Hyundai's Manufacturing Excellence Eased Making All-new i20
- By MT Bureau
- October 27, 2020
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 4th 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 7th 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.
- Chalmers University of Technology
- Nature Communications
- Albert Skegro
- Changfu Zou
- electric vehicle charging
Chalmers University Study Highlights 20% Battery Life Extension Using Reconfigurable Packs
- By MT Bureau
- October 09, 2026
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, in collaboration with industry partners, have published a study in Nature Communications demonstrating that reconfigurable battery pack architectures can extend electric vehicle battery operational life by more than 20 percent under specific conditions.
In conventional electric vehicle battery packs, cells are wired in a fixed series configuration, meaning the weakest cell dictates the overall capacity, performance and lifespan of the entire pack. The architecture evaluated by the Chalmers engineering team uses integrated electronic switches and a centralised battery management system to monitor individual cells or cell groups. When a cell experiences accelerated degradation or reduced capacity, the system bypasses the degraded unit while electric current continues to flow through the remaining functional cells.
Albert Skegro, a PhD student at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology, said, "They must all move at the pace of the slowest person and stop when that person stops, regardless of how much energy the others have left. With the architecture we have modelled, the battery can instead bypass the cell that is causing problems and continue using the remaining cells."
Changfu Zou, Professor at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Chalmers, said, "Reconfiguration is not an on-or-off choice. It is a spectrum. Where a manufacturer chooses to position itself on that spectrum determines how much of the potential benefit can be realised."
In a representative modelling scenario featuring an 80 kWh battery pack driven 12,000 kilometres annually over an 18.8-year vehicle lifespan, the reconfigurable system deferred battery replacement by approximately 14 months. The researchers noted that the technology yields the highest performance gains in high-voltage vehicles, including 400-volt and 800-volt electric passenger cars and commercial trucks, where higher cell counts in series increase the statistical probability of individual cell variance.
A techno-economic analysis included in the study determined that implementing cell-level switching hardware increases initial pack production costs by approximately nine per cent based on prototype-scale volumes of 1,000 units. The researchers identified an economic break-even threshold at a 12 percent cost increase, noting that volume manufacturing would lower component costs and increase financial viability for fleet operators and private owners. While prototype applications such as Volvo Cars' SmartCell concept and experimental road vehicles exist, mass-production vehicles using reconfigurable battery packs are yet to enter the commercial market.
Jakson Green Vehicles Adopts Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE Platform For EV Engineering
- By MT Bureau
- October 07, 2026
Jakson Green Vehicles has selected Dassault Systèmes’ cloud-based 3DEXPERIENCE platform to manage the design and development of its electric vehicles.
The implementation establishes a collaborative engineering framework to maintain digital continuity across the product development lifecycle. By connecting internal teams and external suppliers, the platform automates workflows, standardises component libraries and manages engineering change requests during early-stage product design. Virtual twin capabilities allow the vehicle manufacturer to conduct virtual validation testing to resolve structural and systems design issues prior to physical manufacturing.
Deepak Thakur, CEO, Jakson Green Vehicles, said, "Using Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE Platform enables us to apply a collaborative approach and re-engineer our product lifecycle from the ground up. Through this transition from legacy environments to a unified digital thread, it enables strong R&D to achieve twin objectives; accelerated time-to-market and mitigated development costs. This partnership is helping us to transform the early-stage innovation and product design processes."
Deepak NG, Managing Director – India, Dassault Systèmes, said, "As India continues its dynamic growth trajectory, virtual twin technology serves as a powerful catalyst for sustainable innovation, empowering industries to rethink how they design, produce and operate."
The software adoption forms part of Jakson Green Vehicles' plan to build urban zero-emission mobility vehicles and infrastructure across India.
Gelion Signs Battery Assessment Agreement With Leading Automaker
- By MT Bureau
- October 07, 2026
UK-headquartered energy technology company Gelion has entered into a material transfer agreement with a top 15 global automotive original equipment manufacturer to assess its NES cathode platform for future electric vehicle battery applications.
Under the terms of the agreement, Gelion will supply its sulfur-based cathode active material, coated cathodes and liquid electrolyte to the automotive partner. The manufacturer will evaluate the platform in both liquid and solid electrolyte cell configurations, testing compatibility across lithium metal and graphitic anode pathways targeting luxury and mass-market vehicle applications. The technology is designed to serve as a drop-in cathode material capable of integration into existing battery manufacturing lines without re-tooling.
Matt Wood, Chief Executive Officer, Gelion, said, "Our priority markets are commercial & defence drones, EVs and devices. We are honoured to be working with these major global automotive OEMs, and today’s announcement marks further progress towards the adoption of our technology and the generation of commercial revenues via funded programmes and eventually license and royalty revenue in the global EV market, alongside some of the industry’s leading companies."
"The growing engagement from global EV manufacturers reinforces the potential and attractiveness of our NES™ technology. This momentum is also mirrored in our agreements and partnerships across drones and devices, while our work with Tier 1 materials suppliers is advancing the scale-up of our unique, patented battery materials," Wood added.
The agreement expands Gelion’s ongoing industry testing programs with automotive manufacturers, extending the assessment of its sulfur-based cathode platform across liquid and solid battery systems.
- Honda R&D
- Honda Motor Co.
- Taise Corporation
- Taisei Rotec Corporation
- wireless charging
- East Nippon Expressway Company
Honda Develops In-Motion Wireless EV Charging Technology For Public Road Trials In 2027
- By MT Bureau
- October 06, 2026
Honda R&D, a subsidiary of Honda Motor Co., has developed underlying technology for a magnetic coupling wireless power transfer road system in partnership with Taisei Corporation and Taisei Rotec Corporation.
The system enables wireless in-motion charging for electric vehicles, including passenger cars and heavy commercial fleets. The partners plan to initiate demonstration testing on public roads starting in FY2027.
The technology integrates high-power-density receiver and transmitter units from Honda with a high-response direct current power supply system from Taisei and road-embedding construction techniques from Taisei Rotec. By supplying power to electric vehicles while in motion, dynamic wireless power transfer reduces the need for stationary charging infrastructure. The initial commercial focus targets logistics and transport operations, where continuous operation offers economic benefits.
The ground assembly embedded in the roadway combines the inverter and coil into a single unit designed to connect via direct current distribution. This design reduces component counts, simplifies wiring and supports installation into existing road surfaces through standard milling methods. The road pavement structures are engineered to withstand continuous traffic loads from vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes (20,000kg).
Testing conducted at Taisei Group’s T-FIELD facility in Satte verified system stability and structural durability. Starting in late 2026, the companies will build a test roadway at T-FIELD Tamura to evaluate long-term durability under one million wheel-load cycles, measure power transfer efficiency at outputs up to 150 kW and analyse electromagnetic shielding.
The partnership will also join the Tateyama Expressway demonstration project managed by East Nippon Expressway Company starting in 2027.

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