After three years, the Automotive Testing Expo will return to India in April 2023. The show will avail the platform to host the most up-to-date technologies in ADAS and autonomous vehicle testing, NVH measurement tools, test rigs, simulation packages, durability testing technologies, crash testing, dynamometers, emission measurement systems and dynamic assessment tools, as well as countless service providers such as proving grounds and test facilities. The German edition, which will take place between 13 and 15 June 2023 in Stuttgart, will be hosted on a bigger scale with expected exhibitors of more than 450.

In light of the evolving dynamics of the automotive testing industry, organisers of the upcoming Automotive Testing Expos in Germany and India are placing big bets on the events.

The Indian edition of the Automotive Testing Expo will take place between 18 and 20 April 2023 in Chennai, while the German edition will happen between 13 and 15 June 2023 in Stuttgart. Apart from these two editions, the show will be hosted in Korea, China and US.

Tony Robinson, Founder and CEO of UKIP Media & Events, said, “After three years, we are once again hosting the Automotive Testing Expo in India. It is a long gap. We received a terrific response when we announced a few weeks ago that we would return to Chennai in April 2023. Many very excited companies want to exhibit their new and existing technologies. We will find people in India who haven’t had a chance to see the new things available in the automotive testing industry. They will be very keen to come out and look at everything that’s on show in April next year. So we are excited.”

Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Automotive Test Systems, DEWESoft India Pvt Ltd, Keysight Technologies India Pvt Limited, MTS Systems Corp and National Instruments are others who have confirmed their participation. In 2020, the Indian edition of the Automotive Testing Expo hosted 125 exhibitors and the same number is expected for the upcoming edition.

The Germany show did not take place in 2020 and 2021 thanks to the Covid pandemic. However, the show came back in 2022, which Robinson terms as a ‘fantastic show’. “Visitors came to the show for three days to see the latest technology in action and to learn about their uses and advantages. I would expect it’ll be even more fantastic in 2023. We expect to see more people come in because this year there has been a transition between the pandemic and people coming out and feeling comfortable,” added Robinson.

The Stuttgart Automotive Testing Expo, which takes place concurrently with a show on ADAS and autonomous vehicle technology, is expected to include between 450 and 500 exhibitors. “As a result, all major players are back in operation and prepared to display. There will also be numerous new businesses and start-ups along with the established major automakers,” said Robinson. The last edition in Stuttgart witnessed over 300 exhibitors.

Leading companies such as Anthony Best Dynamics; Applus+ Laboratories; DEKRA; DEWESoft GmbH; Diversified Technical Systems, Inc.; dSPACE GmbH; Keysight Technologies; Link Engineering Company; MTS Systems Corporation; National Instruments Germany GmbH; Robert Bosch; Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co KG; Siemens AG; ZF Friedrichshafen AG; SGS; TUV SUD Product Service GmbH; Michigan Scientific; Photron and others will exhibit at the Stuttgart show.

Despite the challenges brought on by the Covid pandemic, the organisers are closely monitoring the shifting trends in the automobile and automotive testing industries, which aids in their show planning. “Our job is to make sure we keep an eye on the developments and track down the new businesses that are entering the market. And we always act in that way. We take care to stay in touch with the important figures in the field of automotive testing engineering. We are dealing with a highly specialised community, so it’s essential that we are tracking and communicating and discussing with the automotive testing teams that cover many different facets of engineering. Our responsibility is to establish connections with all of the new businesses that are entering the sector. When marketing an event, we are in touch with the right people. It’s not frightening; it’s just what we do,” explained Robinson.

The shifting focus of the global auto industry from ICE vehicles to electric, autonomous and shared vehicles presents a wide range of opportunities and challenges, and this transition reflects on automotive testing as well. “The automotive testing market is exciting and in transition. We have been in the automotive testing world for nearly three decades, and any industry will have a transition. There’s no evidence that the big players are dropping by the wayside. Companies that are very ICE testing-oriented are not likely to come out exhibiting. This is not a great period for them. But then again, the rise of the battery car and battery testing (and range testing) and a lot of other things that we’ve been talking about, like AI and simulation, are things that are bringing new companies in,” added Robinson.

