Hero MotoCorp, the world's largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has launched ‘Hero For Startups’ (HFS) programme that will support innovative startups that are working on mobility solutions.

Startups shortlisted for the initiative will get exclusive access to Hero MotoCorp’s world-class Research and Development facilities in Germany and India, the company’s dealers, suppliers and partners, along with mentorship.

An opportunity to work on paid Proofs of Concept (PoCs), which the company believes will enable successful PoCs to integrate their solutions into Hero MotoCorp's diverse product portfolio. This will not only unlock valuable market exposure, but also accelerate growth and visibility of their innovations.

Dr Pawan Munjal, Executive Chairman, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Hero For Startups is our commitment to shaping the future of mobility and beyond through innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration. Rooted in the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat, it is a transformative platform that empowers India to excel on the global stage. Inviting dreamers, doers, and visionaries, this initiative is a catalyst for extraordinary ideas to tackle real-world challenges for Bharat while opening doors to unprecedented opportunities. Hero For Startups accelerates India’s rise as a global leader, setting new benchmarks for innovation and impact and creating a world of possibilities for generations to come.”

Hero For Startups will work towards –

Fostering innovation by driving development of cutting-edge technologies and disruptive solutions to transform the mobility sector.

Strengthening innovation by collaborating with emerging startups, providing them with resources and support to create technology-driven innovation that invigorates the automotive industry.

Sustainability and long-term impact to shape the future of mobility through innovation that is scalable and sustainable.

They will also get technical support giving them access to manufacturing and business teams, which will allow startups to test, develop, and deploy their solutions.

Tailored bootcamps will focus on enhancing the technological and operational capabilities of startups, preparing them for future industry challenges and ensuring the sustainability of their solutions

Lastly, startups will get guidance from experienced industry professionals and strategic mentorship from Hero MotoCorp’s leadership team, empowering them to scale their ventures and make a transformative impact on the mobility sector.

Mahindra has launched ‘Sonic Studio Experience by Mahindra’, its premium in-cabin audio system that aims to provide an immersive audio experience. The system makes its debut on the company’s recently launched BE 6e and XEV 9e electric origin SUVs.

Mahindra’s Sonic Studio Experience boasts a state-of-the-art 1,400-watt 16-speaker Harman Kardon music system and Dolby Atmos and is developed in collaboration with Padma Bhushan and Academy Award winning singer A R Rahman and 16 times Grammy winning sound recording engineer Richard King. The sound has been finely tuned by Harman Kardon’s experts in close collaboration with the Mahindra team. The system comes with a personalised SonicSuite of delight sounds, experience mode (Calm, Cozy, Club), chimes and alerts, thanks to A R Rahman’s expertise. The system also features VenueScapes (LIVE) and QuantumLogic Immersion to add a new dimension to the listening experience.

R Velusamy, President – Automotive Product Development, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd and Joint Managing Director, Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, said, “With Sonic Studio Experience by Mahindra, we have redefined what in-cabin sound can be, combining cutting-edge technology with artistic brilliance. Partnering with legends like A R Rahman and Richard King, and collaborating with industry leaders Harman Kardon and Dolby, we have created an audio experience that is immersive, transformative, and uniquely Mahindra. This is a testament to our commitment to delivering not just vehicles, but experiences that resonate deeply with our customers.”

A R Rahman said, “Working on the BE 6e and XEV 9e has been an immensely satisfying experience as I sought to create a soundscape that transforms every drive into a memorable journey. By envisioning the emotions passengers might be experiencing on their travels, my goal was to design sounds that not only enhance the driving experience but also complement the journey and make it uniquely enjoyable. It’s been a joy working with Mahindra and the team of experts to bring this vision to life.”

Richard King said, “Having spent years in some of the finest recording studios and listening rooms globally, I can confidently say that the Harman sound system in the BE 6e and XEV 9e offers a studio-quality audio experience. A whole lot of effort has gone into perfecting the sound for the BE 6e and XEV 9e and I believe listeners will be captivated by its precision, depth and immersion.”

