JSW MG Motor India Expands Nurture Initiative To Boost EV Education

JSW MG Nurture

JSW MG Motor India is expanding its flagship ‘JSW MG Nurture’ initiative, a program designed to equip technical educators with the skills needed for the country's fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Now in its third year, the program aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry demands by training faculty members from engineering, diploma and ITI institutions.

The initiative, launched in 2023, has already trained more than 80 faculty members across over 50 institutions. The program provides hands-on workshops covering critical topics like EVs, autonomous driving, connected mobility and artificial intelligence. By focusing on educators, JSW MG Motor India aims to indirectly impact thousands of students nationwide.

Yeshwinder Patial, Senior Director of Human Resources, JSW MG Motor India, “JSW MG Nurture reflects our long-term commitment to skill development and industry-academia collaboration. By investing in faculty development, we are strengthening the roots of technical education and preparing students for the future of mobility.”

The JSW MG Nurture initiative also aligns with the government's NEP 2020 vision for industry-academia collaboration and the EV 2030 roadmap, which anticipates a need for over 10 million skilled professionals in the EV sector.

In partnership with education company Skill-Lync, the program has co-designed modules and delivered tailored training. Looking ahead, JSW MG Motor India plans to scale the initiative to hundreds of institutions, with new modules on advanced battery systems, robotics and AI-powered solutions.

Krishna Bandaru, Co-Founder, Skill-Lync, said, “It gives us great pride to partner with JSW MG Motor India on this inspiring initiative. By nurturing educators, the JSW MG Nurture program is shaping the future of students and classrooms alike. This thoughtful and progressive effort is already making a meaningful difference and stands as a shining example of how industry can drive social impact.”

File photo for representational purpose only.

British Battery Tech Company EQONIC Group Strengthens Senior Leadership With New Appointments

EQONIC

EQONIC Group, a UK-based battery technology company, has announced two senior leadership appointments to support the commercialisation of its lithium-free, sodium-free and rare-earth-free battery technology.

John Saunders joins as Executive Director, bringing 30 years of experience in banking, regulation and law. He has held senior roles at Coutts, Barclays, UBS and Deutsche Bank. On the other hand, Angela Knight CBE joins as Non-Executive Director, having previously served as Chief Executive of the British Bankers' Association and Energy UK, with board experience at Taylor Wimpey and Arbuthnot Banking Group.

EQONIC is developing proprietary technology that eliminates the use of lithium, sodium, and rare-earth metals. The company claims that its technology achieves materials cost savings of approximately 70 percent compared to traditional lithium batteries.

The technology utilises abundant materials that are non-flammable, which reduces the risk of thermal runaway. This approach is intended to address supply chain vulnerabilities and ensure the batteries are fully recyclable.

The company plans to license its technology to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to enable global deployment while reducing capital risk. EQONIC’s roadmap aims for its technology to surpass sodium battery performance by 2026 and reach Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) levels by 2029.

Currently, EQONIC operates a commercial division serving D2B and B2B clients with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) energy storage systems. The company has secured a multi-million-pound pipeline across multiple sectors.

John Saunders, Executive Director, EQONIC Group, said, "EQONIC's breakthrough technology represents a genuine paradigm shift in the battery sector. The combination of cost reduction, enhanced safety, and sustainable materials addresses the fundamental barriers that have constrained the industry. I'm excited to bring my experience to support the company's growth trajectory as we move toward demonstrating market-ready products and securing strategic partnerships."

Angela Knight CBE, Non-Executive Director, EQONIC Group, said, "EQONIC exemplifies the kind of innovative British technology that can lead global markets. The company's approach - developing transformative technology first, then building robust commercial frameworks around it, is hugely compelling. Strong governance will be critical as EQONIC scales its business model and establishes partnerships with established OEM’s. I look forward to contributing to the board's strategic oversight during this pivotal phase."

Jas Kandola, Founder and CEO, EQONIC Group, stated, "John and Angela bring exactly the calibre of leadership we need at this critical juncture. John's regulatory expertise and commercial acumen will be invaluable as we navigate partnerships and licensing arrangements, while Angela's governance experience across complex, regulated industries will strengthen our board oversight. These appointments reflect our commitment to building a world-class organisation capable of delivering on the enormous potential of our technology."

Einride Appoints Former Nvidia Executive Gary Hicok To Board Of Directors

Gary Hicok

Einride AB, a technology company specialising in electric and autonomous freight, has appointed Gary Hicok to its Board of Directors. He joins the company following a 25-year career at Nvidia, where he held several leadership roles in autonomous technology and automotive hardware.

