Honda, Nissan to Merge by 2026 in Biggest Reshape in Global Auto Industry

Honda and Nissan have announced plans to merge by 2026, aiming to create the world's third-largest automaker by sales volume, trailing only Toyota and Volkswagen. This merger is driven by the need to compete with rising Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers and to address the challenges of electrification and autonomous driving.

The combined entity is expected to achieve sales of 30 trillion yen ($191 billion) and operating profits exceeding 3 trillion yen. The merger will also involve integrating their manufacturing plants and energy service facilities to improve efficiency and reduce costs

Mitsubishi Motors, in which Nissan holds a majority stake, is also considering joining the merger, which could further boost the combined group's global sales.

This merger represents a major shift in the global auto industry and highlights the importance of collaboration to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving market.

Toshihiro Mibe, Honda CEO, "We have to build up capabilities to fight with them by 2030, otherwise we’ll be beaten."

Makoto Uchida, Nissan CEO, "Together, we can create a unique way for them to enjoy cars that neither company could achieve alone.

Sam Abuelsamid, Auto Industry Analyst, "Some brands that have been around for a long time may well not be part of the landscape five or ten years from now just because they don’t have enough scale to compete against either the big Western players or the Chinese companies."

The merger is seen as a strategic move to address the challenges posed by Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers and to pool resources for better competitiveness in the evolving market.

Accenture Launches Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) Training Academy for Enterprises

Accenture has launched the LearnVantage Academy to support innovation in software-defined vehicles (SDVs). This academy aims to equip enterprises in the automotive sector with specialized skills for the emerging digital mobility market, which is projected to reach $3.5 trillion by 2040.

Key features of the LearnVantage Academy include:

Instructor-Led Training: An immersive eight-week program combining online and offline learning.

Modular Program Structure: Over 40 modules covering the entire SDV landscape, from hardware to software.

Applied Learning: Hands-on assignments and tech-stack research projects to ensure practical experience.

Industry standards like AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture (AUTOSAR) and Functional Safety are part of the training, ensuring participants gain practical skills and knowledge. Al-enabled, hyper- personalized learning paths further enhance the tailored learning experience.

This initiative is designed to help automotive companies stay competitive by providing their workforce with cutting-edge technological skills.

Developing software-defined vehicles (SDVs) presents several key challenges. SDVs require advanced software and hardware integration, which can be difficult to achieve.

Training automobile companies in software-defined vehicles (SDVs) is crucial for the industry’s transition to digital mobility. There is a need for specialized skills in software development, data analysis, and cybersecurity. Training and upskilling the workforce is essential. These challenges highlight the need for collaboration across the automotive and tech industries to drive innovation and overcome these hurdles.

Notably, Digital.auto’s offers SDV 101 Course, which is a free digital course that offers an introduction to SDVs, with modules accessible on-demand. It explains the concept and provides foundational knowledge.

Similarily, NXP Semiconductors' SDV Academy also provides insights into the transformation from hardware-centric to software-defined vehicles, showcasing solutions that simplify SDV development. 

GM, Magna, and Wipro Join Hands To Develop B2B Automotive Software Marketplace ‘SDVerse’

General Motors (GM), Magna, and Wipro teamed up to develop a B2B sales platform for buying and selling automotive software

• SDVerse serves as a ‘matchmaking’ platform between buyers and sellers of embedded automotive software
• Focuses on matching automotive software buyers and sellers, over captive software development
• The digital platform increases transparency and reduces inefficiencies in software development and procurement
• Ampere*, FEV, Forvia, HL Mando, NXP Semiconductors, TTTech Auto, and Valeo lead a “Launch Partner” group supporting SDVerse
• Prashant Gulati has been named CEO of the new SDVerse organization effective March 5th, 2024

General Motors (GM), global automotive supplier Magna, and leading technology services and consulting company Wipro Limited, have teamed up to develop a B2B sales platform for buying and selling automotive software. The platform, called SDVerse, aims to revolutionize the automotive software sourcing and procurement process by providing a matchmaking platform for buyers and sellers of embedded automotive software.

Unlike the traditional captive software development approach, SDVerse focuses on connecting automotive software buyers and sellers through a transparent and efficient digital platform. Sellers can list their software’s features and attributes, while buyers can easily search and explore the available software products through a comprehensive catalogue.

Sales and purchases can be connected directly through the platform, offering a seamless experience for all participants. SDVerse is currently in development and expected to feature hundreds of automotive software products, and participants from across the automotive value chain are invited to join. In addition to the founding members, an exclusive “Launch Partner” group is already in place led by Ampere*, FEV, Forvia, HL Mando, NXP Semiconductors, TTTech Auto, and Valeo.

Prashant Gulati has been named CEO of SDVerse effective March 5th, 2024. Prashant has more than two decades of experience launching and leading automotive organizations and is a thought leader in software technology, maximizing the potential of emerging technologies, such as AI, in the automotive industry.

“The market for automotive software is expected to nearly double this decade, potentially outpacing the growth of software development talent pools,” said Harmeet Chauhan, Global Head Wipro Engineering Edge, Wipro Limited. “The current paradigm for software sourcing will likely not be able to overcome this growing gap without sacrificing both profitability and the auto industry’s aspirations for software defined vehicles. SDVerse addresses these pain points, offering a wide range of benefits across the industry.”

“Automotive grade software development is rapidly transforming, and we all need to ask ourselves how we get customers really unique differentiating features faster. Part of that is identifying the common underlying code that can be shared in the name of higher quality and lower costs for our end customers,” said Dan Nicholson, Vice President, Strategic Technology Initiatives, General Motors. “This first-ever software marketplace creates an independent, industry-driven one-stop-shop for embedded systems software, significantly expanding access to new innovations, helping to drive down cost, and allowing companies like GM to implement critical software more quickly.”

