South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Group has opened the Hyundai Center of Excellence (Hyundai CoE) for future mobility technology at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

It was on 3 December 2024, the automaker had announced its partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology's (IITs) to establish a collaborative research system in batteries and electrification. It had also outlined an ambitious USD 7 million investment to support the initiative.  

As part of its long-term academic-industrial collaboration Hyundai Motor Group has selected nine joint research projects which focusses on –

• Battery cells, systems and testing
• Battery management systems (BMS)
• Energy density enhancement
• Safety
• Durability
• Diagnostic technologies.

It also explores new materials and system components, driving forward innovation in battery design and performance.

The ceremony saw participation from Heuiwon Yang, President and Head of the R&D Division, Unsoo Kim, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor India and Chang Hwan Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of the Electrification Energy Solutions Tech Unit. They were joined by IIT representatives, including Prof Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, Dean Manu Santhanam from IIT Madras and Dean Sachin C. Patwardhan from IIT Bombay.
The Steering Committee of the Hyundai CoE will be co-chaired by EVP Chang Hwan Kim and Prof Bijaya Ketan Panigrahi at IIT Delhi.

Heuiwon Yang, said, “We’re excited to work with India’s brightest minds in battery innovation. Collaborating with leading researchers and IIT professors through the Hyundai Center of Excellence for future mobility technology will help us develop technologies tailored to India while contributing to its economy and society. We see this partnership with India’s academia and industry as a foundation for building a sustainable future together.”

In addition, the Korean automaker is also expanding its Future Technology Research Program, which has been in operation since 2021. In contrast to general operation methods of academic-industrial projects, the program allows university faculty members to propose their own research topics, which are then reviewed and selected by the Group.

The initiative was earlier limited to Korean universities, which has now been expanded to include foreign faculty, including professors at IITs. At present, Hyundai Motor Group has collaborated with three IIT universities (IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay and IIT Madras), engaging around 30 professors. By December 2025, it aims to expand its reach to 10 universities in India, including non-IIT institutions, with approximately 100 professors participating.

Going forward, the OEM will also focus on technology exchange forums bringing together experts from both India and Korea; global conferences on battery and EV technologies to share insights on trends & policies and policy dialogue sessions that engage key stakeholders from the Indian government, academia and industry to discuss the future of the mobility and electrification sectors.

MathWorks, a leading mathematical computing software company, recently hosted MATLAB Expo 2025 conference in Bengaluru, which saw participation from over 800 engineers, academicians and industry leaders.

The conference served as a platform for bringing forth discussions on the best practice across industries. Through a series of engaging keynote sessions, panel discussions and technology showcase, the participants got an opportunity to understand the latest advancements spanning electrification, next-generation wireless systems, AI modelling and system simulation.

Richard Rovner, Vice-President of Marketing at MathWorks, gave a presentation on ‘From Embedded to Empowered: The Rise of Software-Defined Products.’ He highlighted the sweeping transformation brought about by software-defined architectures in modern engineering and urged organisations to adapt their development methodologies and team structures, pointing to MATLAB and Simulink as critical tools for capturing value and reducing risk in this evolving landscape.

Furthering this narrative, Dr Anshuman Awasthi, Senior Vice-President at Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India (MBRDI), delivered his keynote, ‘Software Development in a Connected World.’ He examined the convergence of connectivity, consumer demand, and real-time development, underscoring the central role of software in the future of mobility.

Sunil Motwani, Country Head, MathWorks India, said, “MATLAB Expo 2025 highlighted remarkable contributions by leading engineers and scientists. With a sharp focus on software-defined products and artificial intelligence, platforms like these are essential to foster collaboration, share insights and drive innovation. MathWorks remains committed to enabling professionals to connect and learn from one another.”

Beyond the keynotes, the event featured a robust technology showcase, where more than 25 demo booths offered interactive experiences led by MathWorks experts and partners. Participants had the opportunity to engage hands-on with emerging tools and technologies critical to modern engineering.

A key highlight at the event was a panel discussion featuring experts from Jaguar Land Rover Technology and Business Services India, Tata Elxsi, Nexteer Automotive, AIC BIMTECH and IIIT Bangalore. The panel addressed the rising importance of system-level simulation in the design of intelligent products that seamlessly integrate software, hardware and AI. Discussions revolved around cross-functional collaboration and the evolving skillsets needed to lead the technological transformation.

The conference also celebrated the voices of women leaders from Nexteer Automotive, EMBITEL Technologies and CEMILAC, who shared stories of resilience, innovation, and leadership. Their session emphasised the importance of inclusive work cultures, leveraging technology for empowerment, and fostering community-driven progress.

Closing out the programme was an update session titled ‘What’s New in MATLAB and Simulink,’ which highlighted recent advancements in deep learning, systems engineering, wireless communications and model-based design.

