Pearl Academy, one of India’s leading creative education institutions, conducted its first-ever live masterclass on the Metaverse campus, which was led by legendary car designer Maurizio Corbi.

The masterclass, held simultaneously on the Pearl 2.0 Metaverse Campus and on-ground at Pearl Academy’s Delhi West Campus, showcased the institution’s innovative approach to blending technology with education.

Corbi has over three decades in the automotive design industry and has played a key role under Pininfarina’s banner and has also been behind the design of Ferrari models such as the F355, 456, 550 and Ferrari California.

The automotive industry veteran shared with students the intricate process of car design, providing insights from his decades of experience.

He mentioned his love for sketching on paper but also highlighted the transformative role of AI in modern design. “Today, the new frontier is AI –  you don’t need paper or markers anymore. Technology is reshaping how we create, but the passion and vision behind the design remain timeless,” he explained.

“Product design, especially in the automotive industry, is driven by passion – a passion that must come from within. To all the talented students at Pearl Academy, I say that your potential is immense, and the future is bright. India’s automotive industry is growing rapidly, and with it comes countless opportunities for young designers to make their mark. It was a wonderful experience visiting Pearl Academy and interacting with such passionate and creative students,” said Corbi.

Aditi Srivastava, President, Pearl Academy, said, “At Pearl Academy, we believe that design is not just about creating products—it’s about shaping lifestyles. We are honoured to welcome the legendary Maurizio Corbi, whose work with Ferrari has defined luxury, innovation and timeless design. Ferrari is more than a car; it is a global lifestyle that represents passion, precision and excellence. This masterclass is even more special as it marks our first-ever session in the Metaverse, reinforcing our commitment to pushing creative boundaries and embracing the future of education. By bringing industry legends like Maurizio Corbi into immersive learning spaces, we continue to inspire our students to think beyond convention and design for the future.”

Bengaluru-headquartered electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy has expanded its R&D and testing capabilities at its Product Testing & Validation Centre – The Juggernaut – in Begur, Bengaluru.

The facility spread across 38,692 sqft, will allow the EV maker to validate durability and safety across vehicle, system and component levels, including on-road endurance. It features dedicated labs for structural durability, battery testing, electrical & electronics reliability and vehicle environment testing.

At present, Ather has three R&D facilities in Bengaluru, Karnataka. As of December 2024, Ather Energy said it invested INR 2,388 million or 15 percent of its revenue from operations for R&D. Moreover, 46 percent of its workforce is dedicated towards R&D, which involves design, development and testing of electric two-wheeler products, software for scooters, charging infrastructure and accessories. It currently sells the Ather 450 lineup and the Rizta catering to various customer needs.

The new expansion houses a 4 DOF Road Simulator/MTS 334 road load simulator, for targeted testing of systems like suspension frames, enabling early bug detection, faster design optimisation and lower change costs. The MTS 334 road load simulator can replicate real-world two-wheeler riding conditions, compressing a 100,000 km endurance test into just 15 days, which otherwise the company claims would take about 10 years to cover on road.

Using multi-stress factor testing and a feedback loop from field data to test cases, Ather Energy aims to continuously refine its validation processes to improve real-world performance. The data-driven tests not only improves accuracy, but also enables engineers to predict and address potential failure points before they reach customers. In addition, it also conducts battery validation tests including thermal performance test, water wading test, drop test and vibration and thermal cycling to tune the battery for performance and safety.

Swapnil Jain, Co-founder & CTO, Ather Energy, said, “EVs are radically different from ICE vehicles and are a relatively new technology, so it is important to thoroughly test all the components of the vehicle. At Ather, we have made significant investments in R&D over the years and have developed processes & standards for testing to deliver quality products. Our products go through rigorous tests that are designed around Indian riding conditions and extreme usage scenarios, reflecting how customers use our scooters. With the expansion of The Juggernaut, we are scaling up our testing capacity & capabilities, enabling us to accelerate innovation and product development, while maintaining our focus on performance, quality and reliability.”

The company currently has two manufacturing plants in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, one each for vehicle assembly and battery manufacturing and an upcoming third manufacturing facility in Bidkin, AURIC, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.

CarDekho Group, a leading auto-tech and fintech solutions provider, has marked its entry into the UAE market in partnership with Raya Holdings under the guidance of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The company aims to replicate its India business model in the UAE market, by providing an integrated ecosystem, encompassing advertising, lead management and digital content solutions to redefine the car-buying experience for UAE consumers.

CarDekho sees immense opportunity in the UAE market driven by tech-savvy consumer base increasingly reliant on digital channels for automotive needs.

