ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) India, a leading provider of advanced automotive safety systems, has inaugurated its new Electronic Stability Control (ESC) test track in Chennai. The new facility will complement ZF’s existing ABS test track.

The new ESC test track the company said provides a controlled environment for rigorous testing of vehicle stability, agility, and handling performance.

ZF CVS says the ESC track certified by TUV Rheinland and ARAI, is equipped to test a wide range of vehicles, from two-wheelers to heavy commercial vehicles. The track will also be available for customers and third parties to conduct their own testing at the facility.  

The ESC track has a 200-metre diameter dynamic pad with a 0.9 µ surface friction providing a relatively high degree of grip, which allows for precise measurement of a vehicle's performance, such as acceleration, braking and cornering, helping engineers understand the vehicle’s limits. It can also test components under maximum stress, revealing areas for further potential development.

The 600-metre approach roads enable the simulation of real-world driving conditions, including challenging scenarios like slippery roads, sharp turns and sudden braking.

P Kaniappan, MD, ZF Commercial Vehicles Solutions, said, "The inauguration of this world-class ESC test track is a significant achievement for ZF CVS India. This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to accelerate the development and testing of advanced safety systems, pushing the boundaries of vehicle safety while delivering innovative solutions that save lives. By investing in cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, we continue to stay committed to shaping the future of automotive safety. The ESC test track is a testament to our dedication to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. By collaborating with leading industry experts and deploying the latest testing methodologies, we are driving the development of advanced safety systems that enhance vehicle performance and protect lives.”

Dr Christian Brenneke, Executive Vice-President, Division Electronics and ADAS, And Member of the Supervisory Board in India, said, "This new facility is a fantastic achievement by the entire team. After years of planning, it is impressive to see the ESC track coming to fruition. Having this world-class facility in India not only benefits our customers but also strengthens our vision for road safety and innovation as a Group. The hard work that has gone in to creating this facility enables us to focus more effectively on customer needs and I’m excited to see us build further on this.”

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Hyundai Mobis has established an integrated data management and validation system designed to test electronic control units (ECUs) for software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and autonomous driving.

The platform links real-world road test data with simulators to replicate driving scenarios, addressing the requirement from global carmakers for data-based validation results spanning tens of thousands of hours.

The system utilises a platform that connects multiple simulators in parallel to reflect various validation scenarios.

Hyundai Mobis intends to expand this infrastructure to link up to 60 simulators, which would allow the company to complete 10,000 hours of evaluation within a one-week period. This process typically requires several years of physical test driving under standard real-world conditions.

By integrating sensors mounted on test vehicles, the system collects data from diverse driving and parking environments. It can replicate specific conditions that are difficult to reproduce consistently in reality, such as nighttime driving, heavy rain and unexpected road incidents, by combining them with virtual simulations.

This approach is intended to assess the recognition performance and stability of radar, cameras, LiDAR and ultrasonic sensors.

Hyundai Mobis will use this system to validate algorithms for autonomous driving sensors and various ECUs as part of its strategy to acquire global orders for SDV components. The company plans to enhance the system through data integration and collaboration with its research hubs worldwide.

Ko Bongchul, Chief of Automotive Electronics R&D at Hyundai Mobis, said, “In the era of SDVs and autonomous driving, evaluation and validation are just as critical as technology development. We expect that establishing this evaluation and validation system will simultaneously expand the speed and scope of validation, thereby significantly boosting our competitiveness in securing orders for core SDV components.”

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TomTom, the location technology specialist, has announced the appointment of Mike Schoofs as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Management Board. The decision was formalised following approval by shareholders at the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM also confirmed the appointment of Co-founder and former CEO Harold Goddijn to the Supervisory Board, alongside Joep van Beurden, while Derk Haank was reappointed as a member.

Schoofs joined TomTom in 2005 after holding positions at KPN-Orange and Samsung. During his tenure, he has served in various commercial leadership roles globally and within specific regions. In 2023, he assumed the role of Chief Revenue Officer, where he managed the company’s commercial strategy and expanded its enterprise business footprint. A Belgian national based in Amsterdam, Schoofs also serves as an advisor to several European startups.