SectorQube's IoT smart lock brand, Ikin Global, has raised USD 1 million in a pre-series A investment headed by Callapina Capital and Unicorn India Ventures.

The fund will be utilised to expand the present product line with new releases that will provide industry-specific solutions, sophisticated sensor technology and analytics driven by artificial intelligence (AI). To strengthen its sales, marketing, operations and support teams, Ikin will also be increasing the number of its employees in strategic regions such as US, Europe and India. In order to meet the increasing demand from the logistics industry, the firm also intends to expand its manufacturing capacity.

Over the past 12 months, Ikin Global has expanded its business into foreign markets. The company’s smart products are being used in 1,500 facilities, including sizable warehouses, vaults and retail stores, as well as 2,500 trucks. With a goal income of INR 300 million from the smart lock business in the logistics industry, the company has 20,000 smart locks in its order book. Ikin has also introduced new smart goods, such as the Smart GPS Truck Lock with sophisticated sensors for intruder detection and the Portable iSeals, which replace single-use plastic container seals and have a one-year battery life.

Anil Joshi, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, said, “SectorQube is addressing a major supply chain and warehousing challenge. As our world increasingly moves online, there is a huge demand from e-commerce and logistics companies to secure shipments whether on the move or stored in third party warehouses. Integrating IoT and AI is a strategic move towards deep tech applications, which will further broaden Ikin’s horizon as they look to enter large international markets. As a fund, with nearly 10 years of investing track record in India, we have a clear thesis on AI and IoT applications-led businesses and we believe SectorQube’s growth trajectory will be accelerated as they enter new markets and strengthen their leadership positioning in the Indian market.”

Vinod Jose, Managing Partner, Callipina Capital, added, “The logistics sector, fuelled by rapid growth in e-commerce, urbanisation and supply chain digitisation, is on track to reach USD 380 billion in India by 2025. However, this expansion has also amplified challenges around asset security, real-time tracking and operational control, with rising incidents of theft, tampering and logistical inefficiencies. SectorQube’s Ikin Smart Locks are purpose-built to meet these demands, offering real-time tracking, tamper alerts and remote access control – all critical for secure, efficient operations in warehousing, transportation and last-mile delivery. The investment is further strengthened by the team’s unique capabilities: a proven track record in product design and a decade-long partnership during which they developed multiple original products. SectorQube embodies the spirit of ‘Make in India’ with a world-class solution ready for a global stage, and we’re confident they are positioned to redefine security standards in the logistics industry.”

Nibu Alias, Co-founder and CEO, SectorQube, said, “At Ikin Global, our goal is to become the leading provider of smart lock solutions for the logistics and warehousing industry. This sector faces major challenges with security, and technology-driven solutions are essential to protect valuable assets and reduce losses during transit and storage. Our talented tech team has developed smart locks with advanced sensors that secure not just truck doors and shutters but the entire cargo or facility. We're excited to expand our reach to the US, Europe and Middle Eastern markets, bringing our solutions to more companies worldwide.”

ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) India, a leading provider of advanced automotive safety systems, has inaugurated its new Electronic Stability Control (ESC) test track in Chennai. The new facility will complement ZF’s existing ABS test track.

The new ESC test track the company said provides a controlled environment for rigorous testing of vehicle stability, agility, and handling performance.

ZF CVS says the ESC track certified by TUV Rheinland and ARAI, is equipped to test a wide range of vehicles, from two-wheelers to heavy commercial vehicles. The track will also be available for customers and third parties to conduct their own testing at the facility.  

The ESC track has a 200-metre diameter dynamic pad with a 0.9 µ surface friction providing a relatively high degree of grip, which allows for precise measurement of a vehicle's performance, such as acceleration, braking and cornering, helping engineers understand the vehicle’s limits. It can also test components under maximum stress, revealing areas for further potential development.

