Srini Chinamilli, Co founder & CEO of Tessolve and Jens Benndorf, CEO of Dream Chip Technologies in Germany

Tessolve, a Hero Electronix venture and a leading provider of semiconductor engineering solutions, is set to fully acquire Dream Chip Technologies, a semiconductor chip design firm headquartered in Germany, for a consideration of up to EUR 42.5 million.

This move Tessolve claims will elevate it to be among a select group of design firms worldwide capable of delivering turnkey design solutions for complex cutting-edge chips. The acquisition will enable it to provide advanced capabilities in terms of System on Chip (SoC) designs for the Artificial Intelligence (AI), automotive, data centre, and industrial markets.

Furthermore, Tessolve will also strengthen its footprint in Europe by adding four delivery locations across Germany and Netherlands, including a specialised ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) and imaging centre-of-excellence lab.

Srini Chinamilli, Co-Founder & CEO, Tessolve, said, “This acquisition solidifies our position as a top tier semiconductor engineering firm globally with unmatched design to productisation capabilities. Dream Chip’s capabilities further strengthen our ability to take on leading edge ASIC design projects and greatly enhances our European footprint.”

Dream Chip Technologies is said to be one of the leading semiconductor design service companies in Germany, particularly for its expertise in complex digital designs.

Jens Benndorf, CEO, Dream Chip Technologies, said, "We are excited to join forces with Tessolve and bring our expertise in digital chip design and embedded software to a global platform. By combining our design capabilities and IP with Tessolve’s established semiconductor services and embedded solutions, we can offer our customers a truly end-to-end solution from chip architecture to post-silicon test and supply chain management for their most complex designs. Together, we will push the boundaries of innovation in automotive and enterprise designs, particularly in camera-based systems and AI-driven ASIC applications."

Ujjwal Munjal, Chairman, Tessolve, added, “Over the past few years, Tessolve has demonstrated impressive growth and resilience. With the synergy brought by Dream Chip Technologies, I am confident that Tessolve is poised to become a world leader in this space with unparalleled capabilities. As major companies increasingly shift towards custom chip design, this acquisition positions Tessolve more strongly than ever to meet the growing demands of the custom chip market.”

Maruti Suzuki India Establishes Advanced Manufacturing Lab At ITI Hassangarh

Maruti - ITI Lab

Maruti Suzuki India has established an Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML) at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Hassangarh, Rohtak. The facility is designed to train approximately 200 students in its first year of operation under the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) skill development programme.

The laboratory replicates automotive manufacturing environments to provide technical instruction in vehicle assembly, welding, industrial painting, machining, mechatronics and workplace safety protocols.

The project is aligned with the central government's Skill India mission and aims to prepare students for technical positions within the domestic automotive manufacturing sector.

The facility was opened during an event attended by Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta and executives from Maruti Suzuki. During the ceremony, the company distributed formal apprenticeship offers to selected students who will join Maruti Suzuki's production facilities upon completing their coursework.

Maruti Suzuki currently provides infrastructure and training support to 31 ITIs across India. The Hassangarh facility marks the 18th Advanced Manufacturing Lab established by the vehicle manufacturer. The firm also operates four Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing (JIMs) located in Mehsana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat and Manesar and Sonipat in Haryana, which deliver technical education based on Japanese shop-floor management principles.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer of Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Through the Advanced Manufacturing Lab at Hassangarh, we are bringing real shop-floor learning and modern machinery into classrooms. This initiative, aligned with Skill India mission, equips students with confidence to handle industry-specific processes and nurtures talent for the evolving automotive ecosystem. It is part of our commitment to build a skilled, future-ready workforce for India’s manufacturing sector.”

Sachin Gupta, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, said, “The establishment of the Advanced Manufacturing Lab at ITI Hassangarh marks a defining milestone in Rohtak’s journey towards becoming a centre of excellence in skill development and a significant contribution to the vision of Viksit Bharat. By introducing industry-grade infrastructure, advanced manufacturing technologies, and hands-on technical training, Maruti Suzuki has created an ecosystem that seamlessly aligns academic learning with the dynamic requirements of modern industry. This initiative will not only equip students and trainees with future-ready skills and enhance employability, but will also nurture a culture of innovation, productivity, and technical excellence. The lab will play a pivotal role in developing a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting India’s industrial transformation and strengthening the nation’s competitiveness in the global manufacturing landscape.”

SheerDrive Named First Runner-Up In Maruti Suzuki Accelerator Cohort

SheerDrive

SheerDrive, an AI-led pre-owned vehicle technology platform, has been named First Runner-Up in the 10th Cohort of the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator Program. Following the selection, the startup has secured a paid Proof-of-Concept (PoC) engagement with Maruti Suzuki India.

The Maruti Suzuki Accelerator Cohort 10 evaluates and selects startups developing artificial intelligence (AI) and technology-driven solutions for application across manufacturing, mobility, customer experience and automotive operations.

