Hyundai Motor India has showcased its Manufacturing Excellence through the origins of the all-new i20, a Masterpiece of Human Centric Engineering. With unassailable standards and processes, the company has created the all-new i20 that is perfected through a prudent use of Industry 4.0 and Automation.

Ganesh Mani S, Director – Production, Hyundai Motor India, said, “Our focus has remained on ensuring supreme levels of manufacturing excellence. This has perfectly culminated in the all-new i20, delivering robust and reliable performance. With our 24-year rich manufacturing heritage of ‘Make in India’, the all-new i20 is yet another benchmark brand from Hyundai that is an edge above the rest.”

THE ROBUST SUPERSTRUCTURE:   

• Featuring an extensive application of 66 % Advanced & High-Strength Steel, Hyundai has created a Robust Superstructure to enhance crash worthiness and make the car lighter.
• This super structure is created, using 5,400 Tons Stamping at the Press Shop
• Incorporating an Online Condition Monitoring systems to monitor machine vibration, Hyundai offers enhanced process quality, changing shapes of metal in elegant curves & creases.  
• The use of advanced Digital gauge to check the Panel thinning distribution - Crack, Neck Prediction methodology that helps in manufacturing ZERO Crack panels. 
• Hyundai has used ‘High quality grade coils’ for sculpturing aesthetics and modern look of the all-new i20.
• Use of 3D scanning of Parts – to analyse and strengthen the press panel parts accuracy and precision

THE IMPECCABLE APPEAL:

• The all-new i20’s dynamic and futuristic appeal is created at the Body Shop on the Global Body Build Line.
• Using technology enabled high-quality welding process that features over 450 4^th Gen Robots offering 100 % Weld Automation with over 4,000 welding spots in each car, and more than 70 cars being processed every hour
• Robots on the Line offer a glimpse of the flawless manufacturing process that gives a definitive shape to the origins of the all-new i20.
• Body shop has three stage advance quality conformation where our quality system is enable with ‘Quality 4.0 techniques’
  • Intelligent weld monitoring
  • Real time weld quality confirmation system [Colour tip sensor]
  • Real time sealer quality confirmation system
• In house Data scientists in shop floor apply Deep learning techniques for Quality confirmation of Mastic Sealer through Vision Inspection system

THE VIBRANT CHARISMA:

• Vivid and striking colours of the all-new i20 are curated at the Paint Shop where High Throw Power 7^th Generation Electro Deposition Paint is applied for long lasting Rust Warranty and corrosion resistance.
• The vibrant charisma of the all-new i20 is processed in seamless automation line that features 72 Robots ensuring the conformity to supreme quality standards and long lasting stylish & glossy looks.  
• Using an Anode Cell Current Monitoring system, Hyundai has enhanced the paint application quality through an Online Current monitoring method.

THE DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE:

• Through immense research, hours of design, validation and testing of multiple iterations of operating condition, the all-new i20 has been prepared to offer rip-roaring performance.
• To give these engines robust performance, Hyundai has employed technologically superior treatment that enhances its performance on road.
• The in-house Endurance lab tests the performance with load condition for 849 Hours and without load condition for 5 lakhs cycles for transmission systems, and over 350 hours for the Engine system, to ensure enhanced durability
• Hyundai also employs a Cold Test Bed that is an eco-friendly way of testing the engines over 15 parameters, without burning fuel. It is a fully automated system in which 100% of the produced engines are tested before assembling in vehicles.

• At the Powertrain Shop, Hyundai manufactures both diesel & petrol engines using 700 CNC Machines with Integrated SPC (Statistical Process Control).
• With High Speed Vision (60 frames/ minute) 58 Engine parts are verified, offering robust Quality for a Pleasurable Driving Experience.

THE PARADIGM OF QUALITY:

