A recent study conducted by researchers from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), George Washington University, and the University of Colorado Boulder in the US estimated that vehicle tailpipe emissions were linked to about 385,000 premature deaths from ambient PM 2.5 and ozone worldwide in 2015. An estimated 70 percent of these occurred in the four largest vehicle markets -- China, India, the EU, and the US.

While the figures paint a grim picture, we see no urgency in bringing about an immediate improvement in air quality standards. The government of India has put a long-term policy focus on shifting to electricity as a transport fuel. However, this will bear fruits only after at least a decade of work and infrastructure development. As we wait for electric vehicles, we must not lose the opportunity to use the readily available cleaner fuels such as auto LPG which can clean the urban air faster.

In the wait for the roll-out of EVs, India is missing on the immediate environmental benefits of auto LPG, an easily deployable source of transport power. It emits up to 120 times less particulate emissions than diesel vehicles; 96 percent less nitrogen dioxides (NOx) than diesel and 68 percent less NOx than petrol. It is also more than 30 percent cheaper than petrol. Over 26 million vehicles across 70 countries run on auto LPG. South Korea sells 4 million tonnes of this fuel annually. In the US, Russia, Japan and China, governments incentivize auto gas usage with tax breaks on sales, excise, registration, parking and road use charges.

Two-wheelers

More than 40 percent of vehicular pollution in Delhi comes from two-wheelers. Across the country, 2-wheelers account for more than 75 percent of vehicles on roads. We need to start pushing two-wheelers towards cleaner fuels as well. Auto LPG makes for the most viable alternative. The 2-wheeler conversion kit is available for about INR 5000-5500 along with a convenient side fitment of the LPG Tank.

Promote Gaseous Fuels

While a large number of buses and public transport vehicles in several cities are running on CNG, it is also necessary to convert a substantial number of private vehicles to gaseous fuels. Rapidly shifting to a mix of CNG and auto LPG is an easier task than shifting to EVs. While the government supports CNG through the City Gas Distribution Project, it has left out auto LPG.

Auto LPG has several advantages over CNG, including 5-6 times less installation cost for refueling stations and less engine performance loss. Globally, auto LPG is the third most commonly used automotive fuel after petrol and diesel. Seven of the 10 large car manufacturers produce LPG-powered cars. Auto LPG occupies very little space in car boots and can be transported in cylinders in trucks to distant outposts.

Auto LPG is already available in 500 Indian cities and it neither needs any major infrastructural overhaul nor any subsidies to encourage consumers. It is important that the government frames policies that are favorable to all alternative fuels to allow consumers a wider choice.

An urgent policy intervention is to change the Type Approval norms of the Ministry of Road Transport for vehicles converting to gaseous fuels. In India companies have to renew the extremely costly Type Approvals for auto LPG and CNG conversions every three years. This has resulted in a rapid dwindling of players in the retro-fitment market. The Type Approval Validity must be made perpetual in line with the European norms. Similarly, the GST rate on LPG conversion kits for vehicles must be reduced from 28 percent to 5 percent as a measure to push up the rate of vehicle conversion to environment-friendly fuels. The GST rate on auto LPG also needs to be brought down from 18 percent.

(Suyash Gupta Is Director General of Indian Auto LPG Coalition; views expressed are personal)

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French tier 1 supplier Valeo has commenced production of high-definition (HD) surround-view cameras at its facility in Sanand, Gujarat. The new production line was inaugurated on 3 April 2026 by Marc Vrecko, CEO of Valeo’s Brain Division, marking an expansion of the company’s vision system manufacturing in India.

The Sanand facility will focus on the high-volume manufacturing of vision camera systems for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in India. These components are engineered to support autonomous and semi-autonomous driving functions through Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Advanced Rider Assistance Systems (ARAS).

While hardware manufacturing is centred in Sanand, the software and intelligence for these sensors are developed at Valeo’s research and development hub in Chennai. The facility is also scheduled to expand into the production of automotive displays and telematics control units to provide solutions for digital cockpits and connected vehicles.

The expansion is part of Valeo’s ‘Elevate 2028’ strategic plan, which identifies India as a priority market. By localising the production of vision systems, the company aims to streamline its supply chain and increase the delivery speed of safety technologies to regional partners. The investment is intended to transition the Sanand site into a multi-technology hub for automotive electronics.

Marc Vrecko, CEO, Valeo’s Brain Division, said, “The inauguration of this new camera line at our Sanand facility is a proud moment for our team and a proof to our dedication to the Indian market. By localising the production of these highly complex, advanced vision systems, we are not only streamlining our supply chain but also accelerating the delivery of world-class safety technologies to our partners."

Jayakumar G, Group President & Managing Director, Valeo India, added, “We are scaling our product portfolio in Sanand, India. This investment in a state-of-the-art surround-view camera line underscores our commitment to localizing high-tech solutions. It strengthens our ADAS manufacturing capabilities and R&D and ensures we continue to meet our customers’ evolving needs.”

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Belgian technology firm Magnax, which is working on yokeless axial flux electric motors, has secured around EUR 35.5 million investment from Pan-International Industrial Corp, in collaboration with Foxconn Group and members of an incoming management team.

The capital increase, conducted in two stages, has received foreign direct investment (FDI) approval and will result in Pan-International becoming the largest shareholder in Magnax.

