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In an effort to boost its design and engineering capabilities, TVS Motor Company, a major manufacturer of two- and three-wheeled vehicles based in Chennai, has opened a new Global Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bologna, Italy.

As part of this new initiative, TVS has also acquired Engines Engineering S.p.A., an Italian company known for its expertise in high-performance motorcycle design, advanced prototyping, and MotoGP racing.

The new centre will serve as a hub for innovation, bringing together TVS Motor's global research and development (R&D) teams with Engines Engineering's specialists. This collaboration aims to speed up the development of new products, create unique designs and strengthen TVS Motor’s technological leadership.

The CoE will also help enhance the capabilities of Norton Motorcycles, a British brand owned by TVS Motor Co. The goal is to support Norton’s mission to produce modern, high-end motorcycles with top-tier performance and design. 

Sudarshan Venu, Chairman, TVS Motor Company, said, “The establishment of the new Italian Global Centre of Excellence marks another milestone in strengthening our capabilities and accelerating our journey to reimagine mobility. By combining the creativity and racing expertise of Engines Engineering with our engineering and design strengths, we are expanding our ability to deliver premium, connected, and electric vehicles that set new global benchmarks. Importantly, this Centre of Excellence further augments Norton’s capabilities, enabling it to advance its craft of exceptional high-performance motorcycles that not only honour its iconic legacy but also elevate its future ambitions.”

The new centre will concentrate on three key areas to achieve its goals:

• Design and Engineering: The CoE will focus on using advanced tools for digital simulation and rapid prototyping. This will allow TVS to develop new vehicle platforms faster and set new standards for performance and reliability.
• Future Technology: The centre will accelerate the use of AI-driven design tools and advanced materials. The aim is to create vehicles that are more connected, sustainable, and intuitive for riders.
• Global Talent: The CoE will be a hub for attracting top-tier engineering and design talent. It will also foster a collaborative ecosystem by partnering with universities, startups, and suppliers to create innovative solutions.

This initiative is expected to help TVS Motor shorten its product development cycles and increase flexibility in design. It will also expand the company’s portfolio of premium vehicles, including high-performance motorcycles, advanced scooters and new electric platforms. This deeper engineering expertise will also benefit the British brand Norton Motorcycles, helping it strengthen its position as a modern luxury brand with a strong pipeline of new, high-performance bikes.

Mappls App, the flagship navigation service from MapmyIndia, has launched new features aimed at making driving in India safer, more efficient and more affordable. The company announced the release of AI-powered live traffic signal timers and NHAI annual toll pass savings, a first for any navigation app in India.

The new features were developed in collaboration with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the Bengaluru Traffic Police and Arcadis. The updates are currently live on the Mappls MapmyIndia iOS app and will be available for Android users soon.

The Mappls App now displays real-time traffic signal countdowns in Bengaluru, a feature developed in partnership with the city’s traffic police. By integrating with more than 125 smart signals, the app can show drivers how much time is left on a green, yellow, or red light up to 500 meters in advance.

Rakesh Verma, Co-Founder, Managing Director, Group Chairman, MapmyIndia, said, “At MapmyIndia Mappls, our mission is to make navigation safer, smarter and more efficient for every Indian. In partnership with NHAI, Bengaluru Traffic Police and Arcadis, we are proud to introduce for the first time in India - NHAI Annual Toll Pass Savings, Toll Road Distance travelled and AI-powered live traffic signal timers Bengaluru (soon this will be offered for other cities) within the Mappls App. These innovations will not only help commuters save time, money and stress but also lay the foundation for a smarter mobility ecosystem in India.”

Karthik Reddy (IPS), Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru, said, "The integration of AI-powered Live Traffic Signal Timers in partnership with MapmyIndia and Arcadis is a major step forward in enhancing traffic management in Bengaluru. For the first time in India, commuters can now view real-time signal countdowns directly on the Mappls app, which will help them plan better, reduce uncertainty and improve road discipline. Our aim is to leverage cutting-edge technology to ease congestion, reduce wait times, and ensure smoother traffic flow across the city. This initiative is a part of our broader effort to make Bengaluru’s traffic systems smarter, safer, and more citizen-friendly. We are proud to collaborate with MapmyIndia on this pioneering project and look forward to scaling its impact for the benefit of millions of road users.”

A R Chitranshi, COO, IHMCL (the technological arm of NHAI), added, “As India’s road infrastructure continues to expand and modernise, the National Highways Authority of India is committed to leveraging technology to enhance the travel experience for all road users. Our collaboration with MapmyIndia Mappls to integrate NHAI Annual Toll Pass saving and Toll Road Distance Tracking into their navigation app aligns with our vision to make highway travel more efficient, transparent and cost-effective. These features empower commuters with real-time information on potential savings before starting a trip, supporting smarter travel decisions and contributing to smoother, safer journeys across our national highways. Any user who wishes to buy the pass thereafter can download Rajmargyatra mobile app.”

In collaboration with the NHAI, Mappls has also introduced new tools to help drivers save money on long-distance trips. The app now shows potential toll cost savings available with the NHAI Annual Toll Pass directly on the route planning screen.

