Autocar Professional - Latest Articles

Highway Roop Acquires Chamundi, Adds Aluminium Die-Casting Capabilities

Eshisha Java — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 12:23:48

Highway Roop Precision Technologies, backed by Carlyle, has completed the acquisition of Chamundi Die Cast, an Indian manufacturer of precision-machined aluminium die-cast components for automotive and industrial applications.

The acquisition adds aluminium die-casting and precision-machining capabilities to Highway Roop’s existing forging and machining operations across steering, transmission and powertrain applications. The company said the deal will broaden its manufacturing capabilities and expand its lightweight engineered-component portfolio.

Chamundi also brings a portfolio of electric vehicle components and customer relationships across India, North America and Europe. Its manufacturing base in South India expands Highway Roop’s manufacturing footprint beyond its existing operations.

Highway Roop Expands Aluminium Die-Casting Capabilities

Chamundi has integrated capabilities covering tool design and manufacturing, high-pressure and gravity die-casting, precision machining, powder coating and assembly. The company was founded in 1985 and manufactures complex aluminium die-cast components for automotive and industrial applications.

Highway Roop said the acquisition complements its existing forging and precision-machining capabilities and enables it to offer a broader range of engineered components. The company manufactures components and assemblies for steering, transmission and powertrain systems used in electric, hybrid and internal-combustion engine vehicles.

Chamundi Adds EV Components And Export Operations

Chamundi has a growing portfolio of components for electric vehicle applications and serves customers across India, North America and Europe. Its South India facility provides Highway Roop with an additional manufacturing base and an established export-oriented operation.

Highway Roop Group CEO and director Dharmesh Arora said the acquisition expands the company’s capabilities in aluminium die-casting and precision machining while adding a South India manufacturing base. He said the combination is intended to bring the company closer to customers and diversify its manufacturing network.

Chamundi managing director Yasin Khan said the company will continue to hold a stake in the combined entity following the transaction. He said Highway Roop’s manufacturing capabilities and scale would support the company’s next phase of operations.

The acquisition forms part of Highway Roop’s plan to build a diversified precision-manufacturing platform focused on torque and control applications for automotive and industrial customers.

Carraro India Names Dheeraj Kumar Rai as Director of Manufacturing

Dev Vadchhedia — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:29:13

Carraro India announced that it has appointed Dheeraj Kumar Rai as its new Director of Manufacturing, designating him as Senior Management Personnel of the company effective October 1, 2026.

The appointment, cleared by the board of directors follows the superannuation of outgoing Director of Manufacturing Sanjay Kumar, who leaves office on September 30, 2026.

Dheeraj Kumar Rai's Role as Carraro India Director of Manufacturing

In his executive role, Carraro said Rai will oversee manufacturing operations, factory floor operational excellence, and overall equipment effectiveness across the company's production facilities.

Dheeraj Kumar Rai's Career: Tata Cummins, Meritor India, Suzlon

Prior to joining Carraro India, Rai handled manufacturing and engineering leadership responsibilities at automotive and industrial companies including Tata Cummins, Meritor India, Suzlon Energy, and Asia Motor Works.

BRANDED CONTENT: The Silicon Backbone of Next-Gen Mobility

Autocar Pro Branding Feature — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:10:52

The future of mobility is increasingly being shaped not by mechanical engineering alone but by software and the silicon that powers it. As vehicles evolve into intelligent, connected platforms capable of receiving over-the-air updates, running artificial intelligence workloads and delivering continuously improving user experiences, the semiconductors have emerged as the foundation of automotive innovation.

This transformation is driving the industry's transition toward Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs) vehicles whose capabilities are determined as much by software as by hardware. For automakers, however, this shift presents a significant challenge that how to accelerate innovation and software development while managing unprecedented levels of system complexity.

The importance of semiconductor innovation in this transition is reflected in broader industry trends. Semiconductor revenue worldwide grew by 21% in 2025 to reach approximately $793 billion. Automotive manufacturers are increasingly becoming part of this demand curve as vehicles require more powerful chips to support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), connectivity, infotainment, AI-enabled features and autonomous driving functions.

Against this backdrop, automotive development methodologies are being fundamentally reimagined.

Software Complexity Is Reshaping Vehicle Development

For decades, vehicle development followed a largely hardware-centric approach. Today, that model is rapidly giving way to software-defined architectures where functionality can be updated, enhanced and even monetized long after a vehicle leaves the factory floor.

While this shift opens new opportunities for innovation, it also introduces substantial complexity. Modern vehicle platforms integrate millions of lines of code running across multiple electronic control units, processors and increasingly sophisticated System-on-Chips (SoCs). Development teams are expected to deliver new capabilities faster than ever before, even as software and system complexity continue to increase.