‪Potential key subscriber benefits of SDVerse include:‬‬‬

• Reduced cost, time, and complexity, by eliminating duplication of efforts, enabling reuse of already-developed software, and allowing higher economies of scale by bundling software orders through multiple clients.
• Higher quality of software, which has already undergone increased cycles of testing and validation. Additionally, the free-market approach improves customer vehicle quality through competition.
• Improved resource allocation, which allows OEMs and suppliers to deploy engineering resources to innovate in areas that improve and differentiate driver and passenger experiences, and minimize time spent ‘reinventing the wheel’.
• Improved revenue for sellers, through an expanded client base and opportunities to monetize existing IP.
• New approach to software sourcing, allowing companies to source software separately from hardware, and to create an attractive alternative to OEM insourcing of software development.

“Magna’s participation in SDVerse is driven by our ongoing commitment to foster collaboration and drive the automotive industry forward," said Joerg Grotendorst, Senior Vice President, Corporate R&D at Magna. "By embracing this innovative platform, we aim to create a more interconnected ecosystem that encourages OEMs, suppliers, and specialty software developers to collaborate and co-create cutting-edge solutions. SDVerse represents a transformative opportunity to revolutionize software development, sales, and sourcing processes, ultimately accelerating the industry's transition to the software-defined vehicle."

GM, Magna, and Wipro collectively designed and developed SDVerse, which will be governed collaboratively by the founding members. Global strategy consultant Roland Berger has served as the project’s strategic advisor since the program’s inception.

Konstantin Shirokinskiy, Partner, Roland Berger added, “SDVerse offers a blueprint for OEMs and suppliers to address their embedded software needs more efficiently. It frees up scarce software engineering resources required to roll out new differentiated software features, reorganizes development timelines to more quickly develop better SW-enabled vehicles, and ensures software is valued properly. Companies can streamline their operations, becoming more focused, efficient, and profitable.”

On Thursday, April 4th, leaders from GM, Magna and Wipro will participate in a livestream panel discussion to provide further depth and insights into SDVerse. To register and to learn more about SDVerse, visit SDVerse.auto.

*Ampere is the EV and Software pure player of Renault Group.

Tata Elxsi Unveils New Global Design and Engineering Center in Pune for Tech Transformation of Automotive OEMs

Tata Elxsi, amongst the world’s leading design and technology service providers, strategically expands its presence in Pune with the inauguration of a new Global Design and Engineering center in Sukhwani Business Hub, Chinchwad.

The new center is specifically tailored to cater to the technology and digital transformation priorities of key automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. It will house over 1000 engineers, designers and technology specialists, and advanced labs to spearhead collaborative initiatives in engineering R&D across Software Defined Vehicles, Connected Services, Autonomous Technologies, Electrification, Mechatronics, and Design.

The launch of the new center was attended by Tata Elxsi’s key automotive customers and senior leaders. The center was inaugurated by Mr. Rajendra Petkar, President and CTO of Tata Motors.

Commenting on this occasion, Mr. Rajendra Petkar, President and CTO, Tata Motors said, “I congratulate Tata Elxsi for this new Design and Engineering Center launch at Sukhwani Business Hub, Pune. Tata Elxsi has been a strategic partner for Tata Motors for over two decades. We have collaborated with them across multiple programs spanning Connected Vehicles, Digital, AUTOSAR, ADAS, Electrification, Mechanical Design, and Engineering amongst others. This new center positions Tata Elxsi in proximity to our facility in Pune, fostering high levels of collaboration on upcoming technologies in the automotive sector.”

Manoj Raghavan, MD and CEO, Tata Elxsi said, “Pune has always been a key talent hub for automotive technologies and manufacturing. The center further diversifies and deepens our talent base to support the growth of our automotive business and underscores our commitment to the automotive sector and our key customers in propelling the technology transformation in software, design, and digital.”

Earlier in October last year, Tata Motors unveiled two state-of-the-art & new-age R&D facilities for meeting its mission of offering sustainable mobility solutions. The auto major also announced that it will indigenously develop Hydrogen-fuelled, zero-emission propulsion systems at its R&D centre in Pune. 

About Tata Elxsi:

Tata Elxsi is among the world’s leading design and technology services providers across industries, including Automotive, Broadcast, Communications, Healthcare, and Transportation.

We are helping customers reimagine their products and services through design thinking and applying digital technologies such as IoT (Internet of Things), Cloud, Mobility, Virtual Reality, and Artificial Intelligence. For more information, visit www.tataelxsi.com.

Tata Motors’ SUVs Become the First Recipients of Bharat-NCAP’s 5-Star Rating

Tata Motors’ new Harrier and Safari have become the first recipients of BNCAP’s 5-star rating from India.

Tata Motors has announced that its iconic, flagship SUVs — the new Safari and the trendsetting, premium SUV the Harrier —have become the first recipients of the 5-star rating (adult occupant protection and child occupant protection), as per the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat-NCAP), India’s very own and independent safety performance evaluation protocol.

Announcing this distinctive achievement, Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, said, “Bharat-NCAP is India’s independent, atmanirbhar voice on vehicle safety. It is benchmarked to the best-in-class global standards and the Bharat-NCAP vehicle rating system is designed to advance road safety and vehicle safety standards beyond mandatory regulations. I’m delighted that the first ever vehicles being certified today with the highest achievable 5-star rating, are both from Tata Motors. I congratulate them on award of this coveted certification with the highest possible ratings and for continuing to enrich their legacy of introducing the safest vehicles on Indian roads.”

Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari handing over the BNCAP Certification to Mr. Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., in the presence of Tata Motors officials.

Receiving the coveted certification, Mr. Shailesh Chandra, MD, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Ltd and Tata Passenger Electric Mobility Ltd., said, “Bharat-NCAP is a significant step forward as it provides customers with a credible, objective score to evaluate the safety aspects of various vehicles. Informed customers taking optimal decisions will further foster the rising preference for safer vehicles in the country. We acknowledge and appreciate the collaborative efforts of the government, regulatory bodies, and the automotive industry in this pursuit. At Tata Motors, safety is at the \ core of our DNA and we are honoured to win this maiden Bharat-NCAP certification with an exemplary 5-star rating for two of our vehicles. We remain committed and will continue to work towards improving vehicle safety holistically.”

