Rapido has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Transport Department of the Government of West Bengal to enhance urban mobility in the state. Currently executing one lakh rides per day across West Bengal, Rapido, as per the MoU will invest INR 1.5 billion towards initiatives such as electric mobility, women’s safety and to create road safety awareness. 
A significant portion of the INR 1.5 billion, which is INR 1.3 billion, will be directed towards the development of urban electric mobility by deploying electric vehicles across Kolkata and other parts of the state. Rapido will also work on building the necessary infrastructure to support a seamless transition to sustainable transportation in line with West Bengal’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and improve last-mile connectivity.  
As per the MoU, Rapido will also focus on ‘Pink Mobility’ initiative, a programme that is designed to provide safe and reliable commuting options for women. The company will introduce a dedicated fleet of pink-coloured two-wheelers and four-wheelers, driven by women captains. To further encourage women’s participation in the transport sector, Rapido will also provide financial assistance worth INR 120 million over the next three years to enable women captains to own and operate their vehicles.
As part of the arrangement, Rapido has also pledged INR 50 million towards road safety and awareness campaigns. This will include quarterly driver training programmes in collaboration with government-accredited training centres, public awareness campaigns on traffic regulations and helmet distribution drives. Rapido will also work closely with the Transport Department to support state-led road safety initiatives, reinforcing its commitment to creating a safer commuting environment.

Image for representative purpose only. 

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Italian technology company Brembo has announced that its intelligent braking platform, Sensify, has entered commercial production for a major global vehicle manufacturer. The system is being fitted as standard across the entirety of the vehicles in the initial programme, representing the platform's first full industrial deployment.

Sensify is designed as a fluid-free architecture that replaces centralised hydraulic circuits with distributed intelligence at the wheel level. This design allows for the precision control, wherein the system enables continuous and accurate modulation of braking forces to maintain vehicle stability in variable driving conditions. The platform integrates with software-defined vehicle architectures, allowing manufacturers to deploy advanced functions across different vehicle segments. It is engineered to be adaptable with the technology supporting a range of applications from driver assistance systems to fully autonomous vehicles.

Following this production milestone, Brembo has secured additional contracts with new customers for the Sensify platform. The company expects to equip hundreds of thousands of vehicles annually, moving toward large-scale deployment of by-wire braking systems.

Daniele Schillaci, CEO, Brembo, said, “Sensify translates our vision of an intelligent, integrated braking platform into industrial reality. Designed to orchestrate the entire corner ecosystem, it supports safer mobility, while paving the way for the next generation of software-defined vehicles, reflecting our long-term purpose of shaping a Zero Accident Future”.

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Bengaluru-based technology company Tsuyo Manufacturing has been granted two patents for electric vehicle motor designs, increasing its portfolio to 29 innovations.

The company claims it has supplied 300,000 powertrains to 25 manufacturers across the commercial vehicle, agriculture and industrial sectors.

The first patent covers a bridge design for synchronous reluctance motors. This architecture increases torque density and efficiency whilst reducing energy losses and the requirement for rare-earth materials. The second patent focuses on a five-phase permanent magnet motor using a dual inverter system. This technology allows the motor to switch between modes for startup and torque demands and maintains operation if a phase failure occurs.

These technologies were developed through research and collaboration with the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. The company recently received approval from the Government of Karnataka for a manufacturing expansion to increase powertrain production.

Vijay Kumar, Founder and CEO, Tsuyo Manufacturing, said, "These patents mark a significant milestone and recognition in our mission to develop and promote Design-In-India technology for both domestic and global EV markets. At Tsuyo, we are not merely creating components; we are engineering a comprehensive design approach, crafting fundamental technology to drive sustainable and impactful innovation. Our goal is to offer a resilient powertrain system that addresses real-world performance challenges in electric mobility. Our commitment to deep-tech innovation, supported by a strong in-house R&D team and robust academic collaborations, enables us to challenge conventional construction and topology in hardware. This approach allows us to create niche, modular designs that are manufacturable and scalable, delivering solutions that enhance efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness for OEMs. We take pride in being India's fastest research and engineering startup, consistently advancing our research from TRL1 to TRL9 levels. As India moves towards electrification, we are proud to contribute to the 'Design in India, for the world' vision while expanding our IP portfolio with numerous innovations in the pipeline."

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Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL) has opened a new 33,000 sqft wing at its Technology Centre Pune (TCP) in Baner. The facility is designed to house 250 engineers, bringing the total engineering workforce to more than 450 across its Pune sites.

The expansion aims to increase capacity for vehicle development, platform engineering and software solutions. Staff at the Baner site will also focus on sustainable mobility and connected technologies. This centre acts as a hub for both domestic and international projects within the Volkswagen Group.

The Technology Centre Pune has previously managed the development of models for the Indian market, including the Volkswagen Taigun, the Skoda Kushaq and the Skoda Kylaq sub-4-meter SUV. The new wing is intended to improve localisation and speed up the adaptation of global platforms for local requirements.

Piyush Arora, Managing Director & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “The expansion of our R&D footprint in Pune marks another important milestone in our India journey. With the new Baner wing, we are creating additional capacity in a dynamic urban location while building on the strong foundation of our Technology Centre Pune in Chakan. As part of its long-term roadmap, TCP is set to expand its competencies in digitalization, automation, and advanced safety technologies. This combined engineering ecosystem allows us to deliver global-quality solutions with higher speed, greater localisation, and a sharper understanding of customer requirements in India and the world. It further underlines India’s position as a strategic development and competency hub for the Volkswagen Group.”

The company started the Technology Centre Pune in 2019 at its Chakan plant. This latest expansion in Baner is part of a roadmap to increase competencies in automation and safety technologies while maintaining the Group's standards for the subcontinent and export markets.

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Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has reached a new innovation peak, filing 144 patent applications in FY2025-26, which it claims is the highest annual count ever recorded by its commercial vehicles (CV) division.

The surge in intellectual property activity reflects the company’s shift toward ‘future-ready’ technologies. Beyond traditional mechanical engineering, the new filings focus heavily on sustainable mobility, including electric vehicle (EV) architectures and hydrogen-based internal combustion engines (H2-ICE).

In addition to the record-breaking patent applications, the company expanded its broader IP footprint, which includes 21 design applications and 35 copyright applications; secured 15 new patent grants during the year and now holds a total of over 650 granted patents.

The engineering teams have focused their innovation efforts on four core pillars: Vehicle Safety – advanced driver assistance and structural integrity, Reliability – enhancing the lifecycle of heavy-duty components, Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) – optimising fuel/energy efficiency to improve profitability for fleet operators. And Occupant Comfort – ergonomic and cabin climate innovations for long-haul drivers.

A significant portion of the recent innovation is tied to Tata Motors' leadership in the hydrogen ecosystem. In February 2026, the company signed an MoU with the V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority to deploy 40 hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks (Tata Prima 55-tonne).  

The patent filings support a multi-fuel strategy, encompassing Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), Hydrogen ICE, and Hydrogen Fuel Cell technologies, as confirmed by Chairman N Chandrasekaran earlier this month.

Aniruddha Kulkarni, Vice-President and Head of Engineering, Tata Motors, said, “Innovation is at the heart of everything we do at Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. The record number of patent applications filed in FY26 is a testament to the passion, creativity, and technical excellence of our engineering teams. It reinforces our vision of establishing Tata Motors as a global benchmark for innovation in commercial mobility. As we look ahead, we remain committed to harnessing our innovation capabilities to serve the long-term interests of our customers, communities, and the nation.”

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