SIAT 2026

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), an autonomous body with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, has announced that it will hold its biennial flagship automotive technology event Symposium of International Automotive Technology (SIAT) Expo, from 28 January to 30 January 2025, at PIECC, Pune.

The event in its 19th edition was first hosted in 1985 and has seen the likes of Former President of India, (late) Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Dr Pawan Goenka, Chairman, Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) among others as esteemed dignitaries.  

The theme of SIAT 2026 is ‘Innovative Pathways for Safe and Sustainable Mobility’, which will focus on a wide range of topics such as – E-mobility, Simulation & Modelling, Emission Measurement & Control Technology, Advanced Vehicle Dynamics, Active and Passive Safety, Noise, Vibration & Harshness (NVH), Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Hydrogen I.C. Engine, Testing & Evaluation, Structural Reliability, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), Alternative Fuels, ITS & Regulation, Tyre Technology and Materials & Manufacturing.

In its last edition, SIAT 2024, saw over 2,000 delegates, 211 presentations from 10 countries. The event had a dedicated Hydrogen Pavilion, ADAS Demonstration Area aligning with the theme- transformation towards progressive mobility. More than 330 exhibitors from India, USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Austria, France and Finland among others showcased their latest offerings, which attracted over 7,000 direct visitors. Furthermore, to promote Aatmanirbhar Bharat a dedicated pavilion for Small & Medium Companies and Startups was arranged for more than 70 companies.

India's Nawgati Expands To UAE With Strategic Partnership To Modernise Fuel Retail

Nagwati - UAE

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.

JSW MG Motor India Expands Nurture Initiative To Boost EV Education

JSW MG Nurture

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.

TVS Motor Co, Noise Introduce EV Smartwatch Integration

TVS Iqube = Noise

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.”

Evera Launches New App For Premium Electric Cab Services

Evera Cabs

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.