Fleetguard Filters Private Limited (FFPL), a prominent producer of filtration products and solutions for a range of off-highway and on-highway applications, was honoured at the 4th Edition of Navabharat’s CSR Summit & Awards 2025 for its outstanding contributions to promoting social change.

Avinash Mane, Head HR & IR, and Priyanka Chavan, Assistant Manager CSR, received the prestigious award on behalf of Niranjan Kirloskar, Managing Director of Fleetguard Filters Private Limited, which was presented by Honourable Governor C P Radhakrishnan at a ceremony held at ITC Grand Central, Parel, Mumbai.

With its emphasis on education, health and safety, the environment and the development of community infrastructure, Fleetguard Filters has been at the forefront of significant CSR initiatives. This honour strengthens the business's standing as an ethical organisation committed to the advancement of society as a whole. The honour at Navabharat's CSR Conclave strengthens FFPL's dedication to make a significant impact outside of the corporate world and contributes to its expanding history of excellence in social projects.

Kirloskar said, “We are humbled to have been recognised by Navabharat. At FFPL, we believe in creating a sustainable and positive impact through our CSR initiatives. This recognition by Navabharat is a testament to our ongoing efforts to generate meaningful social impact, and it encourages us to continue this journey alongside our CSR volunteers whose contributions have been instrumental in positively impacting the communities we serve.”

JRG Automotive Industries (JRG), a leading manufacturer of plastic components for the automotive sector has announced the acquisition of the two-wheeler functional plastics division of Stanley Engineered Fastening India (SEFI), a subsidiary of US-based Stanley Black & Decker.

With this, JRG will gain access to the production and supply of plastic injection-moulded components for two-wheeler OEMs, construction equipment manufacturers, and tier-1 two-wheeler suppliers across India.

The acquisition includes two manufacturing units in Manesar (Haryana) and Bengaluru.

Pawan Goyal, Founder & Managing Director, JRG Automotive Industries, said, “With this acquisition, we are establishing a strong foothold in South India, particularly in Bengaluru, solidifying JRG’s presence across all three major automotive hubs in India. Furthermore, adding infra equipment manufacturers as a customer strengthens our entry into infra equipment manufacturing segment, expanding our market reach.”

Furthermore, as part of its ambitious growth plans JRG Automotive has underlined its strategic focus on domestic and cross-border joint ventures and acquisitions.

Canadian tier 1 supplier Magna has officially opened its new manufacturing facility in Chakan, Maharashtra. Spread across 65,000 sqft, the new facility will produce advanced latches and mirrors for automotive applications supporting customers in western India.

At present, Magna employs 7,000 people in India across 14 manufacturing and assembly facilities, as well as five engineering, product and sales offices across India. The new expansion is estimated to generate 300 new jobs in the next three years. This latest expansion is expected to create more than 300 new jobs over the next three years, contributing to the local economy and fostering industrial growth in the region.

Jeff Hunt, President Magna MML (Mechatronics, Mirrors, and Lighting), who was part of the inauguration said, “Magna is thrilled to bring advanced manufacturing capabilities to Chakan and contribute to the region’s economic development. Our commitment to innovation and operational excellence helps us continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers, delivering high-quality products that drive the future of mobility.”

Horse has started production of its 1.3-litre, 4-cylinder ‘HR13’ engine at its facility in Curitiba, Brazil. The company is a division of Spain-headquartered Horse Powertrain, a leading supplier of low-emission powertrain systems.

The new HR13 turbo engine is a flex fuel variant engineered specifically for the South American market. It can run on petrol & ethanol blends and is fully compliant with L8 emissions standards. It offers a peak power of 163PS (120kW), as well as peak torque load of 250Nm at just 1,600rpm.

The company shared that the HR13 engine benefits from a bespoke direct injection system, which has specially developed for ethanol fuel use. Each cylinder is accompanied by a centrally mounted six-hole injectors operating at 200bar pressure, tailored for exceptional fuel atomisation that delivers effortless power and torque without impacting fuel efficiency.

Horse recently invested BRL 100 million (USD 17.24 million) investment in the Curitiba facility, which will facilitate HR13 production as a key output of the plant. The company will be able to produce 600,000 units annually across its portfolio of engines.

Wesley Palma, Plant Director at Horse Curitiba, said, "The start of HR13 production in Brazil demonstrates our commitment to delivering engineering and manufacturing solutions tailored to local markets. Specifically created with flex fuel capability, the highly efficient HR13 is perfectly suited to Brazilian OEMs and consumers. Horse is particularly committed to localising key manufacturing processes, such as casting for the engine’s cylinder heads.”

Patrice Haettel, CEO, Horse, said: “This move reinforces our commitment to the Brazilian market and South America. Our message has always been clear: there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to global mobility, but instead tailor-made solutions that reflect regional needs. The HR13 reflects this ethos, powered by low-emissions flex fuels and optimised for Brazilian market needs.”

Bengaluru-based Kogo partnered with MapmyIndia to launch a universal voice assistant for the automotive industry at the Bharat Auto Expo 2025. This breakthrough leverages Kogo’s Agentic Mesh and MapmyIndia’s deep learning geo-intelligence stack, providing an on-premises, edge-computing platform that ensures data privacy and safety for end customers.

The platform not only transforms in-car interactions but also opens new avenues for app businesses and services to develop their own AI agents and offer them via the Kogo AI Agent Store, reaching millions of car and motorcycle owners across India.

Unlike existing voice assistants that are limited to basic in-car commands, the Kogo-MapmyIndia universal assistant delivers natural language conversations, the ability to surf the internet and real-world impact by operating apps and services beyond the vehicle.

“This is a game changer in the automotive industry, elevating user engagement, safety and service delivery to unprecedented levels. By combining Kogo’s agentic AI technology with MapmyIndia’s geo-intelligence, we’re not just innovating – we’re setting a new benchmark for the entire industry,” Kogo Chief Executive Officer Raj K Gopalakrishnan.

The platform enables app developers and service providers to create and distribute their own agents through the Kogo AI Agent Store. These agents can cater to a wide array of needs, from personal assistance to business automation, creating a vibrant ecosystem for innovation.

“We designed the platform to work entirely on-premises and at the edge, ensuring that end customers’ data remains secure and private. Our vision is to empower every vehicle owner with an AI assistant that is not only powerful but also respects their privacy,” averred Kogo Co-Founder Praveer Kochhar.

With the ability to integrate seamlessly into the existing infrastructure of automotive manufacturers, this platform promises to redefine how vehicles interact with their owners. From voice-controlled operations to advanced task automation, the Universal Assistant is poised to lead the way in automotive AI innovation.