German tier 1 supplier Continental’s Gurgaon plant has attained a new production milestone of producing 10 million Electronic Brake Systems (EBS) and 100 million Wheel Speed Sensors (WSS), two components integral to the safety of a vehicle. 

The EBS portfolio comprises Electronic Stability Control (ESC) for passenger cars and Anti-lock Brake Systems (ABS) for both, passenger cars and two-wheelers. It provides directional stability and steerability of the vehicle whereas, ABS aims to avoid locking of the wheels and keeps the vehicle steerable during braking. Additionally, the signals from the WSS are required for control systems like Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC).

The company states that over 1.3 million people loose their lives in road accidents worldwide every year and more than 50 million are injured. In India, 53 accidents and 19 deaths occur every hour, or an average of 1,264 accidents and 42 deaths daily due to road crashes, according to a Ministry of Road Transport and Highways report in 2023. To enhance road safety in the country, ABS technology was made mandatory in 2019, followed by a proposal for ESC in 2022 by the government.  

Sukhdeep Sandhu, Head of Safety and Motion, Continental Automotive India said, “Safety is non-negotiable. At Continental, we have consistently brought relevant technologies to the market for our customers, helping make vehicles and thereby our roads safer. Our expertise in active and passive safety systems is a key driver in reducing the number of traffic-related fatalities, injuries, and road accidents”.

“Localisation is at the core of company’s strategy in India. Supported by legislations which have played a huge role in ensuring vehicular safety, we have been able to localise both production and R&D, ensuring greater value to our customers in the market. Customers in India are proactive in their adoption approach towards safety technologies”, he added.

Continental’s ‘Vision Zero’ is focussing on ensuring zero road fatalities, injuries and crashes, through technologies, components and systems and ongoing innovations.

The tier 1 supplier is also one of the largest manufacturers of WSS in India. Apart from catering to leading OEMs in India, these components are also exported to other Asian and European regions.

Anudeep Garg, Head of the Gurgaon plant, Continental Automotive India said, “We are proud to achieve this milestone and continue to focus on localisation. As a Tier 1 supplier, we follow global manufacturing standards and have adopted several advanced technologies to create a digital shopfloor. Additionally, industry 4.0 technologies enable us to not only maintain product quality and enhance efficiency but also to effectively streamline our supply chain. We aim to increase the manufacturing capacity of EBS and WSS in double-digit percentages in the next three years for both passenger vehicles as well two-wheelers.” 

Continental’s ‘in the market, for the market’ approach has seen its entire value chain from R&D to design and production being localised. This way Continental is focusing on enabling easy access to safety products by adapting globally proven technologies to suit the local market. Wide-scale production offers economy of scale and ensures cost advantage, thereby contributing to increased democratization of safety features in vehicles across segments in India.

It was in 2016, when Continental set up assembly lines in Gurugram for Antilock Brake Systems (ABS) and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems for two-wheelers and passenger cars. In 2018, it commenced production for ABS and ESC Electronic Control Units (ECU) at its Bengaluru plant. In the subsequent year, the company achieved the production milestone of one million ABS and ESC ECUs at its Bengaluru plant, and in 2020, reached a milestone of 50 Million Wheel Speed Sensors (WSS) at its Manesar plant. Additionally, Continental entered into a joint venture with Japanese firm Nisshinbo Holdings in 2022, to localise machining for valve blocks for Electronic Brake Systems (EBS) in India. 

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The Association of Indian Forging Industry (AIFI), the apex body for the forging sector, successfully concluded its National Annual Convention in Pune, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and experts to strategise on the future of the Indian forging industry.

The landmark event focused on charting a clear growth roadmap, exploring opportunities amidst global supply chain disruptions and analysing the evolving outlook for both Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Internal Combustion Engines (ICE).

In his inaugural address, Yash Munot, President, AIFI, emphasised the industry’s need to balance the dual imperatives of sustainability and competitiveness. "India’s automotive and mobility sectors are undergoing unprecedented transformation. At AIFI, we firmly believe that collaboration across industry, academia and policymakers is the key to shaping a resilient future," he stated.

A core theme of the convention was the delicate balance between the EV transition and the continuing relevance of ICE technology in India.

Dr K C Vora of NAMTECH delivered a keynote on the ‘Future of EV & ICE in Indian Scenario,’ highlighting the critical role of EV adoption, supported by policies like FAME II, while stressing the need for continued optimisation of ICE platforms given India's diverse mobility ecosystem.

The second keynote by Prenayan Kaul of PwC focused on navigating global supply chain disruptions, urging forging companies to leverage technology-driven efficiencies and tap into new growth areas to counter headwinds like raw material volatility.

