Currently, India’s foundry market for automotive components is small (only 10 percent of total foundry market — 10 million of cast iron + aluminium) in comparison to USA’s foundry market, which is at 14 million tonnes per annum, of which 3.3 million is aluminium (24 percent). With an increasing focus on higher performance with better safety and lower emission, this gap is going to shrink in the coming years, anticipates Ajay Kapur, CEO – Aluminium & Power Business, Vedanta Aluminium.

“There is immense scope for Indian aluminium producers to tap into the emerging market in the automotive sector,” said Kapur. Vedanta Aluminium was the first in India to supply PFA (primary foundry alloy) to the domestic auto sector. Before, the launch of PFA by the company, India’s entire PFA demand was being met through imports, even though the country has the world’s second-largest aluminium production capacity. Looking at the potential of the auto market and its import dependency, the company decided to tap into the opportunity and develop indigenous capabilities at its state-of-the-art facilities in Jharsuguda and BALCO to meet that demand. Currently, the company has a PFA casting capacity of 240KT spread across its plants in Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

“Primary aluminium producers develop PFAs which are customised to suit the exact needs of automakers in terms of performance, strength, durability, etc. Significant R&D and technical expertise go into developing PFAs, resulting in excellent metal quality and outstanding castability, which makes these alloys the preferred choice for the automotive industry,” explained Kapur. PFAs are ideal for aluminium alloy wheels, cylinder heads and brakes. The company also anticipates that with an increased focus on reduction of vehicle weight with higher safety performance, automotive parts critical to safety will be made from PFA instead of cast iron to offer higher strength and nearly double absorption of crash energy. “Besides, aluminium PFAs will always have the added advantage of cost-saving on fuel and maintenance,” added Kapur.

Vedanta Aluminium has started steadily supplying PFAs to OEMs and ancillaries in wheel manufacturing in India. “Our proactive move to expand business on this front helped us on-board some of the most reputed equipment manufacturers and auto ancillaries as our clients, and we have received a very positive response from them. Encouraged by that, we will soon look to expand our alloy portfolio for supporting manufacturing of cylinder heads, ABS brakes and certain key applications where traditional materials can easily get substituted with aluminium alloy. We are also exploring prospects of long-term investments by auto ancillaries near our aluminium smelters so that they may leverage cost savings in terms of freight, re-melting and electricity,” said Kapur.

The company, according to him, is well-positioned to cater to the current and emerging needs of the Indian auto sector, offering a broad range of products that find usage across the automotive value chain – from casting to extrusion. “When choosing suppliers for alloys, automotive players should look for companies having high-quality casting facilities, sophisticated R&D facilities and technological prowess for developing customised high-performance alloys for their specific needs, and finally, having robust after-sales technical support; USPs that have earned us the trust of our clients,” he added.

Aluminium is the second most used metal in the world after steel, today, and, according to Kapur, it has the potential to become the most important commercial metal in the future. “Most developed countries have already designated aluminium as a core industry. Aluminium holds strategic importance for the economy as the metal of choice for all kinds of transportation, power, aerospace, defence, building and construction needs. So, given the role it plays in supporting the core sectors meet the Government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, we expect its application to only expand with time,” said Kapur.

The metal’s usage in the transportation sector has been rapidly increasing as it offers an environment-friendly and cost-effective way to increase performance, boost fuel economy and reduce emissions while maintaining or improving safety and durability. Aluminium is substantially lighter than its counterparts, offering a significant reduction in weight, which has a direct impact on fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

The metal also has a higher strength-to-weight ratio compared to traditional materials that enable it to absorb twice the crash energy of mild steel, ensuring that vehicular performance enhancements do not come at the cost of safety. “Further, nearly 90 percent of all the aluminium used in a vehicle is recycled at the end of its lifecycle. The energy required to recycle aluminium is only five percent of the energy required to produce the metal. With all these advantages, aluminium can play a pivotal role in the changing face of the automotive sector,” said Kapur.

