Sona Comstar and IRP Systems, one of Israel’s leading providers of e-mobility powertrain solutions, have come together with iCreate (International Centre for Entrepreneurship and Technology) to jointly develop a new powertrain.

Through this initiative, the companies will collectively work on the ‘iEV Powertrain Project’ to conceive, design, prototype and manufacture a high efficiency, low-cost, magnet-less powertrain (motor + controller) for electric two- and three-wheelers, for the global market. This project also aims to create an innovative motor-plus-controller combination that does not use rare earth elements like neodymium, which not just excludes the need for import but also nullifies the environmental impact in its mining process.

Moran Price, Co-Founder and CEO, IRP Systems, said, “This is another step in IRP’s mission to lead the automotive ecosystem with innovative and sustainable technology. Our technology ensures not only cleaner air but also a more environment-friendly production process and responsible use of natural resources. We are excited to partner with a global, leading player such as Sona Comstar to bring the product to the mass market.”

 In 2018, Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India,  along with the Prime Minister of Israel, inaugurated iCreate’s world-class 40-acre campus. (MT)

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The Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) Summit 2025, organised by Aayera and supported by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), successfully convened global and Indian automotive and technology leaders in Bengaluru. The summit focused on accelerating the transition to software-driven mobility.

Vector India and AUMOVIO were prominent contributors, driving thought leadership in the SDV space.

Brahmanand Patil, President and Managing Director, Vector India, delivered a keynote outlining Vector’s vision for SDV development and emphasising industry-wide collaboration.

Sudeepth Puthumana represented AUMOVIO, underscoring the importance of ADAS, safety systems and digital platforms.

The agenda covered SDV Architectures, Validation & Simulation for Indian conditions, ADAS integration and Cybersecurity.

Syed Fareed Ahmed, Director, Aayera, stated, “Software Defined Vehicles are no longer the future, they are the present reality reshaping the automotive industry. Through platforms like the SDV Summit, we aim to create a space where global leaders, OEMs and innovators can collaborate, share knowledge and accelerate the transition towards software-driven mobility.”

The event highlighted India’s growing, pivotal role in the global SDV landscape.

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CARS24, in partnership with CrashFree India and the Bengaluru Traffic Police, has launched India’s first AI-powered road safety billboard that displays traffic challans in real time. This initiative transforms technology into a highly visible public reminder – safer roads start with accountability.

Located at Trinity Circle, one of Bengaluru's busiest intersections, the AI-enabled system instantly scans vehicle number plates. In seconds, it cross-references the data with the government's VAHAN database and flashes the results onto a large LED screen.

The screen displays details of:

• Pending traffic challans
• Expired vehicle insurance
• Lapsed Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates
• Crucially, fully compliant vehicles are also acknowledged, reinforcing positive driving behaviour.

The company shared that reaction on the streets has been immediate and undeniable. Motorists have been seen looking up sheepishly when their fines are displayed, while others smile in relief at an ‘all clear’ message. For bystanders, it's become a spectacle, making it clear that responsibility is no longer hidden in an SMS or buried in an app.

One commuter remarked, “This feels like going back to school. When your name got called out in class, you paid attention. Now, when your challan shows up on that giant screen, you know you can’t escape it."

This innovative approach directly confronts India's mounting INR 120 billion challan crisis, which includes nearly INR 90 billion in unpaid fines. Bengaluru alone recorded 8.29 million violations last year.

The AI billboard doesn't issue new penalties; instead, it makes existing violations and lapses impossible to overlook.

Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder & CMO, CARS24, said, “We are not just reminding people to clear challans or update documents. We’re reminding them that every act of responsibility on the road, no matter how small, is what keeps an entire city alive. Safety doesn’t come from systems alone; it comes from choices. And the road is the one place where your choices instantly touch thousands of lives.”

A senior official from the Bengaluru Traffic Police echoed this sentiment: “This is not about shame, but awareness. Discipline starts with visibility. If this board helps even a fraction of drivers become more responsible, it’s a win for the city.”

The installation at Trinity Circle is a pilot project. If successful, this blend of technology and visibility could be scaled to other high-density junctions in major cities across India. The goal is to reduce violations, increase timely challan payments and most importantly, make India's roads significantly safer.

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Chinese technology major Xiaomi has opened its Xiaomi EV Europe Research and Development (R&D) and Design Centre in Munich, Germany, which is the first-of-its-kind facility for the company globally.

This new facility marks a pivotal milestone in the company’s global EV strategy, designed to propel advancements in smart mobility and automotive innovation while further realising the company's ‘Human x Car x Home’ smart ecosystem strategy.

The Xiaomi EV R&D and Design Centre will focus on performance vehicle projects, electric vehicle technology development, design innovation, customer orientation and advanced research.

The Chinese technology company shared that by leveraging world-class competencies and ecosystem, it aims to accelerate breakthroughs in intelligent driving and vehicle dynamics.

The Munich facility will bring together engineers, designers and researchers to collaborate with Xiaomi EV’s global teams. The idea is to leverage international talent development and embrace an open, forward-looking environment that encourages breakthroughs in vehicle performance, autonomous driving, EV platforms and next-generation user experiences.

The inauguration, the company said, represents a significant step in Xiaomi EV’s mission to become a global leader in the new era of smart mobility. Following the successful launches of Xiaomi SU7, Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and Xiaomi YU7 in Mainland China, this expansion is a significant progress towards the company’s long-term ‘Human x Car x Home’ smart ecosystem strategy as it prepares for its entry to the European Market in 2027.

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In a move to address one of the key challenges facing the electric vehicle industry, automotive supplier Valeo and French engineering school Arts et Métiers are expanding their strategic partnership to focus on quieting electric powertrains.

After a successful seven-year collaboration, the two organisations are launching a new industrial research chair dedicated to the ‘vibro-acoustics of electric powertrains.’ The goal is to develop innovative solutions to manage and reduce the distinctive, high-pitched noise often associated with electric motors and gearboxes.

While the silent nature of electric vehicles is a major selling point, residual noises from the powertrain can be unpleasant for passengers and undermine this key benefit.

Christophe Giraud-Audine, a Professor-Researcher at Arts et Métiers, said, "These distinctive high-pitched noises, easily detected by human ears and unpleasant for the passengers, undermine one of the key qualities customers value: the silence."

Valeo's Noise and Vibration Master Expert, Herve Mahe, explained that reducing this noise requires a blend of electrical and mechanical expertise. The new chair will build on the previous collaboration, which successfully transformed fundamental research into practical industrial innovations.

Olivier Thomas, the Professor-Researcher who initiated the partnership, said, "Acoustic comfort has become a critical success factor for electric vehicles." He added that if the noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels are too high, it could jeopardise customer acceptance of electric vehicles.

The new partnership, which will continue until 2032, will see teams from both organisations combine their expertise to find solutions. Researchers will apply their knowledge in digital computation, experimental design, vibratory mechanics and electrical engineering. In turn, Valeo will provide market insights and its own testing, calculation and design methods.

The research will focus on two main areas:

• Prediction: Developing new simulation tools to anticipate vibrations and noise early in the design phase.
• Action: Proposing new electrical control solutions and innovative methods for active or passive noise and vibration reduction, using materials like piezoelectric absorbers and meta-materials.

The program also includes plans for at least six PhD theses, one post-doctoral project, the recruitment of a research engineer, and various educational and scientific outreach initiatives.

By working together, Valeo and Arts et Métiers aim to strengthen Valeo’s leadership in electric mobility by ensuring that silence remains a core promise of the electric vehicle experience.

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