Škoda Auto And Volkswagen Group Technology Solutions India (VWITS) For Strategic Partnership

Škoda Auto And Volkswagen Group Technology Solutions India (VWITS) For Strategic Partnership

Škoda Auto will soon open a Volkswagen Group Technology Solutions India (VWITS) regional office in Prague to strengthen as well as create new links with specialists in India. 

Bridging the gap between the Czech Republic and India in terms of local and group expertise, the regional centre is expected to further enhance the development of in-house expertise to propel Škoda Auto’s efforts towards advancing digitalisation, a cornerstone of the next level strategy which is termed as Škoda Strategy 2030.

VWITS as a Volkswagen Group subsidiary operates one of its largest global IT centres in India. It employs over 2,600 computing specialists. For Škoda Auto, India is an important market. It is the one that takes the operational and strategic lead for the Volkswagen Group and its brands, underscoring its ‘international-isation’ strategy.

Skoda Auto expanded its largest corporate data centre in the Czech Republic in 2018 with a projected computing capacity of 15 petaFLOPS. It did so with the need to address the rising need for virtual reality, artificial intelligence and cloud services. Such advanced IT solutions are applied to develop and test new vehicles, to install advanced manufacturing equipment and leverage Industry 4.0 technologies. 

The need for virtual reality, artificial intelligence and cloud services is also essential for the development and management of data within the on-board software and hardware of the automaker’s vehicle models. The new arrangement is expected to help the Czech automaker to smartly move up in these areas of operations. 

To initially offer positions to 30 experts, the VWITS regional centre will have them collaborate with their colleagues in India to support Škoda Auto’s diverse IT portfolio. The primary focus of the new workspace will be to cooperate with local software providers in areas such as logistics, production and car sales. This will in turn enhance in-house IT expertise and intensify international collaboration and talent exchange between the two countries, according to Skoda Auto sources. It will also enable long-term internships for international candidates, they add. 

Located in Vysočany, Prague, the new IT hub will be situated alongside Škoda Auto IT departments focusing on developing advanced technology solutions, data analysis and artificial intelligence. The building also hosts the SAP competence centre for Volkswagen Group companies operated by Škoda Auto as well as the non-profit educational institute 42 Prague, where future software developers receive innovative training for a career in IT.

Škoda Auto is constantly seeking and creating opportunities for developing IT solutions. For example, it recently hosted the BeeGreen hackathon for seven teams comprising 60 international IT experts. The two-day programming marathon offered IT companies a unique platform to showcase their expertise and generate innovative ideas around sustainability.

Innoviz Technologies Launches InnovizTwo Ultra Long-Range LiDAR

Innoviz Two Ultra Long-Range

Innoviz Technologies, a leading LiDAR tech supplier, has announced the launch of the InnovizTwo Ultra Long-Range (ULR) LiDAR. This new automotive-grade sensor is said to be engineered to provide high-fidelity, real-time spatial awareness at an infrastructure scale, specifically designed to meet the demands of emerging Physical AI systems.

The ULR variant extends the InnovizTwo product line and the SMART family, utilising the same production tools and processes as the standard InnovizTwo to ensure a smooth manufacturing ramp-up. First samples have already been delivered to select customers.

The InnovizTwo ULR is a Class 1 eye-safe sensor that significantly pushes the boundaries of long-range 3D sensing. It has a claimed upto 1 km range detection, up to 667 pts/deg² (High-resolution 3D point cloud), a 120 deg x 24 deg with ±5 deg digital panning field of view. It uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) for streamlined SMART deployments, connectivity and is resistant to dust, rain and extreme temperatures.

The sensor is designed to address critical gaps in industries where ultra-early detection and high-inertia movement require extensive reaction times.

  • Autonomous Heavy Trucks: Kilometre-scale perception is essential for the long stopping distances and high inertia of heavy freight.
  • Perimeter & Border Security: Enables early detection of humans, vehicles and animals over vast areas with lower false-alarm rates than traditional radar.
  • Drone Detection: Fine angular resolution allows for the tracking of small, low-reflectivity aerial targets that typically evade cameras and radar.
  • Infrastructure & Smart Cities: Supports city-scale digital twins and long-range traffic prediction to manage congestion and incidents upstream.
  • Aviation & Port Safety: Single-sensor monitoring for foreign object debris (FOD) across entire runways and taxiways.

Omer Keilaf, CEO and Co-Founder, Innoviz Technologies, said, "With the InnovizTwo Ultra Long-Range LiDAR, we are extending the boundaries of what our LiDAR can do in the field. Physical AI systems require precise, real-time 3D understanding of the world, not probabilistic inference alone. The combination of kilometre-scale range, extremely high-resolution 3D sensing, and the durability of an automotive-grade LiDAR gives operators across a wide range of industries a tool that performs reliably in harsh conditions, day or night."