The result is a growing mismatch between traditional development processes and the realities of SDV engineering. Software delays can impact launch schedules, limit feature rollouts and in some cases, jeopardize entire vehicle programs.

To address these challenges, many organizations are embracing "shift-left" development strategies, allowing software design, integration and testing to begin long before physical hardware becomes available. This approach relies heavily on virtualization and digital twin technologies that enable engineers to simulate real-world systems in virtual environments.

However, creating meaningful virtual representations of increasingly complex vehicle architectures remains a significant undertaking.

The Challenge of the Automotive Integration Storm

Complexity is only part of the problem. Equally challenging is the integration effort required to bring together software, hardware and system-level components developed by different teams across the automotive value chain.

In many organizations the hardware and software development continue to occur in parallel which are often within separate teams and workflows. As a result, critical interdependencies frequently remain hidden until late in the development cycle, when integration begins.

The consequences can be significant. Unforeseen interactions between software modules, silicon platforms and system architectures can create what many engineers describe as an "integration storm" a cascade of issues that emerges when disparate components are finally brought together.

As vehicles become increasingly dependent on advanced silicon platforms, the complexity of these interactions continues to grow. Today's automotive SoCs integrate heterogeneous processing architectures, AI engines, graphics processors and specialized accelerators on a single platform. Ensuring that software behaves as expected across these environments requires a level of system-level visibility that traditional development approaches often struggle to provide.

Without a continuous approach to design, validation and testing, integration risks can quickly become one of the biggest barriers to SDV success.

Why Silicon and Software Must Evolve Together

One of the defining characteristics of next-generation mobility is the growing interdependence between software and silicon.

Historically, hardware decisions often dictated software development. Increasingly, however, the software workloads are shaping hardware requirements. Automakers now need computing platforms capable of supporting advanced AI functions, immersive in-vehicle experiences and evolving software ecosystems throughout the vehicle lifecycle.

This trend mirrors broader developments across the semiconductor industry. The AI infrastructure and advanced computing platforms are among the key drivers of semiconductor market growth, underscoring the expanding role of high-performance silicon in enabling digital transformation across sectors.

For automotive organizations, this means software and hardware can no longer be developed in isolation. Development environments must allow teams to evaluate software performance, system behaviour and architectural decisions long before silicon is physically available.

This is where virtualization is becoming increasingly valuable.

Building a Holistic Digital Twin for the SDV Era

Digital twins have long been used across various stages of automotive development. However, many implementations remain fragmented, focused on individual components or isolated engineering domains rather than the complete vehicle system.

To unlock the full benefits of virtualization, organizations need a holistic approach one that enables engineers across disciplines to collaborate within a shared environment.

Such an environment must support multiple stakeholders:

Systems architects evaluating vehicle and SoC architectures.
Software developers building applications and firmware.
Validation and testing teams responsible for quality, safety and compliance.
Hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) engineers seeking to reduce expensive physical testing cycles.

A holistic digital twin enables these teams to work from a common system view, identify issues earlier and continuously validate software and hardware interactions throughout development.

Perhaps most importantly, it allows organizations to begin meaningful software development and testing before hardware becomes available, significantly reducing development risk and accelerating time-to-market.

The Road Ahead

The future of mobility will be defined by the seamless integration of software, silicon and systems engineering. As vehicles become more intelligent, connected and autonomous, the semiconductor platforms underpinning them will become increasingly critical to innovation.

Yet advanced silicon alone is not enough. The complexity of next-generation vehicle architectures requires new development methodologies capable of bringing software and hardware together earlier, faster and more effectively.

India is simultaneously strengthening its automotive manufacturing capabilities and expanding its semiconductor ecosystem. Multiple semiconductor projects have been approved across the country, with investments targeting applications including automotive, electric vehicles and advanced electronics. As software-defined mobility gains momentum, closer collaboration between automakers, software developers and semiconductor providers will become increasingly important.

Organizations that successfully combine advanced semiconductor platforms with holistic digital twin strategies will be better positioned to reduce development risk, accelerate innovation and deliver the software-defined experiences that consumers increasingly expect.

In that sense, silicon is no longer just a component of the vehicle it is rapidly becoming the backbone of next-generation mobility.

Ruchir Dixit is Vice President and Country Manager at Siemens EDA.

Exclusive: Honda to Source Horse 1.2-litre Engine for New Compact SUV

Ketan Thakkar — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 11:50:31

Honda Cars India is in talks with Horse Powertrain to outsource a 1.2-litre engine with petrol, hybrid and CNG options for an upcoming compact SUV, Autocar Professional has learnt.

