Introducing significant advancement in automotive semiconductor technology at the recent Snapdragon Summit 2024 with a focus on improving the cockpit and ADAS experience, Qualcomm has reported strong growth in its automotive revenue in the current calendar year. 
The growth story at Nvidia – with a lucrative detour into AI – is indicative of the developments in autonomous vehicle technologies.  
The tech major may not enjoy the popularity or acceptance that Qualcomm has come to command, the fact is, both are seeking an innovative approach to automobiles as their users seek new and exciting features. 
While legacy automotive tier 1 suppliers like Schaeffler, Bosch and others facing the challenge of sluggish demand, the system-to-chip (SoC) technology companies like Qualcomm and Nvidia are engineering a different dimension to the art of automobile design, development and manufacture.  
Enjoying an EBITDA margin of around 30 percent as compared to the five percent EBITDA margin roughly of tier 1 automotive suppliers, Qualcomm and Nvidia are driving the age of software defined vehicles that are already calling for engineers with a deeper understanding of software. 
C++ or Autosar may be the language most automotive software programmes use as the basis, from a features or convenience point of view, even the presence of rain sensing wipers or an air-con that can be switched on or off with a voice command are fast gaining prominence among automotive buyers as they seek a different level of emotion connection with their set of wheels. 
From a vehicle architecture point of view, please consider the Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis. It has evolved with the introduction of the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms on the hardware side. 
Aiding faster computing speeds, both the platforms feature the Oryon CPU. This CPU has been optimised for automotive safety standards and designed for 3x faster CPU performance than previous generations, according to Qualcomm sources.  
Aiding to enhance in-vehicle digital experiences by integrating advanced infotainment with autonomous driving capabilities on a single chip, developments like this mark an interesting milestone in the world of automobiles. 
An important milestone will be the plan by Qualcomm to introduce lower-tier versions of these platforms to broaden their applications, enabling automakers to develop cost-effective solutions across various market segments. 
The Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite SoCs are expected to be available to manufacturers starting in 2025, with early adopters such as Mercedes-Benz and Li Auto planning to integrate these technologies into their upcoming models. 
The first vehicles using these platforms are expected to be available by 2026 in China. Releases in other markets in the world will soon follow. 
Talking about Nvidia's lucrative detour into AI, Ola Electric has developed an Ola Digital Twin platform on NVIDIA Omniverse that is helping it to achieve 20 percent faster time-to-market – from design to commissioning for its manufacturing operations.
Built on NVIDIA Isaac Sim, the Ola Digital Twin platform taps into core Omniverse technologies like OpenUSD for data interoperability, RTX for physically-based rendering, and generative AI for accelerated world building to generate synthetic data or training autonomous mobile robots and robotic arms.
Consulting leaders such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Tech Mahindra are developing industrial AI applications and services on Omniverse to help manufacturers develop digital twins for accelerated factory planning, optimised processes, robotics training and large-scale automation, according to an industry source aware of the new developments in AI and industrial automation.

Edge AI and software virtualisation
At Snapdragon Summit 2024, Qualcomm emphasised the benefits of edge AI over traditional cloud-based solutions, particularly in terms of privacy and latency. 
By processing data locally within the vehicle, edge AI enhances data security and ensures that sensitive information remains protected. Recent advancements in AI models, such as Llama 3.0, illustrate that edge AI can deliver strong performance while reducing memory requirements, which may lead to cost savings for manufacturers.
Interesting, use cases covering nearly every aspect of heavy manufacturing — from building virtual factories for real-time factory planning and monitoring, to creating digital twins of aircraft components for immersive training and predictive maintenance, Nvidia’s Omniverse is being used to simulate autonomous vehicles; to enable automotive companies to simulate and validate complex driving scenarios without the need for physical testing. 

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Maruti Suzuki India, a subsidiary of Suzuki Motor Corporation and the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it is set to acquire land from the Government of Gujarat for the construction of a new production facility.

The decision follows a basic agreement reached with the state government in January 2024 to establish a second manufacturing base in the region.

