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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Porsche is set to bring a new level of entertainment to its vehicles through a collaboration with AirConsole, a leading in-car gaming platform. The new Porsche Macan, arriving later this year, will be the first model to feature a curated library of multiplayer games, transforming car rides into a shared entertainment experience.

The integration allows passengers to use their smartphones as controllers to play a variety of games on the vehicle’s infotainment screen. When the car is parked, all passengers, including the driver, can participate. While on the move, gaming is restricted to the front passenger display, ensuring the driver remains focused on the road. The system uses Porsche’s integrated screen privacy features to keep the display safe and distraction-free.

Anthony Cliquot, CEO, AirConsole, said, “Our collaboration with Porsche is a powerful signal of how quickly AirConsole is scaling in the automotive industry. In just two years since launching our in-car platform, we’ve partnered with some of the world’s most respected car brands, now including Porsche. This momentum confirms that gaming has a meaningful place in the future of mobility, and we’re proud to be leading that evolution.”

To access AirConsole, users can simply download the app from the Porsche App Centre. Passengers then connect their smartphones by scanning a QR code on the screen, with no need for additional hardware. The platform supports up to five players, allowing for both collaborative and competitive sessions.

AirConsole specialises in casual, short-session games that are optimised for the in-car environment. The growing catalogue includes popular titles like Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Overcooked, and UNO Car Party!, ensuring a wide range of options for passengers.

The AirConsole platform will be available in the new Macan starting at the end of this year, rolling out in all markets where Porsche Connect is offered, with the exception of China.

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Japanese automotive major Honda Motor Co, has announced that it will present a wide range of mobility products and technologies at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, scheduled from 29 October to 9 November at Tokyo Big Sight.

The company said it will display automobiles, motorcycles, power products, aircraft and concept models under its theme of ‘The Power of Dreams.’ Among the highlights will be the Honda 0 Series EV models, due for global market introduction in 2026, as well as the full-size interior mock-up of the HondaJet Elite II, which allows visitors to experience its spacious cabin.

Key exhibits will include the Honda 0 Saloon Prototype and Honda 0 SUV Prototype, both making their Japan debut. Honda will also present production models such as the CUV e:, a Class-2 electric commuter powered by swappable batteries and the Rebel 1100 S Edition cruiser with dual clutch transmission.

Beyond land-based vehicles, Honda will showcase the Honda BF350 outboard motor and the HondaJet Elite II business jet interior. The brand will also participate in programmes organised by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), including the Tokyo Future Tour 2035 and the Mobility Culture Programme.

Honda said: “The Honda booth is designed to enable the visitors to experience dream-inspiring mobility products Honda created with its original technologies and ideas while being driven by its own dreams.”

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Bengaluru-based design and technology services major Tata Elxsi and Japanese auto major Suzuki Motor Corporation have inaugurated the Suzuki–Tata Elxsi Cloud HIL Centre in Trivandrum, India.

The new centre is Suzuki’s first full-vehicle cloud-enabled Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) validation facility and represents the second engineering centre established under the Tata Elxsi–Suzuki partnership, following the Offshore Development Centre (ODC) in Pune.

The new facility is engineered for early-stage, full-vehicle simulation and validation through a cloud-native infrastructure. It will allow the Japanese automaker’s development and test teams to remotely access HIL infrastructure integrated with Electronic Control Units (ECUs) – reducing reliance on physical prototypes and accelerating validation cycles across R&D centres worldwide. This aligns with Suzuki’s roadmap for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), reinforcing a shift toward software-led, scalable development.

Being purpose-built, the facility integrates Tata Elxsi’s domain expertise in automotive Verification and Validation (V&V), test automation and simulation, which it claims enables transformative advancements in development speed, quality and future readiness.

The Cloud HIL Centre is part of Suzuki’s global ‘SDV Right’ strategy for Electrical and Electronic (E/E) Virtual Development, which is set to play a foundational role in delivering continuous integration, faster release cycles and system reliability.

Katsuhiro Kato, Director and Executive Vice-President, Suzuki Motor Corporation, said, “The Suzuki-Tata Elxsi Cloud HIL Centre is a new base that leverages Tata Elxsi's expertise and deep experience to build an advanced and efficient development system. We hope that Suzuki will promote virtualisation to realise minimisation of energy and contribute to the development of next-generation mobility significantly."

Manoj Raghavan, CEO and Managing Director, Tata Elxsi, said, “We thank Kato-san and Suzuki Motor Corporation for their continued trust. This new Cloud HIL Centre builds on the strong foundation of our Pune ODC and marks a forward leap in our SDV-focused collaboration. It reflects our shared vision for sustainable and smarter mobility.”

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L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has launched PLxAI, a new proprietary generative AI (GenAI) framework designed to accelerate and optimise the product development life cycle for its global clients. The framework, developed by the company's in-house experts, aims to streamline the process from initial concept to post-launch support.

PLxAI leverages both generative and conventional AI to offer a comprehensive solution for developing scalable and reusable solutions across the entire product development process. It is built with a versatile architecture that makes it adaptable for both embedded systems and software development.

A key feature of PLxAI is its ability to capture and utilise existing knowledge, including an organisation's internal or 'tribal' knowledge. This helps it provide context-aware insights that enhance product engineering. The framework also integrates smart prompting and contextual intelligence to improve every stage of the process, from initial design to final validation and aftermarket support.

LTTS has already deployed over 36 use cases of PLxAI, with an additional 35 in the design phase. These applications span various stages of product development, including:

• Concept Design: Assisting with competitive analysis and technology scouting.
• Component Design: Generating specifications, diagrams and calculations.
• Validation Planning: Automatically creating Design Validation Plans and DFMEA templates.
• Failure Mode Analysis: Generating customisable FMEA documents using organisational templates.
• Digital Twin Integration: Supporting both physical and virtual testing workflows.
• Agentic Workflows: Using proactive agents to automate multi-step engineering tasks.

Alind Saxena, President & Executive Director - Mobility & Tech, L&T Technology Services, said,“This is a proud milestone for Team LTTS. The development of PLxAI by our in-house AI experts is a testimony to LTTS’ engineering and technology capabilities. It reaffirms our deep commitment toward driving global client success across Mobility, Sustainability and Tech leveraging the power of AI and Gen-AI based offerings. The enthusiasm from our global clients has been remarkable, with deployments already underway across multiple domains.”

By accelerating innovation and optimising costs, LTTS believes that PLxAI will redefine how businesses approach product development, unlocking new avenues for growth and efficiency.

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