLED jointly developed with LG Innotek, is claimed to world’s first full-screen automotive display to conceal an in-screen driver-monitoring camera. LG Display developed advanced algorithms that make the camera hole invisible from the driver’s viewpoint. The camera integrates LG Innotek’s high-resolution IR camera and image-enhancement software to ensure accurate driver monitoring, which is becoming mandatory due to global safety regulations.

LG Display will showcase these solutions at a dedicated booth at CES 2026. The company has consistently won CES Innovation Awards, previously honoured for its Thin Actuator Sound Solution (CES 2023) and its 57-inch Pillar-to-Pillar LCD (CES 2024).

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German technology company Elektrobit is set to showcase innovations focused on creating the ‘right-sized’ software-defined vehicle (SDV) at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The company will address the industry challenge of balancing innovation, scalability and affordability as vehicle complexity and development costs rise.

The demonstrations, located at the Las Vegas Convention Center, West Hall, will provide insights into strategies for reducing SDV development complexity and accelerating the process of bringing next-generation vehicles to market.

Elektrobit will feature several technologies designed to streamline SDV creation and performance:

• Linux for Safety Systems: The EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications will be demonstrated with a safety-certifiable cockpit by Telechips. This exhibit shows how open-source innovation and functional safety can be combined for real-time performance in Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS).
• Automated Integration: A platform highlighting API-based extensions across Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery/Continuous Testing (CI/CD/CT) workflows. It uses intelligent tooling, including AI-assisted automation, to automate configuration, scripting and test case creation for faster, higher-quality software delivery.
• SDV Cockpit Solutions: Solutions range from virtual low-code design tools to a modular, safety-certified automotive Operating System (OS) and ready-to-integrate hardware platforms, all designed to accelerate the creation of vehicle experiences.
• Smart EV Platform: A modular software and hardware platform co-developed with Foxconn aims to bring SDVs to market faster and more cost-effectively. It delivers the core vehicle control units and software platform without supplier lock-in.

Maria Anhalt, CEO of Elektrobit, will participate in the CES 2026 conference program. She is scheduled to speak on the Smart Rides panel on 8 January 2026.

The panel, which includes participants from Magna International and TomTom, will cover how SDVs are transforming safety and personalisation, using data to protect drivers and deliver tailored driving experiences.

Key members of the Elektrobit executive team, including Chief Commercial Officer Christoph Herzig and Head of Strategic Business Development Dr. Siegfried Dirr, will also attend the event.

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Star Engineers India and ConnectM Technology Solutions have formed a joint venture, StarConnectM, to design, develop, manufacture and scale intelligent connected vehicle products for Automotive OEMs. The new entity aims to bridge the gap between software innovation and large-scale automotive production.

The partnership will combine Star Engineers’ manufacturing excellence, process reliability and quality assurance with ConnectM’s Smart Vehicle Electronics and Intelligent Mobility Solutions.  

StarConnectM’s focus includes connected vehicle architecture, software-defined vehicle platforms and next-generation mobility electronics.

The joint venture offers an end-to-end capability for OEMs from concept to production, integrating IoT intelligence, embedded electronics & software and scalable manufacturing.

Divya Ramraika, Managing Director, Star Engineers, said, “StarConnectM marks a milestone in our journey toward intelligent mobility. With ConnectM’s technology and Star’s manufacturing strength, we are creating scalable, reliable and connected solutions that redefine the end-user experience.”

Girish Subramanya, Managing Director, ConnectM, said, “This joint venture eliminates the traditional gap between innovation and manufacturing. Automotive OEMs today need partners who can deliver technology architectures for connected, software-defined vehicles and also scale them seamlessly into production.  StarConnectM stands exactly at that intersection, creating an ecosystem where technology and manufacturing co-exist as one integrated value chain.”

The JV will initially focus on the Indian market, with a roadmap for select global market expansion.

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