In a landmark initiative to bolster road safety awareness among schoolchildren, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in partnership with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), officially launched the SIAM-KVS Road Safety Online Education Programme. The launch took place at Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2, New Delhi, in the presence of Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, under the guidance of the Ministries of Road Transport & Highways and Education.

The event also witnessed the participation of Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Education; Prachi Pandey, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education; Nidhi Pandey, Commissioner, KVS; Vinod Aggarwal, Immediate Past President, SIAM & MD and CEO, Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV); Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM and Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM.

The initiative, established under an MoU signed on 2 August 2023, aims to inculcate responsible road behaviour among students across 1,253 Kendriya Vidyalayas. As part of SIAM’s ‘सुरक्षित सफर (Safe Journey)’ mission and aligned with its goal of ‘Building the Nation, Responsibly’, the programme features six digital modules tailored for different school levels – covering pedestrian safety, helmet & seatbelt use, traffic rules, legal aspects and more.

Prashant K Banerjee, remarked, “We, at SIAM, are eager to join hands with all teachers and students to restore the glorious identity of India. Through this initiative, powered by the collective efforts of SIAM, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan and our engaging mascot ‘Safe I Am – People Call Me SIAM’, we aim to instil responsible road behaviour in young minds.”

Nitin Jairam Gadkari, addressing students, said, “The government has introduced several new rules, like mandatory rear seat belts and these habits should be taught early in childhood. It’s important that these lessons start in schools. We want to build a socially sensitive, aware generation and for this, we need every student to participate in spreading awareness and responsibility.”

Dharmendra Pradhan, added, “Road safety cannot be treated as optional. Our 30 crore students are the key to shaping a road-safe nation. I urge SIAM and KVS to create audio-visual tools and make Kendriya Vidyalayas model schools for road safety.”

Sanjay Kumar, highlighted, “It is important to develop a strong mindset about road safety. SIAM’s curriculum of six modules will help create awareness among more than 15 lakh students. Our aim is to take this to every school across India.”

Vinod Aggarwal, emphasised, “This initiative is about empowerment. It marks the beginning of a long-term national movement that starts in classrooms and reaches every citizen.”

A successful pilot run at Kendriya Vidyalaya, R.K. Puram, in October 2024, laid the groundwork for a dedicated web-based Learning Management System, ensuring easy integration of road safety lessons into school curriculums.

The first day of May 2025 is set to become a landmark in the history of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as the Fastag Authentication System (FASTag) ends.

The FASTag electronic toll collection system in India, which uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, was introduced to enable seamless toll payments without stopping at toll plazas. This is set to be replaced with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that will collect toll through a device, possibly fitted in the vehicle number plate. This system will calculate tolls through GPS and GPS-aided GEO Augmented Navigation (GAGAN) as per the actual distance travelled.

This will eliminate the need to pay tolls for the entire highway if one is getting off earlier. With its introduction, toll transactions are expected to see a reduction in technical glitches, helping clear long queues faster. The government of India has received feedback for a more efficient upgrade to FAStag, the bank-based digital wallet system that has been in use since 2016.

So far, users crossing a single toll plaza multiple times a month are issued monthly passes worth INR 340, which means INR 4,080 a year. On the other hand, a yearly pass for INR 3,000 is being proposed for the whole year, allowing unlimited travel across various national highways of India. As per Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), GNSS with annual and lifetime passes for private cars is the solution to decongest Indian highways.

Though originally slated for 1 April, the launch of the new toll collection system has now been scheduled for 1 May. As per media reports, a better network of India’s satellites are being activated for it. GNSS will be in operation alongside FAStag during the initial stages, with select lanes receiving technology for the new system.

The trials with the new technology are already underway on Panipat-Hisar and Bengaluru-Mysore national highways.    

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Tata Motors has attained a new milestone of filing 250 patents and 148 design applications in FY2025, which is also its highest ever in a year.  

The automaker has filed the patents across a multitude of disciplines such as connectivity, electrification, sustainability and safety (CESS), as well as alternative energy mix such as hydrogen-based vehicles and fuel cells.

Furthermore, vehicle systems, including battery, powertrain, body and trim, suspension, brakes, HVAC and emission control, were also part of the patents filed by the automaker.

Interestingly, in FY2025, Tata Motors filed 81 copyright applications and secured 68 patent grants during the year, which translates to 918 patents granted to date.

What’s more, Tata Motors also received five accolades and honours in FY2025, being recognised for its excellence in intellectual property rights (IPR).

Rajendra Petkar, President and Chief Technology Officer, Tata Motors, said, “Our innovation strategy is focused on delivering sustained value to customers while staying ahead of the industry shifts. This milestone reflects our continued pursuit of automotive excellence and reinforces our long-term vision of manufacturing greener, safer and more efficient vehicles. With a growing portfolio of pioneering technologies, we remain committed to supporting nation-building through cutting-edge solutions. Looking ahead, our efforts remain rooted in shaping the future of mobility, serving the evolving aspirations of our customers and communities alike.”