SheerDrive’s digital pricing infrastructure is designed to streamline price discovery in the used-car sector. The system processes live market signals, historical transaction trends, vehicle condition data and machine learning analytics to establish a real-time pricing layer. The platform is used by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), dealerships, financial institutions and consumers to guide vehicle valuation and trade-in decisions.

The company has developed a portfolio of products aimed at digitising the pre-owned vehicle supply chain for automotive players, banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and insurers.

Its products include VIAR, an AI-driven vehicle evaluation and pricing platform – Otobids Meta, a patented auction aggregation infrastructure that links multiple auction marketplaces through a single digital layer and SheerDrivePRO, a dedicated B2B auction marketplace for used vehicles.

Ravi Mehra, Founder, SheerDrive, said, “Price discovery remains one of the most critical unsolved problems in the used-car ecosystem. We’ve always believed that the future of vehicle upgrades in India will depend on transparent, data-backed pricing and scientific vehicle evaluation. Being recognised by Maruti Suzuki through this engagement is a meaningful validation of that vision, and we look forward to contributing to the next phase of innovation in India’s mobility ecosystem.”

Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s INR 12 Billion Tech Hub To Come Up In Bengaluru

TKM - Karnataka

Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka to establish its global ‘TKM Bizintel Hub’ in KWIN City, Bengaluru.

The automaker will infuse INR 12 billion as initial capital over the next five years, marking the first anchor investment for the smart city development project.

The facility will be spread across 300 acres along the Doddaballapur–Dabaspet Highway. The hub will serve multiple corporate objectives, including the testing and evaluation of new mobility solutions, digital transformation across supply chain operations and the implementation of intelligent vehicle manufacturing systems. The initial phase of the project is expected to generate approximately 200 jobs.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Large and Medium Industries Minister Dr M.B. Patil. KWIN (Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation) City and is being developed in phases across a total area of 5,800 acres, with a focus on integrating technology, healthcare and educational sectors.

Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, said, “Toyota Kirloskar Motor has been a trusted long-term partner in Karnataka’s growth journey. The MoU marks another important milestone as we work together to deepen technology-led investments, create quality employment and promote sustainable industrial development. This partnership further strengthens Karnataka’s leadership as a global investment destination and reinforces our commitment to innovation‑ driven growth.”

Masakazu Yoshimura, Chairman, MD & CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, stated, “We are grateful to the Government of Karnataka for its continued support and collaboration over the years which has played a key role in our journey. India has always been a strategically important market for Toyota to drive innovation and sustainable mobility initiatives. The TKM Bizintel Hub will support testing and evaluation activities, advancements in digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing across the entire supply chain business, leveraging on India’s robust information technology ecosystem with skilled talent. Anchored in TKM’s focus on localization and responsible growth, this initiative aligns with the company’s multi pathway approach towards achieving carbon neutrality goals and meeting the national priorities such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

Wavye

The UK government has opened applications for operators to run self-driving cars, allowing citizens to book autonomous taxi and bus-style services across Great Britain later this year.

The pilot scheme will allow technology firms to deploy autonomous vehicles on public roads to gather real-world performance evidence. These services will be subject to safety assessments and rigorous regulatory approval checks by the government, including verification of protections against cyber and security threats. Local transport authorities, such as Transport for London, must also provide local consent to ensure operations align with regional infrastructure priorities.

Learnings collected from these commercial pilots will guide the development of permanent self-driving vehicle regulations. This regulatory framework follows a formal government call for evidence that concluded in March. Data shows that human error currently contributes to 88 percent of collisions on UK roads, and the implementation of automated systems aims to improve overall road safety. Industry projections estimate that the British automated passenger services market could be worth up to GBP 3.7 billion annually by 2040.

Simon Lightwood, Roads and Buses Minister, said, “Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, while driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK. This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.”

Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery, Uber, stated, “This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK. London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year.”

Ben Loewenstein, Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, Waymo, added, “The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services. We hope to soon become part of London’s transport network and demonstrate the safety, accessibility and sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles through the government’s pilot scheme. We are working closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to ensure our operations align with their goals.”

Sarah Gates, VP of Global Affairs and Assurance, Wayve, noted, “The UK has all the ingredients to become a global leader in the deployment of self-driving vehicles and today’s launch of the automated passenger services scheme marks an important milestone. Wayve has been developing its technology in the UK for nearly a decade and we’re excited to bring our supervised passenger service to market here this year.”

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, SMMT, commented, “Today is a significant milestone in the safe and responsible rollout of automated vehicles on British roads. For the first time, legislation will allow operators to offer passenger-carrying commercial services – such as robotaxis – to the general public. Government’s decision to bring forward this legislation has positioned Britain as a leading European market for automated vehicles and a frontrunner in physical AI investment, development and deployment.”