Japanese mobility company Suzuki Motor Corporation and Tata Elxsi, a leading design and technology services company have inaugurated the ‘Suzuki-Tata Elxsi Offshore Development Center’ in Pune, India.

The facility will focus on driving innovations in advanced engineering for Suzuki Motor Corporation’s future offerings. Tata Elxsi says it will support Suzuki in its green mobility vision by aligning with the OEM’s global focus on sustainable innovation in lightweight design, safety, styling and engineering, eco-friendly materials, and advanced simulations to improve time-to-market.

Furthermore, the partners will also focus on developing next-generation powertrains (across electric, hybrid and alternate fuels) and software-defined vehicles (SDV).

Katsuhiro Kato, Chief Technology Officer, Suzuki Motor Corporation, said, “As the industry progresses in Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric technologies, Suzuki must accelerate electronic and virtual development to meet evolving demands. Tata Elxsi’s expertise in advanced computing, simulation, and design digital makes them an ideal partner in bringing forward-thinking solutions to market. This strategic and long-term partnership incorporates Suzuki’s endeavor of minimising energy and enables India’s talent to actively contribute to our development efforts globally.” 

Manoj Raghavan, MD & CEO, Tata Elxsi, said, “The inauguration of Suzuki-Tata Elxsi Offshore Development Center marks a significant milestone in our partnership with Suzuki and our shared vision for the future of mobility. Tata Elxsi’s design-led, digital-first approach is uniquely positioned to support Suzuki’s energy minimisation and sustainability goals, advancing the future of automotive engineering with precision and responsibility. We are delighted to support Suzuki in this journey towards transformative automotive engineering.”

MathWorks, a leading developer of mathematical computing software, and NXP Semiconductors, a leading provider of automotive processing technology have joined forces to introduce Model-Based Design Toolbox (MBDT) for Battery Management Systems (BMS).

With this, engineers will be able to not only develop models but also validate BMS applications on MATLAB and Simulink. They will also be bale to automate C code generation from MATLAB for NXP Battery Cell controllers, and also support NXP’s software solution, the BMS SDK components. 

For the unversed, BMS is one of the crucial technology for electric vehicles that ensures optimal performance, durability and safety for the battery packs. The BMS design process the partners state increasingly relies on modelling and simulation to fine-tune algorithms tailored to EVs' specific battery cell types and battery pack configuration. 

The Model-Based Design provides efficient design of the BMS algorithms, which allows it to be tested in simulation for different scenarios, such as driving habits, environmental conditions, and fault occurrences. 

Lars Reger, CTO, NXP Semiconductors, said, "We’re excited to collaborate with MathWorks to support automotive engineers in developing the next generation of BMS solutions. Simplifying direct testing with MBDT on NXP processors offers a broad range of benefits, including faster design iterations that allow engineers to identify and fix issues upfront in the design process and reduce time to market.” 

The MDBT acts as a bridge between theoretical design and practical application.

Jim Tung, MathWorks Fellow, said, "By enabling engineers to go directly from creating BMS algorithms in Simulink to running them on an NXP processor, we're simplifying and accelerating the development process. The growth of the EV market demands more efficient, reliable, and safer battery systems, and tools like MBDT that streamline and enhance the engineering process will be critical. Reducing development times, facilitating easier testing, and accelerating market entry will be differentiators in this competitive market.”

Mushin Innovation Labs, a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) start-up providing digital solution for the automotive manufacturing industry, has raised USD 250,000 in Seed Series Round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The startup through its Mushin Aqua platform supports Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers to optimise their compliance and improve quality management. This it claims helps to reduce upto 85 percent cost reduction.

The new funds it intends to deploy towards improving sales and marketing operations, accelerate its R&D efforts, and further innovate its product suite. It also aims to expand its market presence, enhance product offerings, and develop new solutions to meet the ever-evolving needs of the automotive manufacturing sector.

Interestingly, Mushin Innovation Labs claims it already secured partnership with 15 leading automotive brands and has onboarded 70 factories within two years. It has successfully passed the Maruti Vendor System Audit (VSA) and obtained Letters of Intent (LOIs) from 15 factories. It currently has 14 active deployments and a pipeline of 52 factories. The start-up claims it has received interest from global OEMs such as Volkswagen, Skoda, Volvo, JCB, and Aston Martin. The start-up was founded by Rachit Srivastava (CEO) and Amman Batra (COO).

The company estimates that the total addressable market (TAM) for Mushin Aqua, is estimated at INR 7,000 billion annually. The serviceable available market (SAM), specifically targeting Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers in India, is valued at INR 450 billion. Based on the company's current capabilities and market focus, the serviceable obtainable market (SOM) stands at INR 45 billion annually.