The 600-metre approach roads enable the simulation of real-world driving conditions, including challenging scenarios like slippery roads, sharp turns and sudden braking.

P Kaniappan, MD, ZF Commercial Vehicles Solutions, said, "The inauguration of this world-class ESC test track is a significant achievement for ZF CVS India. This state-of-the-art facility will enable us to accelerate the development and testing of advanced safety systems, pushing the boundaries of vehicle safety while delivering innovative solutions that save lives. By investing in cutting-edge technology and infrastructure, we continue to stay committed to shaping the future of automotive safety. The ESC test track is a testament to our dedication to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. By collaborating with leading industry experts and deploying the latest testing methodologies, we are driving the development of advanced safety systems that enhance vehicle performance and protect lives.”

Dr Christian Brenneke, Executive Vice-President, Division Electronics and ADAS, And Member of the Supervisory Board in India, said, "This new facility is a fantastic achievement by the entire team. After years of planning, it is impressive to see the ESC track coming to fruition. Having this world-class facility in India not only benefits our customers but also strengthens our vision for road safety and innovation as a Group. The hard work that has gone in to creating this facility enables us to focus more effectively on customer needs and I’m excited to see us build further on this.”

LG Innotek, a LG Group company focussing on automotive radar and lighting solutions among others, has been awarded the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Innovation Award, for its vehicle lighting technology.

On 21 November 2024, LG Innotek announced that its 'Nexlide A+ automotive lighting module' received the CES 2025 Innovation Award from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) in the United States.

The CTA recognises products and services of exhibitors that stand out for their technology, aesthetics, and innovation.

The 'Nexlide A+' is a product in LG Innotek's Nexlide series, a brand focussing on automotive lighting solutions. It is said to be the first lighting module in the industry to apply a surface light source to the front lighting module of a vehicle.

LG Innotek said that unlike typical point light sources, a surface light source emits light evenly across the entire surface. It has secured more than 700 patents related to the technology.

For a vehicle lighting module using a conventional point light source to achieve a similar effect to a surface light source, a separate component is required to spread the light from the point light source evenly, such as a light guide. In addition, the air gap, which is a layer of air required for light diffusion, needs to be thicker.

The front lighting module, due to being located at the front of the vehicle, is exposed to high temperatures and needs to be equipped with a heat dissipation structure to remove heat. This makes existing point light source products bulky, which limits design flexibility.

In comparison, the 'Nexlide A+' uses LG Innotek's unique surface light source technology to produce uniform brightness without such additional components, which also makes the module 40 percent slimmer than the existing product. This allows for efficient space utilisation and greater flexibility in vehicle design.

In addition, the company has further improved heat dissipation performance by applying high heat-resistant resin coating and film technology. The brightness has also been increased fivefold compared to conventional rear-facing lighting products, meeting the global legal standard of 500cd (candela, a unit representing the brightness of a light source) for daytime running lights (DRLs).

Till date, the company has completed more than 140 projects with domestic and foreign automotive brands and accumulated more than 150 orders. Over the past 10 years, it has recorded an average annual sales growth rate of 47 percent.

Looking ahead, LG Innotek plans to expand its lineup of rear-lighting modules to include front-lighting models. By 2025, the company also aims to develop ‘pixel lighting’ technology, which features small, three-dimensional lights arranged in a grid-like pattern. This advancement it expects to facilitate communication between vehicles(V2V) and pedestrians(V2P) enhancing safety and interaction.

Moon Hyuksoo, CEO, LG Innotek, said, "LG Innotek is solidifying its position in the global market as a total solution provider of future mobility components. With innovative products, we will grow the automotive lighting module business into a trillion-dollar industry by 2030, delivering unique value to our customers."

In January, LG Innotek will present a range of differentiated products at CES 2025, including the 'Nexlide A+' and other vehicle lighting modules as well as LiDAR (Light Detection Ranging) and sensing components for autonomous driving applications.