The site in Sanand covers approximately 1,750 acres valued at INR 49.6 billion. Once operational, the facility is expected to have an annual production capacity of 1 million units.

The company cited Gujarat’s supply chain, infrastructure and proximity to ports as factors for the selection. The location provides access to highway and railway networks, supporting its function as both a domestic production base and an export hub for vehicles.

Current and Planned Production Capacity

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Ashok Leyland, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers in the country, has opened a new integrated manufacturing facility in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.

The greenfield facility, located near Lucknow Airport in Sarojini Nagar, was inaugurated by Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, alongside Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and H D Kumaraswamy.

The 70-acre site is designed to produce 5,000 vehicles annually, with a primary focus on electric buses and other green mobility solutions. The facility employs a workforce predominantly from Uttar Pradesh, including a high percentage of women. To support its sustainability goals, the plant features rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and zero-discharge water systems.

Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland, said, "The inauguration of this new plant marks the beginning of an important new chapter for Ashok Leyland in the vibrant state of Uttar Pradesh. Our Group remains deeply committed to unlocking further opportunities that drive economic growth, create meaningful employment, and foster long-term prosperity in the region. This manufacturing plant reaffirms our resolve to help shape the future of India’s commercial vehicle industry, and we are confident that it will make a strong contribution towards employment generation while advancing sustainable mobility. With this new plant, we are preparing ourselves for the future and take one step further to achieve our Net Zero emission goals."

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, "As one of India’s largest and most progressive states, Uttar Pradesh has demonstrated a strong and consistent commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable development, making it a natural partner in our green mobility journey. This coupled with Ashok Leyland’s ambition to achieve Net Zero by 2048 has been a key catalyst for establishing this state-of-the-art facility in Uttar Pradesh. Equipped with most modern technology and high levels of automation, the plant reflects our focus on world-class quality and innovation. With a strong emphasis on electric buses, this facility marks a significant step towards building a cleaner, future-ready mobility ecosystem for India.”

The plant's logistics are managed using battery-operated vehicles to maintain its status as a green facility. This expansion aligns with Ashok Leyland's target to reach Net Zero emissions by 2048 and supports the state of Uttar Pradesh's transition toward electric transportation.

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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 and Silox India have expanded their long-term collaboration to focus on industrial decarbonisation and the development of sustainable supply chains. As part of the agreement, Silox India has adopted EcoZen, a low-carbon zinc brand produced by Hindustan Zinc, for use across its manufacturing operations. This integration is intended to reduce the carbon footprint of zinc-based chemical products while maintaining existing quality standards.

EcoZen is manufactured using renewable energy and has a verified carbon footprint of less than one tonne of CO2 per tonne of zinc. According to the company, this is approximately 75 percent lower than the global industry average. The material offers full traceability, allowing downstream users to account for the environmental impact of their inputs. When used in galvanising, EcoZen can prevent approximately 400 kilograms of CO2 emissions per tonne of steel compared to conventional zinc.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company, supplies materials to various sectors including infrastructure, automotive and renewables. The company is a member of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and has prioritised the reduction of Scope 3 emissions for its clients. Silox India, which specialises in inorganic chemistry and non-ferrous metal derivatives, will use EcoZen to support its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets.

Arun Misra, Chief Executive Officer & Whole-time Director, Hindustan Zinc, said, “Decarbonisation at Hindustan Zinc is not limited to our own operations; it extends to how our products are used across industries. EcoZen represents a step change in how zinc can support cleaner manufacturing. By partnering with customers like Silox India, we are enabling the wider adoption of low-carbon solutions at scale.”

Prakash Raman, Managing Director, Silox India, said, “Integrating EcoZen into our manufacturing processes allows us to lower embedded emissions across our product portfolio while continuing to deliver high-performance solutions to our customers. This partnership demonstrates how upstream innovation can accelerate sustainability outcomes downstream.”

The partnership aligns with the increasing demand for low-carbon materials in the automotive and infrastructure sectors. EcoZen is supported by life-cycle assessments and globally recognised ISO and REACH certifications to ensure transparency and compliance with environmental regulations.

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