Bharat Forge and Germany-based Agile Robots have agreed to explore a collaboration to develop AI-driven robotics and industrial automation. The partnership combines Bharat Forge's domain expertise with Agile Robots' automation solutions to deploy technology for the automotive, healthcare, and consumer electronics industries.

The agreement focuses on civilian industry and manufacturing. Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the companies will co-develop and offer solutions in manufacturing, industrial CPG and logistics for markets in India and Southeast Asia. The partnership also aims to develop vision and AI-based robotic systems to enable autonomous ‘dark’ factories.

Amit Kalyani, Vice-Chairman and Joint Managing Director, Bharat Forge, said, “This strategic collaboration with Agile Robots is a reinforcement of Bharat Forge’s ambition to provide state-of-the-art intelligent robotic and automation solutions across multiple industries while driving manufacturing efficiencies at home. Manufacturing in India is on a steep growth path, and I am very excited that with Agile Robots we are going to deploy bespoke, modular and intelligent automation solutions across the sectors.”

Rory Sexton, Executive Director, Agile Robots, said, “By partnering with Bharat Forge, Agile Robots is strengthening its position in India's rapidly growing manufacturing sector. Combining Agile Robots’ proven leadership in AI driven robotic automation with Bharat Forge’s sectoral expertise will allow us to improve the efficiency and precision of entire production systems.”

The collaboration intends to set up capabilities for bespoke solutions while utilizing existing Agile Robots technology. By integrating AI into production systems, the companies aim to improve precision and efficiency across manufacturing sectors in the region.

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Hindustan Zinc has introduced ‘Tejaswini’, a section led by women across all shifts at its Chanderiya Smelting Complex. The initiative begins with a team of 30 professionals who will manage operations, maintenance and safety within the Leaching and Purification units. This section is a part of the facility’s hydrometallurgy operations, which determine production throughput and quality.

Women now represent 26.3 percent of the workforce at Hindustan Zinc. The ‘Tejaswini’ team is led by Tanya Singh, Plant Manager for L&P I, Hydro. The company has previously introduced an underground all-women mine rescue team and enabled women to lead night shifts and tele-remote mining operations. These actions form part of the Vedanta Group goal to reach 35 percent women representation across its total workforce.

To support the expansion of women in core manufacturing roles, the company has implemented infrastructure updates at the site. These include the V-Safe app, CCTV surveillance, biometric access and dedicated transportation facilities for night shifts. The Chanderiya Smelting Complex is among the largest zinc smelting facilities globally, producing metal for infrastructure and energy sectors.

Arun Misra, CEO and Whole-Time Director, Hindustan Zinc, said, “At Hindustan Zinc, we believe the future of mining will be driven by diverse talent, advanced technology, and a culture of inclusion. The launch of Tejaswini reflects our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for women in core operational roles that power industrial performance. By enabling women to lead critical processes at our smelting operations, we are strengthening our talent pipeline while demonstrating that leadership and capability transcend traditional industry boundaries. As we pursue our long-term growth ambitions, initiatives like these will help shape a more progressive and future-ready mining sector.”

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Chennai-headquartered commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group flagship, has commenced construction of a greenfield battery pack manufacturing plant at Pillaipakkam, Tamil Nadu. The project involves an investment of INR 4-5 billion, forming part of a broader investment plan outlined in a memorandum of understanding signed in September 2025.

The facility aligns with the Tamil Nadu Electric Vehicle Policy 2023 and the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage. The project is intended to localise the production of battery packs for the commercial vehicle sector and reduce reliance on imported components.

The Pillaipakkam site marks Ashok Leyland's tenth manufacturing presence in Tamil Nadu. The company aims to use the facility to strengthen the domestic supply chain for its electric vehicle (EV) portfolio and its subsidiary, Switch Mobility.

Ashok Leyland has invested over INR 90 billion in Tamil Nadu since 1948. The new plant is expected to create jobs in high-technology manufacturing and advanced skill development. The foundation plaque was unveiled by M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of state officials and company leadership.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Executive Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, “Our journey has been closely intertwined with the growth of Tamil Nadu for more than seven decades. Ashok Leyland, along with its subsidiary, Switch Mobility, have already developed a vast range of electric Commercial Vehicles, and have taken a lead position in the EV market. The groundbreaking of the new battery pack manufacturing facility marks an important step in our electric mobility journey and reinforces our commitment to building a strong domestic EV ecosystem.”

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, added, “Battery pack technology is central to the future of electric mobility and energy storage. This facility will enable us to build advanced battery pack solutions with greater efficiency, safety and reliability while supporting the battery supply chain localisation It will also contribute to developing specialized talent and creating new opportunities in high-technology manufacturing within Tamil Nadu.”

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Swiss technology major ABB has announced that it is set to further invest around USD 75 million in India for 2026. The capital expenditure is directed at expanding the company’s manufacturing footprint and research and development (R&D) capabilities across five locations: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nashik and Vadodara.

This move follows a USD 35 million investment in 2025 and forms part of ABB’s ‘local-for-local’ strategy. Currently, 85 percent of the products ABB sells in India are manufactured within the country. The expansion is expected to create 300 skilled jobs in engineering, research, and operations.

The investment is distributed across several key hubs to support electrification, motion, and automation:

• Nelamangala, Bengaluru (USD 14 million): Expansion of Campus 1 and 2 to scale converter manufacturing for high-speed rail and metro segments. It includes a tenfold increase in production for uninterruptable power supply (UPS) solutions.
• Peenya, Bengaluru (USD 21 million): Funding to increase capacity for low-voltage drives and specialised motors, including flameproof and smoke-venting variants. The site will add an innovation lab and remote monitoring facilities.
• Nashik (USD 22 million): Expansion of the circuit breaker factory and the Vacuum Interrupter (VI) facility. This site will drive the localisation of 33kV Primary Gas Insulated Switchgear and SF6-free technologies by 2028.
• Hyderabad (USD 12 million): Completion of phase one of a new R&D and engineering hub, including a high-power testing laboratory.
• Vadodara (USD 6 million): Scaling of the synchronous generator and induction motor factories to serve the metals, oil and gas and wind sectors.

ABB’s revenue in India reached more than USD 1.5 billion in 2025, representing roughly 4 percent of the Group’s global total. The company identified grid modernisation, data centre development and renewable energy transition as the primary drivers for the increased capacity.

Morten Wierod, Chief Executive Officer, ABB, said, “This investment in India is an important part of our strategy to support infrastructure build-out and growth in one of our fastest growing markets. We are seeing strong demand driven by the country’s energy transition, grid modernization, data center development, and the rapid expansion of the metro and high-speed rail segments. Our expanded facilities will ensure we meet this demand while enhancing our capabilities to serve other markets in the region.”

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American technology company Aptiv has announced that its Board of Directors has approved the spin-off of its Electrical Distribution Systems business into a new publicly traded entity – Versigent.

Versigent provides signal, power and data distribution systems for the automotive and commercial vehicle sectors. It operates engineering centres across four continents and manufacturing facilities in more than 30 countries, focusing on low-voltage and high-voltage electrical architectures.

The separation will be executed through a distribution of Versigent ordinary shares to Aptiv shareholders. Stockholders will receive one ordinary share of Versigent for every three ordinary shares of Aptiv held as of the record date.

Aptiv shareholders are not required to take action, pay consideration, or exchange existing shares to receive the Versigent stock.

Following the separation, Aptiv will continue its operations as an industrial technology company focused on vehicle automation, electrification and digitalisation. Versigent will maintain its legacy in designing and manufacturing advanced vehicle architectures for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

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