From AI to safer streets: How technology is rewiring mobility
AI is shifting from back-end operations to customer-facing solutions. Software-defined vehicles are changing how cars are built, sold, and updated. Sustainability goals like E20 and zero-emission trucks need strong infrastructure and policy support. Smart urban mobility projects are tackling congestion and road safety.
Mahindra Auto scales AI from factory floor to customer experience
Mahindra is embedding AI across manufacturing and customer touchpoints, using predictive maintenance, process automation, and data-led personalisation to boost efficiency and brand loyalty. The company aims to leverage AI as a competitive advantage across its vehicle portfolio.
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Software-Defined Vehicles set to reshape the auto industry
A new report outlines how software-defined vehicles will enable faster innovation cycles, over-the-air updates, and new data-driven revenue streams for automakers. These vehicles could transform ownership models and enhance long-term customer engagement.
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Industry lauds E20 milestone but flags challenges
India's achievement of 20% ethanol blending ahead of schedule is a boost for green mobility, but experts caution that vehicle efficiency, pricing, and supply stability remain concerns. The government is now working with stakeholders to address these operational and cost-related hurdles.
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Strategies for zero-emission truck adoption in India
Experts propose an ecosystem approach—covering charging infra, financing models, and operational changes—to accelerate adoption of zero-emission trucks. Such measures could play a pivotal role in decarbonising freight transport in India.
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Elon Musk to streamline Tesla's AI chip development
Tesla will focus on inference chips to improve AI performance and reduce costs in self-driving systems. This shift could enhance the speed and efficiency of autonomous driving software updates.
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Delhi's first robo parking to ease urban congestion
An automated parking facility in Greater Kailash I aims to address parking shortages in South Delhi's busy market areas. The project is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce illegal roadside parking.
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Google maps to mark 'black spots' for driver safety
Google Maps will soon highlight accident-prone areas in Delhi, improving commuter awareness and road safety. Authorities hope the feature will also encourage safer driving behaviour in high-risk zones.
Read more
Key takeaways:
AI is moving from back-end operations to customer-facing services. Software-defined architectures will become the industry norm. Sustainability targets like E20 and zero-emission trucks require parallel infra and policy push. Urban mobility is getting smarter with robo parking and real-time safety alerts.
For insights into the fast-evolving automotive tech space, follow ETAuto for weekly analysis, trends, and deep dives.
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But for owners, it's about not being left in the Auto has shared a simple solution to keep BS3 and older motorcycles running smoothly on E20 petrol, despite ethanol's tendency to absorb moisture and cause damage to engine components. By adding 40 mL of fuel system cleaner per full tank, riders can prevent gum formation and protect parts like gaskets and butterfly walls. This cleaner is easily available at fuel stations for around ₹80-100. It's about the right to know what's going into their tanks - and what it is doing to their vehicles.
Time of India
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Simply put, one of the biggest transitions in fuel standards ever in India missed taking people along. A Notchy Shift As part of an ambitious ethanol-blending programme, the Indian government mandated E20 fuel availability across the country from nearly two and half years back. From April 2023, all new vehicles were required to be E20-compliant, with stricter enforcement from April 2025. But nine out of 10 cars currently on Indian roads are only E10-ready, meaning they're built to handle a maximum of 10% ethanol in petrol. Mixing higher concentrations can affect their fuel efficiency, engine health and long-term reliability. And with consumer experience playing out over a period of time, that is creating discontent among car owners. Many consumers don't even know what E20 is - or whether their vehicle can handle it. "There's a glaring gap in awareness," said Naveen Soni, former president of Lexus India. "OEMs must educate car buyers. Consumers are stakeholders too. They deserve transparency." Service centres report increasing cases of rough idling, knocking engines, worn gaskets, and fuel pump failures. The fixes are usually straightforward - replacing rubber hoses and recalibrating engines - and can often be done during regular servicing. But not all technicians know what to look for, and there's no escalation protocol in place yet. With the issues consumers are facing lagging the rolling out of the fuel by a few months at the very least, attribution of the problem to the fuel is creating simmering discontent now. Right Label For the average driver, the shift to E20 feels subtle - until it isn't. There's no standardised labeling at fuel pumps to indicate what blend is being dispensed. Car owners unknowingly fill up with E20, assuming it's the same petrol they've always used. But behind the scenes, the ethanol's corrosive and hygroscopic nature - it absorbs water from the air - wreaks havoc if the vehicle sits idle for long. The fuel itself doesn't help. Ethanol has around 34% less energy content than petrol, meaning it naturally delivers fewer kilometers per litre. Industry executives estimate a 7% efficiency drop in non-E20 vehicles, though official studies, like those from ARAI and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), claim it's only 1-6%. Reji Mathai, director, ARAI says in the run up to the implementation of E20, ARAI, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Indian Oil, under the directive of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) had undertaken a joint study where they picked up new and old E10 compatible vehicle mix of two and four wheelers (BS VI & BS IV) and evaluated them on E20. "The vehicles performed satisfactorily and there was a minor increase of 2 to 6% in fuel consumption. The accelerated lab tests for material compatibility showed some degradation of certain plastics & elastomers that come in contact with the fuel. 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Ricardo de Oliveira Lima, former VP of Brazil's automotive dealers' federation, suggests India consult companies like Magneti Marelli and Bosch - pioneers in corrosion-resistant flex-fuel technology. In Brazil, ethanol is viable when priced at 70% of gasoline - an equation that makes environmental and economic sense. But India isn't there yet. Win Some, Lose Some From the government's perspective, the ethanol blending programme is a strategic win. According to MoPNG, from 2014 to 2025, ethanol blending has helped India save over ₹1.44 lakh crore in foreign exchange, substitute 245 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil, and reduce CO₂ emissions by 736 lakh metric tonnes - equivalent to planting 30 crore trees. But the economic alignment with agriculture and energy security - including benefits to sugarcane farmers and lower crude oil dependency - has left average consumers playing catch-up. "Earlier, sugar prices were down and farmers struggled," said Deepak Ballani, Director General of the Indian Sugar & Bio Energy Manufacturers Association. "Today, sugar prices are up 11%, and with ethanol in demand, farmers finally get better prices." MoPNG also claims that payments to farmers from ethanol alone this year will touch ₹40,000 crore, with forex savings of ₹43,000 crore. However, for existing owners, dropping mileage and rising maintenance costs are adding up. "E20 has a lower heat content than pure petrol, so a marginal drop in fuel efficiency is inevitable," said IV Rao, Distinguished Fellow at TERI (The Energy and Resource Institute). "The extent will vary by manufacturer and model, depending on how the engine is tuned, and actual mileage will still be influenced by driving style and road conditions." The ministry maintains that performance issues can be addressed via routine servicing and minor part upgrades. But for owners, it's about not being left in the dark. Bajaj Auto has shared a simple solution to keep BS3 and older motorcycles running smoothly on E20 petrol, despite ethanol's tendency to absorb moisture and cause damage to engine components. By adding 40 mL of fuel system cleaner per full tank, riders can prevent gum formation and protect parts like gaskets and butterfly walls. This cleaner is easily available at fuel stations for around ₹80-100. It's about the right to know what's going into their tanks - and what it is doing to their vehicles.
