By T Murrali:

Freudenberg Performance Materials India (FPMI), part of Freudenberg Performance Materials (FPM), a global manufacturer of technical textiles, nonwovens and fibre, has been operational in India with a production site in Chennai since 1998. It has plans also to cater to the modern commercial vehicles by expanding its product portfolio.

Globally, FPM manufactures high-performance technical textiles and nonwovens for a wide range of applications including automotive, building materials, clothing, hygiene, wearables and healthcare. The FPM products / materials for automotive industry customers include mechanically bonded nonwovens for car headliners, trunk and rear seat coverings that are characterized by abrasion resistance. Besides, it caters to the OEMs with tuft backing for carpets and moulded under-body panels and wheel liners. FPM products make driving more efficient, climate friendly and comfortable. Nonwovens are lighter than woven variants and, therefore, support a more economic driving style. They help absorb sound, ensure pleasant climate inside the vehicle and help save fuel and reduce CO2 emissions.

For some of the products FPMI is an extended arm of the manufacturing locations of FPM outside India. The global company has manufacturing facilities in Germany, Korea, China, Japan, and the US; these are the locations where it has automotive manufacturing hubs.

Speaking to this publication, G Sivasailam, Managing Director, FPMI, said, “Essentially our R&D is in Germany, Korea, China, Japan, and the US which we carry to all other consuming countries. We see the Indian market as very promising in the near future. We want to warm up the market with the services and supplies from other locations, which we are currently doing. Supplies are coming in on a duty-free basis which is used in vehicles for exports. For example, many companies are exporting quite a lot to Latin America; we cater to that by supplying headliners. We also do the sun-roof for many Japanese & Korean based car manufacturers for their export models. Currently the domestic market is catered to by a few suppliers in Mumbai and Gurugram.”

There is substantial value addition for the OEMs and end-customers with the application of non-woven products in which case cost is not a criterion. Still what is preventing the OEMs here from getting them from the global companies like Freudenberg? Sivasailam said, “We use a three-denier fibre which is very fine compared with the six-denier used in the market. So the starting point itself is totally different. Secondly, the kind of binders and latex that we use are all CFC-free and they are also bio-decomposable. At the end of the day a consumer for an entry level car will look at the price. But for the premium cars, the price may not matter much.

Speaking on the advantages he said the NVH values of this product are superior to what is available in the market but the end-consumer finds it a little isometric to the value he is getting. For instance, sound absorption by the headliner is much higher than that of one made out of six-denier but the percentage difference is not necessarily the reason for making this a premium product, the consumer is unable to comprehend the difference. With the evolution of vehicles from ICE to Electric, there are enough opportunities for companies like FPM because the noise created by the IC engine nullifies the other noises while in the EV operation is silent. Therefore, “we see a big opportunity there. That is one particular area where innovation has been directed to by Freudenberg. Not only on headliners but also on back trays, hood liners, floor mats etc. We are coming up with composites which are lighter with longer life for a carpet, offering Lutraflor (Freudenberg technology) floor mats that are lighter and stronger. They have high abrasion resistance that remains despite perpetual usage. The weight here is reduced substantially and the back trays are super absorbent of noise. The hood liners take care of the temperature as well as the noise. These are the areas where we have come up with lighter material, meeting the requirements,” he said.

These products reduce the weight of the four big mats that weigh about 3.5 to 4kg by 25 percent. Overall, there is about 10-15 percent reduction over the conventional products. That’s the reason why today a lot of patronage is shown to these products; as of now they are used only in the C or D segment cars. In India it will take a little more time to reach these segments. Customer awareness level is still not high in India. However, when it comes up, the company would be able to offer a competitive product, considering the economies of scale, which would match the market trends, he said.

UV Rays Impact

Normally, UV rays raise temperature. When they are absorbed by the seats or any component temperature builds up and the a/c in the car is made to work more to maintain the temperature. There is also fuel loss. To cut it down it is necessary to reduce the amount of UV light that goes into the car which would enhance the mileage of the vehicle; passengers also will be benefited as UV rays are not good for the skin.

