Over the past week, a key industry development was Volkswagen deciding to invest up to $5 billion in EV start-up Rivian. The deal is significant for the involved parties, but also because it is also a reflection of the growing trend of collaboration, which need not be between equals, to grow in the increasingly innovative and disruptive era.
A partnership of unequals
So, how and why does an 87-year old global major strike a relationship with a 15-year old EV start-up which is yet to post profit? The following story, and the Explainer below it have all the details.
Volkswagen to invest up to USD 5 bn in EV maker Rivian as part of tech joint venture
Explainer: What's behind Volkswagen's USD 5 billion EV software bet on Rivian?
Regulations for Autonomous Vehicles
The goalpost for Autonomous Vehicles (AV) has moved, and the hype also seems to be tapering. However, efforts to develop autonomous vehicles are on, and they are likely to become prominent in the long term. Given that AVs are a totally different breed of automobiles, there should be a set of specific guidelines or regulations for them. And, that;s what’s taking shape. Details below.
Autonomous car rules advancing faster than the vehicles themselves: UN
Google’s Waymo scales up
Talking about AVs, Waymo, the Google owned robotaxi service wants to expand its customer base, even as it faces some investigations by USA’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Will there be more takers of the service? Apparently there are, even as some actions of the society aren’t impressed by driverless cars.
Waymo robotaxi service opens to all in San Francisco
Going back to basics
Developing cutting edge technology can definitely help. But, it need not be the only approach to advance in this technology-intensive era. A team of engineers at commercial vehicle major Ashok Leyland is turning to fundamental physics, specifically Isaac Newton’s second law of motion, to find solutions with new technology innovations. More in this story below.
Newton’s law guides Ashok Leyland’s next level of innovations
Technology investment ramp up
In today’s age, being an industry leader today is no guarantee for a successful tomorrow. And that applies to Tata Motors, a leader in the domestic commercial vehicle industry for decades, too. Find out about the CV major’s strategies for sustainable growth, which consists of realigned business calls and investments in new-age technologies, in the following story.
Tata Motors CV earmarks 40% of its investment this year on advanced technologies
Industry-academia collaboration
In the swiftly evolving automotive industry, no single player has all the answers to advance successfully. Therefore, collaboration between industry players is important, and so is collaboration between industry and academia. The stories at the top of this newsletter told you about the how and why of the Volkswagen and Rivian partnership. Find out in the story below why a global engineering hub, Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India, and a reputed technical educational institute, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani found it worthwhile to strike a collaboration.
Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India collaborates with BITS Pilani for advanced technology research
Like there’s no silver bullet to solve the challenges the industry is facing, there’s no single path to advance successfully in the technology-intensive era. It’s going to be a multi-lane journey to build the requisite prowess to propel organisations to greater heights.
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