The leadership transition occurs as the company focuses on the integration of artificial intelligence within location intelligence and the provision of data for its partners. TomTom’s strategy remains focused on scaling its commercial presence across all business segments under the new executive structure.

Derk Haank, Chairman of TomTom’s Supervisory Board, said, “Mike brings extensive commercial leadership experience and deep knowledge of TomTom’s business, built over more than two decades with the company. We are confident that he is well positioned to lead TomTom in its next phase.”

Mike Schoofs, said, “I’m excited to lead TomTom at a moment when location intelligence is reaching a decisive turning point, accelerated by AI and the growing need for trusted, real‑world data. I look forward to creating lasting impact for our customers and our partners.”

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IVECO BUS Academy is incorporating virtual reality (VR) into its training curriculum to support the maintenance and operation of electric vehicles across Europe. The initiative follows a year in which the academy trained 6,100 people across 800 sessions in 2025. This integration aims to address the technical skills required for high-voltage vehicle systems while ensuring safety and operational efficiency.

The use of VR technology allows trainees to perform maintenance procedures in a simulated environment, eliminating physical risks associated with incorrect handling of electrical components. The immersive system enables repetitive practice of technical operations and reproduces complex scenarios that are difficult to simulate in conventional training environments. By utilising these tools, the academy seeks to improve knowledge retention and the long-term proficiency of technical teams.

The academy provides training tailored to the requirements of transport operators, updating its content to reflect changes in energy sources, vehicle technology and industry regulations. These programmes are delivered both at the academy's facilities and on-site at customer premises. The deployment of VR is intended to reduce downtime for vehicle fleets by improving the diagnostic capabilities of service personnel.

Teresa Magno, IVECO BUS Academy, said, “At IVECO BUS Academy, we know that delivering sustainable mobility extends far beyond the product itself. A vehicle is only truly efficient when it is supported by the right services. Fleet availability also relies on the expertise of skilled teams. As technologies evolve, so do the competencies required for diagnostics. With these new educational tools, IVECO BUS Academy confirms its ambition to provide comprehensive solutions, where training becomes a real driver of performance, safety and customer satisfaction.”

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IndiGo Ventures has completed a INR 100 million strategic equity investment in Sarla Aviation, marking a formal entry into the Indian electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector.

The funding was part of a recent round led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath. The partnership is intended to establish an infrastructure for air taxi operations across India, specifically targeting transport corridors between zero and 300 kilometres.

Sarla Aviation is a startup focusing on the development of hybrid-electric aircraft platforms. The firm operates a private eVTOL demonstrator and employs an engineering team with previous experience at international firms including Lilium, Joby and Volocopter.

By utilising electric flight technology, the company aims to provide transport services for airport transfers, inter-city commutes and emergency medical runs at lower costs than traditional helicopter services.

The collaboration pairs Sarla's hardware development with the operational infrastructure of IndiGo, India's largest airline. At present, IndiGo operates over 2,000 daily flights across 85 airports and maintains a national network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. This investment aligns with global trends where major carriers, such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have backed eVTOL manufacturers to secure future urban air mobility solutions.

Beyond passenger transport, the investment is expected to influence the domestic aerospace supply chain, including the production of composites, avionics and battery systems. Potential routes identified for future operations include Bengaluru Airport to Electronic City and Gurugram to Noida, which could see transit times reduced from over 90 minutes to approximately 15 minutes.

Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, said, “IndiGo’s investment marks a turning point — not just for Sarla, but for the future of how India moves. For decades, Indians have accepted that distance means delay, that geography is a constraint you live with. We believe that era is ending. Having IndiGo — the airline that made flying accessible to hundreds of millions of Indians — stand behind this vision gives it a weight and credibility that we could not have built alone. India has always dreamed big. Now we have the partners to match the dream.”

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