Uber, one of India’s leading ridesharing platform has announced a strategic tech integration with Shadowfax, one of the largest two-wheeler logistics fleet and a leading provider of express parcel delivery services and value-added solutions to drive growth of its two wheeler category Uber Moto, across the country.

This industry-first partnership will strengthen Shadowfax's position as the most diversified Third Party Logistics (3PL) provider, with over 200,000 active two-wheelers now powering Uber Moto as well. By integrating Shadowfax’s fleet, Uber aims to expand its supply pool of drivers and service coverage while improving reliability for riders seeking fast and affordable bike-sharing options for their commute.

The partnership will also enable Uber to launch Uber Moto operations in many new towns where it doesn’t yet operate by leveraging the supply pool of drivers working with Shadowfax that operates in over 2,500 cities and 18,000 pincodes across India.

Arnab Kumar, Director, Business Development, Uber India and South Asia said, “The integration with Shadowfax is yet another example of business model innovation that will push the boundaries further and faster to lead bike taxi growth in India. Creating a win-win strategy for all - this partnership with a third-party logistics provider will materially unlock the supply of two wheelers on Uber while creating additional earning opportunities for drivers on the Shadowfax platform. This integration is in line with our ambition to truly become the operating system for multiple form factors and we are incredibly excited about the potential of this partnership for Uber Moto’s growth.”

Praharsh Chandra, Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder, Shadowfax shared, "At Shadowfax, we are committed to driving innovation and adding value for our drivers and delivery partners. Through this unique integration, we are set to become the most diversified 3PL player in India, offering the first app where all forms of earning opportunities are available. Our 'One app, all opportunities' platform will empower our partners to tap into new streams of income, whether through last-mile deliveries or mobility solutions like UberMoto. This collaboration represents a pivotal step in transforming both the urban logistics and mobility ecosystems, further cementing our leadership in last-mile services across the country."

The use of 3P Tech integration is a first for Uber in India - the same technology has been used to integrate with the iconic yellow cabs in New York. Shadowfax has integrated with Uber’s third party (3P) application programming interfaces (APIs) which will result in routing Uber trips to the Shadowfax driver app at the backend, while the booking interface for riders will continue to be that of the Uber app.

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German luxury carbrand Audi has officially launched AirConsole's interactive gaming platform in select vehicles, marking a significant step forward in the evolution of in-car entertainment. This integration brings a suite of social games, playable using smartphones as controllers, directly to Audi's infotainment system, aiming to enhance the travel experience for non-driving passengers.

The games were previously limited to parked vehicles, but now in-car gaming in select Audi models can now be enjoyed while the car is in motion, specifically by the front passenger in vehicles equipped with a passenger display. This is made possible through Audi's Active Privacy Mode, a unique digital curtain that prevents the driver from being distracted by the screen.

Anthony Cliquot, CEO at N-Dream, the makers of AirConsole, said, “This is a game-changer for in-car entertainment. With Audi, we’re redefining what’s possible inside a vehicle – bringing gaming into motion and making every journey more social and fun. By enabling gameplay on the passenger screen in a way that prioritises safety – by not distracting the driver – we’re taking a bold yet responsible step toward a future where cars are not just modes of transport, but platforms for shared digital experiences.”

In a notable collaboration with Mattel, Audi and AirConsole are introducing Pictionary Car Party, an exclusive in-car edition of the popular quickdraw game. This launch coincides with Pictionary's 40th anniversary and allows up to four players to connect via their personal devices, transforming road trips into interactive gaming sessions.

Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development, Digital Gaming at Mattel, said, “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with AirConsole and work with the team at Audi to bring Pictionary Car Party! to Audi’s infotainment systems. This collaboration is a game-changer, letting non-driving passengers join in on fun, interactive play using their smartphones. Most importantly, the front passenger can safely control the game without distracting the driver, ensuring that entertainment and safety go hand-in-hand. This is the future of social gaming on the move, making every journey more enjoyable.”

Beyond Pictionary Car Party, the AirConsole platform offers an initial selection of 13 additional games spanning various genres, including racing, sports, trivia and party games. Notable titles include Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? from Sony Pictures Television, Overcooked from Team17, and UNO Car Party! from Mattel. Audi passengers can anticipate frequent updates and new content, ensuring an ever-expanding library of interactive entertainment.

Accessing AirConsole is designed to be straightforward. Users can download the AirConsole app directly through the Audi Application Store, which hosts apps specifically optimised for in-vehicle use. Passengers simply scan a QR code displayed on the vehicle’s screen with their smartphone to instantly connect and use their device as a game controller.

The AirConsole gaming platform is now available in the Audi A5, Q5, A6, A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron model series equipped with Android-based infotainment systems, across all markets where Audi operates.

