Q) How do you see the Indian automotive market, and what are the factors that drive and influence Covestro’s product offerings in India?

Anand Srinivasan: The McKinney Report 2019 states that India is likely to become the third largest automotive market in the world. The report says that the key factors that drive this would be rapid urbanisation, a burgeoning middle class, increased consumer spends, continued government focus on the sector, and low sharing of mobility barring high-density urban areas.   

We feel there could be a spike in the luxury car segment and the mid-entry level cars. These are facilitated by the government focus on infrastructure development and the love of inter-city independent travel. In India, cars are seen as a status symbol and this will continue to drive the consumption pattern.

This year's Auto Expo was dominated by electric vehicles where auto-giants like Hyundai, Mahindra and Mahindra, and Tata Motors unveiled their plans.

Another significant factor is that India continues to be the centre for frugal engineering. This leads to cost-efficient, ground-up innovation that also fits into each consumer's value proposition and fuel the growth in consumption.

Q)  Consumers are very choosey about the car interior. Personal car users want interiors that appeal to their personality and emotions. Riders in share-riding expect the interiors to be robust, and functional. Such broad expectations are putting much pressure on designers and engineers of the OEMs. How do you take this challenge as a material supplier? What products do you offer for automotive interiors?

Anand Srinivasan: In India, car interiors traditionally have been robust – irrespective of the type or choice of interior. The end-consumers always prefer robust and highly functional products to delicate and limited functionality products. This comes from the value proposition ingrained in the Indian DNA.

The expectations in the personal car space are most likely to become a requirement in the share-riding space also. This will be essentially driven by pressure on margins which will force share-car owners to focus on value-addition to generate premiums. As a result, a product today for the personal car space will become an innovation for a share-car owner tomorrow. 

So any product, we create for the personal car space becomes an investment in the innovation for the more mass requirements of share-riding. Covestro provides materials like polyurethanes for seats, coverings and coatings. Covestro's flexible polyurethane foam car seats offer significant ergonomic advantages over seats in other materials and reduce fuel consumption.

Q)  Automotive lighting has gained momentum due to the growing focus on safety and energy efficiency. The designing of headlamps and rear lamps is getting more complicated. What kind of challenges are you facing in this segment, and how are you tackling them? What new technologies do you are work on in the segment?

Anand Srinivasan: Safety and energy efficiency is definitely on top of our agenda. Factors such as emphasis on road safety, implementation of stringent government regulations, and rise in production drive the growth of the automotive lighting market. However, the high cost of LEDs had restrained the automotive lighting market growth. Lighting is one of the more challenging needs to address. Simple understanding like the type of lighting and the impact on cars coming on the opposite direction can often be the critical differentiator.

The most important contribution to cost is the demand for vehicles equipped with advanced technologies. While globally, features like communication with the pedestrians to ensure better safety have gained momentum, the focus in India is more skewed to convenience. The concept of safety (which is among the slow-moving traffics globally) is significantly different. In that, the ability to use halogen lighting without inconveniencing the driver on the opposite side could be a very simple example. These and the focus on reducing carbon footprint on any consumption have gained momentum.

However, to our advantage, India is a highly skilled and bright-minded innovative nation. Therefore, our limitations impose on us the need to innovate cost-efficiently without compromising on the product quality and end result.

This holds us in a very good state – where we like to call our innovations as being N&N (needs & norms) compliant. We as an organisation have been able to focus on "Building the Future" through our energy-efficient products across many different industries and are confident of bringing the same to the automotive sector.

Q) A supplier may create excellent materials for the interior or exterior, but it has to be compatible with the design of a product. OEMs also want to offer differentiators in the market. With the growing complexity of interior and exterior designs, what are the challenges that you face?

Anand Srinivasan: For the interior or exterior, the key challenge lies in estimating consumer expectations. The need for any OEM is to read the current and latent needs of the end-consumers and to enable automotive companies to integrate their products into the consumers' life. Before answering this question, I think it is very important to understand the drivers of change in consumer expectations.

The evolving lifestyle of the urban classes and DINKs, DISKs and DIDKs are driving the economy. This essentially means less time at home and more at work. The ability to leave from the work will largely depend on the time utilisation during travel. The second is the need for better connectivity, even on the go. To improve their own productivity, for home tasks or for office work, cars will increasingly need to cater to smarter, easier and more interactive tools like touch screens instead of music systems, voice-activated products and similar others. The third one is a culture of digitised work environment penetrating into family time. With increased exposure to digitisation, even children have taken to it like fish in the water. As a result, family cars are expected to be compliant with the latest gizmos and gadgets that make a child's travel time more interactive while giving parents the chance to complete work on chores on the go. 

The luxury segment, on the other hand, is leaning more towards ensuring that travel is the downtime that people need in their busy lives. Thus the focus on a premium look and feel products, entertainment like exotic grills and mood elements, interactive panels, capacitive switches and more. In this segment, the driver is clearly making the PVQ (Perceived Value Quotient) less elastic. To do that, redefining luxury every 6 months becomes a mandate. I think the level of consumer expectations is very high. For that we are in a constant state of Research and Innovation. (MT)

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Carraro Group’s leadership – including Ettore Francesco Sequi, Chairman of Carraro India, and Tomaso Carraro, Vice Chairman of Carraro Group and Carraro India – had a meeting with Union Minister Piyush Goyal and Indian Ambassador to Italy Vani Sarraju Rao in Milan, Italy, underscoring the deepening industrial collaboration between Italy and India, particularly in the off-highway, agriculture and construction equipment sectors.

