Mappls App, the flagship navigation service from MapmyIndia, has launched new features aimed at making driving in India safer, more efficient and more affordable. The company announced the release of AI-powered live traffic signal timers and NHAI annual toll pass savings, a first for any navigation app in India.

The new features were developed in collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Bengaluru Traffic Police and Arcadis. The updates are currently live on the Mappls MapmyIndia iOS app and will be available for Android users soon.

The Mappls App now displays real-time traffic signal countdowns in Bengaluru, a feature developed in partnership with the city’s traffic police. By integrating with more than 125 smart signals, the app can show drivers how much time is left on a green, yellow, or red light up to 500 meters in advance.

Rakesh Verma, Co-Founder, Managing Director, Group Chairman, MapmyIndia, said, “At MapmyIndia Mappls, our mission is to make navigation safer, smarter and more efficient for every Indian. In partnership with NHAI, Bengaluru Traffic Police and Arcadis, we are proud to introduce for the first time in India - NHAI Annual Toll Pass Savings, Toll Road Distance travelled and AI-powered live traffic signal timers Bengaluru (soon this will be offered for other cities) within the Mappls App. These innovations will not only help commuters save time, money and stress but also lay the foundation for a smarter mobility ecosystem in India.”

Karthik Reddy (IPS), Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru, said, "The integration of AI-powered Live Traffic Signal Timers in partnership with MapmyIndia and Arcadis is a major step forward in enhancing traffic management in Bengaluru. For the first time in India, commuters can now view real-time signal countdowns directly on the Mappls app, which will help them plan better, reduce uncertainty and improve road discipline. Our aim is to leverage cutting-edge technology to ease congestion, reduce wait times, and ensure smoother traffic flow across the city. This initiative is a part of our broader effort to make Bengaluru’s traffic systems smarter, safer, and more citizen-friendly. We are proud to collaborate with MapmyIndia on this pioneering project and look forward to scaling its impact for the benefit of millions of road users.”

A R Chitranshi, COO, IHMCL (the technological arm of NHAI), added, “As India’s road infrastructure continues to expand and modernise, the National Highways Authority of India is committed to leveraging technology to enhance the travel experience for all road users. Our collaboration with MapmyIndia Mappls to integrate NHAI Annual Toll Pass saving and Toll Road Distance Tracking into their navigation app aligns with our vision to make highway travel more efficient, transparent and cost-effective. These features empower commuters with real-time information on potential savings before starting a trip, supporting smarter travel decisions and contributing to smoother, safer journeys across our national highways. Any user who wishes to buy the pass thereafter can download Rajmargyatra mobile app.”

In collaboration with the NHAI, Mappls has also introduced new tools to help drivers save money on long-distance trips. The app now shows potential toll cost savings available with the NHAI Annual Toll Pass directly on the route planning screen.

Additionally, the app now tracks and displays the total distance travelled on any toll road, providing users with greater transparency and helping them budget for their journeys.

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Cars24 has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to support India's startup ecosystem through initiatives focused on artificial intelligence, mobility, and road safety.

As per the agreement, Cars24 will establish structured programmes for early-stage founders, granting access to its infrastructure, mentor network, funding sources, market connections and technical resources. In turn, the DPIIT will facilitate national outreach and ecosystem integration via the Startup India platform, supporting knowledge exchange, co-branding and policy engagement.

The partnership encompasses five specific areas of operation: mentorship for early-stage founders via the Cars24 Founders' Fellowship, training through Mobility and Autotech Skilling Programmes, technical support and AI integration via Cars24 Labs, investor connections through Fuel by Cars24 and the organisation of an annual Innovation Challenge and Road Safety Hackathon alongside the DPIIT.

Vikram Chopra, Builder, Cars24, said, “Cars24 is proof that Indian founders can start with a difficult, everyday problem and build something on a national scale. We want to pass that possibility on. Through this partnership with DPIIT, we are backing the next generation of builders with more than advice. We want to give them access, capital, talent and a real platform to test ideas that can make India move smarter and safer.”