• To drive enhanced convenience and confidence, Hyundai’s assembly lines are ready to convert robust shells into fully functioning cars in the Assembly Shop.
• Here 80% of the car’s parts are fixed, preparing it through a 100% systemized 3 stage dynamic tightening confirmation that features:
  • Electric tool tightening 700+ dynamic joints per car (safety and critical parts)
  • Re-confirmation system across all the line (Trim, Chassis and Final line)
  • Tightening quality and Sign-off interlock to ensure zero defect vehicle rollout
• Additionally, systemized part feeding method is used for maintaining quality in feeding and assembly operation using:
  • Global Part Traceability Information System
  • Advanced Part Management System
  • Mobility Sequence Feeding System
  • Trolley Scheduling System
• Through a 324-point check in HIDIS (Hyundai Integrated Digital Inspection System), Hyundai is ensuring the highest levels of conformation to quality standards.   
• Each and every vehicle that rolls of the assembly line - right from the stage of panel press to complete vehicle roll out is thoroughly inspected by over 500 quality in-charge experts.
• Vehicle final inspection method is digitally enabled for assembled part specification/ type verification.
• The all-new i20 then undergoes a dynamic road test on 18 drive tracks for various road driving conditions as well as a unique leak test that is equivalent to driving through rain/water pressure that exceeds the heaviest recorded monsoons, with a shower condition of 60mm per minute or 3,600mm per hour at a pressure of 3bar.

The all-new i20 has been developed to create a Masterpiece of Human Centric Engineering that encompasses Human, Machine and Emotions, offering Quality Time to its Valued Customers.

In a landmark development, Uber Freight, in collaboration with Aurora, has announced that fully autonomous lorries (trucks) have been completing return journeys between Dallas, Texas and Houston, Texas (approximately 386km) since April.

These driverless Class 8 trucks are transporting live, commercial freight with no human intervention behind the wheel. This event marks a significant moment as Uber Freight becomes the first logistics platform to offer shippers access to this technology on public roads.

The company shared that the haulage sector has long grappled with issues such as high driver turnover and underutilised assets. Autonomous trucking aims to ease these pressures while providing tangible benefits for shippers, carriers and consumers.

Uber Freight’s autonomous vehicle (AV) carriers have achieved notable results to date:

• Over 500,000 supervised autonomous miles covered on public roads while carrying freight over the past four years.
• The company has moved freight for more than 20 shippers across various industries.
• Goods delivered include everyday essentials such as pet food, paper products, beverages, appliances and packaging materials.

Lior Ron, Founder & CEO, Uber Freight, said, “This milestone is a clear example of what can be achieved when innovation meets logistics leadership. Working with Aurora, we are shaping a future where autonomous lorries enhance the efficiency and reliability of supply chains. This is the kind of value that shippers across the industry are seeking – and why we are dedicated to building a more intelligent and resilient freight network.”

Uber Freight started its journey in autonomous trucking in 2021 with strategic alliances to commercialise AV technology. The integration of the Aurora Driver into the Uber Freight platform has resulted in a seamless end-to-end solution where booking, tracking and load adjustments are managed digitally and efficiently.

This deep integration positions Uber Freight as the first and only logistics network to fully synchronise with autonomous lorries, ensuring freight is matched to suitable routes with minimal human involvement.

With nearly USD 20 billion in freight under management (FUM) and a substantial logistics network, Uber Freight claimed it is well-placed to scale the commercialisation of autonomous lorries. Their leadership in this area extends beyond technology to encompass collaboration and trust-building with shippers, carriers, and partners.

Through initiatives such as the Premier Autonomy Programme, which offers early access to over one billion of Aurora’s driverless miles to Uber Freight carriers through 2030, the company is enabling carriers of all sizes to improve their operations through autonomous technology.

Looking ahead, preparations are underway to support Aurora’s expansion of driverless operations to El Paso and Phoenix by end-2025, opening up new routes and opportunities for the sector.

Leading insurance technology firm RenewBuy makes strategic foray into automotive loan segment with RB Wheelz brand.

The RB Wheelz brand will provide a full suite of automotive loan products — including new vehicle financing, balance transfers and top-up loans — all accessible through RenewBuy’s upgraded digital platform. The integration is designed to offer consumers a seamless experience by combining financing and insurance under one digital roof.

The company estimates that the automotive financing market is expanding at a CAGR of 15–16 percent, which makes it an attractive opportunity for digital-first players like RenewBuy.

In the final quarter of FY25, RenewBuy disbursed nearly INR 1 billion in automotive loans. Looking ahead, the company aims to onboard approximately 10,000 customers and scale its loan disbursement to INR 15 billion in FY2026. The initial rollout will focus on four-wheelers and fleet vehicles.

Indraneel Chatterjee, Co-Founder, RenewBuy, said, “Having served consumers in the insurance space for nearly a decade, we are now expanding our footprint in the financial services ecosystem. We’re leveraging our technology and a 150,000 strong advisor network to bring loan services to consumers across metros and smaller towns. Over 75 percent of buyers in Tier II and III cities are opting for vehicle financing — a high-potential segment we aim to empower with accessible, seamless, and digital solutions.”

