Eurogrip Tyres has launched Trailhound tyres in India. Offered in international markets until now, the Trailhound range of tyres come in two variants – Trailhound SCR for modern-classic roadsters, scramblers and café racers, and Trailhound STR for medium and large adventure motorcycles.
The former variant features a radial structure with zero-degree steel belt for superior handling, agility and control at varied riding speeds; a X-ply structure with synthetic fibres for increased lateral stiffness and resistance against bumping; high silica compound balance with carbon black for increased grip on asphalt, in dry and rainy conditions, and variable radius profile for contour steepness with different angles to optimize contact patch size and shape according to the motorcycle position – whether it is straight, mid lean or full lean. The knobby-like pattern of this tyre variant has been carefully designed to ensure excellent asphalt performances coupled with traction on light off-road such as gravel, dirt, stone paving and even broken tarmac. 
The Trailhound STR variant features a radial structure with zero-degree steel belt for superior handling, agility and control at every riding speed; a X-ply structure with synthetic fibres for increased lateral stiffness and resistance against bumping; quadrazone multi-compound for dual tread compounds layout coupled with two more layers for improved grip, mileage and stability, and 80 percent silica content which increases compound grip on cold and wet tarmac.
Speaking about the two Trailhound tyres in India, P Madhavan, Executive Vice President – Marketing & Sales, TVS Srichakra Ltd, averred, “Following our international launch of Trailhound tyres at auto show EICMA in Italy, we are happy to launch Trailhound tyres in India today. Trailhound enhances our already extensive premium product range and its two variants SCR and STR are sure to delight India’s growing adventure rider segment. As bike tyre specialists, we look forward to bringing more world-class products to the Indian market.”
“Art and science are at work while we design tyres with global technology, as both tread pattern design as well as material composition have a great impact on performance – Trailhound is a true testament to this. Trailhound SCR tyres have 80/20 on-off capabilities, and the tread pattern is designed to improve water drainage and traction on gravel roads, while retaining excellent stability and comfort on tarmac.  The 90/10 tread pattern design of Trailhound STR boosts water dispersal, wear uniformity and traction on gravel and light off-road terrain,” V Sivaramakrishnan, Chief Technology Officer, TVS Srichakra Ltd, said. 
 

German tier 1 supplier ZF will introduce the next generation of its range extender technology for electric vehicles (EVs), with volume production beginning in 2026.

A range extender combines a combustion-powered generator with an electric motor, producing energy for the vehicle battery once its charge drops.

Dr Otmar Scharrer, Senior Vice President R&D, Electrified Powertrain Technology at ZF, said, "Although the all-electric range of passenger cars is around 500 km on average, range anxiety still influences a wide range of buyers when choosing their next vehicle. These (range extenders) represent a real alternative to larger – and thus more expensive – batteries or plug-in hybrids."

The German supplier has gained experience with range extenders, including supplying systems for the iconic London taxi. Now, it is advancing the technology with two new systems: the electric Range Extender (eRE) and electric Range Extender plus (eRE+).

Both designs are highly integrated and flexible across performance levels, 400V or 800V architectures and semiconductor types. The eRE combines an electric motor, integrated inverter, dedicated software and a planetary gearset. The eRE+ adds an intelligent clutch and differential, enabling it to serve as a generator or a secondary drive. Output is scalable: 70–110 kW for the eRE and 70–150 kW for the eRE+.

Dr Scharrer, added, "The new interest and the increased demand for range extenders shows that the potential of this technology is far from exhausted – in particular for model platforms that are already designed for battery-electric drivelines. Behind our solutions is a system and platform concept. This means that we are optimally equipped to respond to all customer and market requirements with shorter development cycles."

Compared to plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), range extenders offer lower additional costs, faster development, simpler platform integration and easier supply chain management — especially attractive for newer automakers with little combustion engine expertise.

China is currently leading with ‘Range Extended Electric Vehicles’ (REEVs) covering over 700 kilometres, thanks to such technology.

"This is where we find it convenient that there is a wide range of BEV platforms that can be supplemented by range extenders," said Scharrer.

The company is also seeing growing interest in the U.S. and European market.

