Eco-innovation

This zone highlighted the technologies that deliver on vehicle dynamics and performance while protecting the earth through reduced CO2 and increased efficiency.

Magna is developing highly innovative systems of components that meet a wide range of customer requirements, while providing an optimum combination of BIC efficiency, safety, driving dynamics, and convenience, in powertrain electrification. The company claims that it can provide best in class attributes for the entire electrified powertrain, whether it provides vehicle expertise, full powertrain systems or individual components.

The eBeam is a classic example since it is a drop-in replacement for traditional beam axle in passenger trucks and light commercial vehicles. Scalable from 120 to 250 kW with single or dual electric motors, the system maintains OEM payload and towing capabilities. It does not require any restructuring of existing OEM truck platforms, uses existing OEM suspension designs, existing OEM brake packages and tube-end bearing structures.

The eDS HV Mid+ eDrive with a power range of 120 to 160 kW is primary or secondary eDrive offering enhanced efficiency of over 95 percent. It provides improved traction (2-speed option), performance and safety with torque vectoring option while also delivering best in class packaging with reduced size.

In an electric, autonomous or new mobility vehicle, the inevitable new systems will draw more power. Magna’s systems are integral in making the future vehicle more efficient by extending range capability, thereby reducing anxiety, improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Within the automotive industry, Active Aerodynamics has saved trillions of kg of CO2. Increasing global regulations are pushing OEMs to offer features like the Active Grille Shutter to meet targets. Magna’s active aerodynamic products help OEMs to make their vehicles move faster, further for less. This helps in reduced emissions, improved fuel economy and extended range. It benefits EVs largely from drag-reducing aerodynamic devices and SUVs, preferred by global consumers and are more difficult to optimise aerodynamically. Magna’s solution helps the OEM not to sacrifice styling as this portfolio provides non-visible and visible options with seamless integration.

As a structural product and material processing leader, the global company has brought together its composite expertise with metal forming prowess to develop an essential element of any electric architecture, the battery tray. Light-weighting is an integral of autonomous, electrification and smart mobility to become a reality. For instance, the battery tray contributes to the structural and safety aspects of the body in white while protecting high-voltage batteries from damage and water. Magna offers battery tray assemblies in steel, aluminium and multi-materials including composites, made through different joining technologies.

Dynamic Drive

With its continuous focus on innovating technologies, Magna has a huge buffer of building blocks to support the mobility transition, concerning the ADAS – advanced driver-assist system. Its expertise in cameras has been a critical building block in its journey to autonomous solutions, supported by solid-state LiDAR and military-grade ICON RADAR as key sensors for complete systems.

The domain controllers function as the key to bringing it all together and enabling the best technology to provide visibility in all situations; making L2+ features a reality today and proving the foundation for full autonomy later.

The exterior of the vehicle is even more important when talking about autonomy. Sensors, cameras, RADAR and LiDAR can be integrated into vehicle exteriors using advanced plastics and thoughtful design. This includes materials that signals can transmit through while still providing durability and design freedom. Magna Mezzo panel is the first-to-market, large-format decorated front panel using in-mould film. It integrated a state-of-the-art sensor and light engines to enable unique OEM brand distinction. Besides, it also combined innovative materials and process technologies to achieve a high-quality lit surface.

Magna’s ADAS solutions connect OEMs to their customers with features that improve their lives. The Valet Park option provides L4 functionality for autonomous parking, allowing for optimum convenience and efficiencies. The Trailer Tow offers convenience and control while trailering taking all the risk and guesswork out of parking with trailers.

As Magna is into the entire eco-system of making modules to the OEMs besides, assembling cars, the company’s understands vehicle as a whole and how individual systems complement each other. Therefore, it is not limited to traditional sensor placements. It can place each and every sensor in its optimum location. As market leaders in lighting, mirror and camera systems, it has the unique ability to offer complete ADAS systems down to the product systems, which the given sensors are integrated into.

For example, the CLEARVIEW digital rear vision solutions, an advanced camera monitoring system, enhance driver experiences. Enabling customisable features safety features such as the ability to see multiple camera views in the interior mirror, including a view from the rear of the trailer.

Driver Monitoring – with distracted driving being more prevalent this day and age, Magna’s inside mirror with an imbedded camera for driver monitoring actively monitors and reduces distracted driving through customisable alerts and notifications.

INIVISION Adaptive Driving Beam – intelligent headlamps offers advanced features such as glare-free high beam, speed-dependent lighting, virtual dynamic bending, hazard/pedestrian detection and tourist conversion.

Intuitive Comfort

Vehicles of the future need to be as responsive and intelligent to personal connections with drivers and passengers. To support the emerging needs Magna has developed technologies to support intuitive and responsive human and machine interface, making the vehicle experience unique whether it is own vehicle or shared.

