Uber India, Shadowfax Ink Strategic Partnership For Driving Two-Wheeler Ride Hailing Services
- By MT Bureau
- October 01, 2024
Uber, one of India’s leading ridesharing platform has announced a strategic tech integration with Shadowfax, one of the largest two-wheeler logistics fleet and a leading provider of express parcel delivery services and value-added solutions to drive growth of its two wheeler category Uber Moto, across the country.
This industry-first partnership will strengthen Shadowfax's position as the most diversified Third Party Logistics (3PL) provider, with over 200,000 active two-wheelers now powering Uber Moto as well. By integrating Shadowfax’s fleet, Uber aims to expand its supply pool of drivers and service coverage while improving reliability for riders seeking fast and affordable bike-sharing options for their commute.
The partnership will also enable Uber to launch Uber Moto operations in many new towns where it doesn’t yet operate by leveraging the supply pool of drivers working with Shadowfax that operates in over 2,500 cities and 18,000 pincodes across India.
Arnab Kumar, Director, Business Development, Uber India and South Asia said, “The integration with Shadowfax is yet another example of business model innovation that will push the boundaries further and faster to lead bike taxi growth in India. Creating a win-win strategy for all - this partnership with a third-party logistics provider will materially unlock the supply of two wheelers on Uber while creating additional earning opportunities for drivers on the Shadowfax platform. This integration is in line with our ambition to truly become the operating system for multiple form factors and we are incredibly excited about the potential of this partnership for Uber Moto’s growth.”
Praharsh Chandra, Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder, Shadowfax shared, "At Shadowfax, we are committed to driving innovation and adding value for our drivers and delivery partners. Through this unique integration, we are set to become the most diversified 3PL player in India, offering the first app where all forms of earning opportunities are available. Our 'One app, all opportunities' platform will empower our partners to tap into new streams of income, whether through last-mile deliveries or mobility solutions like UberMoto. This collaboration represents a pivotal step in transforming both the urban logistics and mobility ecosystems, further cementing our leadership in last-mile services across the country."
The use of 3P Tech integration is a first for Uber in India - the same technology has been used to integrate with the iconic yellow cabs in New York. Shadowfax has integrated with Uber’s third party (3P) application programming interfaces (APIs) which will result in routing Uber trips to the Shadowfax driver app at the backend, while the booking interface for riders will continue to be that of the Uber app.
Epsilon Advanced Materials Launches Waste-Based Hard Carbon Anode For Sodium-Ion Batteries
- By MT Bureau
- May 18, 2026
Epsilon Advanced Materials (EAMPL) has developed a hard carbon anode material designed for sodium-ion batteries used in grid-scale Energy Storage Systems (ESS). Developed through internal research and development, the graphite-free material provides an alternative for cell manufacturers as sodium-ion chemistry gains adoption due to the abundance of sodium and its lower environmental footprint compared to lithium extraction.
The material utilises coconut shell waste as its primary carbon precursor. Through pyrolysis and high-temperature carbonisation, this agricultural byproduct is converted into a disordered carbon structure with the interlayer spacing and nanopore architecture required for sodium-ion storage.
This bio-based manufacturing process eliminates dependence on graphite and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by up to 50 percent compared to standard graphite anode production due to lower processing temperatures.
The microarchitecture of the hard carbon anode provides reversibility, cycle life, and charge-discharge capabilities required for grid applications undergoing repeated charge cycles.
The product launch follows commitments to sodium-ion cell production by global manufacturers, including CATL, alongside expanding research by cell manufacturers across Asia and India seeking components for energy storage systems.
Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Group, said, “The clean energy transition needs materials that are affordable, available and easy to scale, faster. Sodium-Ion is the right chemistry for energy storage and Hard Carbon is the right anode for it. The feedstock is something India has in abundance, the process is cleaner than anything that came before it, and the performance is where it needs to be for real-world grid applications. We are building for what energy storage will look like ten years from now.”
The introduction of the hard carbon anode is part of Epsilon Group's expansion into battery materials, which also includes silicon-graphite anodes and Generation III Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) cathode active materials for lithium-ion applications. The expansion aims to establish manufacturing and export capabilities for battery components within India to support energy storage and electric vehicle sectors.
Valeo to Manufacture Localised ADAS System In Gujarat For Indian CV OEM
- By MT Bureau
- May 15, 2026
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."
- Hyundai Motor Group
- Hyundai Centre of Excellence
- IIT Kanput
- IIT Hyderabad
- VNIT Nagpur
- Tezpur University
- IIT Madras
- IIT Delhi
- IIT Bombay
- Chang Hwan Kim
Hyundai Motor Group Expands Academic Consortium For Electrification Research in India
- By MT Bureau
- May 15, 2026
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.
NXP And Quanta Partner To Deliver Deterministic Zonal Networking For SDVs
- By MT Bureau
- May 14, 2026
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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