Caption: Matthias Eden, Head of Group and Brand Purchasing Metal Raw Material and Exhaust Systems, Volkswagen Group Michael Bäcker, Head of Group Procurement Metal, Volkswagen Group Dennis Grimm, Spokesman of the Executive Board Thyssenkrupp Steel Simon Stephan, Sales Automotive, Senior Vice President, Thyssenkrupp Steel.

Volkswagen Group and Thyssenkrupp Steel have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the planned supply to Volkswagen Group of low-carbon steel from Thyssenkrupp Steel’s future direct reduction plant.

This agreement the partners state underscores the joint commitment to sustainability and climate protection, marking a further milestone in their long-standing partnership.

The Thyssenkrupp Steel direct reduction plant is scheduled to be commissioned from 2027. It will operate with hydrogen and green electricity, which will significantly reduce its carbon footprint. At the start of the ramp-up phase, the plant will use natural gas as the reducing agent, before the process is switched successively to hydrogen. The resulting product – bluemint Steel – will be certified in accordance with recognised standards and can qualify for the LESS Label A if the hydrogen used in production is generated entirely from renewable sources. This classification, developed by the German Steel Association flanked by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, provides a full picture of a steel product’s climate impacts and documents its almost emission-free production.

Dirk Grobe-Loheide, Member of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Brand responsible for Procurement and Member of Volkswagen AG’s Extended Executive Committee said, “Decarbonising supply chains is a decisive factor for the Volkswagen Group on the road to carbon neutrality. We want to achieve this goal by 2050 at the latest, and using low-carbon steel is an important step in making supply chains at Volkswagen Group even more environmentally friendly going forward. This MoU with Thyssenkrupp is an important building block in our strategic focus on the use of low-carbon steel.”

Dennis Grimm, Spokesman of the Executive Board of Thyssenkrupp Steel states, “Signing this memorandum of understanding marks an important step on our path to decarbonising key industrial processes in Germany. Our long-standing partnership with Volkswagen Group demonstrates that, alongside our technical development work, we can also collaborate in making great strides toward a sustainable future.”

Volkswagen Group is expected to benefit significantly from this innovative process to avoid CO2 emissions because 15 to 20 percent of an electric vehicle’s emissions are accounted for by the steel used. Moreover, this decarbonisation concept allows the manufacture of the full product portfolio in accordance with the usual specifications and in premium quality. Supplies are scheduled to start in 2028 and will then be expanded step by step.

The collaboration between the two companies increases their focus on the electromobility. It covers economical lightweight solutions for highly stable vehicle structures and electrical steel for efficient electric drive systems. Steel is playing a key role in the mobility transition, not only as a material for generators and electric engines but also as the material of choice for the bodies and other structural components of electric vehicles. In the context of electromobility, steel is becoming an increasingly important material because more of it is needed in electric vehicles – due to their large battery units – than in combustion vehicles.

The partnership between Volkswagen Group and Thyssenkrupp Steel demonstrates how sustainable solutions can be created thanks to innovative technologies and strategic alliances. It is one of a series of initiatives by the Volkswagen Group to expand the use of green steel in production. In addition to the collaboration with Thyssenkrupp Steel, Volkswagen Group has been in partnership with Salzgitter since 2022. Volkswagen Group and Vulcan Green Steel recently signed a MoU in respect of long-term partnership. The Group also has a stake in Swedish green steel manufacturer H2 Green Steel via its subsidiary Scania.

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Dhoot Transmission has filed its Updated Draft Red Herring Prospectus - 1 (UDRHP - 1) with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for an initial public offering (IPO). The company, backed by Bain Capital, operates in the electrical and electronics component manufacturing sector.

The public offer comprises a fresh issue of equity shares with a face value of INR 2 each, aggregating up to INR 14 billion, alongside an offer for sale of up to 16,310,733 equity shares. Under the offer for sale, BC Asia Investments XV will divest up to 13,191,900 equity shares and Mangalam Capital will offer 31,18,833 equity shares.

Net proceeds from the fresh issue are scheduled for deployment across FY2027 and FY2028.

The company aims to utilise INR 4.93 billion for the repayment or prepayment of borrowings, and INR 2.72 billion for debt clearance within its subsidiaries, which include Dhoot Auto Components, Dhoot Electricals Systems, Dhoot Automotive Systems and Dhoot Transmission UK.

Furthermore, INR 1.50 billion is allocated to build manufacturing plants in Jhajjar, Haryana and Shoolagiri, Hosur, Tamil Nadu, with the remaining capital intended for acquisitions and corporate purposes.

Established in 1999, the firm is promoted by Rahul Radhavallabh Dhoot and BC Asia Investments XV, the latter having acquired a 49 percent stake in April 2025. Dhoot Transmission manufactures wiring harnesses, electronics sensors, switches and connectors for automotive and industrial clients.

In FY2025, the company held a 44.64 percent share of the Indian two-wheeler and three-wheeler wiring harness market by value, and over 70 percent of the electric variant market in the same category. Its customer base includes Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor Company, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India and Royal Enfield, serving 477 clients in the nine months ending 31 December 2025.

As of December 2025, the company’s infrastructure consisted of 22 manufacturing facilities, three design centres and seven warehouses, with four additional plants under construction in India.