Robinson asserts that the complexity of automobile testing technologies and systems is drastically increasing, pushing the industry for automotive testing very hard. The newest products, services and technology are displayed at the automotive testing expos to help test, development and validation projects move more quickly. Robinson further explained, “The word I tend to use is fidelity. Automotive testing is a relatively young industry; if you go back even to the 1960s and 1970s, a lot of automotive testing was done in real life – physical testing of cars, natural crash testing of cars with human drivers. As the computer and IT industry developed and blossomed, a fascinating automotive test and development engineering industry grew. Higher and higher levels of fidelity are required in automotive testing for infinite and finite environments. We’re in an environment where everything is pushing automotive. Obviously, the electric and hybrid vehicles and batteries themselves need a lot of testing. The range needs a lot of testing. Autonomous vehicles push the boundaries to a completely new level. The growing penetration of software, sensors and AI is giving rise to a whole new range of companies that can enter the industry.”

“In a number of our shows, we have low-cost, smaller booths to enable starts-up and innovation companies, new companies to come to the event without having to spend a lot of money,” added Robinson.

Pune-headquartered mobility solutions company KPIT Technologies has announced its acquisition of Caresoft Global’s Engineering Solutions business. This strategic move is poised to significantly enhance KPIT’s offerings in cost optimisation and innovative engineering solutions for the trucks, off-highway and broader mobility sectors.

The acquisition of Caresoft Global’s Engineering Solutions arm will allow KPIT to leverage Caresoft’s deep-rooted relationships and extensive domain knowledge within the commercial vehicle segment, particularly in trucks and off-highway vehicles. Furthermore, it is expected to accelerate KPIT’s expansion into the burgeoning Chinese automotive market, capitalising on Caresoft’s established presence and understanding of local OEMs, new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers and suppliers.

A key driver for this acquisition is the increasing pressure on global OEMs to innovate rapidly and reduce costs amidst supply chain uncertainties and the growing influence of Chinese competitors.

KPIT believes that an integrated approach encompassing vehicle software, hardware design and manufacturing is crucial to address these challenges.

Kishor Patil, Co-Founder, CEO & MD, KPIT Technologies, said, “At KPIT, we are deepening relationships with trucks and off-highway makers and accelerating foray into China. Also, OEMs across segments are looking for a partner who can bring more agility and cost efficiency by taking an integrated view of software, hardware, and manufacturing. With Caresoft’s strong expertise, we have a strategic partnership which will bring unparalleled value to the mobility ecosystem.”

The integration of Caresoft’s expertise in cost benchmarking and teardown analysis, gleaned from hundreds of vehicle models, will enable KPIT to ramp up value creation through comprehensive full vehicle cost reduction solutions for passenger cars, trucks and off-highway vehicles. This includes tapping into insights from Caresoft’s technology optimisation programs and expanding into areas like software benchmarking. The combined entity also aims to explore downstream implementation opportunities.

Beyond cost optimisation, the acquisition will equip KPIT with new capabilities in manufacturing and industrial engineering, plant layout planning and assembly line optimisation. This will empower OEMs to make more informed decisions from the initial product design phase through to production, ensuring efficiency and quality.

Mathew Vachaparampil, CEO, Caresoft Global, said, “This milestone reflects more than growth. It honours our shared values with KPIT: being relentlessly customer-centric and caring deeply for our people. We will jointly deliver more value to our automotive customers in terms of technology, cost, and speed to market.”

Caresoft Global will restructure its remaining business into three distinct units: Benchmarking, Technology Optimisation & Cost Reduction Engineering, Engineering Talent Solutions and Engineering Solutions (the acquired entity).

Noida-headquartered fuel-tech startup Nawgati has raised USD 2.5 million in pre-series A funding round from Ajay Upadhyaya and participation from Deepak Bhagnani Family Office, MeitY Startup Hub, Aamara Capital and notable angel investors including Sanjay Sharma (ex-Accenture MD), Ashish Sharma and Prithvijit Roy (founders of BRIDGEi2i) and Vivek Mathur (former Partner & COO at Elevation Capital).

The start-up shared that it has earmarked the funds towards strategic global expansion initiatives and to further strengthen its domestic footprint across India. Additionally, it plans to scale its fleet management solutions, currently deployed with Mahanagar Gas, to other major fuel corporations. This move aims to solidify Nawgati's position in providing intelligent and connected solutions for fleet operators and fuel station networks.

Vaibhav Kaushik, CEO and Co-founder, Nawgati, said, "We are thankful for the support of such a distinguished group of investors who share our vision for transforming fuel operations. This funding will be crucial in deepening our Indian market presence and accelerating our entry into international markets. Our focus remains on delivering tangible value to both businesses and end consumers as we scale our partnerships and technology offerings."

Nawgati has developed Aaveg, a comprehensive platform that integrates fuel stations, fleet operators and consumers. This unified system optimises fuel network utilisation, streamlines refuelling processes, reduces customer wait times and provides real-time visibility into fuel availability and fleet movements.