Horse Powertrain is a joint venture between Renault Group and Geely, with Saudi Aramco as a shareholder, and it specialises in combustion and hybrid powertrains. It already has a foothold in India: the new Renault Duster, due to launch on October 17, will use a Horse 1.8-litre hybrid.

The company is keen to grow its customer base among Indian carmakers and is understood to be planning a local engine plant. Fully localised engines would give buyers like Honda a significant cost advantage.

For Honda, the move would be a major departure. Engines have long been the heart of its cars, and its reputation for performance, efficiency and reliability is built on them. Handing over this core component would once have been unthinkable.

However, Honda faces pressure on two fronts with its current 1.2- and 1.5-litre petrol line-up: It must meet tightening emission and fuel-efficiency norms, and it must offer the multiple fuel options Indian buyers increasingly want, especially CNG. Developing all of that in-house for a price-sensitive segment is costly, and sourcing a ready multi-fuel engine family would solve both problems at once.

The upcoming compact SUV is understood to be under evaluation with an existing Honda platform used in Indonesia. A price range of Rs 9 lakh to Rs 12 lakh and an October 2028 start of production have been discussed as project targets. Honda has not confirmed the vehicle or its specifications.

A New Way of Working

The engine discussions are part of a radical change in Honda’s strategy to develop cars for India, with specialist partners taking on a larger share of the work from the outset.

Tata Technologies is being engaged for vehicle design and engineering execution, while TCS is expected to work on the infotainment system. Honda wants design, testing and supplier development to proceed in parallel, helping it bring new vehicles to market faster.

The company is targeting a reduction in the development cycle for a full model change from around 49 months to about 30 months. This is a target for its proposed development process, not a confirmed timeline for the compact SUV.

Honda's new approach starts with the specifications and price required for India, rather than adapting a global product late in its development. The company would retain responsibility for overall vehicle performance targets and final validation, while engineering partners take a greater role in design, verification and supplier management.

Asked about the reported arrangements, Honda Cars India declined to confirm specific partners or programmes. "We work with a wide ecosystem of technology, engineering and supplier partners. However, we do not comment on specific partners, sourcing discussions or future powertrain programmes," a company spokesperson told Autocar Professional.

"Honda is continuously strengthening its product development capabilities in India, with the objective of developing products that are increasingly relevant to Indian customers while also leveraging India's growing engineering capabilities," the spokesperson added.

Cost competitiveness is central to the plan. Honda intends to make greater use of Indian engineering and suppliers while retaining its vehicle performance and durability targets. It also sees an opportunity to attract customers moving from two-wheelers to their first car. Many of them currently choose rival car brands despite owning a Honda two-wheeler.

PF2 Platform Plan Dropped
Separately, Autocar Professional understands that Honda has dropped the PF2 platform project, which had been expected to form the basis of the next-generation City sedan and Elevate SUV. The decision raises questions about which platform Honda will use for the successors to two of its key India models.

Honda Cars India declined to confirm the change. "We do not comment on speculation regarding specific future platforms or product-development programmes," the spokesperson said.

The company stressed that the decision should not be read as a plan to discontinue either model. "City and Elevate are important models for Honda in India, and both will continue to play an important role in our business," the spokesperson said.

Details of their future generations, platforms and technologies will be announced at the appropriate time, the spokesperson added. Honda declined to identify the architecture for future India-bound EVs.

It said India would play an increasingly important role as a manufacturing and development base, with future products drawing on Honda's global electrified technologies and local engineering capabilities.

Sedemac Begins Production at New Pune Plant

Dev Vadchhedia — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 21:02:55

Sedemac Mechatronics announced that it has commenced limited commercial production at its newly constructed manufacturing plant in Pune, Maharashtra. The unit, designated as Manufacturing Facility 3, expands the company's manufacturing footprint alongside its existing facilities in Chakan and Wadgaon Budruk.

In a regulatory filing submitted to the stock exchanges, the powertrain and mechatronics supplier stated that it will progressively operationalise the remaining manufacturing lines and processes across the site in phased cycles, with further disclosures planned as the plant moves toward full-scale commercial operations.

Sedemac said the new production capacity comes as it scales its supply of control-intensive automotive electronics, including ECUs, sensorless integrated starter-generator systems, and motor control units for internal combustion engines.

Endurance Technologies Starts Production at Rs 400 Crore Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Facility

Dev Vadchhedia — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 20:57:11

Endurance Technologies announced that it has commenced commercial production at its new greenfield manufacturing facility in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.

