Sundram Fasteners Limited has announced that its Powertrain Components Division has been recognised as Supplier of the Year by General Motors during its 30th Annual Supplier of the Year awards.  

The company said this is the ninth time the Chennai-based auto component major has received the coveted recognition. 

The American automaker has honoured 134 of its suppliers from 16 countries with the Supplier of the Year distinction in 2021. The awards are an acknowledgement of global suppliers that have distinguished themselves by exceeding GM’s requirements, resulting in providing GM customers with innovative technologies and high quality, the company said in a release. 

Arathi Krishna, Managing Director, Sundram Fasteners Limited, said, “We are pleased to receive this prestigious award from General Motors, a global leader in the automobile sector. This recognition is a validation of our commitment to quality, safety, innovation, sustainability and excellence. The fact that we have received this award for the ninth time demonstrates our ability to exceed customer expectations consistently.” 

Krishna added, “The GM award truly epitomises our journey over the years, specifically the efforts in new product development, R&D and technology. This award encourages us to develop technology-backed new products every year. I would like to congratulate my entire team at Sundram Fasteners and all our suppliers who have helped us to get this recognition consistently year on year.” 

Shilpan Amin, Vice President, Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors, said, “This year’s Supplier of the year event was special not only because it’s the 30th Anniversary of the programme, but it also provided us with the opportunity to recognise our suppliers for persevering through one of the most challenging years the industry has ever faced. The top suppliers showed resilience and reinforced their commitment to pursuing sustainability and innovation. Through our strong relationships and collaboration, GM and our suppliers are posed to build a brighter future for generations to come.”  

Winners of awards were chosen by a global team of GM purchasing, engineering, quality, manufacturing and logistics executives. Parameters for evaluation were Product Purchasing, Global Purchasing and Manufacturing Services, Customer Care and Aftersales and Logistics, the release said.  

Sundram Fasteners supplies key products to GM, including transmission shafts, radiator caps and more, which are seen across prestigious GM brands like Cadillac, GMC and Chevrolet. The company has been a GM vendor for over 25 years and has won the Supplier of the Year award five times in a row from 1996 to 2000, and in 2009, 2019, 2020 and now, in 2021. 

Meanwhile, the company said the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHA) has approved its application under Component Champion Incentive Scheme of the PLI Scheme. 

The PLI Scheme aims in building a robust supply chain in areas of Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) components. The eligibility criteria require minimum investment of INR 250 crores over five years with at least INR 100 crores in the initial two years. The company, out of capital expenditure amounting to INR 2,000 crores planned over a period of next five years, has a projected investment of over INR 350 Crores for manufacturing Advanced Automotive Technology (AAT) components like powertrain sub-assemblies for Electric Vehicles (EV) and select Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. The company has secured firm orders from Global OEMs for supply of these components under their EV programmes, the release added. 

Krishna said, “The PLI scheme will benefit the sector in multiple ways by increasing localisation and make India an export hub in the global auto supply chain. We are setting aside around INR 350 crores for the
manufacture of advanced automotive technology components for the next five years.” (MT)  

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Bengaluru-headquartered electric vehicle major Ather Energy has announced that its fast-charging network ‘Ather Grid’ has surpassed 400 charging points across Tamil Nadu. This expansion aims to alleviate range anxiety for EV owners and support the growing adoption of electric vehicles in the state.

With charging stations now in 38 cities, including tourist destinations like Coonoor and Rameswaram, the network connects key travel routes such as Coimbatore to Bengaluru and Chennai to Pondicherry. The company also noted that a total of 480 fast charging points are available in the state, which includes over 50 LECCS (Light Electric Combined Charging System) chargers. Developed by Ather, the LECCS standard allows different brands of light EVs to use the same charging network.

Ravneet Singh Phokela, Chief Business Officer, Ather Energy, said, “Tamil Nadu has been one of our earliest markets and ever since we entered the state in 2019, we have been investing in building a reliable charging network there. Charging has often been seen as one of the key barriers, and it’s something we’ve focused on solving from day one. Crossing 400 fast chargers in Tamil Nadu is a reflection of that commitment. It’s about giving riders the confidence that a charger is never too far away. As our retail footprint grows, the charging network will continue to scale alongside it, making EV ownership truly seamless.”

The company has partnered with local businesses like Coffee Day Global and Ganga Sweets to deploy these charging points. This expansion is part of Ather's broader national effort, which has seen the establishment of over 3,300 fast-charging points across India. The chargers can provide up to 15 kilometres of range in just 10 minutes, making it more convenient for riders on the go.

In addition to its charging infrastructure, Ather maintains a strong presence in the state with 44 experience centres and 42 service centres in 35 cities, offering comprehensive sales and after-sales support.