Aluminium alloys are used by the Indian auto industry majorly as alloy wheels. Around 95 percent of two-wheelers include aluminium, averaging at 7kg per bike, taking total consumption of aluminium alloy in this segment to 115KTPA (kilo tons per annum). Whereas, only 20 percent of four-wheelers use aluminium, majorly in high-end models, which max out at 40kg per car. “The crux of the matter is, in India, we are yet to explore more applications of aluminium in the automotive industry akin to our global peers. For example, in developed countries, around 21 PFAs are used in the automotive segment to achieve light-weighting in the form of various auto parts and components. In India, we majorly use PFAs only for manufacturing alloy wheels and to some extent, for cylinder heads. So, there is immense potential for usage of aluminium in other auto parts like engine, suspension, front end carrier, instrument panel support, rear frame, chassis and many more,” said Kapur.

Shortly, the company expands its alloy portfolio for supporting manufacturing of cylinder heads, ABS brakes and certain other applications where currently steel or iron is being used but can be substituted by suitable aluminium alloys to provide additional benefits. As the market for aluminium alloys in automotive segment expands with inclusion of newer applications, Vedanta Aluminium will look for opportunities to leverage its technological expertise and R&D capabilities to develop products customised to the needs of the market. Vedanta Aluminium is also open to collaborating with the downstream industry, to unlock the entire potential of aluminium used in the auto sector and cater to the rapidly evolving aluminium requirements of the Indian automotive industry.

In the Indian automotive market, one of the biggest challenges faced today is the increasing imports of auto components from China and other countries. The size of the auto components imports was USD 17.6 billion in FY19. Asia, the largest source of imports for Indian auto-components, had a share of 61 percent followed by Europe at 29 percent; North America at eight percent; Latin America and Africa at one percent each in FY19. China, with 27 percent, enjoyed the status of the largest exporter in the Indian automotive market.

“The potential of the aluminium industry should be acknowledged and recognised as a core sector with a National Aluminium Policy that will encourage, protect and boost the domestic aluminium industry. The domestic capability needs to be harnessed for critical sectors of national importance like defence, aerospace, aviation, transportation, infrastructure, electrification, housing, etc. We must make the vision of ‘Make in India’ a ground reality in these sectors, leveraging the potential of the entire aluminium value chain, from mining to end usage. Besides enhancing domestic capacity and reducing import dependency and subsequently trade deficit, it will also generate huge employment opportunities in our country which has a deep talent pool that needs to be capitalised for the realisation of our vision of a USD5 trillion economy. We are on the right path, but there is still a long way to go,” said Kapur.

The global economy is swiftly moving towards a cleaner, greener and more sustainable lifestyle. For more than a decade now, concerns about fuel efficiency have encouraged OEMs to replace steel with aluminium in vehicle bodies, doors, trunks, hoods, bumpers, crash boxes, brakes and wheels. With the advent of electric vehicles (EV), OEMs worldwide are focusing on exploring and applying new uses of aluminium. The need for lightweight battery casings and heat exchangers in electric vehicles, combined with autonomous vehicles’ demands for high visibility and structural integrity, is expected to exponentially increase the use of aluminium in cars, trucks and buses from now on. “Using aluminium in EVs has several advantages, foremost amongst which is the distance travelled per charge. Lighter the vehicle, the longer its range. Coming to better battery life, thanks to the metal’s thermal and anticorrosion properties, aluminium is ideal for battery frames. Demand for aluminium will also rise on account of infrastructure for serving EVs since the metal is commonly used as a housing material for EVs charging stations as well. While India is waking up to this future of automobiles, partnerships between different automotive industry bodies/institutions and auto companies for sharing knowledge and expertise will help fast-track development of electric vehicles in the country,” said Kapur. MT

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Nawgati, an Indian fuel-tech platform, has partnered with Seed Group, a company from The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, to modernise the fuel retail industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The collaboration aims to deploy advanced digital tools to improve efficiency at petrol stations across the country.