A senior DPIIT official commented, “Industry participation is central to strengthening India’s startup ecosystem. Collaborations of this kind, where an established market leader opens up its scale, mentorship and resources to early-stage founders, are exactly the bridge between ambition and execution that young startups need. We welcome Cars24’s commitment to mentoring, skilling and supporting product startups across the country.”

The non-binding MoU establishes a framework for ongoing collaboration between both entities to foster technology adoption and entrepreneurship within the Indian mobility sector.

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NXP Semiconductors has announced that the BMW Group will deploy its Trimension NCJ29D6 Ultra-Wideband (UWB) family across its vehicle fleet, beginning with selected 2026 production programmes.

The hardware component integrates fine-ranging capabilities with short-range radar functionality on a single chip. This allows vehicle manufacturers to utilise a single system for multiple applications, including hands-free vehicle entry and occupant presence detection.

The integration supports BMW’s Digital Key Plus feature, which enables vehicle owners to substitute key fobs with smartphones or smartwatches. The system manages locking and unlocking functions as the user approaches or moves away from the vehicle. Additionally, the technology includes in-cabin radar monitoring designed to identify motion patterns consistent with occupants or animals left inside a parked vehicle, sending notification alerts to users to align with European and Chinese NCAP assessment protocols.

Markus Staeblein, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, Secure Car Access at NXP Semiconductors, said, “NXP’s proven Trimension UWB platform maximises value for OEMs, using a single system to deliver multiple new and differentiating features for drivers. Digital key and presence detection are just the beginning. OEMs will be able to deliver additional UWB-based features, such as kick sensing, intrusion alert or automatic charging, as they establish the secure hardware platform in their vehicles.”

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Envalior India, an engineering materials company formed through the merger of DSM Engineering Materials and LANXESS High Performance Materials, will inaugurate the Envalior Centre of Excellence in Electric Vehicle Technology on 5 August 2026 as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

The CoE located at Marathwada Mitra Mandal's Polytechnic in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, will be implemented by the BroadArks Foundation to provide vocational training in electric vehicle systems.

It plans to train 250 individuals annually through two courses: a Level 4 Certificate in EV Service, Safety & Maintenance and a Level 5 Advanced Certificate in EV Diagnostics & Systems.

The curricula align with the National Skills Qualifications Framework and carry certification support from the Confederation of Indian Industry. The programs target students from Industrial Training Institutes and polytechnics studying mechanical, electrical, electronics, mechatronics and computer science disciplines.

Training instruction covers classroom coursework and laboratory modules focused on vehicle architecture, battery management systems, charging infrastructure, thermal management, power electronics, diagnostics and workshop safety protocols. Practical assessments and industry projects form part of the curriculum structure.

Nileshkumar Kukalyekar, Business Director – South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Envalior, said, "The launch of the Envalior Centre of Excellence reflects our commitment to supporting India's transition towards electric mobility by investing in the people who will power it. Through this Centre, we aim to provide students with industry-aligned, hands-on training that prepares them for the evolving demands of the EV sector while contributing to a stronger and future-ready workforce."

In addition to student instruction, the facility is designed to support laboratory infrastructure and instructor development programs for technical education in the region.

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South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Group has appointed Junghyun Kwon as Executive Vice-President and Head of the Autonomous Driving Development Center.

Kwon will oversee software engineering, deep learning integration, perception systems and commercialisation pathways for the group's autonomous mobility programs, reporting directly to Minwoo Park, President and Head of the Advanced Vehicle Platform (AVP) Division.

He joins the group following technical management roles in software development and artificial intelligence across international technology firms. Kwon previously managed autonomous driving software development and deployment at NVIDIA before directing intelligent robotics development at Samsung Electronics. His technical background covers machine learning models, computer vision systems and vehicle perception frameworks.

The executive appointment forms part of a broader recruitment sequence targeting software-defined vehicle architectures and autonomous driving systems.

Earlier in July, Hyundai Motor Group appointed Dongwuk Kim as Senior Vice-President and Head of the SDV Platform Development Center, following his work on wireless communication systems for mobile devices, robotics and vehicles at Apple and Tesla. The group also added Jeremy Ma as Senior Vice-President and Head of AVP Silicon Valley, drawing on his experience in robotics and autonomous systems at Apple, Toyota Research Institute and NVIDIA.

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