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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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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