Tata Motors has collaborated with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti (NVS) to establish ‘Automotive Skill Labs’ at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs). Till date, 25 fully equipped labs with essential tools have been set up across select JNVs in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. 

With the capability to equip 4000 students annually with practical automotive skills, unique about this initiative is the industry academia cooperation. While 30 percent of the students that have enrolled are girls, the labs, other than aligning with the vocational courses envisioned in the ‘National Education Policy 2020’ are focusing on providing secondary and senior secondary students (studying in ninth and up to 12th standard) with essential subject knowledge, hands-on skills and valuable industry exposure within their school premises. 

Under the initiative, students can visit Tata Motors’ plants. They can interact with service and dealership professionals, attend lectures by industry experts to gain real-world experience and deepen their knowledge. 

The instructors at the labs are provided with the necessary training at the company’s plant locations as a testament to an immersive learning experience. In fact, such is the response that the students of the Pune Skill Lab have constructed an e-rickshaw. 

Upon successful completion of the programme, students receive joint certificates from Tata Motors and NVS. Post-schooling, the students can opt for a Diploma in Manufacturing Technology, including a full stipend and on-the-job training at Tata Motors’ manufacturing facilities. Alternatively, they can pursue a BTech in engineering – a 3.5-year executive education programme in collaboration with select engineering institutes – upon showing interest to continue at Tata Motors. They could look forward to getting a permanent employment after five years.

Underlining the need to bridge the skills gap in the automotive industry, Vinod Kulkarni, CSR Head, Tata Motors, said, “Our Automotive Skill Labs are empowering youngsters from the underserved communities with employable skills, relevant for the evolving automotive sector in India. It creates pathways for students in grades 9th – 12th to pursue higher education and secure employment opportunities. Contributing to the ‘Skill India Mission’, this programme instils innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, analytical mindset and critical communication skills amongst the students. The response from girl students has strengthened our commitment to empower future leaders who will contribute to India’s prominence on the global stage as envisioned by Viksit Bharat at 2047.”

 In 2023, over 1,600 students from this programme participated in the National Automobile Olympiad organised by the Automotive Skill Development Council (ASDC). Of these, 17 succeeded in reaching the second stage of the competition.

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AUMOVIO has received a series production order from a European automotive manufacturer for its OLED display unit featuring an integrated under-display camera. The technology, which was recognised as a CES Innovation Award Honoree, will be implemented in a high-volume premium vehicle model.

The system integrates the camera module behind the active area of the OLED display, removing the requirement for visible camera hardware within the vehicle cabin. This architecture utilises a specific pixel design and OLED technology to maintain a seamless visual interface while allowing the camera to function through the display surface.

The technology supports several vehicle functions, including monitoring for driver attention and drowsiness detection. Enabling cabin-based assistance features and facilitating minimalist cockpit layouts by eliminating bulky external modules.

Internal studies conducted by AUMOVIO indicated that drivers prefer discreetly integrated sensors over visible camera modules. The company has positioned this solution to mirror the transition seen in the smartphone industry, where under-display facial recognition has gained high user acceptance.

By localising the camera under the display, the system maintains an optimal angle for driver monitoring without disrupting the aesthetic of the digital cockpit. The OLED technology used provides high contrast and colour accuracy, meeting the standards required for the premium automotive segment.

Pavel Prouza, Head of the User Experience (UX) business area at AUMOVIO, said, "We are very pleased about the customer order, which was placed shortly after the initial innovation presentation. The order is a strong market signal and confirms that we and our strategy are on the right track. We focus on developing state‑of‑the‑art technologies and transitioning them to series production - to increase safety and comfort in mobility with exciting new cockpit designs."

“With the camera invisibly integrated under the active area of the driver display, we have opened the door to the next generation of exciting and minimalistic cockpit designs – while making a major contribution to advancing safety‑relevant assistance features through wider user acceptance," he further added.

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French tier 1 supplier Valeo has commenced production of high-definition (HD) surround-view cameras at its facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The new production line was inaugurated on 3 April 2026 by Marc Vrecko, CEO of Valeo’s Brain Division, marking an expansion of the company’s vision system manufacturing in India.

The Sanand facility will focus on the high-volume manufacturing of vision camera systems for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India. These components are engineered to support autonomous and semi-autonomous driving functions through Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS).

While hardware manufacturing is centred in Sanand, the software and intelligence for these sensors are developed at Valeo’s research and development hub in Chennai. The facility is also scheduled to expand into the production of automotive displays and telematics control units to provide solutions for digital cockpits and connected vehicles.