FPM has developed a composite material for the under-body shield to which patent is pending. “In most countries the under-body shield is metal; we are trying to replace it with a non-woven backed composite that would have the tenacity to take stones and everything hitting it at high speed. Straightaway, the weight proposition will change,” he said. Would that not affect the safety of the vehicle since, for stability, lower centre of gravity is key and this can be achieved by placing heavier stuff under body of the car? Sivasailam said the solution is to support only on the engine side; under-body shield is normally on the engine side so that stones don’t fly into the engine and hit the other parts. When there is lighter material on the front of the vehicle it actually enhances mobility. What is unique is the way the composite is made, the technology and construction; and the amount of tenacity it brings to the product to increase longevity. It’s a 100% recyclable material as well with weight saving up to 40%.

Business Opportunities

On the new opportunities for FPM, Sivasailam said, “We are also having battery separators; they are undergoing development as high storage batteries. It avoids catching fire which mitigates the risk to a great extent because of the ceramic coating. That is where e-mobility will make big commercial success. The other possibilities for the company to explore in India are the commercial vehicles, which are now getting smarter and better as vehicle makers give importance to the interiors; so there is an opportunity for them to get into this business. Even today most accidents take place due to driver fatigue. If that can be minimised it would help. The touch on the headliner or on the seat-back, everything is important. Haptic feeling is not given importance in India as of now. That is something that will be very good with a three-denier head liner. “We are also working on better acoustic properties on the trims. We have a product called Evolon which is a fine fibre technology, spun drawn with very good NVH property. We are working with Evolon in some automotive companies where we feel it can give much superior noise control,” Sivasailam said. (MT)

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Bengaluru-headquartered engineering R&D company L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has been certified at Caterpillar’s 2025 Supplier Excellence Recognition (SER) event. This marks the second consecutive recognition for LTTS following its initial certification in 2024.

The recertification highlights LTTS's delivery, quality standards and its relationship with Caterpillar in the Mobility segment.

As a strategic supplier, LTTS provides engineering services that support Caterpillar and its customer base. LTTS has worked on Caterpillar’s sustainability goals and has driven engineering innovation and operational performance.

Alind Saxena, Executive Director and President of Mobility and Tech at L&T Technology Services, said, “This recognition means a great deal to all of us at LTTS. Being SER-certified two years in a row is a testament not just to our team’s dedication, but also to the strength of our relationship with Caterpillar. We deeply appreciate Caterpillar’s support and the trust placed in us. Our pledge is to continue raising the bar, adding value, and delivering engineering excellence in everything we do.”

Caterpillar's recognition is awarded to suppliers who meet criteria in areas including quality assurance, timely delivery, innovation and alignment with the company’s values.

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Aptiv, a global technology firm, has announced its Gen 8 radar technology, designed to meet the demands of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS). The radars, powered by Aptiv’s antenna and silicon design, deliver the performance and resolution needed to support Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML)–driven ADAS functions.

The Gen 8 radars are intended to allow hands-free driving in complex city environments, providing perception at a lower cost. Both front-facing and corner radar units represent a step forward in how vehicles sense their surroundings, offering reliable performance across real-world conditions.

The same core technology also powers the new Aptiv PULSE Sensor, a solution that combines radar and camera data to improve perception around the vehicle. By integrating ultra short-range capability with a surround-view camera, PULSE is claimed to be able to replace up to four ultrasonic sensors, improving detection accuracy while reducing system complexity and cost for vehicle manufacturers.

Javed Khan, Executive Vice-President and President of Software, Advanced Safety and User Experience, Aptiv, said, “Aptiv pioneered radar technology in production vehicles more than two decades ago, and today, we’re once again setting the pace. Our Gen 8 Radars mark a major step forward in the journey toward intelligent, software-defined vehicles – delivering all-weather reliability, 4D perception and deep environmental awareness that enable global automakers to safely and cost-effectively scale to higher levels of automation.”

Backed by over 25 years of radar technology experience, Aptiv’s Gen 8 radars use proprietary software and hardware, introducing improvements in performance for a broader range of driving solutions across challenging weather and lighting. The radars enable new driving scenarios – such as Navigation on Autopilot (NOA) – in complex environments like city streets and car parks, due to an expanded field of view.

