Factors such as ‘time-to-market’, regulations and costs are tilting the tables in the direction of modular vehicle architecture. This includes the design and assembly of all sub-systems of a vehicle in a modular manner. This also includes design standardisation and that of the production of auto parts in the form of modules.  

The advantage of modular vehicle architecture can be clearly seen at the final 'assembly' stage were numerous variants (read as trims) can be positioned seamlessly and without bringing an entire operation to the halt for the want of a module, part of an assembly tool. 

While the first instance of the employment of modular vehicle architecture in India may be hard to pin point, it was Ashok Leyland that announced the launch of a modular architecture in the form of the medium and heavy-duty AVTR truck platform as the BS VI emission norms came into effect in 2020.  

The move reminded of the comprehensive modular architecture approach of Swedish truck maker Scania. The kind of modularity Scania built into its trucks was such that its customers could choose from a wide range of aggregates such as engines, transmissions, chassis, cabin and more to build a truck that would best address their application requirements.  

Unlike the Scania’s approach to modularity, Ashok Leyland chose to offer its truck buyers the choice of engines, transmissions, suspensions, cabins and superstructure so that they could build a vehicle that met their business needs.  

One of the key reasons why Ashok Leyland chose to go down the modular architecture route was the need to cut down on components such as the exhaust parts. There would have been parts that the company would have to produce in many numbers and types to address the customer requirements in the BS VI era had it not taken to the modular approach.  

Not only did the AVTR modular architecture helped streamline the supply chain and control the costs better, it made sure the buyer of an Ashok Leyland medium or heavy-duty truck could choose from more than 600,000 unique combinations.  

Like Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors has also been quite active in design and development of modular architectures. It developed the modular truck architecture in the form of the Prima many years ago along with its Korean Daewoo commercial vehicle arm. Not limiting itself to the Prima, the company developed modular architectures in the form of the Signa and Ultra. 

It was the modular approach that led to the creation of some brilliant models such at the Signa 3118 and the Ultra 3118.  

On the passenger vehicle side, the ‘ALFA’ modular architecture is being put to good use by Tata Motors in reducing the time to market and in controlling the costs as it competes with some of the most agile global passenger vehicle manufacturers in its home market as well as other markets in the world. 
The ‘ALFA’ modular vehicle architecture is currently supporting the Altroz and Punch. It is also the basis for the electric Punch that is expected to be launched soon in India.  

Allowing a differentiated design approach and subsequently multiple body styles to meet the evolving aspirations of customers in the automotive market, the ‘ALFA modular architecture – termed as ‘Agile Light Flexible Advanced’ and basis for an exciting e 45X concept – is playing a crucial role in meeting the high-volume demand for an entire portfolio of cars at Tata Motors as of now.  

The beauty of the ‘ALFA’ architecture is such that it could be used to create diverse vehicles with distinct body styles with a variety of powertrains (petrol, diesel, CNG and even electric), transmissions, drivelines, suspensions etc, mentioned a source. A combination of body styles, hardware and software could be deployed to offer the necessary attributes, he added.  

Pointing at the recent introduction of Punch CNG with twin-cylinder CNG technology, he informed that the ‘ALFA’ modular architecture is helping to expand the scope of twin-cylinder CNC tech as much.  

The differentiating factor of the technology is that it does not eat into the vehicle storage space. The vehicle body can receive necessary reinforcements to bear the additional weight of the cylinders. In the CNG Punch, the suspension too has been suitably strengthened to handle the additional weight.  

Observing that the CNG Punch is just one part, the source said that the electric Punch would mean that the ‘ALFA’ modular vehicle architecture has truly come to age. Claimed to be undergoing advanced testing and validation, the electric Punch would further enhance Tata Motors’ lead in the electric passenger vehicle space. It is expected to be introduced by the end of this year or early next year.  

The ambitions that Tata Motors has regarding its EV portfolio could be derived from the fact that on 29 August 2023 it announced a new brand identity TATA.ev for its EV business. It is aligned with Tata Motors' commitment towards sustainability and innovation.