The operationalisation follows the board's approval in May 2024 to set up a dedicated plant for on an 11-acre land parcel, funded entirely through internal accruals at an estimated investment of approximately Rs 400.9 crore.

The facility is designed to manufacture aluminium die-cast parts alongside operations including machining, assemblies and advanced surface treatments. Endurance Technologies said the plant will cater to rising component demand across four-wheelers and non-automotive sectors, supplying structural and powertrain castings for both internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicle platforms.

At commissioning, the plant carries an initial installed production capacity of 900 metric tonnes of casting parts per month. The manufacturing layout has been engineered to allow scalable capacity expansion up to 1,100 metric tonnes per month.

CIE Automotive to Consolidate Aluminium Die-Casting Arm into Parent Company

Dev Vadchhedia — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 15:59:52

CIE Automotive India announced that it is consolidating its domestic aluminium die-casting business directly into the parent company, following an order from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) Mumbai Bench allowing its merger application.

The restructuring absorbs wholly-owned subsidiary CIE Aluminium Casting India Limited into the parent entity with an appointed date of April 1, 2026.

CIE says the integration directly addresses OEM sourcing shifts, where vehicle makers in the two-wheeler and passenger car domains are seeking full-system, lightweight aluminium assemblies to improve efficiency and reduce vehicular curb weight.

"The merger will facilitate improved leveraging of manufacturing and marketing capacities through coordinated capacity planning, optimisation and load balancing across facilities," the company stated, adding that the merger is expected to "enhance cross-selling opportunities across the OEM relationships of both entities."

BlueBinaries Acquires MicroNova Automotive Testing Unit to Form NovaBinaries

Dev Vadchhedia — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:47:53

Chennai-based BlueBinaries announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the automotive testing business of Germany-based software and systems supplier MicroNova AG. Following the transaction, the carved-out division will operate as an independent entity within the group under the name NovaBinaries GmbH. With an initial projected annual revenue of $50 million, BlueBinaries plans to scale the combined operation to $100 million in annual revenue over the coming years.

MicroNova AG has operated in the automotive technology domain for three decades, specializing in hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) test systems and other tools used across European OEM testing environments. NovaBinaries GmbH will integrate these technologies and software test factories with BlueBinaries' engineering delivery operations.

Kishore LM, Founder and COO of BlueBinaries, said, "The acquisition of Automotive Testing business from MicroNova is a strategic leap that enhances our ability to offer right technology solutions across automotive software testing."

BKT Tyres Opens Sankagiri Hub To Expand CV Radial Presence

Eshisha Java — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:14:18

Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has strengthened its commercial vehicle radial (CVR) tyre distribution network in Tamil Nadu with the inauguration of a 10,000 sq ft facility in Sankagiri, Salem. The facility is operated by authorised distributor Sri Jayanthi Roadways and will serve eight markets — Salem, Sankagiri, Namakkal, Erode, Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Karur.

The new hub is intended to improve the availability of BKT's CVR tyre portfolio and provide a local touchpoint for fleet operators, dealers and channel partners. Sankagiri is a trucking and logistics hub connecting Salem, Coimbatore and Kerala, positioning the facility along a key freight movement corridor.

The move is part of BKT's efforts to expand its on-highway tyre business in India and increase its presence in the commercial vehicle segment. The company said Tamil Nadu is a priority market for its CVR business due to its road infrastructure, freight movement and commercial transport ecosystem.

BKT Tyres Expands CVR Distribution In Tamil Nadu

As part of the facility's inauguration, BKT held a Partner Connect programme on September 23, bringing together dealers, fleet operators and representatives from the regional transport ecosystem. A flag-off ceremony was also held for seven commercial vehicles fitted with BKT tyres.

The event included participation from the Sankagiri Lorry Owners Association (SLOA), which represents more than 3,300 members, along with representatives from the regional transport and fleet community.

BKT's National Sales Head for Commercial Vehicle Radial Tyres, Amitkumar Agarwal, said the Sankagiri facility is intended to improve product access and strengthen relationships with fleet operators, transporters and channel partners. He also pointed to the partnership with Sri Jayanthi Roadways, which has more than four decades of industry experience, as part of the company's distribution expansion in South India.

The company said the facility forms part of its continued expansion of its CVR portfolio in India, targeting the requirements of the commercial transportation sector. BKT had previously announced its entry into the two-wheeler, passenger car and commercial vehicle tyre markets in India.

BKT, headquartered in Mumbai, manufactures off-highway tyres and has a portfolio of more than 3,600 specialised products covering agriculture, industrial, construction, mining, earthmoving and material handling applications. The company said it serves customers across 163 countries. Its manufacturing ecosystem also includes in-house carbon black production and R&D centres focused on application-specific tyre design.