RenewBuy’s upgraded platform now includes a dedicated loan feature, supported by partnerships with 18 leading banks and NBFCs.

Elektrobit, a wholly owned independent subsidiary of Continental, has announced a strategic partnership with Metoak, a Chinese provider of intelligent driving solutions, to accelerate the development and adoption of software-defined vehicles (SDVs).

The collaboration integrates Elektrobit’s EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications – an open-source operating system compliant with automotive safety standards – with Metoak’s high-performance chips and driving algorithms. The first mass production project, now in its initial phase, focuses on stereoscopic vision and multi-sensor fusion technologies for next-generation ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) controllers. Mass production is expected by early 2026.

The project marks the first integration of open-source systems with domestic chips in China’s intelligent driving sector. Elektrobit brings its global software expertise, while Metoak contributes its stereoscopic vision technology, aiming to deliver secure, cost-effective, and updateable SDV solutions for Chinese automakers.

The partnership centres around two areas:

EB corbos Linux for Safety Applications – The world’s first open-source, high-performance computing OS to meet ISO 26262 ASIL B and IEC 61508 SIL 2 safety standards. Its customisability and compliance with the UNECE R155 cybersecurity regulation make it a competitive choice for automakers. Metoak has successfully adapted the OS to its chips, reducing supply chain risks and offering a flexible solution for local manufacturers.

AUTOSAR Software and Autonomous Driving – The partners will co-develop ASIL D-certified Classic AUTOSAR software to optimise real-time communication and safety. They also plan to work on Level 3 autonomous driving algorithms and build a local ecosystem to support the ‘domestic chips + open-source system’ model.

Yaojie Lu, CEO of Metoak, said: “Partnering with Elektrobit combines the flexibility of EB corbos Linux with our stereo vision and AI technology, enabling cost-efficient and precise perception solutions.”

Maria Anhalt, CEO of Elektrobit, added: “The success of SDVs depends on openness and collaboration. We’re proud to see the industry’s first open-source safety-compliant OS entering mass production alongside Metoak.”

The partnership sets the stage for scalable, safety-certified SDV innovations in China and beyond.

Axiscades Technologies, a leading technology and engineering solutions provider, has appointed Anurag Sharma as CEO of add-solution, a Germany-based subsidiary of Axiscades specialising in wiring harness design & testing for aerospace, automotive and industrial sectors.

The German company focuses on specialised drone development and thermal management offering for Axiscades group in Europe.

Alfonso Martinez, CEO and MD, Axiscades, said, “We are excited to welcome Anurag to our leadership team. He embodies the rare blend of technical expertise and executional foresight that defines Axiscades’ ambition. The future of engineering value is being created: at the intersection of electrification, AI-driven industrial transformation and semiconductor-led innovation and he brings these talents to the table. Anurag’s track record in scaling engineering businesses gives add-solution the exact leverage needed to dominate the software-defined era. His work in EDS and cross-border industrialisation aligns with our strategy to embed deeper into European OEMs’ R&D cycles. In Europe, the sector contributes 4 percent to the GDP and is home to several leading premium car manufacturers, making it a highly attractive market. As part of our restructuring, Axiscades is doubling down on aerospace, defence and engineering services powered by Electronics, Semiconductors and Artificial Intelligence (ESAI).”

“add-solution plays a central role in this vision, bringing software-led scale and agility to these high-priority verticals. We're building a leadership team that doesn’t just respond to industry shifts it shapes them,” he added.

Sharma is an alumnus of IIT Roorkee and comes with over three decades of experience across product development, sales & business development, P&L management and successful execution of large-scale engineering programs.

He began his career with L&T and has held several senior roles across Siemens Technology, Segula Technologies, Altran India, Ansys India and Altair Engineering.

Anurag Sharma, said, “Axiscades is at an inflection point where product innovation in the domain of electronics, semiconductor and digital engineering are converging to create long-term value. The EDS (Electrical Distribution Systems) industry is undergoing a major transformation, with embedded electronic systems and 3D designs taking centre stage. As OEMs increasingly shift towards software-defined vehicles and electrification, the demand for highly specialised, domain-driven engineering services is set to rise. I am thrilled to contribute to this vision and bring together add solution’s deep expertise in EDS and component testing to give Axiscades a unique edge. The goal is to deepen global partnerships and build differentiated capabilities by delivering smarter, faster, and more integrated solutions across the value chain.”