Amit Jain, CEO and Co-Founder, CarDekho Group, said, “What started in a Tier 2 city with the aim to empower customers across India, has now transcended borders. This marks a pivotal step in our journey to transform the global automotive ecosystem. Our expansion into the UAE, under the guidance of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is pivotal in replicating our Indian business model internationally. This move also aligns with our commitment to contribute to the UAE’s ‘Vision 2030’ which focuses on sustainable transport and digital transformation. Supported by our teams, partners, and customers, we aspire to set new benchmarks and establish CarDekho as a prominent name in mobility and auto-financial space on a global scale.”

Anurag Jain, COO and Co-Founder, CarDekho Group, added, “Our expansion into the UAE reflects our commitment to harnessing technology to meet the evolving needs of car buyers. From lead management systems to AI-driven consumer insights, we aim for our platform to align with the preferences of UAE customers. By integrating innovation with market understanding, we aim to redefine the car-buying experience, empowering both consumers and businesses with solutions that are as intuitive as they are impactful.”

At present, CarDekho already operates in Southeast Asia under the OTO brand in Indonesia, Carmudi and Zigwheels in the Philippines.

Delta, a global leader in power management and a provider of IoT-based smart green solutions, has confirmed its participation in ELECRAMA 2025 under the ‘Smart Manufacturing’ theme with the launch its new D-Bot series Collaborative Robots (cobots) for the Indian market.

With payloads of up to 30 kg and speeds of up to 200 degrees per second, these 6-axis cobots are made to enable sectors with more intelligent and effective manufacturing processes, including electronics assembly, packaging, material handling and even welding.  Delta will further demonstrate its dedication to energy saving and the creation of sustainable communities throughout India by introducing its new 240-kW DC Fast EV Charger and the Industrial Power-protect Transformer-based UPS at the event. Visitors will go on a trip with a live display of intelligent infrastructure across the Delta exhibit, which includes data centres, smart energy infrastructure, EV charging, industrial automation, smart building automation systems, ICT infrastructure and other cutting-edge technologies.

Jimmy Yiin, Executive Vice President – Global Business Operations, Delta, said, "India is a key market for Delta, and we are committed to driving its industrial and energy transformation with our advanced solutions. Delta’s strategic investment in the Krishnagiri facility underscores our dedication to local innovation, manufacturing excellence and sustainability. Through this investment, we aim to strengthen India's self-reliance in smart manufacturing and energy infrastructure while contributing to global industry standards."

Benjamin Lin, President, Delta Electronics India, said, "Delta is proud to showcase our innovative smart manufacturing solutions at ELECRAMA 2025. Our focus has always been on delivering solutions that advance industries to become more efficient, sustainable, and resilient. The new solutions we are introducing – from the D-Bot Cobots to the Ultron IPT Series UPS – are designed with these values in mind, and we are committed to driving the transition to smart and sustainable manufacturing across India and beyond."

Japanese auto major Honda Motor Co, has partnered the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) to contribute to global initiatives to reduce fatalities from traffic collisions, including a previously announced commitment of USD 3 million over 5 years. The partnership will see Honda combine its know-how and knowledge to promote safe driving/riding practices with the UNRSF. They will support traffic collision analysis and the road safety policies of various countries.

The ultimate goal is to achieve a collision-free society for all road users. Honda stated that it has been pursuing safety initiatives from both hardware and software perspective under its ‘Safety for Everyone’. It aims to achieve zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles worldwide by 2050, with a milestone to reduce fatalities by 50 percent by 2030.

Under the new partnership, Honda and UNRSF will focus on two key areas – traffic collision analysis and support for road safety policies. A key focus would be to reduce road fatalities involving two-wheelers especially in emerging countries, which account for a significant portion of worldwide traffic collision fatalities, Honda and UNRSF have made emerging nations, particularly in Asia, as a focus area.

Hideaki Takaishi, General Manager of Safety Planning Division, Corporate Planning Unit, Honda Motor Co, said, “Honda has set a clear safety goal to strive for zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles worldwide by 2050. Toward this goal, Honda is continuing its initiatives to enhance safety and reduce traffic collision fatalities worldwide. For many years, Honda has been committed to safety initiatives not only from the hardware perspective such as the development of safety technologies, but also from software perspectives including the promotion of traffic safety awareness among everyone sharing the road. Through our partnership with the UNRSF, we will integrate the knowledge, know-how and network of both parties and strengthen outreach and engagement with various countries with an aim to achieve the milestone of halving worldwide traffic collision fatalities by 2030.”

Nneka Henry, Head of the UN Road Safety Fund, added, “We welcome Honda as the first vehicle manufacturer to join the UNRSF and its governing body. Their contribution through sharing the knowledge and know-how of a mobility company is one of the largest we have received and will help us direct vital resources to high-impact projects that save lives in developing countries. Honda’s leadership sets an important example for the private sector’s role in tackling the global road safety crisis.”