BYD, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has launched the third round of its BYD EV Innovate-A-Thon initiative at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (TIET), Patiala.

The initiative is part of BYD India’s industry-academia collaboration with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC). The competition was launched in 2024 and is currently in the third round of the initiative, focusing on prototype development, serving as a platform for students to showcase innovative ideas that merge engineering excellence, sustainability and real-world applications in the electric vehicle domain.

It saw participation from over 3,200 students from 100 teams shortlisted in earlier rounds. Following which 10 teams were shortlisted each paired with dedicated mentors for technical guidance.

This teams presented functional EV prototypes and also delivered compelling sales pitches to a distinguished panel of judges comprising – Shivani Chaudhary of BYD India, Manas Naishadh Vora of Vroomble Services, Dr. Kamal Vora of NAMTECH and Dr Mohammad Rafiq from Automotive Research Association of India.

F R Singhvi, President, ASDC, said, “We are thrilled to witness such enthusiastic participation from students nationwide. This initiative is about creating a mindset of innovation. This round is not just about demonstrating working models—it's about showing the industry that our youth is ready to take the lead in India’s electric mobility revolution.”

“ASDC’s vision is to bridge the gap between academic learning and industry needs. Through BYD EV Innovate-A-Thon, we are building a talent pipeline that doesn’t just follow trends but sets them. India's mobility story is being rewritten by its youth. Through this initiative, we’re simply giving them the canvas. What they’re painting is nothing short of a revolution.”

Rajeev Chauhan, Vice-President, BYD India, said, “We believe in empowering young minds to shape a sustainable future. This is our way of offering them a global stage to think, build, and lead in electric mobility. When students are given real-world challenges, they rise to the occasion with creativity and conviction. That’s what we’re witnessing in BYD Innovate-A-Thon.”

Japanese auto major Nissan has announced that it will launch its next-generation ProPILOT technology from the fiscal year 2027. The system, featuring Nissan Ground Truth Perception technology with next-generation LiDAR and Wayve AI driver software, will enable its vehicles to have advanced autonomous driving with collision avoidance capabilities.

Built on Wayve’s embodied AI foundation model, the technology is claimed to be designed to handle highly complex real-world driving conditions in a human-like manner.

Wayve is a global AI company has trained its foundation model on vast amounts of real-world experience using custom GenAI technology that enables point-to-point driving across urban and highway environments.

South Korean auto major Kia has officially launched its generative AI-powered voice recognition system, AI Assistant, across Europe, following successful rollouts in Korea and the United States in 2024.

The company said that the AI Assistant is designed to revolutionise the in-car experience by enabling natural, conversational interactions, helping drivers and passengers easily access vehicle features and get personalised assistance on the go.

Accessible via a steering wheel button or by saying ‘Hey Kia,’ the AI Assistant can perform a wide range of tasks, which the company claimed goes far beyond traditional voice recognition. Users can ask for restaurant recommendations, travel tips, or even child-friendly scientific explanations, such as why the sky is blue.

One of the system’s standout features is its ability to understand user intent and context, providing smart, accurate responses. The AI Assistant also helps drivers navigate in-car features and driving aids, like recommending the Highway Driving Assistant during heavy traffic.

Kia’s AI Assistant now comes standard on European EV3 models built from March 2025, with previous models receiving the update via Over-the-Air (OTA) technology. More Kia models equipped with the connected car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) system will receive the AI Assistant as the rollout expands.

With ongoing OTA updates, the AI Assistant will continuously improve, making every drive smoother, smarter and more intuitive.

Airbornics Defence & Space (ADSL), the defence arm of the Punjab-based JCBL Group, has signed a strategic partnership with Slovakia to co-develop and manufacture next-generation technologies for light tanks, future ready combat vehicles (FRCVS) and future infantry combat vehicles (FICVs).

This also marks the first-ever defence MoU between India and Slovakia, which was formalised during an official state visit of the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, to Slovakia.

Rishi Aggarwal, Managing Director, JCBL Group, said, “This partnership signifies more than just a business agreement. It represents a convergence of trust, technology, and transformation. It aligns with our core belief in the make-in-India vision and strengthens India’s position as a global hub for defence innovation.”

As part of the understanding, ADSL will focus on indigenous development and manufacturing of critical combat systems for light tanks, including turrets, active protection systems (APS), remote-controlled weapon systems (RCWS) and human-machine interface (HMI) modules.

The understanding is based on the commitment for technology transfer, operational excellence and co-development of advanced combat platforms tailored for complex terrains and high-altitude environments.

German technology company ZF has upgraded its ProAI high-performance computer to support optical multi-gigabit Ethernet for automotive applications, complying with the IEEE 802.3cz standard.

The system uses automotive-grade optical fibres, enabling data transmission speeds of 2.5 to 50 Gbit/s over distances up to 40 metres. The series production could begin as early as 2025.

Oliver Briemle, Head of Cross-Domain Computing at ZF, said, “Ultra-fast optical transmission is critical for software-defined vehicles. This technology supports high-bandwidth applications like autonomous driving and infotainment.”

The company claims that the key advantages of optical multi-gigabit ethernet include – 

• Higher Speeds – Supports 25G/50G data rates, essential for ADAS and IVI systems.
• Extended Range – Reliable transmission up to 40 metres in vehicles.
• Weight Reduction – Fiber optics are lighter than copper, improving efficiency.
• EMI Immunity – Immune to electromagnetic interference, ensuring stable performance.
• Energy Efficiency – Lower power consumption than copper-based systems.
• Scalability – Future upgrades won’t require cabling changes.
• Cost-Effective – Uses mass-produced OM3 fibres and VCSEL laser diodes.
• Low Latency – Simplified signal processing reduces delays.

While older automotive systems like MOST relied on polymer fibres, IEEE 802.3cz-2023 adopts glass fibres for higher bandwidth and lower signal loss.

ZF shared that its solution is validated for cars, trucks and buses, ensuring robustness across vehicle types. With automakers shifting toward software-defined architectures, ZF’s optical Ethernet technology aims to meet growing data demands while cutting weight and energy use.