Uber India, Shadowfax Ink Strategic Partnership For Driving Two-Wheeler Ride Hailing Services

Shadowfax

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.

JSW Motors And Tata Elxsi Partner To Launch JNEXT Technology Center In Pune

JSW - Tata Elxsi

JSW Motors, the new-energy vehicle arm of the JSW Group, and Tata Elxsi have entered a strategic alliance to establish JNEXT – the JSW NextGen Technology Center in Pune. This engineering hub is designed to support the development of software-defined, AI-powered mobility solutions as JSW Motors prepares its upcoming vehicle programmes for the Indian market.

Under the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Tata Elxsi will lead the end-to-end implementation of the Connected Vehicle Platform and a unified customer experience app.

This partnership covers the entire vehicle lifecycle, from conceptualisation and cloud integration to production and aftersales support. The collaboration is a key component of JSW Motors’ strategy to build a localised, technology-led ecosystem for electric and connected vehicles.

The JNEXT Center will leverage Tata Elxsi’s proprietary platforms, such as TETHER Auto, to deliver several advanced capabilities:

  • Digital & Data Solutions: User experience (UX) design, cloud platforms, and over-the-air (OTA) update frameworks.
  • Intelligent Systems: AI/ML analytics, 5G-enabled technology, digital twins, and cybersecurity.
  • Immersive Tech: Location-based services and AR/VR/XR integration to enhance the customer ownership experience.
  • Architecture: Software-defined vehicle architectures, predictive maintenance diagnostics and functional safety frameworks aligned with global standards.

Ranjan Nayak, CEO, JSW Motors, said, “Tata Elxsi's proven expertise across software-defined vehicles, ADAS, electrification, and digital engineering will help us accelerate development timelines and raise the bar on quality, safety, and innovation. This partnership is a step forward in our commitment to indigenisation, delivering world-class vehicles for Indian customers.”

Manoj Raghavan, MD & CEO, Tata Elxsi, added, “The future of mobility will be increasingly connected and software-defined, where vehicles continuously evolve through software, data, and intelligent systems. The JNEXT – JSW NextGen Technology Center will be instrumental in translating this into real-world mobility solutions across vehicle programmes.”

The establishment of this hub in Pune positions both companies at the forefront of India's shift toward intelligent, new-energy mobility, combining JSW's industrial manufacturing scale with Tata Elxsi’s software and design engineering expertise.

Schaeffler, VinDynamics Partner To Develop Humanoid Robot Gearboxes

VinDynamics - Schaeffler

Schaeffler and VinDynamics, a subsidiary of the Vietnamese conglomerate Vingroup, have entered a strategic partnership to develop and supply planetary gearboxes for humanoid robotics.

This agreement marks Schaeffler’s first collaboration with a humanoid robot manufacturer in the Asia/Pacific region, expanding a global network that already includes partners in Europe, China and the US.

The collaboration focuses on planetary gearboxes, which are components of the actuators that serve as the joints and muscles for humanoid robots. These gearboxes provide the torque density and efficiency required for robots to perform movements. Beyond hardware supply, the two organisations will gather data on robot performance and application. This data will be utilised to refine actuator design and develop services such as condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.

Maximilian Fiedler, Regional CEO – Asia/Pacific, Schaeffler AG, said, "VinDynamics is an inspiring technology partner with a clear and ambitious vision for humanoid robotics. Our collaboration underscores Schaeffler's commitment to working alongside pioneering innovators to advance the next generation of motion technologies. By integrating Schaeffler's decades of expertise in actuator and drive technologies with VinDynamics' capabilities in developing next-generation robotic systems, we are confident that this partnership will deliver significant technological advancements."

La Manh Hung, President, VinDynamics, added, "This partnership represents not only a convergence of technological capabilities but also a strategic alignment of vision, as both organisations are committed to shaping the future of humanoid robotics. We believe that by combining our respective strengths, this collaboration will unlock transformative opportunities and accelerate the transition of humanoid robots from research environments to impactful real-world applications across both industrial and everyday settings."

Schaeffler is applying technology from its existing product families to the robotics sector. The planetary gearboxes are engineered for a compact footprint while enabling the precise and energy-efficient movement necessary for robot joints to function in real-world environments.

