Maruti Suzuki India (Maruti Suzuki) has announced an investment of nearly INR 20 million to pick up 7.84 percent stake in Bengaluru-based mobility insights start-up Ravity Software Solutions. The start-up claimed to be a global platform for AI-driven connected mobility intelligence, which transforms vehicle data into business value.

This marks the automaker’s third such move through ‘Maruti Suzuki Innovation Fund’, which makes strategic investments in innovative and high-potential start-ups that can support Maruti Suzuki India’s operations.

The company made its first investment of INR 20 million in Sociograph Solutions in June 2022, followed by the same amount in Amlgo Labs in March 2024.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Aligning to our core value of keeping customer at the core of our business, we are focused on enhancing vehicle ownership experience. In the age of open innovation, we strive to co-create business solutions with specialized entities operating in the particular field. Startups are ideal partners as they bring agility, fresh thinking, and cutting-edge solutions, to support our goal of ensuring customer delight. Our investment in Ravity Software Solutions will enable us to elevate customer experience through data-driven insights. We have been associating with startups since 2019 under our Maruti Suzuki Innovation programs. Through this initiative, we are investing in a culture of innovation, building strategic partnerships, and unlocking new opportunities, in line with Government’s ‘Startup India’ initiative to promote entrepreneurship in the country.”

Vikas Rungta, Founder, Ravity Software Solutions, said, “It is an honour to be associated with an industry leader like Maruti Suzuki, whose name is synonymous with bringing personal mobility to millions in India as well as across the globe. An automobile major like Maruti Suzuki partnering with a startup speaks volumes about its forward-thinking mindset, humility, and openness to learn and collaborate to explore new ideas. With our excellence and expertise in AI, analytics and mobility, we are committed to upholding the trust Maruti Suzuki has placed in us. We believe that the high complementarity of our strengths: Maruti Suzuki’s scale of business and our agility and entrepreneurship, will further enhance customer experience and delight.” 

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Israel-based autonomous software technology company Mobileye has announced that a US automaker will integrate the Mobileye Driver Monitoring System (DMS) into its future vehicle models.

The programme utilises the EyeQ6L system-on-chip (SoC), with production scheduled to commence in 2027. The agreement expands an existing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) partnership and is expected to encompass millions of vehicles.

The platform unifies interior sensing, including DMS and Occupant Monitoring (OMS), with exterior road perception on a single chip. This integration allows the system to evaluate driver engagement by correlating eye gaze with real-world road conditions.

Key technical objectives include:

• Hardware Consolidation: Running driver monitoring and ADAS perception on one SoC to eliminate the requirement for a separate Electronic Control Unit (ECU).
• Contextual Awareness: Distinguishing between general distraction and active driver engagement by monitoring whether attention corresponds with specific road events.
• Alert Precision: Reducing false alerts and refining takeover requests for higher levels of vehicle autonomy.

The system is designed to meet Euro NCAP 2026 scoring requirements and prepare for the Euro NCAP 2029 protocol, which is anticipated to shift the industry benchmark from basic eye tracking to detection of meaningful engagement.

Nimrod Nehushtan, EVP of Business Development and Strategy, Mobileye, said, “The next generation of intelligent driving demands richer context from every part of the vehicle – the road ahead, the cabin, and the interplay between them. At the same time, automakers are looking to scale advanced driving features across their lineups without the cost penalty of additional hardware or complex system integration. Mobileye DMS delivers on both – running context-aware driver monitoring on a single ADAS chip and ECU platform. This combination is something Mobileye is uniquely positioned for, and we look forward to helping our customers deploy at scale.”

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The Centre of Excellence in Advanced Automotive Research (CAAR) at IIT Madras, in partnership with the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO), is establishing the Advanced Automotive Translational Research Centre (AATRC). The facility will be located at the Tamil Nadu Knowledge City in Tiruvallur.

The project involves an investment of around INR 2 billion over the next five years. The centre will occupy 40,000 sqft of research and laboratory infrastructure dedicated to translational research and product development for next-generation automotive technologies.

Technical focus areas for the AATRC include:

• Powertrains and Electronics: Electric powertrains and automotive power electronics.
• Energy Storage: Battery technologies and electric vehicle (EV) charging systems.
• Digital Architecture: Software-defined vehicles and industry-ready innovation.