A major highlight of the convention was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AIFI and Hexagon. This strategic partnership aims to advance digitalisation and smart manufacturing capabilities within the forging sector, a move AIFI President Munot cited as a testament to the commitment to global competitiveness.

A dynamic panel discussion on ‘Current Industry Scenario - Trends, Opportunities & Challenges,’ moderated by S Muralishankar, further reinforced the importance of resilience, innovation and collaborative growth in tackling current industry trends and governmental policies.

The convention concluded with a reaffirmation of AIFI's mission to strengthen the sector’s role as a vital contributor to India’s economic growth, aligning actively with national priorities such as ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and the transition towards sustainable mobility.

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Epsilon Advanced Materials (EAM), a leading global manufacturer of sustainable battery materials, and Phillips 66 have forged a strategic alliance to bolster the domestic electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage system (ESS) battery supply chain in the United States.

Phillips 66, one of the world’s leading producers of Green and Calcined Needle Coke cokes, which are the critical feedstock required for manufacturing synthetic graphite anodes – a core component of lithium-ion batteries.

As per the understanding, Phillips 66 will supply Green and Calcined Needle Coke from its Lake Charles, Louisiana refinery to Epsilon Advanced Materials. The feedstock secured through this partnership will directly support EAM's ambitious new 30,000 tonnes graphite active anode material facility currently under development in North Carolina.

The facility has completed all necessary permitting milestones and is on track to begin operations in 2027, with an expansion plan to reach 60,000 tonnes by 2030. Once fully operational, the North Carolina plant is projected to supply U.S. battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs with enough graphite active anode material to power approximately million electric vehicles annually, playing a decisive role in scaling sustainable battery production for the nation and enabling clean energy transitions.

Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Advanced Materials, said, “This collaboration is a major step in building a secure and sustainable battery materials supply chain for the US. Phillips 66’s expertise in energy and materials, combined with EAM’s capacity and global presence, will ensure reliable, scalable and sustainable graphite anode production to power the EV and ESS industries worldwide.”

The agreement successfully brings together Phillips 66’s operational expertise in material production with EAM’s global expansion goals, reinforcing the collective effort to build a competitive and resilient supply chain for clean energy technologies across multiple regions.

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Bengaluru-based engineering R&D services major L&T Technology Services has expanded its partnership with Siemens, a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure and mobility.

The partnership aims to advance Machine & Line Simulation and IIoT Technology, setting a new benchmark for innovation within LTTS’ sustainability segment, which encompasses process engineering, discrete manufacturing and industrial products.

As per the understanding, LTTS will leverage the digital technology portfolio of Siemens to deliver simulation-driven automation and IIoT-enabled solutions for diverse sectors including automotive & transportation, industrial products and process & plant engineering.

By combining Siemens’ flagship platforms, TIA Portal, Industrial Edge and Tecnomatix, integrated with LTTS’ AI-driven engineering expertise, the partnership will accelerate digital adoption, improve precision in system design and drive faster, smarter decision-making across manufacturing ecosystems.

Alind Saxena, President & Executive Director – Mobility & Tech, L&T Technology Services, said, “Our collaboration with Siemens underscores a shared vision of driving AI-powered innovation and operational excellence across industrial ecosystems. By focusing on robust solutions such as Machine & Line Simulation and IIoT Technology, we are empowering industries to achieve greater agility, actionable insights and measurable business outcomes.”

Suprakash Chaudhuri, Head of Digital Industries, Siemens, said, “At Siemens, we believe that partnerships are the cornerstone of the digital transformation journey for Indian enterprises. By combining deep domain expertise with cutting-edge digital solutions, we can co-create scalable, future-ready innovations that empower industries to thrive in a rapidly evolving world. We are delighted to welcome LTTS as our Solution Partner and look forward to shaping the future of digital transformation together.”

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Kinetic India, part of the Kinetic Engineering Group, has rolled out the first unit of its LFP (lithium iron phosphate) Range-X battery from the production line at its Ahilya Nagar facility.

The Range-X LFP battery is powering the company’s recently launched Kinetic DX EV electric scooter. The company shared that the Range-X LFP batteries are designed to be longer, safer & superior, and are equipped with a smart Battery Management System (BMS) to optimise performance, extend lifecycle and ensure consistent reliability.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman, Kinetic India, said, “These first batteries rolling off our production line represent more than just a milestone for Range-X, they signify the backbone of the Kinetic DX EV and the next wave of clean mobility in India. With AIS 156 certification, Range-X delivers on its promise of combining durability, safety, and sustainability in every battery we produce.”

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