Hero Motors Lists at Rs 82.10 on BSE, Closes Day One Valued at Rs 4,474 Crore

Autocar Professional Bureau — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 19:02:43

Hero Motors Limited made its market debut on Wednesday, listing at Rs 82.10 on the BSE and Rs 82.00 on the National Stock Exchange against an issue price of Rs 84.00 per equity share. Following the opening, buying momentum lifted the counter to an intraday high of Rs 98.51 on the BSE and Rs 98.40 on the NSE during the first day of trading.

Hero Motors said trading volumes reached 1,398.43 lakh shares on the NSE and 171.66 lakh shares on the BSE, taking combined day-one turnover across the two exchanges to Rs 1,435.5 crore. At the close of Wednesday's trading session, the company's total market capitalisation stood at Rs 4,474.48 crore on the BSE and Rs 4,469.48 crore on the NSE.

The primary market offering, which sought to raise approximately Rs 1,000 crore, had opened for subscription between September 16 and September 18, 2026. The issue closed with an overall subscription of 6.66 times.

Imperial Auto Opens Global Technology Centre in Germany

Dev Vadchhedia — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:22:14

Imperial Auto announced that it has inaugurated a Global Technology Centre in Backnang, Germany, to expand its engineering footprint and customer engagement across the European automotive supply chain. The technical centre will function as a hub, connecting OEMs in Europe with the company's global engineering and production operations.

The Backnang centre is positioned to facilitate joint engineering and industrialisation programs directly with European original equipment manufacturers and Tier-1 automotive suppliers, supporting technical knowledge sharing with the company's central development teams.

Vikram Wagh on Imperial Auto's Europe Growth Plans

Vikram Wagh, Managing Director and CEO, Imperial Auto, said, "Europe is an important market for Imperial Auto, and establishing a dedicated technology center in Germany is a significant step in our global growth journey. The center will strengthen our ability to work closely with customers, understand their evolving technology and product requirements, and translate these insights into innovative solutions. Being closer to our customers will enable faster technical responses, more effective collaboration and stronger product development."

TCS Extends Jaguar Formula E Title Sponsorship for GEN4

Dev Vadchhedia — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 14:15:03

Tata Consultancy Services announced that it has signed a multi-year extension of its title partnership with Jaguar TCS Racing ahead of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship entering the GEN4 regulation cycle. TCS also said it is expanding its technical scope to become the team's Official AI Partner.

Under the expanded role, TCS says it will apply AI models and simulation tools across the team's trackside operations and engineering systems. The technical findings from the program are intended to support the development of Jaguar's next-generation road-going electric vehicles under parent company JLR's broader electrification roadmap.

TCS on Jaguar's Teams' World Championship Win and the GEN4 Era

Abhinav Kumar, Global Chief Marketing Officer, TCS, said, "At the close of a great season, culminating in the Teams' World Championship, we are pleased to extend our partnership and build on that momentum as Formula E enters the GEN4 era. With this renewal, we will further harness AI and advanced technologies to unlock new performance opportunities to help Jaguar TCS Racing compete for more podiums and championship wins."

Garware Hi-Tech Films, Lubrizol Sign MoU For TPU-Based PPF Films

Eshisha Java — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 11:50:00

Garware Hi-Tech Films (GHFL) and Lubrizol have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop and manufacture thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)-based film solutions in India. The collaboration will combine Lubrizol’s TPU technology with GHFL’s engineering, processing and manufacturing capabilities.

The partnership is aimed at developing TPU-based products for automotive, architectural, industrial, electronics and other specialty applications. It will also allow GHFL to integrate TPU film production into its premium paint protection film (PPF) operations.

GHFL is investing approximately ₹118 crore in the TPU film extrusion and manufacturing platform, with nearly 25 percent of the investment earmarked for new product development and technology capabilities. The company said the facility is expected to be operational by December 2026.

Garware Hi-Tech Films To Add In-House TPU Extrusion

The dedicated TPU extrusion facility is expected to provide GHFL with in-house production of a key input for its premium PPF business. The company said the facility is expected to be India’s first dedicated TPU extrusion platform for premium PPF.

The TPU setup will accompany an expansion of GHFL’s PPF manufacturing capacity to more than 600 LSF. According to the company, greater integration between TPU processing and PPF manufacturing is expected to improve control over the input, manufacturing efficiency and supply-chain resilience, while reducing dependence on imported TPU films.

GHFL expects the initiative to support an incremental 150-200 basis-point improvement in consolidated EBITDA margins. This is a company projection rather than a reported financial outcome.