The expansion is part of Valeo’s ‘Elevate 2028’ strategic plan, which identifies India as a priority market. By localising the production of vision systems, the company aims to streamline its supply chain and increase the delivery speed of safety technologies to regional partners. The investment is intended to transition the Sanand site into a multi-technology hub for automotive electronics.

Marc Vrecko, CEO, Valeo’s Brain Division, said, “The inauguration of this new camera line at our Sanand facility is a proud moment for our team and a proof to our dedication to the Indian market. By localising the production of these highly complex, advanced vision systems, we are not only streamlining our supply chain but also accelerating the delivery of world-class safety technologies to our partners."

Jayakumar G, Group President & Managing Director, Valeo India, added, “We are scaling our product portfolio in Sanand, India. This investment in a state-of-the-art surround-view camera line underscores our commitment to localizing high-tech solutions. It strengthens our ADAS manufacturing capabilities and R&D and ensures we continue to meet our customers’ evolving needs.”

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Belgian technology firm Magnax, which is working on yokeless axial flux electric motors, has secured around EUR 35.5 million investment from Pan-International Industrial Corp, in collaboration with Foxconn Group and members of an incoming management team.

The capital increase, conducted in two stages, has received foreign direct investment (FDI) approval and will result in Pan-International becoming the largest shareholder in Magnax.

Founded in 2015, Magnax develops yokeless axial flux electric motors for sectors including robotics, aerospace and electric vehicles. It also operates Traxial, a subsidiary focused on e-mobility.

The new CAPEX will be used towards industrialising the axial flux motor portfolio for high-volume deployment. Leveraging Foxconn Group’s manufacturing infrastructure and global supply chain. Research and development will remain in Belgium, while mass production will be located in China.

Axial flux motors differ from conventional radial flux machines by offering higher torque density and efficiency. These characteristics allow for reductions in vehicle weight and material usage. The architecture is intended for use in direct-drive industrial drives, machine automation and AI infrastructure, such as data centre thermal management.

As part of the transaction, Magnax has appointed a new CEO with experience in global industrial technology. The incoming management team is also co-investing in the company.

Kester Goh, Co-Founder, Magnax, said, “The capital will primarily be used to industrialise Magnax’s axial flux motor portfolio and support high-volume production. This partnership bridges European motor innovation with Asia’s largest advanced manufacturing ecosystem.”

Peter Leijnen, Co-Founder, Magnax, added, “Axial flux motors have a fundamentally better value proposition in several high-performance use cases. Their high torque density and efficiency enable customers to reduce weight and size of their end products. Lower material usage and higher efficiency translate directly into lower system cost and reduced carbon emissions.”

Daan Moreels, Co-Founder, Magnax, stated, “This is a new and important phase for Magnax. With Foxconn’s manufacturing scale and industrial ecosystem, Magnax gains the operational foundation required to deploy axial flux motor technology across global markets. The partnership accelerates the company’s transition from engineering innovation to large-scale industrial deployment.”

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drivebuddyAI has been granted a patent for its Integrated Dynamic Road Quality Assessment System and Method. The technology autonomously detects and maps road surface deterioration, including potholes and hazardous conditions, by combining sensor data with deep learning-based computer vision.

The system utilises two data streams to evaluate road conditions. A GNSS sensor logs vehicle speed and geo-location, while an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) accelerometer captures changes across the X, Y and Z axes.

In real-time it detects anomalies, which are flagged when the Z-axis acceleration indicates a road defect. To prevent false detections, the system processes video data through a deep learning model to visually confirm the defect. Verified data is geo-tagged to create a dynamic road quality map that updates as fresh data is collected from active fleets.

The patented technology aims to provide a road quality intelligence layer for navigation, moving beyond standard metrics of distance and traffic. For fleet operators, poor road surfaces affect Turnaround Time (TAT) by increasing braking frequency, vehicle wear and the risk of cargo damage.

By integrating road quality data into route planning, dispatchers can select paths based on vehicle and cargo safety rather than just the shortest distance. The system is designed to operate without human intervention, building a dataset as vehicles traverse their routes.

This grant expands drivebuddyAI’s portfolio to over 15 patents covering ADAS, DMS, and AI perception systems. These include technologies for driver recognition, drowsiness detection, and risk assessment. The systems are validated under AIS184, EU2144/2019 & 2023, and EURO NCAP 2026 standards.

Nisarg Pandya, Founder & CEO, drivebuddyAI, said, “We are building AI that solves multiple problems at once. Road quality is not a standalone problem; it sits at the intersection of driver safety, cargo protection, and fleet efficiency. This patent is our answer to a gap that the industry has long ignored: knowing not just where you are going, but what the road ahead will do to your vehicle and your cargo and its impact on TAT.”

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