ASIAtalk

PTC’s Michele Del Mondo said the shift toward software-defined and autonomous vehicles will require a more tightly connected ALM-PLM toolchain to manage complexity across the product lifecycle. The message highlights that digital engineering infrastructure is becoming a strategic enabler for automakers seeking faster software integration, better traceability and more scalable development processes.

India should view plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as a practical bridge technology for broader electric mobility adoption, according to Piyush Goyal, who said their combustion engine and limited battery range can help drive mass-market acceptance. The stance underscores a policy focus on transitional powertrains that could support near-term demand while the charging ecosystem and battery economics continue to mature.

The Indian government has approved 4,874 EV chargers under the PM e-Drive scheme, backed by a ₹504 crore outlay, marking another significant investment in charging infrastructure. The approvals are intended to reduce range anxiety, support wider EV adoption and strengthen the enabling ecosystem needed for faster market expansion.

India’s auto industry is moving toward platform-led growth, with shared architectures increasingly used to support multiple models and powertrains from a common base. This approach is expected to reduce development complexity and improve scalability, allowing OEMs to make decisions faster and bring products to market more efficiently.

The Ministry of Heavy Industries is considering interest subsidies and credit guarantee support to improve financing for electric buses and trucks, which officials say remains a major barrier to adoption. Any such support would be strategically important for fleet electrification, where high upfront costs and lender caution continue to slow commercial deployment.

Maruti Suzuki has selected six startups for paid proof-of-concept projects focused on practical business applications including predictive maintenance, material traceability, used-car pricing and AI-enabled sales support. The initiative reflects the automaker’s push to tap external innovation for measurable operational gains while testing technologies that could scale across its business.

ZF Aftermarket chief Philippe Colpron warned that Indian garages that fail to adapt to diagnostics-led, software-enabled vehicle servicing risk losing the core revenue opportunity in the EV era. His comments signal a major shift in the aftermarket, where workshop capabilities, tooling and technician skills will increasingly determine which players capture future service business.

Rising automotive patent filings in India signal a structural shift from cost-focused manufacturing to innovation-led mobility development. The trend, driven by EVs, AI and indigenous technology efforts, underscores India’s growing role as a source of automotive IP and advanced engineering capability.

Michigan-based DEP is positioning its new AIWorks platform as a growth engine to expand its global footprint and win share as automakers and suppliers accelerate adoption of AI-driven engineering tools. The platform is aimed at improving product development speed, accuracy and cost efficiency, underscoring the growing strategic value of simulation software in automotive R&D.

Michigan-based DEP is positioning its new AIWorks simulation platform as a growth engine to expand its global footprint and win market share in an increasingly AI-enabled engineering market. As OEMs and suppliers look to shorten development cycles and cut costs, AI-led simulation is emerging as a strategic differentiator in product development.