According to data released by IIT Madras, the initiative expects to achieve several benchmarks within its first five years of operation:

• Product Innovation: Development of 40–50 automotive products.
• Enterprise Support: Provision of testing and validation infrastructure for 150–200 start-ups and MSMEs.
• Employment: Creation of 50–70 high-skill direct jobs and approximately 2,100 ecosystem-linked employment opportunities.

The collaboration follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the State government and IIT Madras in January, aimed at positioning India as a hub for EV and automotive technology.

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Chinese technology company Hesai Technology has joined the Nvidia Halos AI Systems Inspection Lab, an accredited body for the inspection of AI-driven physical systems. As a member, Hesai will validate its lidar platforms within a framework covering functional safety, cybersecurity and AI compliance.

Nvidia Halos is a safety system for physical AI that unifies safety elements across vehicle and robotics architectures. The system combines hardware, software and models to safeguard autonomous vehicle (AV) and robotics stacks.

Hesai utilises a ‘Safety Triad’ engineering approach, which integrates:

• Functional Safety: Adherence to ISO 26262 standards.
• Safety of the Intended Functionality (SOTIF): Managing risks from functional inadequacies.
• Cybersecurity: Protecting system integrity across real-world environments.

The company claims that Hesai was the first LiDAR manufacturer to obtain ISO 26262 ASIL B certification and currently participates in global safety standard development alongside firms including Bosch, Nissan and ZF.

The collaboration between Hesai and Nvidia began in 2019 with the integration of LiDAR into Nvidia autonomous computing platforms. Hesai has delivered over 2 million LiDAR units globally to date.

The company was recently selected as a lidar partner for Nvidia DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10, a reference architecture designed to make vehicles Level 4-ready. This platform enables the development of AI-defined fleets for automakers and developers.

David Li, Co-Founder and CEO, Hesai Technology, said, “Autonomous systems will only achieve broad adoption if they meet the highest standards of safety and reliability. As autonomous vehicles and intelligent machines move toward large-scale deployment, safety becomes the defining requirement for the entire system.”

“Our work with Nvidia began several years ago with the integration of Hesai LiDAR on Nvidia autonomous computing platforms. Lidar is often the primary sensor responsible for detecting hazards in the most critical situations on the road. Joining the Nvidia Halos ecosystem allows us to further strengthen the safety architecture required to bring trusted autonomous technology into everyday use,” he said.

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Zenobe, a fleet electrification and battery storage specialist, has acquired California-based Revolv to expand its electric truck operations in the United States. The transaction marks Zenobe's entry into the North American commercial fleet and truck segment.

The acquisition adds to Zenobe's established portfolio in student transportation and public transit across the U.S. and Canada.

Key additions to Zenobe’s network include:

• Operational Sites: 13 customer sites located in California.
• Fleet Size: More than 100 electric trucks integrated into the service network.
• Project Pipeline: Additional commercial projects currently under development.

Zenobe intends to integrate the Revolv team to maintain continuity for existing customers and leverage regional expertise. The combined platform provides end-to-end solutions, including vehicle provision, charging infrastructure, financing and battery lifecycle management.

The expansion follows a period of growth in the U.S. Zero Emission Truck (ZET) market, where over 59,000 vehicles have been deployed nationwide. Zenobe’s strategy focuses on a battery-as-a-service (BaaS) model, which involves performance guarantees and the management of second-life battery applications to reduce risks for fleet operators.

The acquisition is supported by Zenobe’s major investors, KKR and Infracapital, as part of a broader effort to scale electrification in hard-to-decarbonise sectors.

Andreas Lips, President of EV North America, Zenobe, said, “Revolv's end-to-end fleet electrification model is highly complementary to Zenobe's global experience and our growth plans in North America. As commercial fleet electrification enters its next phase, operators are increasingly seeking partners who can deliver vehicles, infrastructure, financing and long-term battery performance under one roof. This acquisition strengthens our ability to provide flexible, end-to-end solutions at scale across North America.”

Steven Meersman, Founder Director, Zenobe, said, “This is a strong opportunity to accelerate electrification at scale, by pairing Revolv's fleet electrification platform with our deep experience and unique financing models. We're grateful to Revolv CEO Scott Davidson and the team at GDEV Management for backing Revolv early on. Now we are taking it to the next stage.”

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