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.”

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American technology company Visteon has launched in-house manufacturing of its next-generation high-resolution Analog and Digital Camera System and Display Backlight Unit (BLU) at its Chennai facility in India. The company said it has initially invested USD 10 million towards developing the manufacturing capabilities.

The new production lines will build analog and digital cameras with 1.3 MP-8MP HD resolution, which it claims offers significantly sharper visuals than traditional automotive cameras. It will support the demanding requirement from modern high-definition in-car displays and are optimised for seamless integration with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), helping drivers park, manoeuvre and navigate with greater safety and precision. 

Sachin Lawande, President and CEO, Visteon, said, “India plays a critical role in our vertical integration strategy. Localising production of camera systems and backlight units strengthens our ability to scale, innovate, and deliver next-generation cockpit technologies more efficiently to global markets.”

Visteon stated that this expansion compliments its existing display manufacturing in India, creating a more cohesive, vertically integrated production ecosystem for next-generation cockpit solutions.

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Pune-headquartered tier 1 supplier Varroc Engineering has announced its financial results for FY2025, with revenue of INR 81 billion, up 8 percent YoY.

The company reported profit after tax of INR 1.69 billion, which was down 46 percent YoY, as compared to INR 3.15 billion for same period last year. This the company attributed due to an exceptional item worth INR 1.47 billion on the back of restructuring of subsidiaries and exit from its joint venture in China.

For Q4 FY2025, the company reported revenue of INR 20.99 billion, up 11 percent YoY, profit after tax of INR 1.03 billion.

Tarang Jain, CMD, Varroc, said, "India has now become the 4th largest economy, and the GDP had a steady growth of 6.2 percent in Q3 FY2025. Softening of Inflation in the last few quarters and interest rates reduction globally encouraged our Central Bank to reduce Repo rate by 50 basis points. Weak growth in consumption, on top of global and regional conflicts and uncertain tariff regime, may impact discretionary spending which can have impact on automotive Industry. However, we remain confident about the medium-to-the-long-term growth prospects of automotive industry.”

He revealed that in FY2025, the company filed 25 patents of which more than 10 patents were already granted to Varroc, bringing the total filings to more than 120 for the company.

“We continue to strengthen our balance sheet and return ratios. The net debt of the company in FY2025 was reduced by INR 2,348 million and as a result the net debt to equity was reduced to below 0.5x at the end FY2025 from 0.64X at the end of FY2024. The absolute net debt figure was INR 7,480 million. ROCE (before tax) for FY2025 was 20.8 percent and free cash flow generation was also healthy at INR 3,116 million or 3.8 percent of revenue before growth CAPEX in land,” he added.

IN FY2025, the company also won new business wins estimated to add INR 11,734 million in revenue, with electric vehicle constituting more than 55 percent of it.

“It is more heartening to see business wins in our overseas operations also, which will improve profitability from FY 27 onwards. Our continuing focus on revenue growth, improvement in gross margin, control on fixed cost and optimization of capex and working capital will enable us to generate healthy free cash flows in the future also,” concluded Jain.

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Samvardhana Motherson International (SAMIL) has announced its financial results for FY2025, demonstrating significant growth across key metrics.

The company reported consolidated revenue of INR 1,136 billion, up 15 percent YoY. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortisation (EBITDA) rose by 17 percent to INR 108.77 billion, while Profit After Tax (PAT) saw a substantial 40 percent jump, reaching INR 38.03 billion.

Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson, said, "Our performance underscores the resilience and adaptability of our business. With a booked business value exceeding USD 88 billion, encompassing both automotive and non-automotive sectors, we have established a robust foundation for future growth."

He further congratulated the Motherson team for an ‘exceptional performance’ over the past five years, achieving record sales and integrating 23 acquisitions despite global volatility, all while maintaining a strong focus on free cash flow and reducing the leverage ratio to its lowest point in five years.

The company also highlighted its strategic advancements, including outpacing the industry by approximately 15 percent through content growth and mergers and acquisitions. Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) improved to 17.2 percent at a consolidated level, even amidst expansions. Net Debt to EBITDA stands at a comfortable 0.9x. Capital expenditure for the year was INR 44.33 billion, calibrated to market dynamics.

Furthermore, 14 greenfield projects are underway, with nine expected to commence operations in FY2026.

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Aumovio, the automotive business of Continental Group, will see Philipp von Hirschheydt, presently CEO, take on the additional duties of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This comes on the heels of Karin Dohm’s decision not to take on the intended role of CFO due to personal reasons.

It was on 23 April 2025, German technology company Continental Group revealed the new identity for its Automotive Business – Aumovio at the Auto Shanghai Show 2025.

Stefan E Buchner, Designated Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Auomovio, said, "We deeply regret her decision, but at the same time, have the greatest understanding and respect for her choice. Together with our strong team, we will consistently continue on the path we have begun and lead Aumovio into the future with responsibility and foresight."

The announcement is said to have no impact on the planned spin-off, with Aumovio on track to be listed on stock exchange in September 2025. The company stated that during the transition the existing Finance and Controlling team will take on additional responsibilities to ensure a seamless spin-off.

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