Additionally, the app now tracks and displays the total distance travelled on any toll road, providing users with greater transparency and helping them budget for their journeys.

American coating major PPG has announced that it will feature its total system solutions for electric vehicle (EV) battery packs at The Battery Show North America, scheduled from 6th October to 9th October at the Huntington Place convention centre in Detroit.

The company is set to showcase its total system solutions for EVs, which it shared will drive innovation, enhance performance and mitigate thermal runaway while increasing manufacturing efficiency through automated application processes.

It will present its core technologies, including pretreatment and e-coat for corrosion protection, alongside specialised solutions for thermal management, dielectric isolation and battery fire protection (BFP). The featured platforms include PPG CORATHERM TCA-4000 and PPG CORABOND SA 6000 coatings, which offer customisable debonding capabilities to support battery recycling efforts.

Furthermore, PPG RAYCRON Dielectric UV and PPG ENVIROCRON Dielectric Powder coatings; PPG Envirocron PCM 50120 flame retardant powder coating and PPG CORAGUARD SE 5300 anti-blast fire protection coating will represent the latest advancements in EV battery pack safety and protection.

PPG will also showcase its dielectric repair solution, designed for rapid defect correction, and its mica-free BFP coating, which combines thermal shielding and blast resistance with efficient application. 

David Fetterman, Market Director – electrification, adhesives and sealants, Automotive OEM Coatings, PPG Global, said, “PPG is proud to bring forward technologies that not only protect but also empower the next generation of EVs. Our presence at The Battery Show North America reflects our commitment to help OEMs and suppliers meet evolving performance and sustainability goals through smart, scalable coatings solutions.”

Amphenol Communications Solutions (ACS), a division of Amphenol Corporation, highlighted its latest interconnect technologies at Electronica 2025 in Bengaluru. The company showcased a wide range of products designed to deliver safe, efficient and high-performance connectivity for industrial, automotive and commercial uses.

At the expo, ACS presented its portfolio of connectors and cable assemblies engineered for demanding operational environments. The company demonstrated how its innovations are used in next-generation applications, from industrial equipment and automotive systems to data centres and commercial electronics.

A key highlight was the ACS Demo Car and a live Battery Swapping Station, which provided real-world examples of how ACS’s solutions enable emerging technologies. The company’s showcased products included:

• DuraSwap Concentric Connectors for safe and fast battery swapping
• LEV Charging Connectors for more efficient EV charging
• DDR5/LPDDR5/CAMM2 Connectors for high-performance memory modules
• PCIe Gen 7 Mini Cool Edge I/O for high-speed data transfer
• M-CRPS 54V Connectors for cloud infrastructure and hyperscale servers
• CoolPower HD Connectors for robust power delivery

Suraj Shah, Sales Director (India) of Amphenol Communications Solutions, said, “Electronica 2025 was an excellent opportunity to connect with industry professionals and demonstrate how our interconnect solutions enhance performance and reliability across a wide range of applications. We continue to focus on delivering technologies that enable safer, more efficient and future-ready systems.”

Synopsys Inc., a global leader in engineering solutions, has commemorated three decades of operations in India with the opening of a new research and development facility in Bengaluru.

The new office, located at Bagmane Capital, spans over 455,000 square feet and will serve as a hub for advanced R&D in electronic design automation (EDA), semiconductor intellectual property (IP), verification and system design solutions. This expansion aims to help global and regional customers bring next-generation technologies to market more efficiently.

Sassine Ghazi, President and CEO, Synopsys and Dr. Aart de Geus, Executive Chair And Founder, Synopsys, attended the inauguration. The company's presence in India now includes seven cities, a network that has recently expanded to include offices from the newly acquired simulation and analysis leader, Ansys.

Ghazi “India has been a key part of the Synopsys story for 30 years. From our very first R&D centre in Bengaluru, to the blooming network of engineers and partners that we have here now, India is an important centre of innovation and talent. As India is building its semiconductor future, Synopsys can provide the holistic, silicon-to-systems design solutions that technology R&D teams need to realise their innovations.”

Synopsys began its India operations in 1995 with an R&D centre in Bengaluru, followed by a field organisation in 1997. Today, approximately one-third of the company's global workforce is based in India, with the majority in engineering roles. These teams are at the forefront of tackling some of the industry's most complex problems, from facilitating semiconductor manufacturing to leading advancements in automotive, AI and next-generation computing.

The company collaborates with more than 100 leading organisations, including market-leading semiconductor design centres, AI startups, and regional design and manufacturing firms.

The 30-year milestone in India follows the recent completion of Synopsys’ acquisition of Ansys in July 2025. This strategic move unites leaders in silicon design, IP, simulation, and analysis, expanding Synopsys’ total addressable market to USD 31 billion. The integration is expected to accelerate the company’s strategy to deliver advanced engineering solutions for the AI era by combining multiphysics simulation with the full EDA stack.

With Ansys' predictive simulation capabilities now part of Synopsys, engineers across industries – including semiconductors, automotive, aerospace, industrial and healthcare – can innovate faster, reduce time-to-market and improve real-world product performance.