German mechatronics specialist Marquardt has inaugurated its new plant in Talegaon in Pune, Maharashtra, which replaces its existing production facility near Mumbai.

The new facility is equipped with in-house electronics production and logistics to support Marquardt’s customers for complete mechatronic solutions, including drive authorisation systems, gear selector switches and battery management systems (BMS) for electric vehicles.

With a total investment of INR 1.8 billion towards the new plant, the facility will improve supply chain, response time for its customers. The company expects to create 500 new jobs in the next five years.

Bjorn Twiehaus, Chief Executive Officer, Marquardt Group, said, “India is an important growth market for Marquardt with great potential. We work closely with leading vehicle manufacturers here and utilise the innovative strength and expertise of our Indian team. With the opening of the plant in Talegaon, we are continuing our success story in India and strengthening our position as a leading supplier of mechatronic systems for the mobility of the future."

Vishal Narvekar, General Manager, Marquardt India, added, "The inauguration of our new facility in Talegaon marks a significant milestone for Marquardt in India. Our strong and long-standing relationships with customers in the Indian automotive industry have been instrumental in our growth. With this expansion, we reaffirm our commitment to delivering world-class mechatronic solutions tailored to the needs of our local partners. Additionally, this facility underscores our contribution to the 'Make in India' initiative by enhancing local production, fostering innovation, and creating new employment opportunities."

The new facility will complement and work in sync with the company’s development centre which has already been active for the last decade. With around 450 employees the development centre supports Marquadt’s domestic & global customers, and is a key part of the company’s innovation network.

Dr. Harald Marquardt, Shareholder and Board Member, Marquadt, added, "Our team in India is a cornerstone of our global success. The high level of innovation, efficiency and commitment of our Indian experts are groundbreaking. With this new plant, we are underlining our long-term commitment to our customers in India and worldwide."

Norway-headquartered automotive component supplier Kongsberg Automotive has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Faridabad, India.

The Norwegian company is a leading supplier of driver and motion control systems, fluid assemblies and industrial driver interface products. It primarily caters to on-highway, passenger cars, off-highway and aftermarket segments.

The company has established its presence in 17 countries globally, employs over 4,700 people in 32 locations and clocked EUR 788 million revenue in 2024.

The new facility primarily manufactures Drive Control Systems (DCS) products – steering columns, cable gear shifters, shift towers and shift-by-wire shifters, among others. Furthermore, the new facility will allow Kongsberg Automotive to expand its production capability for Flow Control Systems (FCS) products.

Robert Pigg, Executive Vice-President of Drive Control Systems, Kongsberg Automotive, said, “This relocation represents a significant step in Kongsberg Automotive’s ongoing journey toward growth and enhanced manufacturing excellence in India.”

The new facility is spread across 6,947 square metres, as compared to its previous plant in the same locality.

CK Holdings-owned Italian automotive tier 1 supplier Marelli has won three accolades at the 2025 Automotive News PACE Awards.

The company won awards for Innovation Partnership Award for Digital OLED Taillights, PACE Award for Digital OLED 2.0 Technology and PACEpilot Award for Electromechanical Suspension.

The first award jointly received by Marelli and Audi for their collaboration on the Digital OLED Taillight, featured on the 2024 Audi Q6 e-tron. The award highlights successful supplier-OEM partnerships in commercialising advanced technologies.

The second-generation Digital OLED Taillight allows drivers to personalise their vehicle with up to eight light signatures via the MMI or myAudi app. It also enhances safety through proximity indication and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication, displaying warning symbols in critical situations.

Frank Huber, President, Marelli’s Lighting business, said, “This award reflects our commitment to co-creating innovations with partners like Audi.”

The second award was won jointly by Marelli and OLEDWorks for the Digital OLED 2.0 rear lights on the Audi Q6 e-tron. The technology uses 60-segment OLED panels, controlled via a high-speed CAN-FD bus, enabling dynamic light signatures and improved safety features.

The system reduces mechanical complexity, increases energy efficiency and supports advanced animations. Steve Muench, Head of Marelli Lighting North America, and David DeJoy, CEO of OLEDWorks, accepted the award.

Lastly, Marelli was recognised for its Fully Active Electromechanical Suspension, which received a PACEpilot Award for its potential to transform future mobility. The oil-free system uses four actuators to adjust suspension in real-time, improving comfort and efficiency while reducing motion sickness.

Antonio Ferrara, President, Marelli’s Ride Dynamics business, said: “This award acknowledges our commitment to advancing vehicle dynamics for electric and autonomous vehicles.”

Hindustan Zinc Limited, India’s only and the world's largest integrated zinc producer, has launched Zinc Freight Bazaar, a digital-first logistics management system aimed at empowering customers, enhancing experience and simplifying the overall logistics process.

Zinc Freight Bazaar, which was created with a strong emphasis on user experience, makes it possible for clients to make knowledgeable logistical decisions and supports efficient production planning. The platform is designed to satisfy its users' complex needs. The platform offers a number of associated logistics service providers, real-time tracking, a logistics planner and a bidding mechanism. Customers had to switch between many systems for shipment monitoring and logistics coordination in the traditional zinc procurement process, but this new platform provides a simplified, end-to-end digital solution that enables business teams to easily acquire vital metals.

As a vital component of galvanisation, zinc protects steel from corrosion and supports vital sectors including electronics, renewable energy, infrastructure, high-tech manufacturing, defence and electric mobility. London Metal Exchange (LME)-registered premium products such as Special High-Grade Zinc, High Grade Zinc, Asia's first low carbon ‘green’ zinc EcoZen, Prime Western Zinc, Continuous Galvanizing Grade Zinc, Special High Grade Jumbo Zinc, High Grade Jumbo Zinc, Hindustan Zinc Die Casting Alloy 3, Hindustan Zinc Die Casting Alloy 5 and Special High-Grade Lead are among the products offered by Hindustan Zinc.

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc Limited, said, “At Hindustan Zinc, we have always prioritised a customer-first approach to enhance the critical metal buying experience. With the integration of digitalisation, we are taking a decisive step forward in delivering a seamless, tech-enabled experience. This platform simplifies procurement and reinforces our commitment to building a future-ready supply chain. As India’s economy continues to expand, the role of zinc in infrastructure development becomes increasingly vital. This platform will empower manufacturers with improved production planning while providing a unified solution for logistics management.”

ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions, a division of German tier 1 supplier ZF Group, has recently secured a multi-year business order from one of India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers for supply of AxTrax 2 Electric Axles.

As part of the understanding, ZF will supply its AxTrax 2, an integrated and modular electric axle for medium duty buses, which the company said provides a more efficient, high-performance solution. The contract covers a supply of several thousand units over multiple years.

The AxTrax 2 electric axle is designed to replace the engine, transmission and conventional axle to electrify a commercial vehicle. It is part of ZF’s modular e-mobility kit, which integrates in-house developed components into an innovative axle-based solution that is efficient, compact and lightweight in design.

Akash Passey, President, ZF Group in India, said, “ZF Group has an established presence in India's commercial vehicle sector, consistently leading the charge in pioneering advanced technology solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in mobility. This business nomination highlights our pivotal role in delivering innovative mobility solutions tailored to meet the evolving needs of our OEM partners.”.

P Kaniappan, Senior Vice-President – CVS Division (India), ZF Group, added, "AxTrax 2 represents evolution of our journey towards market leadership and sustainability for the next generation of mobility in India. This milestone reinforces ZF Group’s position as the industry leader in e-mobility while delivering significant advancements for both our customers and the Indian market."