Prominent Safety Features in the new Safari & Harrier

• 7 airbags with 6 as standard across personas
• Electronic Stability Control as standard
• 3-point seatbelts in all rows
• Seat Belt Reminder for all passengers
• Isofix tethers
• Seatbelts with Retractor, Pretensioner, Load Limiter (RPLL) and anchor pretensioner
• Reinforced cabin structure enhanced to provide symmetric crash performance and side pole impact

Built on the OMEGARC architecture, derived from Land Rover’s renowned D8 Platform, the powerful and stylish Safari and Harrier SUVs also come with the highest 5-star GNCAP rating and are truly the safest vehicles on Indian roads.

Launched in August this year, Bharat-NCAP (Bharat New Car Assessment Program) is a new Car Assessment Program for India. It was introduced by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, in partnership with London-based Global NCAP. This indigenous star-rating system aims to evaluate the safety of vehicles in the event of a collision, empowering consumers to make informed decisions while purchasing cars.

Part of the USD 128 billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited (BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 42 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses, offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. 

Temasek to Invest in Mahindra’s EV Subsidiary At A Valuation of Up To Rs. 80,580 Cr / $9.8 billion

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., a leader in automotive, farm and services businesses, and Temasek, the Singapore-headquartered global investment firm, have executed a binding agreement for Temasek to invest Rs. 1200 crores into MEAL (Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited), the four-wheeler (4W) passenger electric vehicles company.

Temasek will invest Rs. 1200 crores in the form of Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (‘CCPS’) at a valuation of up to Rs. 80,580 crores, resulting in Temasek’s ownership of a 1.49% to 2.97% stake in MEAL.

Temasek will join British International Investments (BII) as an investor in MEAL. With this investment, Mahindra’s EV subsidiary’s valuation goes up by 15% from up to Rs. 70,070 crores to up to Rs. 80,580 crores. The breadth of global experience of these marquee investors will be valuable for MEAL. The amount invested is consistent with the Mahindra Group’s plan to minimize dilution.

Dr. Anish Shah, MD & CEO, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., said, “We are extremely delighted to have Temasek as a partner in our electric SUV journey. Globally known for their strong governance, Temasek’s investment is a step forward, as we execute our strategy towards future leadership in electric SUVs. The valuation of up to $9.8 billion is testimony to Mahindra’s EV business and the progress we have made in the journey towards scaling up the electric SUV portfolio.”

Mr. Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO, Auto & Farm Sectors, Mahindra & Mahindra, commented, “We demonstrated Mahindra’s ambition to build a desirable global brand with the reveal of our born EV portfolio based on the INGLO platform in August 2022 in UK, which is on track for execution. By having Temasek as an investor, we have strengthened our global strategic partnerships and are targeting 20% to 30% of Mahindra SUVs sales from electric vehicles by 2030.”

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality, and real estate. The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

Temasek is a global investment company with a net portfolio value of USD 287 billion (SGD 382 billion) as of 31 March 2023. 

Temasek’s Purpose “So Every Generation Prospers” guides it to make a difference for today’s and future generations.

As an active investor, forward looking institution and trusted steward, Temasek is committed to deliver sustainable value over the long term.

Temasek has overall corporate credit ratings of Aaa/AAA by rating agencies Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global Ratings respectively. 

Headquartered in Singapore, Temasek has 13 offices in 9 countries around the world: Beijing, Hanoi, Mumbai, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Singapore in Asia; and London, Brussels, Paris, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Mexico City outside Asia. 

Hyundai Motor and Kia Introduce AI-enabled and Blockchain-based Carbon Emission Monitoring System

Two major Korean multinational automobile manufacturers — Hyundai Motor and Kia Corporation — introduce an AI-enabled, blockchain-based Supplier CO2 Emission Monitoring System (SCEMS) to support their partner companies to efficiently handle global environmental regulations. It is to be noted that Hyundai Motor is the parent company of Kia Corporation and the later comes under the umbrella of Hyundai Motor Group. 

The system, SCEMS, calculates emissions across partners' supply chains, and since its on top of blockchain tech it promises transparency and data integrity. It's also expected to ease suppliers' workloads in data collection and management, enhancing accuracy in carbon emissions monitoring.

Leveraging Artifical Intelligence (AI) and blockchain, Hyundai and Kia aim to proactively meet environmental regulations and foster sustainable supply chains, responding to climate change issues.

The SCEMS is designed to record and manage carbon footprints at every stage of the manufacturing process, starting from the extraction of raw materials to the production and delivery of parts and vehicles. This comprehensive approach allows Hyundai and Kia to gain better control over their carbon reduction initiatives.

Both the companies have successfully verified the effectiveness of the high-performance blockchain technology and adopted it to accomplish their critical goal of promptly and securely collecting carbon emissions data.

Hyundai Motors and Kia would distribute the SCEMS free of charge to suppliers/partners that make up the automotive supply chain to support carbon emission reduction activities throughout the supply chain.

When partners input essential data that suits their circumstances into the SCEMS system, the artificial intelligence automatically provides information on carbon emissions and predicts what will occur in the future.

The system also expected to relieve suppliers from this time & cost consuming work and enable them to manage their carbon emissions with accuracy. With SCEMS, which is powered by AI and high-performance blockchain technology, business partners can efficiently monitor and manage the collected data and carbon emission status at their respective workplaces.

This year in February, Hyundai and Kia joined the Carbon Disclosure Project's (CDP) "CDP Supply Chain" program, conducting capacity-building training on carbon neutrality for partner companies facing challenges in their independent response.

CDP was established as the 'Carbon Disclosure Project' in 2000 as a non-profit organization, asking companies to disclose their climate impact. Over the time since its establishment, CDP has broadened the scope of environmental disclosure, to incorporate deforestation and water security, while also building its reach to support cities, states and regions.

Companies participating in the program submit data to CDP, including energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission status, carbon neutrality strategies, progress in goal setting and execution, and plans and achievements related to the renewable energy transition, and undergo evaluations.

