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. 

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French automotive supplier Valeo has been nominated by a major Indian automotive manufacturer to supply its Valeo Smart Safety 360 (VSS360) system for commercial vehicles.

The advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) is designed specifically for the Indian market and will be produced at Valeo's manufacturing facility in Sanand, Gujarat.

The VSS360 is a ‘one-box’ ADAS solution that integrates radar fusion directly into a smart front camera. This design allows vehicle manufacturers to remove individual Electronic Control Units (ECUs), reducing costs and simplifying integration into existing vehicle architectures.

A significant technical feature of the system is the Univolt Camera, which is compatible with both 12V and 24V electrical architectures, allowing it to be used in vehicles ranging from Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) to heavy-duty trucks.

The system utilises three radars and one camera to provide a suite of safety and comfort functions, including:

• Moving Off Information System: Protects pedestrians and cyclists during vehicle pull-away.
• Blind Spot Information System: Monitors side zones for vulnerable road users.
• Standard ADAS Functions: Includes Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Lane Departure Warning.
• Driver Monitoring: Software that detects driver drowsiness and fatigue to mitigate accident risks.

The system has been tailored to meet upcoming General Safety Regulations in India and handles unpredictable traffic conditions common on Indian roads. It also supports over-the-air (OTA) updates to maintain software performance throughout the vehicle's lifecycle.

Marc Vrecko, CEO, Valeo Brain Division, said, "This award demonstrates how our high-end ADAS technology can perform in the world’s most demanding environments while drastically improving road safety. India is a cornerstone of our 'Elevate 2028' strategy and Valeo is committed to providing high-tech, scalable, and cost-optimised safety solutions that meet the specific requirement of Indian roads."

Jayakumar G, Group President & Managing Director, Valeo India, added, "This award marks an important milestone in expanding our ADAS portfolio in the commercial vehicle segment in India. By localising these advanced solutions, we aim to deliver highly competitive products tailored to our customers’ needs. Regulatory momentum is a key driver accelerating ADAS adoption and supporting our journey towards safer and smarter mobility in India."

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Hyundai Motor Group has expanded its Center of Excellence (Hyundai CoE) in India by forming a consortium with 7 universities to conduct research into battery and electrification technologies.

This initiative adds IIT Kanpur, IIT Hyderabad, VNIT Nagpur and Tezpur University to the existing partnership established in 2025 with IIT Madras, IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay.

The Group is managing 39 joint projects through these institutions, focusing on battery cell safety, energy density and diagnostic systems. Research is specifically directed toward battery designs and materials intended for the Indian environment.

Technical work also includes the development of an AI-powered Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) platform and advancements in Battery Management Systems (BMS).

To facilitate technical exchange, the Group has introduced a Korea Visiting Programme for researchers and a series of global conferences and forums. These programmes are designed to connect government, industry, and academic leaders to discuss emerging electric vehicle (EV) technologies and share technical insights between India and Korea.

Chang Hwan Kim, Head of the Electrification Energy Solutions Tech Unit, Hyundai Motor Group, said, “By bringing together the distinguished professors and emerging researchers from these seven institutes, we can create powerful synergies that will yield immense value for both Hyundai and India's sustainable growth. I strongly believe that the Hyundai CoE will grow to become the premier expert network of the Indian academic community”.

The long-term objective of the project is to establish a research hub that provides solutions for the domestic automotive industry and supports the transition to electric mobility through local talent and institutional expertise.

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NXP Semiconductors has announced a collaboration with Quanta to launch a deterministic zonal networking solution designed for next-generation Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) architectures.

The platform combines NXP’s S32 automotive processing platform with TrustMotion’s MotionWise middleware to provide predictable, real-time communication across vehicle networks.

The solution is engineered to solve a primary challenge for automotive manufacturers: ensuring precise timing across distributed compute and network components. By providing end-to-end determinism, the platform reduces the risk of errors during late-stage system integration.

The solution features an automated workflow for topology discovery and schedule generation designed to accelerate SDV program timelines. It combines NXP S32 processors, SJA1110 TSN-enabled switches and multi-PMIC power management into a single, validated system.

It provides low jitter and predictable latency across Electronic Control Units (ECUs) and in-vehicle networks, supporting Quality of Service (QoS). Thus making it scalable to support latency-sensitive applications including audio over Ethernet, high-performance compute (HPC) integration and real-time control.

Sebastien Clamagirand, SVP and GM, NXP Semiconductors, said, “Software defined vehicles require a fundamentally different approach to vehicle architecture – one that delivers deterministic timing across both compute and network at scale. We are helping OEMs overcome the limitations of legacy architectures, reduce integration risk and accelerate development of scalable zonal systems.”

Terrisa Chung, Vice-President and General Manager, Quanta, added, “Quanta’s Adaptive Zonal System is designed to deliver deterministic performance and system level scalability for next generation vehicle platforms. Working with NXP, we’re providing a ready to deploy foundation that helps our customers move faster while meeting strict timing, safety, and reliability requirements.”

The partnership aims to streamline the transition from domain-based designs to zonal E/E systems. NXP and Quanta have also confirmed they are working toward aligning this solution with the NXP CoreRide zonal reference system to support broader SDV integration in future vehicle programs.

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Aptiv has announced that Volvo Cars has awarded its Gen 8 radar platform for deployment in future vehicle programs, with production scheduled to begin in 2028.

The partnership centres on enhancing the perception capabilities of Volvo’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as both companies shift toward software-defined architectures.

The Gen 8 platform is Aptiv's latest advancement in high-resolution sensing, utilising proprietary antenna and silicon designs to support AI-powered and machine learning-powered safety functions.

Key Capabilities of the Gen 8 Radar Platform:

• High-Resolution Perception: Superior angular measurement and discrimination allow the system to resolve complex driving scenarios with high precision.
• Environmental Robustness: Engineered to maintain high performance in adverse weather and challenging urban environments where traditional sensors may struggle.
• Sensor Fusion Optimisation: Designed for seamless integration with cameras and other perception layers, providing a more reliable "world model" for the vehicle's computer.
• Scalability: A modular architecture that allows Volvo to deploy the technology across various vehicle lines and global markets efficiently.

Alwin Bakkenes, Head of Software Engineering at Volvo Cars, said, “Volvo Cars has always been guided by a belief that safety should be designed around people and real‑world driving conditions. Aptiv’s Gen 8 radar platform helps us deliver even more robust perception capabilities to our advanced driver assistance systems across increasingly complex environments and driving scenarios.”

Matthew Cole, Senior Vice President, Sensors & Compute at Aptiv, added: “Volvo Cars’ commitment to protecting people inside and outside the vehicle has set the benchmark for automotive safety. Aptiv’s Gen 8 radar was designed with that same purpose in mind: delivering dependable, high-resolution perception that performs in a wide range of use cases and environmental conditions. We’re proud to support Volvo Cars as they continue advancing their safety ambitions across future vehicle programs.”

The collaboration reinforces Volvo Cars' long-term safety mission – aiming for a future with zero accidents, while positioning Aptiv as a primary technology partner in the evolution of intelligent, software-led vehicle safety systems.

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