Founded in 2015, Magnax develops yokeless axial flux electric motors for sectors including robotics, aerospace and electric vehicles. It also operates Traxial, a subsidiary focused on e-mobility.

The new CAPEX will be used towards industrialising the axial flux motor portfolio for high-volume deployment. Leveraging Foxconn Group’s manufacturing infrastructure and global supply chain. Research and development will remain in Belgium, while mass production will be located in China.

Axial flux motors differ from conventional radial flux machines by offering higher torque density and efficiency. These characteristics allow for reductions in vehicle weight and material usage. The architecture is intended for use in direct-drive industrial drives, machine automation and AI infrastructure, such as data centre thermal management.

As part of the transaction, Magnax has appointed a new CEO with experience in global industrial technology. The incoming management team is also co-investing in the company.

Kester Goh, Co-Founder, Magnax, said, “The capital will primarily be used to industrialise Magnax’s axial flux motor portfolio and support high-volume production. This partnership bridges European motor innovation with Asia’s largest advanced manufacturing ecosystem.”

Peter Leijnen, Co-Founder, Magnax, added, “Axial flux motors have a fundamentally better value proposition in several high-performance use cases. Their high torque density and efficiency enable customers to reduce weight and size of their end products. Lower material usage and higher efficiency translate directly into lower system cost and reduced carbon emissions.”

Daan Moreels, Co-Founder, Magnax, stated, “This is a new and important phase for Magnax. With Foxconn’s manufacturing scale and industrial ecosystem, Magnax gains the operational foundation required to deploy axial flux motor technology across global markets. The partnership accelerates the company’s transition from engineering innovation to large-scale industrial deployment.”

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drivebuddyAI has been granted a patent for its Integrated Dynamic Road Quality Assessment System and Method. The technology autonomously detects and maps road surface deterioration, including potholes and hazardous conditions, by combining sensor data with deep learning-based computer vision.

The system utilises two data streams to evaluate road conditions. A GNSS sensor logs vehicle speed and geo-location, while an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) accelerometer captures changes across the X, Y and Z axes.

In real-time it detects anomalies, which are flagged when the Z-axis acceleration indicates a road defect. To prevent false detections, the system processes video data through a deep learning model to visually confirm the defect. Verified data is geo-tagged to create a dynamic road quality map that updates as fresh data is collected from active fleets.

The patented technology aims to provide a road quality intelligence layer for navigation, moving beyond standard metrics of distance and traffic. For fleet operators, poor road surfaces affect Turnaround Time (TAT) by increasing braking frequency, vehicle wear and the risk of cargo damage.

By integrating road quality data into route planning, dispatchers can select paths based on vehicle and cargo safety rather than just the shortest distance. The system is designed to operate without human intervention, building a dataset as vehicles traverse their routes.

This grant expands drivebuddyAI’s portfolio to over 15 patents covering ADAS, DMS, and AI perception systems. These include technologies for driver recognition, drowsiness detection, and risk assessment. The systems are validated under AIS184, EU2144/2019 & 2023, and EURO NCAP 2026 standards.

Nisarg Pandya, Founder & CEO, drivebuddyAI, said, “We are building AI that solves multiple problems at once. Road quality is not a standalone problem; it sits at the intersection of driver safety, cargo protection, and fleet efficiency. This patent is our answer to a gap that the industry has long ignored: knowing not just where you are going, but what the road ahead will do to your vehicle and your cargo and its impact on TAT.”

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Marquardt, a supplier of mechatronic systems, has launched a concept vehicle, ‘The Centum’, to demonstrate the integration of functional controls into automotive surfaces. The project involved a collaboration with E Ink and Covestro to develop a door interior panel that embeds a responsive display within synthetic materials.

The project aimed to maintain the tactile properties of polyurethane (PU)-coated textiles while enabling a colour-changing display to remain invisible until activated. This supports industry trends toward backlit surfaces and integrated control elements.

The display technology uses E Ink, which provides a low-energy, durable electronic paper display designed for automotive environments. For coating, Covestro has developed a transparent film using INSQIN waterborne PU technology. The coating uses Impranil DLC-F, a waterborne polyurethane dispersion used in automotive topcoats.

The resulting material retains the texture of standard automotive textiles while allowing the underlying display colors to remain visible through the coating.

Felix Hake, Head of Innovation, Marquardt, said, “With The Centum, we wanted to demonstrate how intelligent functions can be integrated into interior surfaces without compromising design or quality. Working with E Ink and Covestro allowed us to create a material solution that combines a premium tactile experience with responsive visual effects.”

Dr Torsten Pohl, Global Head of Textile Coatings, Covestro, added, “This project highlights the versatility of INSQIN PU technology and Impranil DLC-F. By developing a transparent, automotive-grade PU coated synthetic compatible with E Ink displays, we were able to support Marquardt in integrating dynamic functionality into familiar surface materials.”

Pete Valianatos, Senior Director, E Ink, said, “Our e-paper display technology is designed to deliver dynamic visual experiences with low power consumption, while maintaining the robustness required for demanding applications. Collaborating with Marquardt and Covestro has enabled us to demonstrate how E Ink displays can be integrated behind coated interior surfaces, allowing automotive designers to introduce adaptive colour features without changing the established look and feel of premium materials.

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