In SMARTACCESS technology, the company fused mechanical systems’ capabilities with the intelligence of electronic control systems to enable new ways of interacting with the vehicle. For doors, frunks, tailgates, liftgates, and more – the company has new, creative, and high-tech solutions to deliver unique vehicle access experiences. For instance, the power side door enables consumers with unique vehicle access experiences. It is intuitively designed to offer customisable HMI solutions such as gesture or tactile touch. Advanced sensors provide enhanced safety and obstacle detection features.

Made lightweight through a composite hood the SMARTACCESS Power Frunk allows consumers to seamless access the front cargo area.

The thermoplastic Multifunctional Liftgate is a modular tailgate with easy access concepts and lightweight architectures. It offers ideal cargo handling and access experience.

As cities and roads change, the way the cars are used will follow suit. The company’s smart mobility seating allows vehicles to be used and shared differently by making them more adaptable, comfortable, and ready for the long-haul by ensuring comfort and cleanability are priorities.

Power Zero G Seat makes sleeping comfortably in the car a reality by offering a unique reclining pivot located below the H-point for a more natural, ergonomic experience and maximum adjustability. The 4Mode seating provides a smooth transition between sitting upright, lying back for a repose, stadium flipping for added storage on the floor, folding, and kneeling for a level flat surface suitable for a package or a laptop.

FREEFORM Seat Trim technology help remove barriers with traditional cut and sew seat trim covers. This trilaminate moulded seat cover allows OEMs to differentiate their brand through entirely new styling options, better comfort, improved breathability and cleanability.

In addition, the seats are easier to clean as they feature simple construction with a seamless surface – making brushing away crumbs and wiping with an antibacterial wipe much easier than with traditional seats. Designers now have the ability to go beyond restrictions with radii as sharp as a 3-4mm, compared to 20-25mm for traditional cut-and-sew techniques, a deep draw of up to 4”, and quilting designs resulting in the seat to stand out from the crowd.

In the case of lighting the company offers customers a wide choice of various lighting technologies, each with specific characteristics that have been designed to help achieve striking and captivating brand identities. The company has a complete portfolio to address all customers’ illumination needs from functional headlamps and taillamps to decorative exterior trim lighting.

For instance, the FLECSFORM offers styling freedom for complex shapes and uniform lighting in an extremely thin package, enabled by mini LED technology. The vivid LED panels give a unique 3D styling opportunities and customisable animations while illuminated exterior trim utilises state of the art light engines enabling a thin decorative product. Combining innovative materials and process technologies helped the company achieve a homogenous lit finish.

Complete Vehicles

Magna is a global leader in a high-tech complex industry with in-depth vehicle engineering, systems knowledge and complete vehicle manufacturing excellence, making it the go-to partner for new entrants and traditional OEMs alike.

Mobility is in a huge transition phase. Within the other areas, global megatrends in digital transformation, environmental impact and health and well-being have a huge long-term impact on the automotive industry in electrification, automated driving and new mobility. This results in challenges for its customers. Traditional OEMs and new entrants need to make high investments, meet new legal regulations while ensuring a fast market entry with these new solutions. Moreover, this is often linked to volatile volumes, which requires flexible production assets. To support these emerging needs, Magna offers several innovative technologies. The company’s Complete Vehicles is the experienced and flexible partner from the first sketch to the start of production and beyond for all those quests. Irrespective of the customer’s initial situation, it can complete it with all kinds of services so that in the end, a full vehicle is created. With its employees’ passion and extensive automotive know-how, the company enables its customers to successfully bring their vision of mobility to the road. (MT)

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IVECO BUS Academy is incorporating virtual reality (VR) into its training curriculum to support the maintenance and operation of electric vehicles across Europe. The initiative follows a year in which the academy trained 6,100 people across 800 sessions in 2025. This integration aims to address the technical skills required for high-voltage vehicle systems while ensuring safety and operational efficiency.

The use of VR technology allows trainees to perform maintenance procedures in a simulated environment, eliminating physical risks associated with incorrect handling of electrical components. The immersive system enables repetitive practice of technical operations and reproduces complex scenarios that are difficult to simulate in conventional training environments. By utilising these tools, the academy seeks to improve knowledge retention and the long-term proficiency of technical teams.

The academy provides training tailored to the requirements of transport operators, updating its content to reflect changes in energy sources, vehicle technology and industry regulations. These programmes are delivered both at the academy's facilities and on-site at customer premises. The deployment of VR is intended to reduce downtime for vehicle fleets by improving the diagnostic capabilities of service personnel.

Teresa Magno, IVECO BUS Academy, said, “At IVECO BUS Academy, we know that delivering sustainable mobility extends far beyond the product itself. A vehicle is only truly efficient when it is supported by the right services. Fleet availability also relies on the expertise of skilled teams. As technologies evolve, so do the competencies required for diagnostics. With these new educational tools, IVECO BUS Academy confirms its ambition to provide comprehensive solutions, where training becomes a real driver of performance, safety and customer satisfaction.”