India Produced 2.7 Crore Vehicles With Indian Auto Industry Valued at $108 Billion

The automobile industry produced value of Rs 8.7 lac crore (~$108 billion) in 2022-23.

India produced 2.7 crore vehicles and is #3 in passenger vehicles, #1 in 2 wheelers globally.

The passenger vehicle segment is Rs 5 Lac crore with over half of the value in mid and full size SUVs.

Primus Partners Pvt. Ltd. (Primus), a distinguished pioneer in the realm of management consulting services reported that the automobile industry registered an astounding employment figure of over 1.9 crore++ occupying paramount importance in the economy. Focused on policy perspective as well as business perspective, Primus Partners undertook the survey to assess the value being produced by the automobile industry.

The industry is being reshaped due to unprecedented changes brought about by electrification / alternative green power trains, rise of electronic components & software, autonomous driving & shared mobility. It is important to understand the value, where it lies and how it will change. Primus Partners has done a ground up study to arrive at the value of the Indian automobile industry and its segments.

While electrification has progressed well in 2 wheelers & 3 wheelers, it is still nascent compared to many countries. The Government as well as the Private sector are putting up massive investments & efforts to develop the value chain. A lot of factories are being constructed, and can expect to catch up very quickly with the leading countries.

Sharing the report titled India’s Automobile Industry is Valued at INR 8.7 Lac Crore, Anurag Singh, Managing Director, Primus Partners, said, “Our ground up study on Automobile industry value is leading to a lot of insights, for example the Indian market is bypassing the lower priced products & more value is being created at in feature rich higher priced vehicles. We believe that the value growth is happening faster than volume growth"

Key Insights emerging from the Report

• The value share of type of vehicles is quite different from the units share. The passenger vehicles accounted for the largest value share at 58% while 2 wheelers accounted for the largest volume share at 77%

	Units x 1000	Rs Cr	$b	Unit%	Value %
2W	20,511	1,81,000	23	77%	21%
3W	856	17,000	2	3%	2%
PV	4,391	5,04,000	63	16%	58%
CV	1,036	1,69,000	21	4%	19%
Total	26,793	8,72,000	109	100%	100%

• Passenger vehicles produced Rs 5 Lac crore value. The mid size and full size SUVs sub segments accounted for over half of the value. The compact sub segment is also important and created 25% of value. The luxury vehicles contributed to Rs 63,000 crore in value, or 13% of the segment. People are not preferring the cheaper ‘Mini’ cars and Sedans and they have low share in value. The key manufacturers in this segment are Maruti, Hyundai, Tata, Mahindra, Kia, Toyota, VW and Honda.

• India produced over 10 lac commercial vehicles ranging from a small 4-wheel carrier with less than 2-ton capacity to large tractor trailers and specialty vehicles like tippers. The commercial vehicles category generates over INR 1.7 lac crore and accounts for 4% of volume and 19% of value. The key manufacturers in this segment are TATA, Ashok Leyland, Eicher, and BharatBenz.
• India is #1 country for two-wheeler production, closely matched by China. Over 20 million two-wheelers were produced during 2022-23 accounting for 77% of the volume share. The overall segment accounted for INR 1.8 lac crore amounting to 21% of value. The key manufacturers in this segment are Hero Motocorp, Honda Scooters, Bajaj and TVS.

This report freshly covers the India Automobile industry from value creation perspective. It also compares to other studies and statements done on the subject. Primus Partners is one of the fastest growing Indian management consultancy firms.

JSW Group Chairman Sajjan Jindal Reportedly Acquiring 48% in China- based Subsidiary MG Motors India

Sajjan Jindal, chairman of JSW Group, is reportedly aiming to buy into MG Motor India, a wholly owned a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Chinese automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor which markets vehicles under the British MG marque, said a report by Economic Times citing people privy with knowledge of the matter.

Mr Jindal will acquire the stakes in MG Motor India, via one of his private company. Notably, JSW group's listed companies — JSW Steel and JSW Energy — will not have any exposure to the automobile venture, the report said.

Gurugram headquartered MG Motor India was setup in the year 2017 and began its sales and manufacturing operations in 2019 with a facility in Halol, Gujarat. In January this year, MG Motor India decided to raise capital for funding its expansion in the country by tapping into Indian capital markets and reducing shareholding of its Shanghai-based parent organization SAIC.

Citing multiple sources aware of ongoing discussions, the ET report further said that Jindal is likely to own 45- 48% of MG Motor India, with dealers and Indian employees owning 5-8%, while SAIC will hold the rest.

Furthermore, the ET report also cited a senior government official, saying that MG Motor India will "become an Indian entity, instead of a Chinese one, with an eventual India listing in the next few years," said a senior government official.

10 Tech-enabled Parking and Automotive Solutions Startups Transforming The Industry

The automotive industry is no stranger to innovation. Over the years, groundbreaking technologies have revolutionised the way we drive and interact with vehicles. As we embrace the rapid advancements of the 21st century, the auto industry finds itself on the cusp of another transformative era. From electrification to autonomous driving, the industry is undergoing a remarkable evolution.

In this list below, we will explore ten innovative startups that are poised to reshape the auto industry as we know it. These cutting-edge advancements not only promise to enhance Thier driving experiences but also revolutionise the way we perceive and engage with automobiles. Below are the list (alphabetically) of 10 startups & companies that are transforming the auto industry.

Aarshvi Security System

The long-term goal of Aarshvi Security Systems is to offer its customers solutions and services. The business has contracts to provide specialised automated fire alarm systems, parking solutions, and electronic security solutions. They have extensive experience in this field thanks to their powerful and skilled team, which collectively has more than 15 years of industry experience.

The company has the best-in-class products and team to offer end-to-end solutions to BFSI, NBFC, corporate, industries, and retail thanks to his leadership and vision to expand services across the board. Because of its specialised solutions, the business is well established in the market.