The partnership will give Nawgati access to Seed Group's extensive regional network and market expertise, accelerating its entry into the UAE. By combining Nawgati’s technology with Seed Group's local influence, the partners expect to reduce congestion at busy fuel outlets, enhance operational efficiency and improve compliance monitoring.

Vaibhav Kaushik, Co-founder and CEO, Nawgati, said, “This partnership with Seed Group marks a significant milestone in Nawgati’s journey as we step out of India and into global markets. Having proven our capabilities with some of the largest energy companies back home, we are now ready to bring the same efficiency, transparency, and innovation to the UAE’s fuel retail ecosystem. The UAE is at the forefront of adopting future-ready mobility solutions. With Seed Group’s regional leadership and our technology, we are confident in transforming the fuelling experience, empowering operators with smarter tools, reducing congestion for consumers, and setting new benchmarks for operational excellence and sustainable mobility across the region and beyond.”

Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group, said, “Nawgati brings a digital solution that modernises fuel retail operations, a sector vital to mobility and economic growth. With steady growth expected in the UAE’s fuel retail sector by 2030, the company’s expertise is a timely addition to our portfolio. We are confident this will empower regional businesses to streamline processes and deliver smarter customer experiences.”

Nawgati, which already works with major Indian companies like Indraprastha Gas and Mahanagar Gas, will now bring its solutions to the UAE, marking its first step into international markets. The partnership is expected to strengthen Nawgati’s position as a homegrown company with global relevance.

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JSW MG Motor India is expanding its flagship ‘JSW MG Nurture’ initiative, a program designed to equip technical educators with the skills needed for the country's fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Now in its third year, the program aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry demands by training faculty members from engineering, diploma and ITI institutions.

The initiative, launched in 2023, has already trained more than 80 faculty members across over 50 institutions. The program provides hands-on workshops covering critical topics like EVs, autonomous driving, connected mobility and artificial intelligence. By focusing on educators, JSW MG Motor India aims to indirectly impact thousands of students nationwide.

Yeshwinder Patial, Senior Director of Human Resources, JSW MG Motor India, “JSW MG Nurture reflects our long-term commitment to skill development and industry-academia collaboration. By investing in faculty development, we are strengthening the roots of technical education and preparing students for the future of mobility.”

The JSW MG Nurture initiative also aligns with the government's NEP 2020 vision for industry-academia collaboration and the EV 2030 roadmap, which anticipates a need for over 10 million skilled professionals in the EV sector.

In partnership with education company Skill-Lync, the program has co-designed modules and delivered tailored training. Looking ahead, JSW MG Motor India plans to scale the initiative to hundreds of institutions, with new modules on advanced battery systems, robotics and AI-powered solutions.

Krishna Bandaru, Co-Founder, Skill-Lync, said, “It gives us great pride to partner with JSW MG Motor India on this inspiring initiative. By nurturing educators, the JSW MG Nurture program is shaping the future of students and classrooms alike. This thoughtful and progressive effort is already making a meaningful difference and stands as a shining example of how industry can drive social impact.”

File photo for representational purpose only.

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Chennai-based automotive major TVS Motor Company has partnered Noise, a leading Indian lifestyle brand, to introduce a first-of-its-kind innovation: an electric vehicle-smartwatch integration.

The new feature connects TVS's iQube electric scooter with a custom Noise smartwatch, offering riders real-time access to key vehicle information directly from their wrist.

The special edition smartwatch acts as a mobility companion, providing riders with instant updates on their electric scooter’s status, including battery level, tyre pressure and estimated range. The integration also includes important safety features like tow alerts and crash detection, giving riders a smarter and more connected experience.

This collaboration marks a significant step forward in India's mobility sector, transforming the smartwatch from a simple lifestyle accessory into a practical tool for daily commutes. The new smartwatch will be sold exclusively on the TVS iQube official website.