The discussions reaffirmed Carraro Group’s long-standing commitment to India, which began in 1997. Under the motto ‘Think & Make in India’, the company has focused on developing localised solutions for the Indian market, including advanced 4WD drivetrain systems that enhance agricultural productivity and farm mechanisation. These technologies play a crucial role in supporting food security by improving efficiency for farmers, enabling higher yields and addressing global demand for sustainable food production.

Carraro India has set an ambitious growth target, aiming to increase its turnover from the current EUR 200 million to EUR 350 million by the fiscal year 2028-29. To achieve this, the company plans to expand its manufacturing facility in Pune, reinforcing its production capabilities and strengthening its supply chain within India. This expansion aligns with India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, promoting local manufacturing and job creation while catering to both domestic and international markets.

The engagement highlights India’s growing appeal as a manufacturing and investment destination for European companies, particularly in the agricultural and construction machinery sectors. It also reflects the broader economic and technological partnership between India and Italy, fostering innovation, skill development and industrial growth.

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German automotive technology giant Continental has developed a new sensor technology that is said to significantly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of electric vehicle (EV) motors.

For the first time, their new e-Motor Rotor Temperature Sensor (eRTS) directly measures the temperature inside permanently excited synchronous motors on the rotor itself.

This innovative approach delivers substantially more precise measurement results than current software-based temperature simulations, drastically reducing the tolerance range from 15deg Celsius to a mere 3deg Celsius. The enhanced accuracy offers a dual benefit for vehicle manufacturers: it enables them to reduce the reliance on costly rare earth elements used to boost magnet heat resistance and simultaneously improve potential motor performance. This, in turn, paves the way for greater sustainability in EV production.

The eRTS is a key development from Continental's E-Mobility Sensors (EMS) product centre, which is dedicated to creating advanced sensor technologies for electric vehicles.

Bin Huo, Head of Passive Safety and Sensorics (PSS) segment, Continental, said, "With less resource consumption and lower costs, eRTS sensor technology is advantageous over current solutions. This innovation shows that investing resources and focusing expertise in our product centre was absolutely the right decision. We will continue to successively expand our EV sensor portfolio."

Higher Measuring Accuracy

The eRTS system comprises two distinct components: a wireless mote temperature sensor unit positioned close to the magnet within the EV motor and a wired transducer element situated outside the motor, connected to the inverter control.

Rotors operate under extreme conditions, with temperatures potentially reaching up to 150deg Celsius. Consequently, precise monitoring and control of heat development in EV motors are paramount. Presently, heat development is not measured directly but is instead calculated based on data from the stator temperature sensor, phase current measurements and environmental variables. This indirect method results in a tolerance range of up to 15deg Celsius. To safeguard magnets from demagnetisation due to excessive heat, expensive rare earth elements are typically used to cover this entire tolerance range and ensure sufficient heat resistance.

The significantly greater measuring accuracy of the eRTS, which reduces the tolerance range to just 3deg Celsius, presents car manufacturers with new design possibilities and freedom in permanent magnet synchronous EV motors.

A considerable proportion of costly rare earth materials, which would otherwise be required to account for the wider tolerance range for safety reasons, can now be saved. Furthermore, the improved accuracy offers the intriguing prospect of enhancing motor performance by pushing the operational limits closer to the actual temperature threshold.

Christoph Busch, Lead – Product Centre, Continental, said, "Our E-Mobility Sensors product centre aims to increase efficiency and sustainability in electric vehicles. The eRTS technology is a prime example of this: reducing the use of rare earths contributes to a more sustainable supply chain, especially given that the number of EVs is expected to greatly increase in the coming years and decades. In combination with other sensor technologies, such as the e-Motor Rotor Position Sensor, it can even act as a system solution to create synergies that can save car manufacturers money and effort."

Ultrasound Technology

The eRTS's two components, the mote element and the transducer element, work in tandem. The mote temperature sensor unit measures the temperature directly at the target area, as close as possible to the magnet. Crucially, the wireless mote draws its energy solely from the wired transducer, which is connected to the Electronic Control Unit (ECU) and simultaneously provides the transducer with its measuring data. The transducer is located outside the EV motor on the chassis and transmits temperature information to the inverter control via a communication interface. Both the mote and transducer communicate using Piezo ultrasound, which also facilitates the energy supply to the mote.

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In a landmark development for artificial intelligence and global technological partnerships, G42, OpenAI, Oracle, NVIDIA, SoftBank Group and Cisco have joined forces to launch Stargate UAE, a next-generation AI infrastructure cluster set to operate in Abu Dhabi.

The announcement, made in the presence of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlighted UAE’s commitment to driving cutting-edge innovation on the world stage.