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Bengaluru-headquartered premium electric two-wheeler company Ultraviolette Automotive has announced a strategic investment from TDK Ventures, the venture capital arm of Japan’s TDK Corporation, along with participation from backing from existing investors Zoho Corporation and Lingotto (previously Exor Capital), among others.

With this TDK Ventures joins the likes of Qualcomm Ventures, Zoho Corporation, Speciale Invest, Lingotto (Formerly Exor Capital), and TVS Motor Company as a strategic investor in the EV company. It also counts the likes of Sriharsha Majety (Co-founder & CEO, Swiggy), Ankit Nagori (Co-founder, Cure Foods; former Chief Business Officer, Flipkart), Aprameya Radhakrishna (Co-founder, TaxiForSure), and Dulquer Salmaan (renowned actor and automotive enthusiast) among its early backers.

At present, Ultraviolette sells the F77 electric motorcycle and is gearing up to expand its product offerings along with manufacturing, research and distribution network globally.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “Mobility is undergoing a radical transformation, and at Ultraviolette, we are leading that change through cutting-edge innovation. Our partnership with TDK Ventures fast forwards our efforts, from advanced battery platforms to intelligent vehicle systems. This collaboration not only accelerates our vision of future ready mobility but also reinforces our commitment to delivering electric vehicles that are aspirational and globally relevant.”

Niraj Rajmohan, CTO and Co-founder of Ultraviolette, said, “Through this partnership with TDK Ventures, Ultraviolette will continue to innovate in deep-tech to shape the future of mobility. Together, we will continue to push the boundaries in building safer, smarter, and a more efficient electric mobility eco-system.”

Ravi Jain, Investment Director, TDK Ventures, said, “We look forward to bringing our TDK Goodness to Ultraviolette and their ambitious plan to design the next generation of energy efficient and performance EV 2W platforms. TDK Ventures is excited to support Ultraviolette in their relentless pursuit of growing their global reach."

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In a significant step toward creating a global ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) ecosystem, Geely Holding Group’s aerospace subsidiary, Geespace, successfully launched 11 new satellites into orbit on 9 August 2025. The launch took place in Shandong Province, China, and marks the fourth successful orbital deployment for the company's Geely Future Mobility Constellation (GEESATCOM).

With this latest launch, Geespace now operates 41 satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO), bringing it closer to its goal of having 72 satellites in operation by end-2025. The company plans to accelerate deployments over the next two months to reach 64 operational satellites, which will establish comprehensive global satellite IoT coverage.

The GEESATCOM project is a key part of Geely's vision to build an integrated space and earth mobility ecosystem. The LEO satellite network is designed to provide highly reliable, wide-coverage communication services for various strategic industries, including:

• Connected vehicles and urban air mobility
• Emergency response and maritime operations
• Energy infrastructure

This network will support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and connected vehicle platforms by providing crucial data for precision positioning and connectivity. Geespace has already established partnerships with telecom operators in over 20 countries and its proprietary satellite communication chips and high-precision positioning modules are now in mass production across Geely's vehicle portfolio.

To further demonstrate the technology, Geely is providing high-precision positioning and emergency satellite communications for official vehicles at the World Games 2025 Chengdu, showcasing the practical applications of its satellite infrastructure in real-world scenarios.

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Kia India, a leading passenger vehicle manufacturer in the country, has signed an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) with ASDC (Automotive Skill Development Council) to promote automotive skill training in the country.

The partnership will promote a 30-day training model module combining classroom-based theoretical learning and practical on-the-job experience. The course includes 15 days of foundational training at ASDC-certified training centers covering core automotive concepts and dealership functions. In addition, it will also feature Kia-specific process to familiarise candidates with brand standards, systems and product knowledge. The curriculum will provide students with 15 days of experiential learning at authorised Kia dealerships under expert supervision.

Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said, “This collaboration with ASDC represents a pivotal step in Kia India’s commitment to shaping a future-ready ecosystem, one that is anchored in skilled human capital and elevated customer experience. By creating a robust talent pool through structured training and certification, we are not only empowering India’s youth with meaningful employment but also reinforcing our dealer network with professionals who embody Kia’s values of quality, care, and innovation. Ultimately, this initiative will translate into a more seamless, informed, and rewarding journey for every Kia customer across the country.”

The co-developed learning model aims to provide candidates with the technical know-how and workplace readiness to be effective from day one. Upon successful completion of the program, candidates will undergo an evaluation at the ASDC centre, get certificate jointly awarded by Kia India and ASDC, and eligible for the direct recruitment by Kia dealerships into Sales and Service roles.

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