Vikram Ramasubramaniam, Partner and CIO, Inflection Point Ventures, said, “The automotive manufacturing industry has stringent compliance standards to follow while minimising costs and maintaining top-notch quality. Many Tier 1 and Tier 2 manufacturers struggle to meet these demands efficiently due to fragmented processes and outdated systems. Mushin Innovation Labs addresses this challenge and streamlines compliance and enhances quality management in an accessible price range, making lives easier for tier 1 and 2 manufacturers. IPV believes Mushin is well-positioned for sustainable growth, making it a right investment choice.”

Schaeffler India, a leading motion technology company, in partnership with Buddy4Study Foundation, has announced the winners of its 2024 edition of the Schaeffler India Social Innovator Fellowship Program.

The initiative under Schaeffler India’s CSR initiative HOPE (Healthcare, Occupational skill development, Preservation of Heritage & Environment and Empowerment of Society) in its third edition recognises and rewards social entrepreneurs for their unique sustainable solutions that has positive impact to the society.

The programme is open to applicants between the ages of 18 – 35 across different institutions including IITs, IIMs, NITs, non-profit organisations, and early-stage startups, to pitch their ideas and prototype solution across six key categories. These include environmental sustainability, renewable energy, carbon neutrality, circular economy, natural resource management, and application of technology in the social sector.

The participants undergo rigorous screening, of which 10 projects are shortlisted and receive a grant of INR 150,000 each. The winners were awarded 24-week hybrid mentorship at IIMA Ventures formerly (IIMA-CIIE), a startup incubator founded by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. They also get an opportunity to connect with Schaeffler India's network of industry partners, and fellow innovators in the program.

The initiative which started in July 2024, has received over 276 registrations from over 25 states, including the Northeast, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, and more, with 78 shortlisted applicants for assessment.

Harsha Kadam, MD and CEO, Schaeffler India, said, “At Schaeffler India, we are dedicated to advancing motion to foster a sustainable, efficient, and resilient world. The remarkable response to this year’s Social Innovator Fellowship Program highlights the potential of India’s youth to be agents of transformative change. Sustainability and innovation are inherently linked, and through this initiative, we are committed to nurturing young innovators who will help shape the future of India, where both people and the planet can thrive.”

The award ceremony saw attended by Munish Bhatia, Co-Founder, India Accelerator & CEO, Bharat Ventures, and Praveen Bhadada, CXO Advisor and Mentor, along with the Leadership Team of Schaeffler India.

HERE Technologies, the leading location data and technology platform, has revealed in its latest survey titled ‘Safer cars, safer roads’ that the concern over road safety is increasing in India, leading to a growing demand for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). The survey was conducted in September 2024 with an aim to gather comprehensive insights into road users' perceptions and experiences regarding road safety and determine the standing of ADAS in India.

According to the survey, which involved a representative sample of 1,300 road users across India, safety remains the primary reason for ADAS adoption, influencing 78 of respondents, while technological reliability (58 percent) and ease of use (56 percent) are the other factors at play. The survey also reveals widespread acceptance of automated driving technologies in India, with 87 percent of the respondents voting in favour of ADAS to enhance road safety and 79 percent putting trust in these technologies as far as making safe decisions on the road is concerned. Government involvement was also praised by the respondents, with 87 percent wanting the government to consider ADAS as a point when drafting road safety standards.

The survey further highlights that 91 percent of respondents believe ADAS is crucial for enhancing both road and driver safety but also points out that nearly half of the respondents (49 percent) currently do not have ADAS-equipped vehicles. The positive part is that 82 percent of respondents indicated their willingness to purchase ADAS-equipped vehicles.

According to the survey, 54 percent of the respondents have been involved in a road traffic accident in the past two years. Alarmingly, out of the 91 percent of respondents who drive two-wheelers, 80 percent reported feeling unsafe on India’s roads. Further, 49 percent of respondents felt Indian roads to be relatively safe, whereas 98 percent acknowledged the risk of accidents, signalling a huge contrast between the perception and reality of road safety concerns. The top three causes of accidents are reckless driving, poor road conditions and distracted driving, according to the survey.

Abhijit Sengupta, Senior Director & Head of Business for Southeast Asia and India, HERE Technologies, said, “Our survey highlights growing road safety concerns in India at a critical time when both automakers and policymakers are recognising the urgency of enhancing road infrastructure and technology to improve safety standards. Government initiatives aimed at boosting road safety, alongside the need to support the efficient movement of goods on the logistics front, have made this a crucial time for change. While there is an overwhelming desire for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for safer driving, many road users are still not driving ADAS-equipped vehicles, revealing a significant gap between awareness and adoption. HERE Technologies is committed to bridge this gap with location intelligence, including real-time traffic, alternative route features and more, to tackle challenges like wrong-side driving and traffic congestion for both everyday drivers and commercial transporters. Our efforts align with government initiatives and aim to shape effective safety standards in partnership with policymakers and automotive OEMs.”