Automovill

Bangalore-based Automovill, which was established in 2016 in India's Silicon Valley, provides a one-stop shop for all automotive services. For its customers, Automovill has adopted a wholly innovative and disruptive strategy to foster trust and transparency. With a shorter TAT for service, it aims to lower the ownership cost of the vehicle. Automovill enables the best possible experience with its technology-driven and 360-degree approach by bringing transparency, fostering trust, and reducing information asymmetry.

With its AI-based engine system, it links car owners with the best mechanics and garages. One of the Indian after-sales service companies with the fastest growth is Automovill. With 40 years of combined experience in technology, the Internet, e-commerce, and FMCG, including 12 years in Silicon Valley, Automovill has a very strong and reputable founding team

Expert Parking Systems

With decades of knowledge and experience in the real estate sector, Expert Parking Systems recognised the need to provide cutting-edge car parking solutions and established Expert Parking Systems.

In today's world, where the population and number of cars are rapidly growing, conventional parking methods are no longer practical. In a few locations in India, they construct, set up, and maintain parking facilities. They focus on finding solutions. Government-owned, commercial, and residential properties all require thoughtfully designed parking structures.

The company collaborate closely with developers and architects to produce highly adaptable products that are specially created for each project. Before starting the actual manufacturing process, purchase managers, development teams, and their design engineers collaborate to plan the specifics. It's a joint undertaking. The end user is completely satisfied with what they have; their experts manufacture and install foolproof car parking systems.

Get My Parking

The award-winning startup Get My Parking (GMP) was established in 2015 and now employs over 150 people on five different continents. GMP offers white-label parking apps, an IoT GateKit that retrofits and automates any parking barrier, and a potent cloud platform that establishes centralised digital control over a network of parking lots. GMP provides operators with essential interoperable parking technology.

With Plug-N-Play API integrations, GMP is leading the way in a number of emerging trends, including EV charging, automated parking, shared mobility hubs, and more. Over 3000 parking lots in 20 countries have the GMP Platform installed, and it has handled over 100 million transactions to this point.

Park+

Park+ is building an eco-system for car owners that will be a one-stop solution for all their needs. From parking reservations to challan payments, FASTag recharges to RTO-related information, real-time fuel price information to the nearest PUC centre search, they have a lot to offer. They also offer smart parking automation solutions to corporations, apartments, malls, hospitals, and other commercial establishments.

When Park+ was first launched, the company wanted to cut down on the time travellers had to spend locating parking spaces at various locations across the country. As they got closer to their users, it became clear that they needed to expand their horizons to include other car-related needs like insurance renewal, FASTag-related issues, challan payment, etc. In keeping with the axiom that "change will always be the only constant," they have now extended their services to include everything car-related and have only adhered to one straightforward rule: simplifying the process of owning a car.

Park 360

Your everyday mobility and parking situations are far from ideal. They believe that the situation will only worsen as parking spots become scarcer and the number of vehicles rises. They work with smart cities, governments, corporations, commercial complexes (malls, hotels, etc.), residential communities, and essentially any other businesses or entities to understand and develop solutions that are specific to their use case. It also gives users a real-time view of the parking infrastructure and increases transparency and security throughout the entire parking management process. They carefully plan the best parking, revenue, and cost models for each circumstance using sophisticated data analytics and a data-driven methodology.

ParkMate

In order to offer customers and businesses smart, hyperlocal, and on-demand parking solutions, ParkMate, India's first intelligent app-based platform, was founded in 2021.

Customers who use ParkMate's instant Drop & Shop service receive real-time confirmation of their parking location. Users of ParkMate can track a vehicle's movement in real time while the drivers and attendants are OTP-verified and GPS-tagged. The customer only needs to click "Get my car" when they are in need of their car, and it will be delivered to them in a secure manner.

The company provides a range of products and services, such as the Kavach system for apartment buildings and car dealerships and the Trishool system for parking Management. The FASTag + ANPR + UniPay system is integrated into ParkMate's three-tier Trishool system, which uses HD cameras, an integrated controller, and its own proprietary software to automatically scan licence plates and permit or log vehicle entry. However, ParkMate assumes the risk when a car owner parks with them; the owner does not. The company's mission statement is "With ParkMate, you drive. We park."

Parking Rhino

The modern parking management company ParkingRhino serves both customers and businesses. Their B2C app is available to users looking for parking spaces for their vehicles. The startup's smart parking platform, which was introduced in 2016, is used in more than 50 locations. Using a single POS mobile app at the points of vehicle entry and exit, ParkingRhino's B2B parking management platform enables parking contractors and businesses to manage their parking.

ParkingRhino can digitise a parking space in less than 60 minutes thanks to its straightforward design and consideration for the parking operator. Using connectors provided by the platform, boom barriers, CCTVs, parking sensors, and other types of new or used parking equipment can all be integrated.

Advanced versions of Park Rhino's product features include demand-based forecasting, predictive analytics, dynamic pricing, and a single-pane view across multiple locations. Anyone can look for parking using the B2C mobile app from ParkingRhino, which also contains all parking-related information, such as hours of operation, parking capacity, the presence of valet services, a car wash facility, etc. The technology is driven by their patented Location Decider algorithm, which, given a destination location, selects the best parking based on a number of real-time factors.

Secure Parking

Previously, parking lots were treated like commodities, with little variation in their use between different locations. Due to their background in marketing, they see a chance to develop a novel and more useful strategy based on treating a parking lot like a retail space and then maximising a site's potential by coming up with a unique solution for its management and promotion.

The company's guiding principle has been to carefully strike a balance between earning a profit and offering the best possible customer service. Achieving this has been one of the main reasons Secure Parking has grown to become one of the world's largest operators of parking facilities. The approach to secure parking has always been businesslike. It is predicated on the notion that each parking lot should be handled as a retail establishment because no two parking lots have the same requirements. In order to maximise the revenue and asset potential of each parking lot, they have created a number of distinctive systems and operating strategies.

Valet EZ

A smart parking and mobility solutions company called ValetEZ creates methods for controlling parking spots and removing the inconvenience that city drivers deal with on a daily basis.

