Kinetic Watts & Volts Partners With Jio Things For Connected EVs

KWV - Jio Things

Kinetic Watts & Volts (KWV), the electric mobility arm of Kinetic Engineering, has entered a technology partnership with Jio Things, a subsidiary of Jio Platforms.

The collaboration will integrate voice-assisted controls, IoT-enabled digital clusters and connected vehicle technologies into Kinetic’s upcoming electric two-wheeler range.

The partnership aims to deploy a suite of digital features for Indian riders, utilising Jio’s IoT ecosystem, which includes hardware, cloud infrastructure and device management.

The collaboration will introduce several capabilities to the Kinetic EV platform:

  • Voice Assistance: Interaction for vehicle functions.
  • Smart Clusters: Digital instrument panels providing real-time data and infotainment.
  • Telematics: Cloud-based analytics for performance monitoring and diagnostics.
  • Fleet Management: Tools for commercial operators to track and manage vehicle assets.

The connected platform will be embedded across future KWV models to provide a standard digital experience across different customer segments.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman & Managing Director, Kinetic Watts & Volts, said, “Kinetic has always stood for democratizing mobility and innovation. With this partnership, we now extend that commitment into digital mobility, bringing voice assistance and connected features to everyday riders, so technology becomes truly intuitive and useful. This collaboration also stays true to our motto of ‘Easy’ a philosophy already visible in practical features such as Easy Key, Easy Flip and Easy Charge; and now strengthened with seamless digital experiences that simplify ownership for our customers.”

Ashish Lodha, President, Jio Platforms, said, “Our partnership with Kinetic exemplifies our vision to build a truly connected automotive ecosystem in India. By bringing Jio’s voice assistance and IoT capabilities to the two-wheeler segment, we are not just upgrading vehicles; we are redefining the interaction between man and machine, bringing the benefits of smart mobility to every Indian rider.”

The partnership seeks to combine Kinetic’s manufacturing experience with Jio’s digital infrastructure to make connected electric vehicles more accessible. Objectives include improving rider safety, increasing digital uptime and providing data analytics for fleet operators.

AION-Tech Solutions And Theoremus AD Partner For Urban Mobility In India

AION Tech

AION-Tech Solutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Theoremus AD, a Bulgarian company specialising in transport orchestration, to develop urban mobility solutions in India.

The partnership will begin with First–Middle–Last Mile (FMLM) mobility integration pilots in Telangana and Karnataka. These pilots will focus on demand-responsive electric vehicle (EV) feeder services connected to metro and bus corridors.

The collaboration involves the deployment of a multimodal transport orchestration platform. This system integrates metro rail, bus networks, EV fleets, parking infrastructure and mobility data into a single framework. The platform uses AI and data for demand forecasting, EV utilisation, congestion management and operational visibility.

During the pilot phase, EV fleets will use data and analytics to manage routing, charging, and service planning. Performance will be monitored through indicators such as ridership, fleet utilisation, and carbon reduction.

Chanakya Bellam Radhakrishna, Director, AION-Tech Solutions, said, “This collaboration marks an important step in our mission to build intelligent, integrated, and scalable mobility ecosystems for Indian cities. By combining Theoremus AD’s global orchestration expertise with the on-ground execution capabilities of our subsidiaries, ETO Motors and ROQIT, we aim to strengthen first–middle–last mile connectivity and deliver measurable sustainability outcomes.”

AION-Tech Solutions will manage execution through two subsidiaries:

  • ETO Motors: Will deploy and operate the EV fleets for the pilots.
  • ROQIT: Will provide digital platforms, control dashboards and visibility tools for transport authorities.

Hristo Popov, CBO, Theoremus AD, said, “India is one of the most dynamic and complex urban mobility markets globally. Partnering with AION-Tech Solutions enables us to localise our platform and deploy real- world pilots that showcase the impact of integrated data, AI-driven optimisation and coordinated EV operations at scale.”