EVs influence modular vehicle architectures
EVs are turning to be a big factor for the creation of modular platforms lately as they promise less complexities pertaining to platform engineering, keeping them to the bare minimum. Modular electric vehicle architectures are also enabling the development of core platforms with standardised design and production of auto parts in the form of modules and a streamlined as well as compact final 'assembly' as per the positioning of models. 

The R&D and production costs, shortening the development cycle of new models, facilitating the unification of quality standards and improving the overall strength of products, modular electric vehicle architectures are enabling unique ‘oil-to-electricity’ transformations as well.  

Dedicated modular electric vehicle architectures are enabling clever integration (read as badge engineering) across brands and as a part of the new cooperation strategies. With software defined vehicles the order of the day, electric vehicles especially, the tilt towards modular vehicle architecture is proving to be beneficial in terms of offering a differentiated user experience, to keep control over the supply chain and to keep control over the costs and to test and validate. 

(Image for representation purpose only)

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle and technology company Ultraviolette Automotive has unveiled its voice assistant, christened ‘Violette’, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026. Developed in partnership with Soundhound AI, the system allows riders to interact with the F77 electric motorcycle using voice commands to manage vehicle functions and access data.

The technology was demonstrated through the wake phrase ‘Violette’, enabling users to switch riding modes, start navigation and retrieve information from the user manual, such as tyre pressure specifications and service instructions. The system also provides proactive alerts, ride statistics and pre-ride checks via voice interface.

To facilitate interaction without visual distraction, the voice assistant operates through an audio-integrated helmet. This setup serves as the primary interface between the rider and the motorcycle, allowing for the retrieval of information while maintaining focus on the road.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, “At Ultraviolette, we believe AI is going to play a pivotal role in enhancing rider safety. As a technology-first company in the mobility space, our mission has always been to redefine the riding experience by fusing cutting-edge engineering with intelligent systems. The integration of Violette A.I. with Soundhound AI marks a significant step in advancing human–machine interaction. By enabling seamless voice-led control we are creating a riding experience that is intuitive, immersive, and future-ready, allowing riders to stay fully focused on what matters most- the road ahead”.

Niraj Rajmohan, CTO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, “At Ultraviolette, we have spent years developing technologies that make a meaningful impact in the mobility space, with a singular focus on bringing riders closer to their motorcycles in the most effortless way possible. Artificial Intelligence plays a crucial role in this transformation and in elevating the riding experience by anticipating rider needs, simplifying complex interactions, and delivering information instantly and safely. Violette A.I. represents a huge step in that direction, where every command, every query, and every interaction enhances rider confidence, safety, and comfort. By embedding intelligence directly into the riding experience, we are not only simplifying how riders engage with their motorcycles but also creating a new paradigm of connected mobility that is smarter, safer, and deeply human-centric”.

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GAC International and Grab have established a strategic partnership to deploy 20,000 electric vehicles (EVs) across six Southeast Asian countries within the next two years. The agreement, signed on 7 January 2025, marks a shift for GAC from product exports to the expansion of an integrated ecosystem comprising products, services and data.

The collaboration focuses on the introduction of three models under the AION brand: the AION Y, AION ES and AION V. These vehicles will be integrated into Grab's fleet to serve the taxi and ride-hailing segments. The AION V, which holds a Euro NCAP five-star safety rating, is positioned as the flagship SUV for the region, while the AION Y and ES models target the high-volume electric taxi market.

Beyond vehicle supply, the companies intend to integrate the Grab driver app directly into GAC’s intelligent cockpit systems. This technical link is designed to improve order acceptance efficiency and driver safety. The partnership also covers the development of aftersales support, data value mining and charging infrastructure to support the large-scale deployment of EVs in the region.

Xia Xianqing, President of GAC Group, attended the exchange, while the agreement was signed by Wang Shunsheng, Vice President of GAC International, and Dylan Choon, Regional Manager of Strategic Partnerships at Grab.

The move comes as the Southeast Asian EV market reported a 50 percent YoY sales increase in 2024. By leveraging Grab’s user base, GAC aims to build brand awareness and gather market insights for future model development. The initiative is intended to reduce regional transport emissions in line with carbon neutrality targets.

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Visteon Corporation has announced an expanded technology partnership with Mahindra & Mahindra that will see its next-generation SmartCore Pro cockpit domain controller deployed in Mahindra’s XUV7X0 SUV lineup.

