EQONIC Group, a UK-based battery technology company, has announced two senior leadership appointments to support the commercialisation of its lithium-free, sodium-free and rare-earth-free battery technology.

John Saunders joins as Executive Director, bringing 30 years of experience in banking, regulation and law. He has held senior roles at Coutts, Barclays, UBS and Deutsche Bank. On the other hand, Angela Knight CBE joins as Non-Executive Director, having previously served as Chief Executive of the British Bankers' Association and Energy UK, with board experience at Taylor Wimpey and Arbuthnot Banking Group.

EQONIC is developing proprietary technology that eliminates the use of lithium, sodium, and rare-earth metals. The company claims that its technology achieves materials cost savings of approximately 70 percent compared to traditional lithium batteries.

The technology utilises abundant materials that are non-flammable, which reduces the risk of thermal runaway. This approach is intended to address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure the batteries are fully recyclable.

The company plans to license its technology to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to enable global deployment while reducing capital risk. EQONIC’s roadmap aims for its technology to surpass sodium battery performance by 2026 and reach Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) levels by 2029.

Currently, EQONIC operates a commercial division serving D2B and B2B clients with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) energy storage systems. The company has secured a multi-million-pound pipeline across multiple sectors.

John Saunders, Executive Director, EQONIC Group, said, "EQONIC's breakthrough technology represents a genuine paradigm shift in the battery sector. The combination of cost reduction, enhanced safety, and sustainable materials addresses the fundamental barriers that have constrained the industry. I'm excited to bring my experience to support the company's growth trajectory as we move toward demonstrating market-ready products and securing strategic partnerships."

Angela Knight CBE, Non-Executive Director, EQONIC Group, said, "EQONIC exemplifies the kind of innovative British technology that can lead global markets. The company's approach - developing transformative technology first, then building robust commercial frameworks around it, is hugely compelling. Strong governance will be critical as EQONIC scales its business model and establishes partnerships with established OEM’s. I look forward to contributing to the board's strategic oversight during this pivotal phase."

Jas Kandola, Founder and CEO, EQONIC Group, stated, "John and Angela bring exactly the calibre of leadership we need at this critical juncture. John's regulatory expertise and commercial acumen will be invaluable as we navigate partnerships and licensing arrangements, while Angela's governance experience across complex, regulated industries will strengthen our board oversight. These appointments reflect our commitment to building a world-class organisation capable of delivering on the enormous potential of our technology."

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LG Innotek has expanded its partnership with Zoox to supply camera modules for the serial production of its purpose-built robotaxis. The agreement marks an extension of the multi-year relationship between the two companies as Zoox scales up its autonomous vehicle manufacturing.

It was last year, Zoox opened a serial production facility in Hayward, California, to manufacture its robotaxis and launched a ride-hailing service in Las Vegas.

As per the agreement, LG Innotek will supply high-resolution automotive cameras as part of the robotaxi's sensor suite, which provides 360-degree coverage through overlapping fields of view.

The camera modules feature five fields of view depending on their mounting positions across the vehicle. Built with optical design technology adapted from mobile camera modules, the units are waterproofed to operate under varied environmental conditions. The components are currently being fitted to Zoox robotaxis as part of the vehicle's core perception hardware system.

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Gabriel India, the listed flagship company of Anand Group, has entered into a joint venture with South Korea-based HL Klemove to acquire a 30 percent minus one share stake in HL Klemove India for USD 98.44 million (INR 9.35 billion).

The joint venture will focus on the development, manufacturing and commercialisation of autonomous driving components, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and automotive electronics.

The product portfolio includes radar, front cameras, LiDAR, automated driving and parking control units with embedded ADAS software, brake electronic control units, steering electronic control units, chassis control units and torque sensors.

Jaisal Singh, Vice-Chairman, Anand Group, said, “As a key growth engine of the Anand Group, Gabriel India is focused on building scale, enhancing competitiveness, and broadening its presence across high-growth automotive segments. Our latest joint venture with HL Klemove represents a strategic step forward in this endeavour.”