The appointment comes as Einride prepares for a public listing on the New York Stock Exchange through a business combination with Legato Merger Corp. III.

During his tenure at Nvidia, Hicok served as Senior Vice-President of the Mobile Business Unit and led Automotive Hardware and Systems. He oversaw the development of the Nvidia DRIVE platform and the Tegra processor, which are used in safety-critical automotive AI and in-vehicle computing.

His experience spans engineering and executive leadership within AI-driven markets and global organisations. At Einride, he will focus on scaling autonomous platforms and managing industry partnerships.

Einride operates in seven countries with more than 25 enterprise customers. The company reports approximately USD 65 million in expected annual recurring revenue (ARR) from signed contracts, with a potential long-term ARR exceeding USD 800 million through joint business plans.

The company has secured regulatory permits for autonomous vehicle operations in the United States and Europe. Its platform uses proprietary AI technology to manage electric and autonomous fleets, targeting the global road freight market.

Gary Hicok said, “Einride is solving an industry-scale problem the right way. Its platform approach unlocks partnerships, accelerates innovation, and makes electrified and autonomous freight real. I’ve watched many smart companies struggle with doing everything in house. It doesn’t scale or leverage the expertise of the industry, whereas Einride’s approach does. I believe its approach is built to win.”

Robert Falck, Founder and Executive Chairman, Einride, said, “Gary brings deep, hands-on experience scaling autonomous technology through critical partnerships across the automotive and technological ecosystem. Working alongside the Einride team, his perspective on building and scaling safety-critical platforms with industry partners will strengthen our ability to deploy autonomy globally. We’re pleased to welcome him to the Board.”

Roozbeh Charli, Chief Executive, Einride, added, “Gary's expertise and experience in building high-performing teams tackling the most advanced technology development will be instrumental for us as we continue to scale and cement our leadership position within autonomous freight technology. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built so far, and I’m excited for what we’ll achieve together with Gary’s unique experience.”

BorgWarner Secures 800V Integrated Drive Module Award for European REEV

BorgWarner

American powertrain major BorgWarner has been awarded a contract by a European original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to supply an 800V Integrated Drive Module (iDM). The system will support a Range Extended Electric Vehicle (REEV), with mass production scheduled to commence in 2029.

The iDM is a system incorporating a single-electric-machine design that provides both generator and drive functionality. The module operates alongside an inverter, two clutches and a dual-mass flywheel. It is paired with the customer's internal combustion engine.

The system includes energy-efficient generator functionality and an all-wheel-drive mode. By combining two REEV functions into one product, the module aims to optimise vehicle architecture.

The integrated inverter utilises Viper power switches and dual-side cooled power module technology. This platform is designed for high-performance electric drive applications to manage high-voltage and high-current requirements.

Dr. Stefan Demmerle, Vice-President, BorgWarner Inc. and President and General Manager, PowerDrive Systems, said, “Securing this program award underlines BorgWarner’s strength in electric drive technology and system integration. With the China team taking the lead and collaborating with a global team, we have created a highly integrated solution that balances performance, efficiency, and packaging. We are proud to support our customer with innovative technology for its next-generation range extended vehicles.”

BorgWarner maintains in-house capabilities across electric motors, drivelines, power electronics and software. The company intends to use its manufacturing footprint to support the development of the global energy vehicle market.

Aimtron Electronics Secures Initial European Order For Box-Build Solutions

Aimtronics

Vadodara-based Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) company Aimtron Electronics has secured its first order from a European Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The contract, valued at approximately INR 38 million, involves providing box-build solutions for a client headquartered in Europe with manufacturing operations in Spain.

The order marks the company's entry into the European market, serving automotive and industrial sectors. Aimtron anticipates that revenues from this engagement could scale to four times the current size during the 2027 financial year.

The development follows the announcement of the India–Europe Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which aims to improve the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers. Aimtron intends to leverage its manufacturing operations in India and the United States to diversify supply chains for European customers.

This European foray follows the company’s recent acquisition of a US-based electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) firm to strengthen its engineering capabilities for global OEMs.

Sneh Shah, Whole-time Director, Aimtron Electronics, said, “Meeting European automotive requirements demands a high level of process discipline, quality governance, and execution consistency. Aimtron has invested steadily in building these capabilities across box-build, traceability, and program management. This engagement reflects that readiness and provides a clear pathway to scale programs across European end-markets.”