Furthermore, Nawgati's technology offers critical operational insights for fuel station owners, enabling improved forecasting, smarter resource allocation, congestion mitigation, enhanced compliance management and data-driven strategic decision-making.

Lead investor Ajay Upadhyaya, said, "Nawgati is tackling a significant pain point in a high-impact industry that has seen limited technological disruption. I am enthusiastic about supporting their team as they bring much-needed efficiency, transparency, and scalability to fuel and fleet management, both within India and on a global scale. Their vision and execution capabilities make them a compelling player in this space."

This pre-series A funding builds on previous investments from key players such as Maharatna PSU GAIL, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), MeitY Startup Hub, investors from Shark Tank India, BITS Spark and Girnar Growth Ventures.

In a landmark development, Uber Freight, in collaboration with Aurora, has announced that fully autonomous lorries (trucks) have been completing return journeys between Dallas, Texas and Houston, Texas (approximately 386km) since April.

These driverless Class 8 trucks are transporting live, commercial freight with no human intervention behind the wheel. This event marks a significant moment as Uber Freight becomes the first logistics platform to offer shippers access to this technology on public roads.

The company shared that the haulage sector has long grappled with issues such as high driver turnover and underutilised assets. Autonomous trucking aims to ease these pressures while providing tangible benefits for shippers, carriers and consumers.

Uber Freight’s autonomous vehicle (AV) carriers have achieved notable results to date:

• Over 500,000 supervised autonomous miles covered on public roads while carrying freight over the past four years.
• The company has moved freight for more than 20 shippers across various industries.
• Goods delivered include everyday essentials such as pet food, paper products, beverages, appliances and packaging materials.

Lior Ron, Founder & CEO, Uber Freight, said, “This milestone is a clear example of what can be achieved when innovation meets logistics leadership. Working with Aurora, we are shaping a future where autonomous lorries enhance the efficiency and reliability of supply chains. This is the kind of value that shippers across the industry are seeking – and why we are dedicated to building a more intelligent and resilient freight network.”

Uber Freight started its journey in autonomous trucking in 2021 with strategic alliances to commercialise AV technology. The integration of the Aurora Driver into the Uber Freight platform has resulted in a seamless end-to-end solution where booking, tracking and load adjustments are managed digitally and efficiently.

This deep integration positions Uber Freight as the first and only logistics network to fully synchronise with autonomous lorries, ensuring freight is matched to suitable routes with minimal human involvement.

With nearly USD 20 billion in freight under management (FUM) and a substantial logistics network, Uber Freight claimed it is well-placed to scale the commercialisation of autonomous lorries. Their leadership in this area extends beyond technology to encompass collaboration and trust-building with shippers, carriers, and partners.

Through initiatives such as the Premier Autonomy Programme, which offers early access to over one billion of Aurora’s driverless miles to Uber Freight carriers through 2030, the company is enabling carriers of all sizes to improve their operations through autonomous technology.

Looking ahead, preparations are underway to support Aurora’s expansion of driverless operations to El Paso and Phoenix by end-2025, opening up new routes and opportunities for the sector.

Leading insurance technology firm RenewBuy makes strategic foray into automotive loan segment with RB Wheelz brand.

The RB Wheelz brand will provide a full suite of automotive loan products — including new vehicle financing, balance transfers and top-up loans — all accessible through RenewBuy’s upgraded digital platform. The integration is designed to offer consumers a seamless experience by combining financing and insurance under one digital roof.

The company estimates that the automotive financing market is expanding at a CAGR of 15–16 percent, which makes it an attractive opportunity for digital-first players like RenewBuy.

In the final quarter of FY25, RenewBuy disbursed nearly INR 1 billion in automotive loans. Looking ahead, the company aims to onboard approximately 10,000 customers and scale its loan disbursement to INR 15 billion in FY2026. The initial rollout will focus on four-wheelers and fleet vehicles.

Indraneel Chatterjee, Co-Founder, RenewBuy, said, “Having served consumers in the insurance space for nearly a decade, we are now expanding our footprint in the financial services ecosystem. We’re leveraging our technology and a 150,000 strong advisor network to bring loan services to consumers across metros and smaller towns. Over 75 percent of buyers in Tier II and III cities are opting for vehicle financing — a high-potential segment we aim to empower with accessible, seamless, and digital solutions.”

RenewBuy’s upgraded platform now includes a dedicated loan feature, supported by partnerships with 18 leading banks and NBFCs.