Rocklink India Launches Integrated Battery And Rare Earth Recycling Facility

Rocklink

Rocklink India has officially inaugurated its first integrated recycling facility at the UPSIDC Industrial Area in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh. This site marks a major step in establishing a domestic circular economy for critical minerals, specifically targeting the burgeoning electric mobility and renewable energy sectors in India.

The plant is designed to handle a wide variety of inputs, including 95 different types of pre- and post-consumer battery scrap, as well as complex permanent magnet alloys such as NdFeB, SmCo and AlNiCo.

The facility utilises Rocklink’s proprietary R2 technology, which focuses on high recovery efficiency while maintaining stringent environmental safety standards. It features an initial lithium-ion battery recycling capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year, capable of producing high-purity black mass.

Additionally, the site manages rare earth magnet dismantling and processing at a rate of 60 tonnes per month. To further enhance its capabilities, the company expects to complete its rare earth chloride processing line – which has a production capacity of 1,500 tonnes per year – in the first quarter of 2026, utilising a 22-meter direct-heated rotary kiln for the safe calcination of metal-bearing industrial waste.

Beyond material recovery, the facility aims to achieve over 98 percent recovery efficiency for key metals including aluminium, copper and iron.

Rocklink India also plans to integrate battery refurbishment operations, enabling the safe reuse of viable battery cells through international standards for testing and balancing to extend resource efficiency.

To support these operations, the company is expanding its Magcycle reverse logistics model and a ‘Know Your Material’ (KYM) approach to ensure structured collection and accurate material grading. Through collaborations with technology startups and research institutions, Rocklink aims to advance dismantling automation and strengthen India's domestic supply chains for critical raw materials.

Leonard Alexander Ansorge, Director, Rocklink India, said, “The establishment of this facility marks an important step in building advanced recycling infrastructure for critical materials in India. With capabilities to process lithium-ion batteries and rare earth magnets, we aim to support the development of a circular ecosystem for critical raw materials that are essential to electric mobility, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.”

AUMOVIO, trinamiX Unveil Non-Invasive Blood Alcohol Sensor For Vehicles

Aumovio - trinamiX

AUMOVIO (formerly Continental’s Automotive business) and trinamiX, a subsidiary of BASF, have co-developed a non-invasive blood alcohol measurement system for vehicle cockpits.

First showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the technology uses miniaturised near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to detect ethanol molecules through the skin, providing precise results in under 10 seconds.

The system is designed to meet emerging global safety regulations for driver-monitoring systems (DMS) and alcohol interlocks. Unlike traditional breathalysers, which require the user to blow into a tube, this solution operates by simply touching a fingertip to a discreetly integrated sensor, which could be placed on the dashboard, steering wheel, or within the centre console.

The sensor works by emitting invisible near-infrared light pulses into the tissue beneath the skin.

The light interacts with ethanol molecules, creating a unique reflection pattern (a molecular fingerprint). Through AI-based algorithms process these reflections in real-time to derive a precise blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The technology’s performance has been scientifically validated through a clinical study registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS).

By integrating this health and safety feature directly into the vehicle's User Experience (UX), AUMOVIO and trinamiX aim to make sober-driving verification as seamless as a smartphone fingerprint scan. The solution is highly configurable, allowing manufacturers to set different threshold levels based on local legal requirements.

Pavel Prouza, Head of the User Experience (UX) business area at AUMOVIO, said, “By integrating a blood alcohol measurement solution directly into the vehicle cockpit, we are clearly demonstrating how health and safety features can be seamlessly and discreetly incorporated into the vehicle interior while enhancing the user experience. With our future-ready solution, we are increasing road safety while maintaining the usual level of convenience.”

Dr. Wilfried Hermes, Director of Consumer Electronics & Automotive, trinamiX, added, “Our NIR spectroscopy technology offers a reliable, user-friendly way to measure blood alcohol levels directly in the vehicle and sets new standards. By providing OEMs with an effective tool to comply with future regulations, we are laying the foundation for greater safety for all road users without compromising driving comfort.”