Lubrizol TPU Technology To Support New Film Applications

Under the MoU, Lubrizol will provide its TPU technology and material science expertise, while GHFL will handle engineering, processing and manufacturing. The companies intend to use the platform to develop and commercialise new TPU-based products in India.

The companies have identified automotive, architectural, industrial and electronics applications as potential areas for the TPU film platform. GHFL said the dedicated extrusion capability is intended to shorten product development, prototyping and commercialisation timelines.

Lubrizol said its ESTANE TPU technology would be used to support PPF applications focused on durability, appearance retention and protection.

GHFL PPF Capacity To Exceed 600 LSF

The TPU initiative is linked to GHFL’s broader expansion of its premium PPF manufacturing capacity. The company said its PPF capacity will increase to more than 600 LSF, while the new TPU platform is expected to strengthen backward integration.

GHFL said the localisation of TPU processing is also intended to support product development and reduce reliance on imported TPU films. The company positioned the investment as part of its development of domestic speciality-material processing capabilities.

Attero Begins Operations at Greater Noida R&D Centre for Critical Mineral Extraction

Autocar Professional Bureau — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 17:16:23

Attero announced on Tuesday that it has operationalised a new research and development centre of excellence in Greater Noida to develop proprietary technologies across critical mineral extraction. The facility will support technology upgrades and process engineering across the company's recycling, refining, and mid-stream processing units in India and overseas.

The centre has secured formal recognition from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research under the Ministry of Science and Technology as an in-house industrial R&D centre, valid through March 2029.

Nitin Gupta on Attero's New R&D Framework

Nitin Gupta, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Attero, said, "The operationalisation of this Centre of Excellence marks an important step in strengthening our ability to develop technologies for increasingly complex secondary resources. The DSIR recognition further strengthens this in-house R&D framework and supports our focus on developing indigenous technologies for critical mineral recovery, advanced recycling and refining."

Amkette Launches AirPulse Tyre Inflator Series

Dev Vadchhedia — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 16:49:14

Amkette has expanded its automotive aftermarket product line with the launch of its AirPulse series of tyre inflators. The new lineup comprises five models spanning wired, cordless hybrid, and multi-functional battery jump-starter configurations, with launch prices ranging from Rs 1,399 to Rs 5,499.

The portfolio includes the entry-level AirPulse S100 wired inflator priced at Rs 1,399, followed by the AirPulse X200 cordless portable inflator at Rs 1,799, the AirPulse S300 2-in-1 hybrid at Rs 1,899, and the AirPulse X300 2-in-1 hybrid at Rs 2,099. The flagship offering, the AirPulse Pro X400, is positioned at Rs 5,499 and combines tyre inflation with an emergency vehicle battery jump starter.

AirPulse Series Features and Safety Specifications

Across the baseline range, the devices feature a copper motor capable of generating up to a claimed 120 PSI working pressure and a maximum rated pressure of 150 PSI. The inflators include preset calibration modes for passenger cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and sporting equipment, alongside multi-unit pressure reading support. Integrated safety features include built-in overheat protection systems and multi-mode emergency LED hazard lights.

AirPulse S100: Entry-Level Wired Inflator Specifications

The entry-level AirPulse S100 draws 12-volt direct current power via a five-metre vehicle cigarette lighter cable, capable of inflating a standard 195/65 R15 car tyre from zero to 35 PSI in approximately eight to nine minutes. The mid-tier cordless variants incorporate lithium battery packs for remote use, with the S300 featuring a 4,500 milliamp-hour unit and the X200 and X300 utilizing 5,400 milliamp-hour packs with dual LED pressure readouts and five-watt power bank charging capabilities.

AirPulse Pro X400: Tyre Inflator With Built-In Jump Starter

At the top of the range, the AirPulse Pro X400 integrates a 6,000 milliamp-hour lithium battery pack and an air compressor covering a range from 3 to 150 PSI. Designed to assist during battery failure emergencies, the unit incorporates an 800-ampere peak jump starter delivering 300 amperes of starting current for 12-volt petrol and diesel engines, paired with reverse-polarity protected smart clamps and automatic ignition cut-off safety circuits.

LANXESS Switches to Pipeline-Supplied Hydrogen for German Pigment Plant Dryer

Dev Vadchhedia — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:56:47

LANXESS announced that it has converted the spray dryer at its Krefeld-Uerdingen production site in Germany from natural gas to continuous hydrogen fuel operation, cutting site emissions by approximately 6,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

The spray dryer, used to dry iron oxide pigments, represents one of the first large-scale industrial drying systems in Germany to transition to hydrogen fuel in continuous commercial operation. The hydrogen is supplied directly by neighbouring materials manufacturer Covestro, which generates the gas as an industrial byproduct during chlorine electrolysis, transferring it to LANXESS via an integrated pipeline.