Anjali Singh, Executive Chairperson of Anand Group and Gabriel India, said, “Bolstering our position across critical automotive systems while expanding our participation in future-oriented mobility and automotive technology segments, this new JV for autonomous driving and automotive electronics marks an important inflection point, enabling Gabriel India to further diversify its portfolio and strengthen its participation in emerging mobility segments.”

Mahendra K Goyal, Group CEO, Anand and Managing Director of Gabriel India, said, “Beyond unlocking new opportunities for growth, this collaboration will foster deeper OEM engagement, expand our participation in future mobility solutions and create enduring value for all stakeholders.”

The investment aligns with Gabriel India’s strategy to expand into automotive sectors, following previous joint ventures in sunroofs, lubricants, electric vehicle fluids and precision fasteners.

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CarYaar Auto Private Limited, a DPIIT-recognised technology startup, has announced the appointment of Sahaib Singh as its new Co-Founder and Head of Technology. The company, which operates within India’s fragmented car servicing ecosystem, is focused on integrating transparency and digital trust into the automotive aftermarket. Singh’s arrival marks a pivotal moment for the firm as it works to expand its technological infrastructure and formalize a sector traditionally characterised by informal practices.

Bringing over a decade of experience as a full-stack technologist across mobility, freight and artificial intelligence platforms, Singh will now spearhead the company’s technology strategy and product development. His leadership comes at a critical juncture as CarYaar advances its integrated digital platform, which aims to seamlessly connect car owners, workshops and other stakeholders within the automotive service network. The company is prioritising practical solutions over complex enterprise systems, developing a mobile-first, offline-capable and WhatsApp-native interface to ensure accessibility for multi-brand workshops and customers alike.

Under Singh’s technical direction, the platform is being tailored to serve three distinct user groups with specific operational tools. Workshops are equipped with digital job cards, photo-based inspections, parts tracking and billing systems, while service advisors and managers receive web-based applications for estimate creation and analytics. For car owners, the service enables booking, real-time job tracking and digital payments through WhatsApp, eliminating the need for a separate application. The overarching goal is to use technology not merely to digitise existing processes but to fundamentally enhance the relationship between vehicle owners and service providers.

CarYaar’s model emphasises transparency through features such as real-time photo documentation, pre-approved estimates and digital billing, offering customers clear visibility into their vehicle’s service journey. Currently operating with a network of certified empanelled workshops in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the startup is actively building a broader technology-enabled ecosystem that includes multi-brand services, roadside assistance and spares management. This strategic expansion reinforces the company’s commitment to developing simple, accessible and genuinely useful technology for the Indian workshop environment.

Joel Daniel D’Souza, Co-Founder & Director, CarYaar Auto Private Limited, said, “Sahaib brings a strong combination of technology depth and experience across mobility and emerging technology platforms. As we scale CarYaar, technology will be central to how we connect customers and workshops, create transparency and bring greater efficiency to the entire ecosystem. His leadership will be critical as we move from building the foundation to scaling the platform.”

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Tata Communications and Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles have entered into a collaboration to equip the Sierra.ev with embedded 5G cellular connectivity, targeting the deployment of software-defined vehicles (SDVs) in India.

As per the understanding, the Tata Communications MOVE Connected Vehicle Platform will integrate into the car's software architecture, designated as N.IO. The system supports artificial intelligence applications, content streaming, over-the-air software updates, optional subscription packages and vehicle functions including emergency calls, remote assistance and real-time diagnostics.

Vivek Manglik, Executive Vice-President of Interaction Fabric at Tata Communications, said, “Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has consistently set benchmarks for innovation in the automotive industry, and we are excited to collaborate on the launch of the Sierra.ev. As vehicles evolve into intelligent ecosystems that enable a growing range of services and applications, the underlying digital fabric will be central to fostering innovation and scaling new capabilities. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to shaping a smarter mobility experience that will securely enhance convenience and personalisation.”

Sven Patuschka, CTO, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “As vehicles become increasingly software-defined, highly intuitive digital connectivity and services will play a central role in shaping customer experiences. The Sierra.ev marks an important step in this evolution, and our collaboration with Tata Communications provides the robust digital backbone required to deliver seamless connectivity, continuous innovation, and enhanced in-vehicle experiences. Together, we are enabling technologies that allow vehicles to adapt, improve, and deliver greater value throughout their lifecycle.”

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