Following the pilots, the partners intend to engage with transport and urban development agencies to expand the solution. Target organisations include TSRTC, HMDA, and HMRL in Telangana, and BMTC, BMRCL and DULT in Karnataka. The project will operate under Indian data residency and cybersecurity frameworks.

Hyundai Motor Group To Present AI Robotics Strategy At CES 2026

Hyundai Motor Group

South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Group has released a teaser image for its participation at CES 2026. The group will present its AI Robotics Strategy, themed ‘Partnering Human Progress’, on 5 January 2026 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Centre in Las Vegas.

The announcement will outline the expansion of robotics technology within the group's network. It focuses on strategies to commercialise robotics through human-robot collaboration and technological integration.

Boston Dynamics will exhibit the Atlas robot. This model is intended for commercialisation as a robot co-worker.

The group will also reveal plans for robotics learning and training using its Software-Defined Factory (SDF) approach. The SDF uses data and software to manage the production process and the robotics value chain, including components, logistics and software.

Bosch To Unveil AI Extension Platform For Vehicle Cockpits At CES 2026

Bosch - AI Infotainment

German technology company Bosch will introduce an AI-enabled high-performance computing unit at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. The AI extension platform is designed to upgrade existing vehicle cockpit systems with artificial intelligence functions, transforming the interior into an assistant that understands driver routines and context.

The platform allows for the integration of features such as an AI voice assistant, interior scene understanding, and navigation. For example, the system can coordinate multiple actions, such as adjusting cabin temperature and activating seat heating, in response to a single voice command.

Bosch anticipates a market for AI-enabled in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) solutions reaching EUR 17 billion by 2030. The company expects to generate sales of over EUR 2 billion from these solutions by the end of the decade.

The platform is built on the Nvidia Drive AGX Orin system-on-chip (SoC) and utilises the Nvidia CUDA platform. It provides 150 to 200 tera operations per second (TOPS) of additional compute power.

Through a partnership with Microsoft, Bosch is also integrating Microsoft 365 into the cockpit. This allows drivers to join Microsoft Teams calls via voice commands, with the vehicle simultaneously activating adaptive cruise control to maintain safety during the interaction.

Markus Heyn, Member of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch and Chairman of Bosch Mobility, said, “The new AI extension platform enables existing cockpit systems to be quickly and easily upgraded with advanced AI functions. This makes the driving experience more comfortable, intuitive, and safer for all vehicle occupants.”

“Bosch’s new AI-powered cockpit enables both drivers and car manufacturers to fully leverage the capabilities of modern automotive software. Thanks to the ‘AI extension platform,’ new functions can be implemented in the vehicle much faster in the future,” he added.

AEye To Showcase Apollo LiDAR Technology With 1km Range At CES 2026

AEye

AEye, a provider of LiDAR solutions and manufacturer of the Apollo LiDAR sensor, has announced plans to demonstrate its Apollo sensing solution at CES 2026.

The company will present the Apollo LiDAR sensor, a solution for detecting objects at distances of up to one kilometre. The sensor features a form factor that allows for integration behind windscreens. AEye also plans to highlight how the Apollo and OPTIS solutions can be used for infrastructure and logistics. OPTIS uses computing to deliver 3D perception and analytics for drones, intersections, shipping corridors and logistics hubs.

These technologies are designed to assist with safety, efficiency and visibility. The company’s focus on infrastructure and logistics reflects a strategy for global growth, including in regions such as India, where investment in smart cities and transport networks is increasing.

Matt Fisch, CEO, AEye, said, “CES brings together the most important players in transportation and mobility, making it an ideal venue for us to demonstrate how Apollo and OPTIS are redefining what’s possible with LiDAR. With unmatched range and real-time AI-driven perception, we’re helping our customers tackle complex transportation and infrastructure challenges with scalable solutions built for real-world deployment. We are also looking forward to announcing our next-generation LiDAR, with range capabilities extending beyond one kilometre, underscoring the company’s continued leadership in long-range and ultra-long-range perception.”

The presentation will also include a preview of a LiDAR sensor with detection capabilities exceeding one kilometre, intended for long-range perception requirements.

Image for representational purpose only.