German automotive major Volkswagen Group has announced the appointment of Dr Werner Tietz as the Head of Group Research and Development from 1 July 2025.

He will succeed Dr Michael Steiner, who will take on the additional position of deputy chairman of the executive board of Porsche, in addition to his current role as member of the executive board for research and development at Porsche.

In addition, Dr Tietz will continue to be a Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at SEAT S.A. Both members of the Executive Board will hold these positions in a dual capacity.

Dr Oliver Blume, CEO, Volkswagen Group, said, “With his vision, technical expertise and more than three decades of experience within the Volkswagen Group, Werner Tietz has played a key role in shaping the innovative strength of brands such as Audi, Porsche, Bentley and SEAT/CUPRA. His work stands for forward-looking development, from sustainable materials to electrification strategy. With this extensive expertise, he will continue to drive forward research and development at the Volkswagen Group.”

“With his deep technological understanding and strategic foresight, Michael Steiner has made a significant contribution to positioning the Volkswagen Group as a future-oriented mobility group. This includes the development of high-performance electrical and electronic architectures, the focus on software-defined vehicles, and the opening up to global technology partnerships. His work has been important for key decisions in the areas of automotive software, batteries, and autonomous driving. I would like to personally thank him for his commitment to the Volkswagen Group. He will also bring this commitment to his expanded role at Porsche as Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board,” continued Dr Blume.

Dr Tietz holds a doctorate in engineering from RWTH Aachen University and has over three decades of experience in the Volkswagen Group, where he has been working since 1994.

He has held several positions at Audi and was responsible for all Audi vehicle interiors. In 2011, he moved to Porsche, where he was responsible for the development of body and interior of all models. Furthermore, he participated in the development of the Taycan concept and worked on the introduction of innovative materials in several of the models.

Prior to joining SEAT, Dr Tietz was member of the Bentley Executive Committee and head of the development department, where he was in charge of creating the new development strategy and laying the foundations for the electrification of the brand.

On the other hand, Dr Steiner holds a doctorate in engineering from the Technical University of Munich and began his career at Mercedes-Benz in product development. After holding several management positions, he transferred to Porsche in 2002, where he was responsible for the Panamera series and overall vehicle development. He has been Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche since 2016. In addition, he took on the dual role of Head of Group Research and Development at the Volkswagen Group in 2022, making him a member of the extended Group Executive Board. 

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Chinese technology company InfiMotion presented its latest electric drive technologies at the 5th International Forum on Automotive Power Systems held in Songjiang. The event gathered industry experts to discuss the theme of ‘dual carbon drive, diversified win-win.’

The company showcased a dual motor assembly featuring a magnesium aluminium alloy shell, which it identifies as a world first for mass production. The assembly uses a patented 360-degree bidirectional, full oil cooling technology for heat dissipation. According to the organisation, the magnesium aluminium alloy housing reduces weight by 25 percent compared to traditional aluminium versions while maintaining hardness, aiding vehicle range and energy consumption.

InfiMotion also showcased magnetic field adjustable motors, which is intended to reduce no-load drag losses and optimise power consumption.

Furthermore, it also displayed ultra-high speed motors capable of 36,000rpm for high-performance applications and 9-in-1 electronic control units designed to integrate power domain control and reduce drive weight.

During the forum, Xu Zhe, a technology expert at InfiMotion, delivered a speech titled ‘The Era Wave of Cross Integration of Electric Drive Calibration and Data Science.’

The presentation addressed the integration of product technology with data science during the research and development process.

The exhibition resulted in exchanges between InfiMotion and several domestic and international enterprises regarding the production and application of future power systems.

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Bengaluru-headquartered AI fleet safety and performance solutions company Netradyne has announced the acquisition of Moove Connected Mobility, a European fleet intelligence and mobility company with presence across European markets.

The acquisition is part of Netradyne’s expansion and its strategy for the European region. By combining Netradyne’s platform with Moove’s presence, customer relationships and experience, the company aims to serve customers across the continent.