The parking platform of Valet EZ can be installed on parking lots of any size and gives parking lot users and owners a real-time view, enhancing the overall experience with a high level of efficiency and dependability. A real-time view of parking infrastructure, transparency and security in parking charges and service delivery, flexibility in managing and accessing parking spaces, and data analytics on parking utilisation are all advantages of using their platform for users, parking space owners, and cities.

Ashok Leyland launches e-Marketplace for Used Commercial Vehicles, Re-AL

Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, launched its e-marketplace, Re-AL for Used Commercial Vehicles.

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland (L) and Sanjeev Kumar, President-MHCV, Ashok Leyland

The marketplace will aid customers in exchanging Used Vehicles and upgrading them to new Ashok Leyland trucks and buses. By leveraging this digital platform, Ashok Leyland hopes to increase transparency in the otherwise disorganized used vehicle ecosystem.

The e-marketplace will offer customers with a range of features to easily find vehicles of their choice, such as verified vehicle images, validated documents as well as evaluation reports. Additionally, in a few simple clicks, sellers can list their vehicles for liquidation.

Commenting on this new digital initiative, Mr. Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland, said, “The Used Commercial Vehicle industry is ripe for disruption. Leveraging our digital platforms, there are many opportunities for us to provide customer centric solutions. This Used Vehicle e-marketplace solution marks a significant milestone in our digital transformation journey, and this will help us add significant value in the customer life cycle.”

Sharing his views on the Used Vehicle digital platform, Mr. Sanjeev Kumar, President – MHCV, Ashok Leyland, said, “The Used Vehicle business is a key focus area for us as it enables our customers to liquidate their vehicles with better resale value. We believe this e-marketplace will help in enhancing the overall customer experience in exchanging their old vehicles for brand new Ashok Leyland trucks and buses by bringing a level of ease, transparency into the process and thereby building trust.”

With its deep industry expertise, strong partnerships and customer-centric approach, Ashok Leyland is well-positioned in the digital transformation of the commercial vehicle industry. The e-marketplace is a testament to its commitment to innovation, excellence and customer success.

CARS24 Launches 1st Engineering R&D Centre in Bengaluru to Transform Pre-owned Car Market

CARS24, India's leading auto-tech company for pre-owned vehicles, has today taken a giant leap towards driving innovation and growth in the pre-owned vehicle market with the launch of its first Engineering Research and Development Center (R&D Center) in Bengaluru.

The centre will focus on developing cutting-edge solutions for used vehicle inspection, refurbishment, and reconditioning. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by a team of experts led by Mr. Marut Singh, Chief Technical Officer, and Anmol Singh, Vice President of Engineering, the centre will employ engineers and specialists from across the country. The AI-powered algorithms used by the centre will ensure accurate vehicle valuation, enabling CARS24 to raise the standard of the entire industry and maintain its market-leading position in customer satisfaction.

Located in the HSR Layout in Bengaluru, the R&D Center represents a significant milestone in CARS24's growth plans, as the company continues to revolutionise the pre-owned vehicle market across the country. In addition to developing advanced technological solutions for vehicle inspection and valuation, the centre will analyse data on pre-owned vehicle sales and market trends, providing statistical models and machine learning algorithms that will predict future demand for certain types of vehicles, identify growth opportunities, and optimise pricing strategies.

Commenting on the launch of the centre, Mr. Marut Singh, Chief Technical Officer of CARS24, said, "Our R&D centre in Bengaluru is a testament to our commitment to driving continuous innovation, with a focus on customer satisfaction. As the pre-owned car market continues to grow, we are confident that our centre will foster technological advancements to meet the evolving needs of the industry. With cutting-edge technology and expertise, our Bangalore centre will play a pivotal role in our future growth for domestic and international markets and put us strongly on path of profitability. "

Over the last few years, CARS24 has become India's most trusted brand to buy and sell pre-owned cars. The company has expanded its operations to an additional 24 cities in 2022, and it now has a presence in over 100 cities across the country. The establishment of the R&D centre marks another significant step in CARS24's expansion plan, bringing together the best industry resources and building an excellent ecosystem to boost the brand's overall innovation capabilities.

About CARS24

Founded in 2015, CARS24 is the leading global e-commerce platform for pre-owned vehicles with a robust presence in India, the Middle East, Australia, and Southeast Asia. With a consumer-first approach, CARS24’s mission is to transform the used car industry by taking the entire journey of searching, buying, selling, and financing online. Leveraging the latest technology advances, CARS24 has set up multiple state-of-the-art Mega Refurbishment Labs, creating new industry benchmarks for high-quality used cars.

MG’s Metaverse Platform ‘MGverse’ Goes Live with Auto Expo 2023’s Digital Twin

• MG’s Auto Expo Pavilion is virtually available on the MGverse for visitors at:https://mgverse.metadome.ai/metadome-metaverse-web/links/main/3348/index.html
• A social, interactive digital twin of the MG Pavilion – first of its kind – is a living world built from the architectural files of the site and enriched with content and experiences
• Comes with a fully Integrated Explorer & Creator Zone with car booking, Avatar Shop, and MG Arena with all the products available
• 3D and photorealistic technology enabled in partnership with Metadome.ai for real effects

Committed to consistent innovation for new-age buyers, MG Motor India today announced that its MGverse, future-ready Metaverse Platform, was now live. From today, anyone can experience the magic of the MG Pavilion at the Auto Expo 2023 with friends and family from anywhere. MG has teamed up with Metadome to offer an enriching digital experience for remote visitors. MGverse sets a new standard for accessibility and inclusivity and expands the brands vision of ‘Enabling Exciting Experiences Every time’ into the virtual world of Metaverse. This 3D, virtual reality-based immersive can be experienced at Auto Expo virtually which goes live on Jan 11, 2023, the opening day of the Auto Expo.