"The market for all-electric vehicles has not developed as much as predicted a few years ago," Scharrer observed. "For this intermediate phase, range extenders can be the ideal solution."

Uno Minda, a tier 1 automotive supplier to OEMs, has introduced projector headlights for seven-seater MPVs in the Indian aftermarket.

The new headlights are designed to improve visibility and meet safety needs during night driving and adverse weather. They feature a hard-coated lens to prevent yellowing and damage and include Japanese optics with an integrated projector for better beam focus.

Anand Kumar, Head of Product & Strategy – Aftermarket, Uno Minda, said, “At Uno Minda, we believe that style and safety should go hand in hand. Our newly launched headlights for 7-seater cars are designed to enhance both visibility and aesthetics, ensuring a superior driving experience. The bright and advanced headlights, featuring Japanese optics technology with an integrated projector, deliver a superior beam pattern for enhanced visibility and a well-illuminated driving experience. Engineered for safety, they ensure optimal performance during nighttime and adverse weather conditions. These headlights come with a 100 percent coated lens that provides a shatterproof surface, preventing discoloration and maintaining long-term clarity. The rust-free silicon-coated reflectors ensure extended durability while sustaining optimal light output.”

The headlights are priced at INR 5,200, come with a one-year warranty, and is available across online and e-commerce platforms in India.

Aditya Birla Group’s flagship company Hindalco Industries has delivered 10,000 aluminium battery enclosures for Mahindra Group’s electric SUVs the BE 6 and XEV 9e. The aluminium casing is claimed to slash 40 percent weight reduction compared to its steel counterpart, which improves 8-10 percent vehicle range, enhanced crash safety and better thermal management.

Furthermore, the company unveiled its new INR 5 billion dedicated EV component manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune, which marks Hindalco’s foray into supplying lightweight, crash-resistant battery enclosures. The company expects to generate 1,000 jobs, with nearly 100 percent of machine operators being women, thus reinforcing its commitment to gender diversity.  

The company shared that the Chakan facility will be able to initially produce 80,000 enclosures annually, which will be scaled up to 160,000 units eventually. What’s more, it has already supplied aluminium battery packs for over 3,000 Mahindra EVs currently plying on Indian roads. 

Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, said, “Our Chakan facility represents a strategic shift in India’s EV ecosystem from import dependence to high-performance, localised aluminium solutions. We are proud to partner with Mahindra in this journey, which not only reflects our commitment to the mobility transition but also highlights Mahindra's leadership in driving the electrification of mobility in India. With our engineering strengths and sustainability focus, we are well-positioned to co-create the next generation of automotive solutions.” 

Rajesh Jejurikar, ED and CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), said, "Mahindra is excited to partner with Hindalco in the creation of the EV journey. Their expertise in developing materials and strong engineering capabilities to offer new solutions have played a key role in developing efficient and sustainable battery enclosure solutions. We believe this will play a transformative role in shaping the future of mobility, delivering cutting-edge solutions that will accelerate electrification in the sector.” 

Going forward, Hindalco has plans to support other Indian and global OEMs with its aluminium product range.

German technology company Continental Group has revealed that its Automotive Business will now be called ‘Aumovio’. The announced was made at the Auto Shanghai Show 2025.

The new branding will combine the strong market position, heritage and technological expertise in the automotive industry with the ambition to shape the mobility of the future with innovations.

Aumovio will focus on electronic products and advanced mobility solutions for the software-defined vehicle (SDV) and safe, exciting, connected and autonomous mobility. As per a Berylls report the automotive value of solutions per vehicle in the above segments is estimated to grow by 4.7 percent annually till 2029.

Post approval from the Continental shareholders meeting, Aumovio is scheduled to list on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in September 2025.

Philipp von Hirschheydt, Member of the Executive Board of Continental and CEO of Automotive, said, "As an independent company, we gain significantly more creative power and speed. Aumovio will be characterised by a triad of technologically leading products, a consistent value creation strategy and a global synergetic network, combined with a strong local presence for our customers. Our aim is to further expand our position in the future fields and growth markets of mobility. This strategy is particularly evident in China. Among other things, we are relying on our strong local presence by producing and developing locally for the Chinese market."