Moove will join Netradyne Europe, serving as a hub for regional sales, customer engagement, partnerships and market development. This structure allows Netradyne to increase growth in Europe while remaining close to customers, regulators, and partners.

Avneesh Agrawal, CEO and Co‑Founder, Netradyne, said, “Europe is a critical pillar of our global strategy. This acquisition reflects a clear commitment to building long‑term presence, leadership, and trust in the region. By bringing together Moove’s local expertise and relationships with Netradyne’s AI platform, we are uniquely positioned to support European fleets at scale while staying deeply anchored in the region.”

Moove’s leadership team has experience in the European regulatory and operational landscape for mobility. Jeroen Bruinooge, Former CEO of Moove Connected Mobility, will become SVP & GM, Europe at Netradyne. He will lead the European strategy, partnerships and customer success.

The teams will focus on solutions to help fleet operators with safety outcomes, driver performance, and operational insights. The acquisition also increases Netradyne’s ability to support customers seeking a platform across North America, Europe, and Asia. This move is part of Netradyne’s mission to build an AI company with investment in the markets it serves.

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Italian technology company Brembo has announced that its intelligent braking platform, Sensify, has entered commercial production for a major global vehicle manufacturer. The system is being fitted as standard across the entirety of the vehicles in the initial programme, representing the platform's first full industrial deployment.

Sensify is designed as a fluid-free architecture that replaces centralised hydraulic circuits with distributed intelligence at the wheel level. This design allows for the precision control, wherein the system enables continuous and accurate modulation of braking forces to maintain vehicle stability in variable driving conditions. The platform integrates with software-defined vehicle architectures, allowing manufacturers to deploy advanced functions across different vehicle segments. It is engineered to be adaptable with the technology supporting a range of applications from driver assistance systems to fully autonomous vehicles.

Following this production milestone, Brembo has secured additional contracts with new customers for the Sensify platform. The company expects to equip hundreds of thousands of vehicles annually, moving toward large-scale deployment of by-wire braking systems.

Daniele Schillaci, CEO, Brembo, said, “Sensify translates our vision of an intelligent, integrated braking platform into industrial reality. Designed to orchestrate the entire corner ecosystem, it supports safer mobility, while paving the way for the next generation of software-defined vehicles, reflecting our long-term purpose of shaping a Zero Accident Future”.

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Bengaluru-based technology company Tsuyo Manufacturing has been granted two patents for electric vehicle motor designs, increasing its portfolio to 29 innovations.

The company claims it has supplied 300,000 powertrains to 25 manufacturers across the commercial vehicle, agriculture and industrial sectors.

The first patent covers a bridge design for synchronous reluctance motors. This architecture increases torque density and efficiency whilst reducing energy losses and the requirement for rare-earth materials. The second patent focuses on a five-phase permanent magnet motor using a dual inverter system. This technology allows the motor to switch between modes for startup and torque demands and maintains operation if a phase failure occurs.

These technologies were developed through research and collaboration with the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur. The company recently received approval from the Government of Karnataka for a manufacturing expansion to increase powertrain production.

Vijay Kumar, Founder and CEO, Tsuyo Manufacturing, said, "These patents mark a significant milestone and recognition in our mission to develop and promote Design-In-India technology for both domestic and global EV markets. At Tsuyo, we are not merely creating components; we are engineering a comprehensive design approach, crafting fundamental technology to drive sustainable and impactful innovation. Our goal is to offer a resilient powertrain system that addresses real-world performance challenges in electric mobility. Our commitment to deep-tech innovation, supported by a strong in-house R&D team and robust academic collaborations, enables us to challenge conventional construction and topology in hardware. This approach allows us to create niche, modular designs that are manufacturable and scalable, delivering solutions that enhance efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness for OEMs. We take pride in being India's fastest research and engineering startup, consistently advancing our research from TRL1 to TRL9 levels. As India moves towards electrification, we are proud to contribute to the 'Design in India, for the world' vision while expanding our IP portfolio with numerous innovations in the pipeline."

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