How LANXESS Converted the Spray Dryer to Hydrogen

LANXESS installed the dedicated hydrogen burner at the end of 2025 and has progressively brought the unit online. Engineered to operate entirely on hydrogen fuel, the technical integration required dedicated supply piping, customized burner hardware, revised measurement and control instrumentation, and specialized safety systems.

LANXESS on Decarbonizing Pigment Production

Michael Ertl, Head of the Inorganic Pigments business unit at LANXESS, said, "Switching from a natural gas burner to a hydrogen burner is a significant technological step towards low-greenhouse-gas processes. We are proving that decarbonizing industry works not only in pilot projects, but also in the day-to-day operation of large production facilities."

Prime Industries Appoints Deepak Handa as Director to Lead Precision Engineering Expansion

Dev Vadchhedia — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 15:17:34

Prime Industries announced that it has appointed Deepak Handa as a Director of the company, as it sets up a research and development incubation centre to design and manufacture components for its Special Purpose Division (SPD).

Deepak Handa's Background in Auto Manufacturing

Handa brings more than 25 years of experience across automotive component manufacturing, business development, and plant operations. He currently serves as Technical Director of Operations and Business Development at Omega Bright Steel, overseeing multiple manufacturing sites. His operational background also covers quality management and compliance under various frameworks.

Handa said, "Precision engineering is at the heart of the next phase of industrial manufacturing. I look forward to strengthening Prime Industries Ltd.’s capabilities in quality-driven manufacturing and new product development, supporting its vision to become a trusted leader in precision engineering for Defence, Nuclear and Special Product Divisions."

Volvo’s 20:1 Compression Ratio Breakthrough: How Dual-Wave Pistons Could Deliver 4% Fuel Savings for Indian Fleets

Shahkar Abidi — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 19:55:30

GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Some of the most valuable real estate in a diesel engine is a shallow steel bowl about the size of a dinner plate: the crown of the piston, where fuel meets air and money is either made or burned. Volvo Trucks' new 13-litre engine platform, launching first in Europe, Morocco, Turkey and India, rests on a fresh revision of the company's signature claim to that real estate: the patented wave piston.

A Traffic Problem, Solved in Steel

The original insight, dating to 2016, came from computer modelling of what actually happens inside a firing cylinder. A diesel injector sprays fuel that ignites before reaching the cylinder wall; the flame strikes the piston bowl's wall at up to 50 metres per second, spreads along it, and collides with the flames from neighbouring spray jets. Where the flames collide, they compete for the available oxygen, while the oxygen sitting in the centre of the combustion chamber goes largely unused. The result is incomplete burning, and incomplete burning means soot: wasted fuel that ends up clogging exhaust filters instead of turning the wheels.

Volvo's answer was to sculpt ridges/waves into the piston bowl so that each flame front, instead of crashing into its neighbour, is steered back towards the oxygen-rich centre of the chamber. The elegance of the fix drew notice well beyond the trucking trade: the solution halved the soot particles emitted by the engine and cut fuel consumption by an average of 2 per cent.

Now, Twice the Waves

The patented new engines take the concept a generation further. Volvo's launch material describes "dual waves in the piston bowl" alongside broader design improvements, promising more power and torque while lowering emissions.

The doubled waves arrive alongside a compression ratio of 20:1, up from 18:1 on the outgoing engine, as confirmed on the specification sheets shown at the Gothenburg launch. This means the engine squeezes its air-fuel charge harder before ignition, extracting more work from every drop of diesel. Combined with a new variable-geometry turbocharger and a revised fuel-injection system, Volvo credits the package with up to 4 percent additional fuel savings and a new top rating of 560hp and 2,900Nm of torque.

The gas-fuelled G13 gets its own first: Volvo's launch presentation confirmed the introduction of a single-wave piston for the gas engine, bringing combustion-shaping technology to a powertrain that burns liquefied natural gas with a small pilot dose of diesel, and lifting its low-end torque by 300Nm to match the diesel's.

Why the Ripples Reach India

For Indian trucking, fuel is the largest single operating cost for a fleet, typically accounting for 40 to 50 percent of the total. In the premium segment, where Volvo's FM and FMX trucks work on Indian mines and highways, buyers justify a price two to three times that of a mainstream domestic truck almost entirely on fuel efficiency and uptime. A 2 percent saving from the original wave piston, compounded by up to 4 percent from the new platform, is the arithmetic that the sales pitch runs on.