Financial records show revenue from operations increased from INR 21.25 billion in FY2023 to INR 34.44 billion in FY2025. During the same period, profit after tax rose from INR 1.63 billion to INR 3.53 billion, and EBITDA grew from INR 2.98 billion to INR 5.90 billion. Wiring harnesses generated INR 26.87 billion, representing 78 percent of total revenue in FY2025. Domestic sales in India accounted for approximately 90 percent of total revenue, whilst electric vehicle segments increased their revenue contribution from 8.05 percent in FY2023 to 25.2 percent in FY2025.

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Minda Corporation, the flagship company of Spark Minda, has announced its financial results for Q4 FY2026 and FY2026.

The company reported its highest-ever consolidated revenue of INR 61.85 billion, up 22.3 percent YoY, EBITDA of INR 7.21 billion and a profit after tax of INR 3.58 billion, with a margin of 5.8 percent.

For Q4 FY2026, the revenue was the highest-ever for a quarter at INR 17.04 billion, up 29 percent YoY, EBITDA of INR 2.03 billion and a net profit of INR 1.24 billion, with a margin of 7.3 percent.

The company attributed the robust growth to a strong product portfolio, an expanding customer base and a focus on product premiumisation.

In FY2026, Minda Corporation strengthened its position as a leading automotive supplier with two strategic global partnerships: Toyodenso Co, Japan, for the manufacturing and sale of advanced automotive switches, and a JV with Turntide Technologies, UK, for next-generation powertrain solutions for the electric vehicle industry.

The idea is to localise globally proven technologies for its customers in India, while offering premium solutions to meet domestic requirements.

Ashok Minda, Chairman and Group CEO, Spark Minda, said, “FY2026 was a year of consistent execution and steady progress for Minda Corporation. Despite a dynamic market environment, we delivered stable growth supported by demand across key vehicle segments, particularly in the 2W and CV categories. Policy measures such as GST rationalisation and the ‘Make in India’ initiative supported cost efficiency and improved affordability. We continued to invest in R&D and technology partnerships to strengthen our product offerings. Our focus remains on operational efficiency, customer relationships and disciplined financial management, as we work towards sustaining growth and creating long-term value for all stakeholders”.

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German technology company Bosch has received a major contract from Mercedes-Benz to supply electric motors into the 2030s for the premium carmaker’s next generation of electric powertrains.

The announcement follows a strong operational period in 2025 during which Bosch secured more than 70 e-mobility customer projects globally. The supplier currently provides electric vehicle technology and solutions to more than 50 automotive manufacturers worldwide.

The e-motors are built on a scalable platform architecture, allowing the length of the motor to be adjusted depending on the required power output. This flexibility permits integration into various vehicle models and axle variants.

Bosch claims its motors achieve up to 98 percent efficiency due to updated winding technology. The units utilise an innovative rotor oil cooling system to optimise heat dissipation. The compact design combines high efficiency and optimised cooling to reduce overall weight, installation space, and system costs.

The German tier 1 supplier targets the production of more than 7 million components for electric vehicles in 2026, with an existing manufacturing rate of approximately seven electric motors per minute globally.

For the Indian market Bosch has formed a joint venture with TataAutoComp Systems to develop, commercialise and manufacture e-axles specifically for the domestic market.

In China, Bosch serves more than 30 customers, working with almost all domestic car manufacturers alongside international brands operating in the region.

The company's portfolio spans from silicon carbide chips to complete powertrain setups, including ‘X-in-1’ solutions that bundle the electric motor, power electronics, transmission and energy management into a single system.

Markus Heyn, Member of the Bosch Board of Management and Chairman of Bosch Mobility, said, “The new order reaffirms our long-standing partnership with Mercedes-Benz and shows that we can successfully contribute our expertise to technologically demanding projects as well. We win over customers with our core competence of being able to develop and manufacture complex technology in large quantities with significant economies of scale worldwide. We deliver electric-driving solutions to all markets around the world.”

Marco Zehe, President of Bosch’s Electrified Motion division, added, “We already work with almost all Chinese car manufacturers, as well as with numerous international automakers operating in China.”

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle start-up Emobi has announced that its upcoming model, the AKX, will be powered by the e-axle EV drive unit developed by Musashi Seimitsu Industry. This marks the second collaboration between the two companies, following the launch of the Kyari model in November 2025.

The partnership aims to address the specific demands of India’s electric two-wheeler and last-mile mobility sectors. The integration of Musashi’s e-Axle technology is designed to improve vehicle acceleration, torque and overall efficiency, providing performance that is competitive with internal combustion engine vehicles.

Naoya Nishimura, CEO, Musashi India & Africa Regions, said, “At Musashi, we are focused on developing next-generation mobility technologies that address the evolving needs of electric transportation. We are pleased to strengthen our collaboration with Emobi through the AKX, which is the second model to integrate our e-axle technology. India’s EV ecosystem presents significant opportunities, and we believe our e-axle solution can help enable performance, efficiency and a smoother riding experience tailored to the requirements of Indian consumers.”

Musashi’s e-Axle utilises proprietary reduction gear technology, drawing on the company's experience in transmission manufacturing.

The drive unit will come with high pick-up torque and smooth acceleration. It will be designed to provide quiet operation and reliability for urban and commercial use. It is said to be engineered for real-world Indian riding conditions.

Bharath Rao, CEO and Co-Founder, Emobi, added, “AKX has been designed with the needs of India’s electric mobility market in mind. The integration of Musashi’s e-axle technology enhances the vehicle’s acceleration, torque and overall riding experience, while staying focused on efficiency and reliability. This collaboration reflects our commitment toward building EV solutions that are practical, high-performing and ready for real-world Indian conditions.”

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