Unveiled at CES 2026, the SmartCore Pro builds on the SmartCore system introduced in the Mahindra XUV700 in 2021. The new system integrates cockpit electronics, surround view camera technology and telematics on Mahindra’s Adrenox+ platform. It features a three-display configuration supporting vehicle information, infotainment, ADAS visualisation and connectivity, alongside an integrated 360-degree camera system.

Francis Kim, Vice-President of Global Sales & Commercial Excellence and General Manager for Rest of Asia, Visteon, said, “The automotive industry is shifting from discrete systems to fully integrated digital platforms, and India is among the fastest-moving markets in this transition. This partnership demonstrates how strategic OEM collaboration can accelerate time-to-market for complex technologies while laying the foundation for software-defined vehicles.”

Alongside the Mahindra announcement, Visteon also showcased the production specifications and OEM implementations of its High-Performance Compute solution built on the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite platform. The solution follows Visteon’s collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies announced at Auto Shanghai 2025 and is now being demonstrated with multiple global OEMs.

The High-Performance Compute platform supports centralised vehicle architectures and software-defined vehicle strategies. It enables on-device AI processing, multi-display support, multi-user experiences and personalised cockpit features. The system uses the Qualcomm Oryon CPU, Qualcomm Adreno GPU and enhanced NPU AI performance, while Visteon’s cognitoAI Concierge digital assistant operates using the company’s QWEN 7B model.

Uday Dodla, Vice-President, Product Management, Visteon, said, “This High-Performance Compute solution addresses a critical challenge our OEM partners face as they transition to centralized architectures. By consolidating multiple ECUs into a single, powerful platform, we're enabling automakers to reduce complexity and costs while delivering the sophisticated AI-driven experiences that consumers increasingly expect.”

Mark Granger, VP, Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, said, “Visteon's demonstration of its High-Performance Compute solution on the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite platform highlights the momentum toward centralized, software-defined architectures that will power the next era of intelligent, connected vehicles.”

Visteon said the platform is designed to support a common architecture across vehicle segments, allowing OEMs to scale features while consolidating electronic control units and supporting long-term cost efficiencies.

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French tier 1 supplier Valeo and Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters, have inked a strategic partnership for Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS).

The partnership will focus on enhancing rider safety by introducing advanced sensing, perception and intelligent technologies tailored specifically for two-wheelers across both entry-level and premium segments, including the OEM’s emerging electric mobility portfolio under VIDA. 

As part of the understanding, they will focus on ARAS by leveraging Valeo’s radar and smart camera tech equipped in Hero MotoCorp’s two-wheeler portfolio. This will not only enhance safety for two-wheeler users in India, but is also expected to drive awareness amongst customers globally.

The partners state that they have already achieved success in its proof-of-concept systems designed to protect both riders and pedestrians.

Marc Vrecko, CEO, Valeo’s Brain Division, said, “We are truly excited to partner with Hero MotoCorp to deliver solutions that will significantly enhance rider safety and create a more secure riding experience for millions of people. This collaboration is a key step in our strategy to bring advanced technology to the rapidly growing mobility market in India and globally.” 

Ram Kuppuswamy, COO, Plant Operations, Hero MotoCorp, said, “At Hero MotoCorp, we are redefining the future of mobility by bringing advanced technology to our products. Our partnership with Valeo marks a significant stride in making mobility smarter, safer and more sustainable with next-gen advanced rider assistance systems. Together, we aim to make two-wheeler safety accessible to everyone and set new standards for innovation and protection globally.” 

The ARAS architecture is developed as a digital co-pilot for riders, providing a 360deg safety envelope around the vehicle, it provides real-time sensing and intelligent alerts. It uses a radar-based system that can provide critical information/warnings such as Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Distance Warning (DW), Lane Change Assist (LCA), Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Collision Warning (RCW).

On the other hand, the vision system uses high-resolution cameras to provide Pedestrian Detection, Lane Detection, Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Departure Warning.

Through intelligent image processing the system identifies road signs and obstacles, even in low-light conditions. Through the combination of radar and vision system, the two-wheeler encompasses a comprehensive safety system for two-wheeler users.

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