The MGverse has been launched with an integrated ‘Explore & Creator’s center, a virtual experience zone with extended customer experience touchpoints, the MG Arena including an Avatar Shop, as well as other options, which enable customers and visitors to personalize, accessorize, build, and even buy their favourite MG vehicle in the Metaverse itself.

 

Commenting on the occasion of the MGverse going live, Gaurav Gupta, Chief Commercial Officer, MG Motor India, said, “With the automotive buying journey moving online and new-age customers demanding digital products and brand experiences more than ever, MGverse, the first of its kind is creating a new era of immersive customer experiences. It is indeed a matter of pride, as we have made it possible through technology, the advantages of even greater human interactivity.”

“MG Motor is one of the leading innovators in the automotive space, and their appetite for immersive technology is an exciting proposition for Metadome.ai. We look forward to a successful collaboration in empowering the brand’s ecosystem of immersive customer experiences with our proprietary 3D & XR platform for the automotive industry,” said Kanav Singla, Founder & CEO, Metadome.ai.

Customers can visit the MGverse to get a fully immersive, real-time experience of the Auto Expo 2023. People who log on to the platform will be able to not only take a virtual tour of the expo, which is mirrored here, but also be present, virtually, at the expo's MG Pavilion.

Customers can virtually view their realistic Avatar by entering MG's expo pavilion and experiencing interactive engagement features while conversing with other Avatars. Customers visiting the Auto Expo virtually in MGverse can also get themselves clicked at the MGverse booth and take a selfie.

The MGverse was announced earlier as a platform that would combine multiple virtual spaces into a single continuum to allow MG's stakeholders to work, play, engage, collaborate, co-create, socialise, and shop. The MGverse is intended to eventually provide five different experience zones, namely the Explore & Creator's Center, NFT Gallery, MG Car Club, Gaming Arena, and MG Knowledge Center. The Explore & Creator's Centre has already been launched as part of the MGverse, with the remaining zones expected to follow soon.

About MG Motor India

Founded in the UK in 1924, Morris Garages vehicles were world-famous for their sports cars, roadsters, and cabriolet series. MG vehicles were much sought after by many celebrities, including the British Prime Ministers and even the British Royal Family, for their styling, elegance, and spirited performance. The MG Car Club, set up in 1930 at Abingdon in the UK, has thousands of loyal fans, making it one of the world’s largest clubs for a car brand. MG has evolved into a modern, futuristic, and innovative brand over the last 98 years. MG Motor India’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Halol, Gujarat, has an annual production capacity of 1,25,000 vehicles and employs nearly 2,500 workers. Driven by its vision of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric) mobility, the cutting-edge automaker has augmented across-the-board ‘experiences’ within the automobile segment today. It has introduced several ‘firsts’ in India, including India’s first Internet SUV – MG Hector, India’s first Pure Electric Internet SUV – MG ZS EV, India’s first Autonomous (Level 1) Premium SUV – MG Gloster and MG Astor- India’s first SUV with personal AI assistant and Autonomous (Level 2) technology.

About Metadome.ai

Metadome.ai is an immersive 3D & XR technology company that enables cloud-based photorealistic & captivating customer experiences.

The company’s technology adapts to a spectrum of use cases entailing automotive, home décor, fashion, cosmetics & accessories. Their flagship platform for the automotive industry – Autodome, enables unprecedented photorealistic, cloud-based immersive 3D & XR applications with omnichannel deployment across both in-store and digital and over a multitude of devices. These applications cover the entire pre-retail funnel, empowering brands to launch their products virtually and drive awareness, engagement, and bookings among modern automotive consumers.

With Autodome, the company has achieved stunning graphics quality & photorealism in 3D, cloud-based streaming that enables consistent experiences on the web, and a flexible project pipeline that gives control to the automaker in deciding their cloud service, how they want to develop the 3D content, animations, and the interface design. The platform is compatible with all file formats and is created to ensure maximum utilization of existing content on the client’s end while giving the expert services in creating it ourselves if the need be.

Iconic Ambassador Car Maker Hindustan Motors To Launch Electric Car and Scooter

Hindustan Motors, the Famous Company That Makes the Iconic Ambassador Car, Is Planning to Make a Comeback Once Again by Entering EV Segment

The iconic Ambassador car maker, Hindustan Motors, is planning to make a comeback once again by entering the Electric Vehicle (EV) segment.

According to media reports, Hindustan Motors is looking to revive its business by joining hands with a European automobile company in the EV industry. However, not much information has been revealed about the EU company yet. But it is reported that Hindustan Motors has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a European EV manufacturer.

Reportedly, both the auto makers are currently discussing the equity structure. In the current proposed framework, Hindustan Motors will hold 51 per cent and the European brand will hold the remaining 49 per cent.The reports further said that besides electric car, Hindustan Motors will also manufacture electric two-wheelers through the said joint venture. In fact, the first product from the company will be an electric scooter. As a matter of fact, the electric 2-wheeler market is at an all-time high and is still growing. The electric scooter/ bike has received positive response from the buyers.

The electric vehicles will be initially manufactured at Hindustan Motors' Uttarpara plant in West Bengal, which was operational till 2014. The company will use 295 acres of Uttarpara area. The joint venture will invest around Rs 600 crore. Further information about the progress in same will be revealed in the near future.

Founded in 1942, Hindustan Motors manufactured the Ambassador and Landmaster motorcars (based on 1956 Morris Oxford series III), both immensely popular Indian automobiles, from 1957–2014. In February 2017, Hindustan Motors executed an agreement with Netherlands-based Peugeot SA for the sale of the Ambassador brand, including the trademarks, for a consideration of ₹80 crore.

Okinawa Autotech Becomes 1st EV Firm To Recall Vehicles In India as EVs' Fire Incidents Rise

Amid growing incidence of Electric vehicles -- in particular the electric scooters -- catching fire in India, Gurgaon-based EV company, Okinawa Autotech, has announced that it will recall 3,215 units of its Praise Pro Scooters voluntarily to fix any issues in the electric scooter.

