Toyota Kirloskar Motor Accelerates ‘Green Wave Initiative’

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Accelerates ‘Green Wave Initiative’

Toyota has accelerated its ‘Green Wave Project’ commemorating this year’s environment month. It is aimed at enhancing its nature conservation activity in the community with the company distributing saplings to its employees, under its sixth challenge that is termed as ‘Establishing a Future Society in Harmony with Nature’ and looks to contribute to the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050. 

While the eco campaign continues to drive active community involvement to promote greenery, through employee engagement, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has successfully distributed over 7000 saplings to its employees, marking significant progress towards its 8,000-sapling target set under its plantation activity. 

With TKM employees encouraged to plant and nurture the distributed saplings within their neighbourhoods and submit periodic reports on plant growth, the it is noteworthy to mention about Toyota’s tree plantation activities that are strongly driven by adopting a unique concept namely the ‘Miyawaki Method of Afforestation’ since 2009, and TKM was the first corporate in India to implement such plantation methodology. TKM’s steadfast commitment to sustainability and ecological restoration is yielding remarkable results, as evidenced by the numerous advantages of the Miyawaki approach. A comprehensive study conducted in collaboration with experts from Bangalore University revealed that the Miyawaki method excels in carbon sequestration, capturing an impressive 30.86 tonnes of carbon per acre.

By doing so, TKM not only restored native habitats but also created self-sustaining ecosystem that contribute to a healthier planet. Under the guidance of Late Dr Akira Miyawaki himself, TKM initiated its maiden Miyawaki plantation drive, way back in 2009, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards conservation of greenery and eco-consciousness. Since that momentous day, TKM's plantation drives have continued to evolve and expanded to 112 acres of green cover within the factory premises, out of which 32 acres of afforestation has been developed using Miyawaki method. Today, Toyota’s manufacturing facility, located in Bidadi (on the outskirts of Bengaluru) proudly boasts more than 328,000 trees of over 790 native species planted within its premises. The results have been truly awe-inspiring with a remarkable increase in biodiversity observed over the years. 

From a mere 181 plant species, the count has surged to an impressive 790, while the number of faunal species has risen from 76 to 284. The vibrant ecosystem now encompasses 88 bird varieties, 38 butterfly species, 107 insects, 17 reptiles, 8 mammals, and 6 amphibians, reflecting the successful development of a thriving native forest ecosystem.

In addition, TKM has created an experiential environmental learning centre ‘Ecozone’ (spread across 25 acres with 17 theme parks and home to 65,000 trees with 650 native species) for children, teachers, community members and other stakeholders, within its manufacturing facility aimed at creating the environment leaders and change champions for the future, to usher in desired behavioural change in the communities. This green zone depicts the creation of dense forest within the plant facility using the ‘Miyawaki Concept’ of plantation. The forests are dominantly planted with species of 4 major forest types such as Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous, Semi-evergreen and Evergreen Forest, covering 21 different sub-concepts such as Pollination meadows, herbal garden, plants for spices etc. So far, more than 42,000+ students & other stakeholders have been covered through ecozone initiative.

B Padmanabha, Executive Vice President and Director of Manufacturing - Toyota Kirloskar Motor, averred, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we recognise that environmental and social sustainability are just as crucial as economic progression. Guided by Toyota’s Global Environmental Challenge 2050 (six challenges announced in 2015), our sustainability efforts are far reaching that go beyond product zero emissions. While the first three challenges seek to achieve zero carbon emissions covering the entire life cycle of our products, across manufacturing operations as well as our value chain, the last three challenges focus to achieve water conservation, establishing recycled based society and living in harmony with nature.”

“We believe that a sustainable future is built through collective action and community involvement, as exemplified by one of our eco initiatives - Green Wave Program that covers afforestation (plantation drives, distribution of saplings), sharing best practices (e.g. Miyawaki plantation methodology), creating awareness on nature conservation and imbibing good eco behaviour (Toyota Ecozone – Experiential Eco Learning). Together with our employees and other stakeholders, we aim to catalyse positive change in the community to safeguard the environment to the future,” he added. 

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.”