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German technology major Bosch has outlined its ambition to further continue investments towards development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). During the recently held Bosch Tech Day, the company announced that by end-2027 it will invest over EUR 2.5 billion towards AI alone.

In the last five years, the company has filed over 1,500 patent applications in the field of AI, making it a leading innovator globally. The company shared that despite slower-than-anticipated momentum of AI in both assisted and automated driving, it foresees huge potential in the long run.

Going forward, it expects the demand for software, sensor technology, high-performance computers and network components will more than double by mid-2030. This it estimates will account for around EUR 10 billion in sales revenue.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman, Bosch Board of Management, said, “The breakthroughs in AI make it possible to open up completely new chapters in technology, accelerate the development of innovations, and turn these into business.”

In the automotive industry, Bosch has developed expertise in automated driving, for example for visualising the vehicle’s surroundings and route planning. Thanks to AI, the vehicle thinks ahead, anticipates how other road users will behave, and calculates the next steps to get to its destination safely. AI not only ensures greater safety in vehicles, however; it also helps significantly shorten development times for new products. For example, Bosch can draw on a unique database of vehicle sensor data to feed a generative AI solution – and thus train systems much faster and more efficiently. This could pave the way for even more reliable driving assistants and automated driving functions in the future.

The company also expects AI for making manufacturing more streamlined and smart, not only for Bosch factories, but also for its clienteles.

Furthermore, the German technology major is also getting its associates on board. The company through its in-house AI Academy has trained over 65,000 associates since 2019. Nearly 5,000 AI specialists are working on intelligent AI solutions.

“One thing is becoming increasingly clear: a society without AI capabilities will fall behind in global competition,” said Hartung.

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Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has inked a strategic partnership with Zoho Corporation to upgrade its customer experience and dealer management systems.

This initiative is part of Force Motors’ Project DigiForce, a digital transformation program that leverages technologies across the value chain to drive innovation, improve productivity and enhance customer satisfaction.

The auto major will deploy Zoho’s Advanced Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Dealer Management System (DMS), along with a suite of 12 AI-powered front-office applications across its network. This integrated, cloud-based solution will replace legacy systems, bringing in cutting-edge capabilities to modernise marketing, sales, service, customer engagement and internal collaboration.

The solution will streamline dealer operations and create a unified platform for teams, dealers and customers.

At present, Force Motors operates a network of over 200 dealerships, 70 authorised service centres and 30 parts centres across India, supported by international distributors in more than 40 countries.

Prasan Firodia, Managing Director, Force Motors, said, “Through Project DigiForce and our partnership with Zoho, we are aiming for a significant transformation in the way we deliver customer experience. The technology solutions from Zoho will also enhance the capabilities of our dealers and distribution partners in India as well as in our global markets. Our collaboration with Zoho, a global technology leader rooted in India, aligns perfectly with Force Motors’ commitment to advocate innovation and technology development in India.”

Mani Vembu, CEO, Zoho, said, “Force Motors has long been a symbol of indigenous engineering excellence, backed by a strong nationwide dealer network and a growing global footprint. With Project DigiForce, they are complementing that legacy with a forward-looking digital vision to transform customer engagement across the entire lifecycle – from discovery and purchase to service, support and ownership. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to reimagining customer experience as a strategic driver of growth. Together, we are building a connected ecosystem where technology simplifies operations, strengthens collaboration and delivers contextual, intelligent engagement at every touchpoint."

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German embedded and connected software platform Elektrobit has inked a joint development agreement (JDA) with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), one of the world’s largest electronics manufacturers, to jointly develop EV.OS – a flexible and AI-centric software platform designed to support the rapid transformation towards software-defined electric vehicles.

The partners aim to create a smart EV platform, including hardware and software, to develop industry-first scaling supply chain innovations.

They aim to market smart automotive platform solutions that reduce complexity, total cost of ownership, scale production and accelerate the commoditisation of the mobility industry for the benefit of the consumer. The smart EV platform will include a reference E/E architecture (EV.EEA), a non-differentiating EV operating system and an EV application.

Once ready, EV.OS and EV.EEA will form the backbone of a future-ready SDV (Software Defined Vehicle) platform, enabled by Elektrobit’s software platform integration capabilities. It will support multiple high-performance and real-time ECUs and enable service-oriented architectures across all functional domains – including a semantic vehicle API for third-party applications. Development will be supported by an efficient CI/CT/CD toolchain and a Level 3 virtualised environment.

Maria Anhalt, CEO, Elektrobit, said, “Elektrobit has a unique value proposition in automotive embedded software development with regards to both, development of own software products, and integration and homologation of large-scale automotive series projects. Our collaboration with Foxconn is another milestone in the evolution of software-defined vehicles. By combining Elektrobit’s automotive software expertise with Foxconn’s manufacturing and hardware innovation, we are creating a scalable platform that reduces complexity, shortens development cycles and supports future mobility business models.”

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