With this, Okinawa has become the first electric vehicle maker to have recalled its EVs in India for quality check. Okinawa has recalled its EVs after a father and his daughter died when the electric scooter was being charged at their home in Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

Founded in 2015, Okinawa Autotech is the First Indian company to get a FAME-II subsidy from the Government of India , and officially the first EV OEM to be IATF certified for design & manufacturing.

In a separate incident, yet again in Tamil Nadu, an Okinawa dealership showroom went up in flames due to a reported EV fire inside the outlet. No casualties have been reported but the whole showroom was gutted. The fire was put out with the help of locals.

On the recall of its e-Scooters Okinawa stated, “The electric 2W maker is working closely with the dealer partners to ensure that the repair experience is as per the convenience of its customers, for which the vehicle owners will be contacted individually. This voluntary campaign is in the wake of the recent thermal incident and in line with the company’s long-standing commitment to customer safety.”

Recently, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant also asked EV manufacturers to recall batches involved in the incidents.

Late last month, an Ola S1 Pro e-scooter caught fire when it was parked on the side of the road in Pune. The parked e-scooter burst into flames eventually engulfing the entire scooter.

The Union Road and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari also said that appropriate action will be taken against the manufacturers if their fault is established.

Notably, since the beginning of this summer multiple incidents of electric vehicles catching fire occurred. The Central government has ordered an independent investigation into each of these multiple fire incidents.

Mahindra Enters NFT Space, Becomes the 1st Indian Auto OEM to Enter the NFT Universe

The first NFT offerings from Mahindra will be based on the iconic Thar and will be released in collaboration with Tech Mahindra. 

The first-ever series comprises four NFTs that will be put up for sale via an auction starting the 29th of March 2022, on Tech Mahindra’s NFT marketplace christened ‘Mahindra Gallery’.

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. today announced its entry into the NFT (non-fungible token) universe, with the release of its first tranche of tokens, becoming the first Indian automotive OEM to enter this space. NFTs are at the forefront of blockchain technology and have captured the interest of the digitally savvy and constantly connected generation. The entry of Mahindra into the NFT universe is yet another testimony of their continued focus on digital initiatives in the country.

The first NFT offerings from Mahindra will be based on the iconic Thar and will be released in collaboration with Tech Mahindra. Thar exemplifies the Mahindra promise of ‘Explore the Impossible’. Additionally, its larger-than-life imagery is suited to the futuristic, socially wired landscape of NFTs. This first-ever series comprises four NFTs that will be put up for sale via an auction starting the 29th of March 2022, on Tech Mahindra’s NFT marketplace christened ‘Mahindra Gallery’.

All proceeds from the auction will go towards Project Nanhi Kali, to support the education of underprivileged girls in India. Access to education helps the girl child in fulfilling her dreams and lays the foundation for an equal society.

The Thar experience doesn’t end with buying an NFT. The winners of the auction will be invited to the Mahindra Adventure Off-road Driver Training Academy (Igatpuri, Maharashtra) or to the new state-of-the-art Mahindra SUV Proving Track (MSPT, Chennai), to experience the thrill of 4x4 motoring.

Commenting on the launch, Veejay Nakra, Chief Executive Officer, Automotive Division, M&M Ltd said, “Mahindra & Mahindra has always been a pioneer in adopting new-age digital innovations to enhance customer experience. The launch of NFTs is another exciting step for us to leverage the next frontier of digital marketing. We will be able to offer a whole new set of experiences to our customers, build communities for our brands, and also increase brand awareness and loyalty. With our entry into the NFT space, we are all set to harness the countless possibilities of interacting and adding to the Mahindra brand and all our nameplates, and there is no better brand for this debut than the Thar."

CP Gurnani, MD & CEO, Tech Mahindra, said, “At Tech Mahindra, we believe in innovating for the future. As an industry front runner, we have significantly contributed to digital transformational strategies and solutions. In line with our aim to reimagine customer experience, engagement and brand equity through digital transformation, we are launching an NFT marketplace in collaboration with Mahindra Group. This market place titled ‘Mahindra Gallery’, is a one-stop-digital assets and collectibles marketplace for all patrons of the Mahindra Group, and this platform-of-the-future will emerge as a key lever to showcase the rich archives and history of the Group that everyone can own in the form of NFTs, ushering in the next wave of digital ownership."

The unveil and auction for the first Thar NFT will take place on 29th March 2022 on https://auto.mahindra.com/suv/thar/nft starting at 11 am IST, followed by a 30 min gap for subsequent auctions.

This will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the very first NFTs of Mahindra Thar by participating in the auction.

About Mahindra

Founded in 1945, the Mahindra Group is one of the largest and most admired multinational federation of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality, and real estate. 

The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

FIAT Plans To Be EV-Only Automobile Manufacturer By 2030

Italian automobile manufacturer Fiat is the latest automaker to announce a move entirely to electric vehicles (EV) by 2030. The company plans to phase out combustion engine vehicles starting in 2025.

Fiat CEO Olivier François said --

It is our duty to bring to market electric cars that cost no more than those with an internal combustion engine, as soon as we can, in line with the falling costs of batteries. We are exploring the territory of sustainable mobility for all: this is our greatest project. Between 2025 and 2030, our product line-up will gradually become electric-only. This will be a radical change for Fiat.

Fiat has just released an electric version of its 500 city car in some regions. At least for the time being, the standard 500 will still be available as well. As Autocar notes, Fiat wants to help improve access to EVs, charging infrastructure and air quality.

"The decision to launch the New 500 — electric and electric alone — was actually taken before COVID-19," François said in a discussion with architect Stefano Boeri. "Even then, we were already aware that the world could not take any more ‘compromises.’"

Several auto brands are planning to go all-electric in the next decade or are at least rumored to be doing so. Mini, Volvo and Ford (at least in Europe) are looking to make the switch by 2030. Honda has set 2040 as its timeline for making the shift.

Recently, Korean vehicle manufacturer Hyundai Motor also confirmed that it will reduce manufacturing of petrol and diesel cars by 50%  and wants to save its funds, resources to invest more in electric vehicles.