The launch event witnessed the attendance of Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Defence and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Artificial Intelligence Council, alongside prominent dignitaries and senior officials.

Stargate UAE, a 1-gigawatt compute cluster, will be constructed by G42 and operated by OpenAI and Oracle. NVIDIA will provide its cutting-edge Grace Blackwell GB300 systems, while Cisco contributes AI-ready connectivity and zero-trust security frameworks. SoftBank Group will also play a crucial role in the initiative. Once operational, Stargate UAE will deliver exceptional AI infrastructure, scalable compute resources, and ultra-low latency for inferencing, enabling powerful AI applications across industries. The first 200-megawatt cluster is slated to go live in 2026.

Designed to fuel scientific discovery, industry innovation and economic growth, Stargate UAE will support sectors including healthcare, energy, finance and transportation. It forms the cornerstone of the newly announced UAE–US AI Campus, a 5-gigawatt AI hub spanning 10 square miles in Abu Dhabi – the largest deployment of its kind outside the United States. Powered by a combination of nuclear, solar and natural gas sources, the facility will prioritise sustainability and low-carbon operations. It will also feature a science park to nurture talent, advance research, and promote sustainable computing solutions.

The UAE–US AI Campus builds upon the ‘US-UAE AI Acceleration Partnership’, a framework unveiled last week by the U.S. and UAE governments to foster safe, secure and responsible AI technologies. As part of this initiative, UAE entities will expand their digital infrastructure investments in the U.S., including projects like Stargate U.S., aligned with the ‘America First Investment Policy.’

Peng Xiao, Group CEO, G42, said, “The launch of Stargate UAE is a significant step in the UAE–US AI partnership. As a founding partner, we’re proud to work alongside institutions that share our belief in responsible innovation and meaningful global progress. This initiative is about building a bridge – rooted in trust and ambition – that helps bring the benefits of AI to economies, societies, and people around the world.”

Sam Altman, Co-founder and CEO, OpenAI, said, “By establishing the world’s first Stargate outside of the US in the UAE, we’re transforming a bold vision into reality. This is the first major milestone in our OpenAI for Countries initiative – our effort to work with allies and partners to build AI infrastructure around the world. It’s a step toward ensuring some of this era’s most important breakthroughs – safer medicines, personalised learning, and modernised energy – can emerge from more places and benefit the world.”

Larry Ellison, CTO and Chairman, Oracle, said, “Stargate pairs Oracle’s AI-optimised cloud with nation-scale sovereign infrastructure. This first-in-the-world platform will enable every UAE government agency and commercial institution to connect their data to the world’s most advanced AI models. This landmark deployment sets a new standard for digital sovereignty and demonstrates how nation states can harness the power of the most important technology in the history of humankind.”

Jensen Huang, Founder and CEO, NVIDIA, said, “AI is the most transformative force of our time. With Stargate UAE, we are building the AI infrastructure to power the country’s bold vision – to empower its people, grow its economy, and shape its future.”

Masayoshi Son, Chairman and CEO, SoftBank Group, said, “When we unveiled Stargate in the US with OpenAI and Oracle, we set out to build an engine for the next information revolution. Now, the UAE becomes the first nation beyond America to embrace this sovereign AI platform, proving the global nature of this vision. SoftBank is proud to support the UAE’s leap forward. Bold investments, trusted partnerships, and national ambition can create a more connected, more joyful and more empowered world.”

Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO, Cisco, said, “Cisco is proud to join Stargate UAE to advance groundbreaking AI innovation in the UAE and around the world. By embedding our secure AI-optimised networking fabric for this international deployment, we're building smart, secure and energy-efficient networks that will turn intelligence into impact at global scale.”

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker, has announced a new partnership with the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) aimed at fostering innovation and creating business opportunities for startups in both India and Japan.

The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), seeks to bridge the startup ecosystems of the two nations.

The MoU was formally exchanged by Dr Tapan Sahoo, Executive Officer, Digital Enterprise, Maruti Suzuki India and Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General, JETRO India, Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, was also present during the signing.

As per the understanding, Maruti Suzuki India and JETRO will work together to help Indian startups gain access to Japan's innovation landscape, while Japanese startups will similarly have the opportunity to explore India's vibrant startup ecosystem.

Beyond access, the partnership will facilitate networking and participation for these startups in relevant industry events and activities, connecting them with potential partners. Indian startups selected through Maruti Suzuki's four innovation programs – Accelerator, Incubation, Mobility Challenge and Nurture – will be eligible to participate in these initiatives. Japanese startups, on the other hand, will be able to explore the Indian market through JETRO's support.

Hisashi Takeuchi, said, "Through our multi-format innovation programs, we have been engaging with startups in India to co-create technology-driven solutions relevant to the automobile manufacturing and mobility space. We see great potential in Indian startups, and with this MoU with JETRO, we will be able to provide a platform for these promising startups to explore the Japanese business landscape."

Takashi Suzuki, Chief Director General, JETRO India, said, "Maruti Suzuki stands as one of the finest examples of the successful partnership between India and Japan. With this MoU, we are creating opportunities for even more fruitful business collaborations between our two nations. This MoU aims to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and further strengthen the deep-rooted ties between India and Japan."

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