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IndiGo Ventures has completed a INR 100 million strategic equity investment in Sarla Aviation, marking a formal entry into the Indian electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector.

The funding was part of a recent round led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath. The partnership is intended to establish an infrastructure for air taxi operations across India, specifically targeting transport corridors between zero and 300 kilometres.

Sarla Aviation is a startup focusing on the development of hybrid-electric aircraft platforms. The firm operates a private eVTOL demonstrator and employs an engineering team with previous experience at international firms including Lilium, Joby and Volocopter.

By utilising electric flight technology, the company aims to provide transport services for airport transfers, inter-city commutes and emergency medical runs at lower costs than traditional helicopter services.

The collaboration pairs Sarla's hardware development with the operational infrastructure of IndiGo, India's largest airline. At present, IndiGo operates over 2,000 daily flights across 85 airports and maintains a national network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. This investment aligns with global trends where major carriers, such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have backed eVTOL manufacturers to secure future urban air mobility solutions.

Beyond passenger transport, the investment is expected to influence the domestic aerospace supply chain, including the production of composites, avionics and battery systems. Potential routes identified for future operations include Bengaluru Airport to Electronic City and Gurugram to Noida, which could see transit times reduced from over 90 minutes to approximately 15 minutes.

Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, said, “IndiGo’s investment marks a turning point — not just for Sarla, but for the future of how India moves. For decades, Indians have accepted that distance means delay, that geography is a constraint you live with. We believe that era is ending. Having IndiGo — the airline that made flying accessible to hundreds of millions of Indians — stand behind this vision gives it a weight and credibility that we could not have built alone. India has always dreamed big. Now we have the partners to match the dream.”

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German technology company Robert Bosch has announced its 2030 strategy, prioritising technological leadership in automation, electrification and artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate a challenging global economic environment.

Despite geopolitical tensions, the group reported 2025 sales revenue of EUR 91 billion, a slight increase from the previous year. For 2026, the company expects sales growth of 2–5 percent and an improved EBIT margin from operations between 4–6 percent.

The 2025 financial results were impacted by structural and personnel adjustments, resulting in provisions of EUR 2.7 billion. These measures reduced the EBIT margin from operations to 2 percent, down from 3.5 percent in 2024. However, the group maintained a high level of investment, dedicating EUR 12 billion to research, development and capital expenditure. Bosch remains a prolific patent applicant, registering approximately 6,300 patents in 2025.

A primary focus for the company is the advancement of sensor technology and automotive software. The global market for sensors is projected to exceed USD 440 billion by 2031, and Bosch is positioning its BMI5 sensor platform for applications in robotics and automated driving.

In the mobility sector, the firm secured orders worth EUR 10 billion in 2025 for driver assistance solutions and central vehicle computers. The group also expects to deliver more than 7 million components for electric vehicles this year.

The company is diversifying its reach through regional partnerships, including a joint venture with Tata AutoComp Systems in India to manufacture electric motors and axles. In the consumer goods sector, artificial intelligence is being integrated into products such as home appliances and professional power tools to drive sales.

To support future investments and improve capital market access, Bosch will begin publishing interim consolidated financial statements. The group's equity ratio remains high at 41.6 percent, with a positive free cash flow of EUR 300 million recorded in 2025. Total headcount saw a slight reduction of 1 percent during the year, ending with 412,774 associates worldwide.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch, said, “Bosch can deliver the future – even under unfavourable conditions. 2026 will be a year of progress. As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping the trends of automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence, as this also paves the way for profitable growth in our business. An important prerequisite for this are the cost-cutting effects of the structural measures we have already initiated and innovations in all business areas.”

Markus Forschner, Member of the Board of Management and Chief Financial Officer, Robert Bosch, said, “Competitiveness is the foundation for profitable growth – it secures our investments for the future. This strengthens our resilience in the face of upcoming challenges and at the same time boosts our investment capacity for the future.”

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Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. recently received independent verification from third-party certification body SGS Japan Inc. confirming that it has reached capability Level 2 under the Automotive SPICE international standards, which evaluate the quality of automotive software development. This achievement reflects a major step forward in the company’s software engineering practices.

As next-generation software-defined vehicles become more common, where performance increasingly depends on digital systems, developing software that enhances product value has grown essential. Toyoda Gosei has responded by integrating electronic components with its traditional rubber and plastic products. The company has therefore established structured processes and strengthened its software development systems, which serve as the foundation for creating advanced products.

Specifically, within an interior lighting project, the company has achieved capability Level 2 in Automotive SPICE international assessment standards, confirmed by a third-party organisation that the company’s software development processes demonstrate systematic execution and proper management, achieving a uniform level of maturity. Moving forward, Toyoda Gosei aims to continue producing higher value products that contribute to more comfortable mobility spaces.

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