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. 

Image for representative purpose only

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Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has attained a new production milestone with the roll-out of its 500,000th unit – an Ather Rizta e-scooter – from its plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The company shared that the Rizta e-scooter has become a growth driver for the brand since its launch last year.

Swapnil Jain, Co-Founder & CTO, Ather Energy, said, "Crossing 500,000 scooters is a major milestone for Ather. From our very first prototype to today, our journey has been about building not just vehicles, but a scalable, reliable and consistent manufacturing ecosystem. This achievement reflects years of focused engineering, rigorous testing, and meticulous attention to quality at every stage of production. It also highlights the dedication of teams across the company and the trust and support of our owner community, who have been with us throughout this journey."

Ather has built a portfolio of performance and family scooters. The Rizta, in a year since its launch, accounts for over one-third of total production volumes. Ather has recently expanded its presence in the Middle and North India, focusing on tier 2 and 3 cities, alongside metro markets.

Ather currently runs two manufacturing facilities in Hosur, Tamil Nadu – one for vehicle assembly and one for battery production. The Hosur plant has a capacity of 420,000 scooters a year. To meet demand, Ather is setting up its third plant, Factory 3.0, in Bidkin, AURIC, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra. The facility will be developed in two phases, integrating digital technologies. Once both phases are running, Factory 3.0 will increase Ather’s total installed capacity across all facilities to 1.42 million electric two-wheelers annually.

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Tata AutoComp Hendrickson Suspensions (THSL) has become the first commercial vehicle suspension manufacturer to be awarded the prestigious Deming Prize. 

The Deming Prize recognises companies that have achieved distinctive performance improvements through the application of TQM. For THSL, the award validates years of painstaking work in standardising processes, enhancing product reliability and ensuring customer delight.

Incepted in 2006, as a 50:50 Joint Venture between Tata AutoComp Systems and Hendrickson, THSL focusses on suspension solutions that could conquer the unique challenges of Indian roads and maintenance practices. The company didn't just import technology; it customised it.

The 8x2 Truck Revolution: THSL became a major enabler for the fuel-efficient and versatile 8x2 truck segment in India, largely due to its innovative Lift Axle Suspension system. They played a significant role in developing the robust 37-tonne truck segment.

Leveraging Hendrickson's deep global product knowledge and combining it with their own extensive experience of Indian operating conditions, THSL continually focused on quality and innovation across its product lines:

• Auxiliary suspensions (Lift Axle): Enabling flexibility and better load management in Pusher/Tag positions.
• Robust tandem solutions: Developing advanced bogie suspensions and rubber-metal suspension systems essential for medium and heavy-duty tippers and haulage tractors.
• Comfort on the move: Pioneering modern bus air suspension systems for city buses, coaches and luxury intercity travel.
• Comprehensive range: Offering air suspension systems for various truck and tractor applications, alongside traditional, durable parabolic springs.

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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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