The key features of Aptiv’s Gen 8 radar technology include –

• Forward Radar: Offers long-range detection beyond 300 metres with fine 4D angular resolution, allowing improved classification of static objects. This system delivers a 30 percent performance increase and doubles the vertical field of view compared to its predecessor.
• Dual-Mode Corner Radar: Improves the range performance of the previous generation by increasing the vertical field of view’s (FOV) resolution, providing capability in close-range, low-speed scenarios such as frontal automatic emergency braking (AEB) and automated parking. Compared to the prior generation, horizontal discrimination improved by 25 percent and vertical discrimination is now possible.

The Gen 8 radars aim to deliver detection, precision and adaptability. Aptiv claims it offers scalable solutions, including a large increase in object detection count and superior accuracy for target detection and tracking, even in high dynamic range environments. It also supports AI-powered systems by delivering high-quality sensor data to machine learning models.

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United States-based Edge Energy, a developer of patent-pending energy conversion technology for electric vehicle fast charging, has announced a strategic investment from Germany-based PRETTL Mechatronics & Actuators (PMA), a leading mechatronics solution supplier for the automotive, electronics and energy sectors.

The funding round includes an equity investment and working capital. This partnership will support Edge Energy’s expansion of access to EV charging and utilise PMA’s manufacturing and electronics capabilities.

Edge Energy’s EdgeEV Power Source is claimed to allow fast EV charging without expensive three-phase power upgrades, offering deployment up to six times faster than traditional methods. The technology allows businesses and fleet operators to install DC Fast Chargers in various locations, supporting EV uptake.

PMA’s U.S. subsidiaries provide capabilities in coil winding, encapsulation and automated assembly, serving industries like automotive and energy.

Shaun Shuler, CEO, of Edge Energy, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with PMA, whose electronic and manufacturing expertise aligns perfectly with our vision for accessible EV charging.”

Johannes Prettl, CEO, PMA Group, said, “Edge Energy’s innovative EV charging solutions complement PMA’s commitment to sustainable technologies. We are excited to partner with Edge Energy on their next stage of growth.”

The investment combines Edge Energy’s technology with PMA’s electronics and manufacturing capabilities, aiming for growth for Edge Energy.

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Tata Technologies has announced a partnership with Synopsys, a provider of engineering solutions, to accelerate the shift towards Software-Defined Mobility (SDV). The collaboration aims to accelerate the development, verification and validation of automotive electronics systems, helping Original Equipment Manufacturers address the complexity of SDVs.

The collaboration will combine Tata Technologies’ expertise in vehicle engineering with Synopsys’ virtualisation solutions to enable the deployment of electronics digital twins (eDTs).

The companies have already worked with a leading European luxury OEM in a pilot engagement, delivering a blueprint to transition the manufacturer's existing electrical/electronic (E/E) architecture to a next-generation software-defined design. Pilot programmes with other major OEMs are also underway across North America, Europe and India.

The joint effort will focus on major SDV domains, including ADAS, powertrain, chassis, infotainment and electrification. Key areas of focus include:

• Shift Left Enablement: Developing virtual prototypes and simulation models for early software bring-up.
• Analysis: Using Synopsys tools for performance, power, safety, and reliability analysis for faster ECU development cycles.
• Verification: Providing embedded systems and software verification and validation services aligned with ISO 26262 and ASPICE standards.

Sriram Lakshminarayanan, Chief Technology Officer, Tata Technologies, said, “The digital shift is redefining the future of mobility, and our partnership with Synopsys is a purposeful step towards realising a future led by software-defined innovations. As OEMs move to new ways of working, there is a growing demand for engineering and digital services. Together, we are empowering OEMs to deliver safer, smarter, and more sustainable vehicles that enhance the human experience and accelerate the industry’s transition to a software-defined future.”

Tom De Schutter, Senior Vice-President, Product Management & Markets Group at Synopsys, said, "The complexity of SDV systems requires a new level of collaboration across the automotive ecosystem. By bringing together our world-class digital twin, verification, and IP platforms with Tata Technologies’ engineering expertise and global delivery, we are enabling OEMs to accelerate development, validation and delivery of complex software- and AI-defined vehicles. The collaboration is a great example of how the automotive ecosystem is coming together to accelerate innovation while reducing risk and time to market in a dynamic mobility landscape.”

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