With over 650,000 units sold, the TVS iQube is already a leader in the Indian EV market. This partnership with Noise aims to enhance the customer experience by providing seamless access to vehicle data, empowering riders with the information they need for a safer and more convenient journey.

Key Features of the EV-Smartwatch Integration:

• Vehicle Status Monitoring: Riders can check if their scooter is locked, unlocked, on a ride, or charging directly from the watch.
• Battery and Range Info: The smartwatch displays the State of Charge (SoC), including visual cues for charging progress and the Distance to Empty (DTE) to help riders plan their trips.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring (TPMS): The watch provides live pressure values for both tyres, with alerts for low pressure on select models.
• Charging Updates: Get real-time updates on charging progress, including the time it will take to reach a full charge and a ‘Charging Complete’ notification.
• Safety Alerts: The system includes Tow/Theft Alerts with haptic and visual prompts if motion is detected, as well as Crash/Fall Detection that sends an on-wrist alert followed by a notification to a linked mobile app.
• Geofence Notifications: Riders receive an alert if their vehicle crosses a predefined boundary.
• Low/Full Charge Alerts: The watch notifies you when it's time to connect or unplug the charger.
• Safety Visual Cues: Color-coded tiles (green for optimal, red for attention) provide quick, easy-to-understand updates to help minimise distractions while riding.

Aniruddha Haldar, Senior Vice-President — Head Commuter & EV Business and Head Corporate Brand & Media, TVS Motor Company, said, “We are committed to reimagining the future of mobility by seamlessly blending technology, sustainability and customer-centric innovation. Our partnership with Noise is a testament to this vision, transforming the smartwatch from a lifestyle device into a smart riding assistant. By integrating the TVS iQube with a connected smartwatch, we are empowering our riders with smarter, safer and more intuitive journeys while shaping the future of mobility in India.”

Amit Khatri, Co-Founder, Noise, said, “At Noise, our vision has always been to build technology that empowers people to live, move, and stay connected with ease. This partnership with TVS Motor Company is a powerful step in that direction, bringing meaningful innovation to the wrist by turning the smartwatch into a mobility companion. As consumers look for smarter, more integrated ways to move through their day, this first-of-its-kind experience reflects our commitment to pushing boundaries, delivering purposeful technology and shaping the future of connected living in India.”

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Evera, a prominent electric vehicle (EV) cab company, has introduced a new app to enhance urban transportation across India. The app, which serves both corporate and individual customers, aims to fill key service gaps with a focus on reliability, safety and sustainability.

The new platform offers a premium, multi-service experience for both B2B and B2C customers. For individual users, the app provides a reliable, zero-cancellation and noise-free alternative for daily commutes, airport transfers and long-distance travel.

Nimish Trivedi, Co-founder and CEO, Evera, said, "Evera’s first-class, well-maintained cars, equipped with comfortable interiors and driven by professionally trained chauffeurs, ensure every ride is smooth, safe and dependable. Whether for corporate travel or personal use, Evera guarantees that your cab will arrive on time, every time. With flexible hourly rental packages, commuters can now book clean cabs for office-to-home travel, business meetings, city errands, or full-day usage – removing the hassle of multiple bookings and offering complete convenience in one app. The Evera app is now live, offering airport-to-city and city-to-airport transfers along with premium hourly rental services, a major step toward making reliable, high-quality cab travel accessible for everyday needs."

For businesses, Evera’s new app features a comprehensive suite of solutions to manage employee transportation. The service includes an admin dashboard for real-time tracking of cab movements and expenses and a direct link to a command centre for immediate assistance. A key feature for corporate clients is the carbon savings report, which allows companies to track and report on their green kilometres as part of sustainability initiatives.

The app now fully integrates Evera's existing airport transfer service, which has been in operation for two years. Additionally, it introduces an app-enabled hourly rental option, giving customers more flexibility for trips like business meetings or city errands.

To meet the growing demand, Evera plans to expand its EV fleet and optimise its technology to ensure greater availability and shorter wait times.

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