L&T Technology Services Reports INR 109 Billion Revenue For FY2026

LTTS

L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, reporting a 14 percent increase in revenue to INR 109 billion.

The company also confirmed its sixth consecutive quarter of large-deal bookings valued at approximately USD 200 million, bringing its total TCV (Total Contract Value) for the year to over USD 850 million.

As part of a strategic realignment to focus on Engineering Intelligence (EI) and higher-margin core segments, LTTS has divested its SWC (Smart World and Communication) business. This pivot aligns with the company's ‘Lakshya 31’ 5-year plan, which targets a 13–15 percent CAGR through the integration of AI, digital and engineering technologies.

The company demonstrated resilience across key metrics, supported by stabilisation in the mobility sector and strong scaling in sustainability projects.

For Q4 FY2026, the revenue came at INR 28.57 billion, while net income came at INR 3.46 billion, an EBIT margin of 15.2 percent.

During the year, the company’s total patent count reached 1,706, with over 235 patents specifically in AI. The workforce strength stood at 23,830 employees at end of FY2026. L&T Technology Services also achieved ‘Partner-level Supplier’ status with John Deere for the 6th time, Creative Partnership Award from the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Engineering Innovation Award from Newmar Corporation.

Amit Chadha, CEO & Managing Director, L&T Technology Services, said, “We recalibrated our portfolio to focus on profitable growth business, driven by forward-looking technologies. We believe we will continue to grow faster than the industry supported by strong core capabilities and execution discipline. Our approach to Engineering Intelligence, where engineering converges with AI and digital technologies, is delivering higher-value solutions and differentiated outcomes for our clients.”

BorgWarner Secures 7-Year Controller Contract With Global Off-Highway Leader

BorgWarner

American tier 1 supplier BorgWarner has announced a significant 7-year contract extension with a world-leading off-highway manufacturer to supply 8 distinct families of controllers.

The agreement, which runs through December 2032, reinforces BorgWarner’s role as a primary propulsion partner for diverse heavy-duty applications, including construction machinery, marine platforms and stationary power systems.

The contract covers a comprehensive suite of control units designed for both traditional and electrified powertrains:

  • Engine & Machine Controllers: Engineered to manage efficient combustion, minimise emissions in large diesel engines and precisely direct hydraulic and mechanical actuators for heavy equipment.
  • Power Module & BMS Controllers: Designed for the OEM’s electric machines and battery management systems, supporting the industry's shift toward electrification.

This extension builds on a partnership spanning several decades. By supplying a broad portfolio that ranges from conventional diesel sensor management to advanced battery monitoring, BorgWarner continues to position itself as a versatile Tier 1 supplier capable of supporting the ‘multi-pathway’ technology transition in the off-highway sector.

Dr. Stefan Demmerle, President and General Manager, BorgWarner PowerDrive Systems, said, “BorgWarner has an outstanding relationship with this leading off-highway manufacturer, a customer we have been supplying critical parts to for several decades, and we are thrilled to continue to grow with them as their volumes increase for various market segments and applications. This contract expansion validates our position as a trusted, long-term propulsion partner that is agile enough to support them and provide tailored solutions as they expand into new, emerging markets.”

Nexteer Unveils Market-Ready Electro-Mechanical Brake At Auto China 2026

Nexteer EMB

Nexteer Automotive has announced that its Electro-Mechanical Brake (EMB) is ready for mass production following extensive development and validation. First introduced as a concept at Auto Shanghai 2025, the EMB completes Nexteer’s Motion-by-Wire portfolio, allowing the company to offer integrated steer-by-wire and brake-by-wire solutions.

The EMB system has undergone a year of rigorous testing, including simulations, bench tests and extreme winter performance validation. According to the company, more than 20 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have tested the product, with several projects now moving into technical co-development.

Nexteer is leveraging its historical expertise in steering to create a unified chassis control ecosystem. This approach offers several advantages for modern vehicle architectures:

  • Software-Defined Safety: Nexteer’s ‘braking-steering fusion’ software provides cross-domain redundancy, a critical requirement for Level 3 and higher autonomous driving. The software features open interfaces for rapid integration into OEM-specific architectures.
  • Hardware Efficiency: By platformising actuator modules – including motors, sensors, and ASIL-D microcontrollers – Nexteer is reusing hardware components across steering and braking systems to reduce costs and development timelines.
  • Global Supply Chain: The company is utilising high supplier overlap between its steering and braking divisions to achieve economies of scale through centralised procurement.

Jun Li, Senior Vice-President and APAC Division President, Nexteer Automotive, said, “The integration of Nexteer’s Steer-by-Wire and EMB isn’t just a simple ‘1+1’ — it’s a natural evolution rooted in the fundamentals of mechatronics, and a key enabler for achieving both safety and cost-effectiveness in high-level autonomous driving. Choosing Nexteer means more than just picking up two components — it means getting a complete, proven, production-ready, and cost-effective chassis motion control solution.”