The soot story matters for a distinctly Indian reason, too. Diesel particulate filters, mandatory since the BS-VI emission norms of 2020, have proven troublesome in Indian duty cycles; low-speed, heavily loaded mining and construction work does not generate the sustained exhaust heat that keeps filters clean, forcing frequent regenerations that burn fuel and require trucks to idle. An engine that produces less soot in the first place attacks that problem at its source rather than in the exhaust pipe.

Video: ZF Group Plans to Scale Its India Business by 3X

Prerna Lidhoo — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:27:53

ZF Group India is targeting 2–3x overall growth in the coming years as it expands local manufacturing, strengthens its R&D capabilities and increases its focus on exports, according to ZF Group India President Akash Passey.

India is emerging as a key growth engine for ZF as the company broadens its role from a component supplier to a mobility integrator, with operations spanning passenger cars, commercial vehicles, industrial technology and renewable energy.

ZF's Manufacturing 4.0 and R&D Push in India

Passey said ZF is focusing on expanding local manufacturing while strengthening its R&D and testing capabilities in India. The company is also looking to scale the adoption of Manufacturing 4.0 technologies as it increases production and develops capabilities for both domestic and global markets.

ZF Targets 4-5X Local Sourcing and Export Growth

As part of its growth strategy, ZF is targeting a 4–5x increase in local sourcing. The company is also looking to expand its export footprint from India, with free trade agreements (FTAs) expected to play a role in improving the competitiveness of locally manufactured products in global markets.

Supply chain resilience remains another focus area as ZF seeks to address challenges related to sourcing and global disruptions. Increasing localisation is expected to help the company strengthen its supply base while supporting its manufacturing and export ambitions.

ZF's Push into Sustainability and Software-Defined Vehicles

ZF is also expanding its focus beyond conventional automotive applications, with safety and sustainability among its key areas. The company has interests in wind energy and is also preparing for emerging automotive technologies such as software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

Passey said ZF’s strategy in India is centred on integrating its capabilities across different mobility segments while using the country’s manufacturing and engineering base to support both domestic growth and its global operations.

Odisha Plans 871-Acre ‘Silicon Valley’ as SiC Push Targets EVs

Mukul Yudhveer Singh — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:15:54

Odisha is planning an around 871-acre semiconductor and electronics manufacturing hub near Naraj, between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, which Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi described as an “Odisha Silicon Valley”.

Speaking at Semicon India 2026 in New Delhi, Majhi said the state is creating a land bank for the proposed hub and has held discussions with around 10-12 companies as it looks to bring more semiconductor and electronics manufacturing to Odisha.

The plan coincides with the development of SiCSem’s silicon carbide, or SiC, semiconductor facility in the state. EVs and fast chargers are among the identified applications for devices to be manufactured at the facility.

SiC brings automotive link

SiCSem is working with UK-based Clas-SiC Wafer Fab to establish an integrated silicon carbide compound semiconductor facility in Odisha. Approved under the India Semiconductor Mission, the project is planned with an annual fabrication capacity of 60,000 wafers and packaging capacity of 96 million units.

Apart from EVs and fast chargers, the devices are intended for applications across railways, defence equipment, data centres, consumer appliances and solar power inverters.

Silicon carbide has emerged as an important power semiconductor technology for electric vehicles, particularly in areas such as traction inverters and power conversion. Its ability to operate efficiently at higher voltages also makes it relevant for fast-charging systems.

The project moved another step forward on September 15 when the Unit Approval Committee of Falta Special Economic Zone approved SiCSem’s proposal for a semiconductor manufacturing unit at IDCO Infovalley-II in Khordha district.

Spread across 21.889 acres, the unit entails an investment of Rs 3,406.25 crore and is proposed to manufacture SiC diodes and SiC MOSFETs. It is expected to generate 1,270 jobs, with annual production envisaged at 4.8 million SiC diodes and 91.2 million SiC MOSFETs.

Building a wider chip base

Odisha is also home to 3D Glass Solutions’ advanced semiconductor packaging project. The Rs 1,943 crore facility is designed for advanced 3D heterogeneous integration using glass substrates and has a planned annual production capacity of 50 million assembled units.

The state is also developing research capabilities around compound semiconductors. SiCSem and IIT Bhubaneswar have been working on indigenous SiC crystal growth, including technology for 150mm and 200mm SiC wafers, aimed at building domestic capability in power semiconductor devices.

For the automotive sector, the SiCSem project gives Odisha’s semiconductor programme a direct link with electric mobility. The proposed 871-acre hub near Naraj would provide the state with additional space to bring semiconductor and electronics manufacturers into the cluster as it looks to build out its chip manufacturing base.