Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced the launch of its latest Open Innovation Hub in India, marking a major step in its global effort to collaborate with startups to create the next generation of advanced products and services.
The India Hub joins JLR’s existing network of innovation centres located in the UK, US, Israel, and Brazil. It will concentrate on cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, the Internet of Things, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), and innovative sensor technologies. The hub’s focus will be on developing solutions that improve vehicle performance, customer experiences, and sustainability.
In partnership with the corporate innovation platform Plug and Play, the India Hub will bring together industry leaders, government officials, academic experts, and other stakeholders to work on pioneering solutions for the automotive industry. Key areas of focus will include optimising batteries for electric vehicles, identifying ideal locations for EV charging infrastructure, and advancing ADAS capabilities.
JLR’s Open Innovation Program, which was launched in April 2022, has already engaged with over 2,500 startups worldwide, resulting in 33 formal collaborations. Among its successes are collaborations with UK startup Allye, which is developing systems to repurpose JLR’s plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle batteries for second-life energy storage, and Brazilian startup Energy Source, which launched the first solar-powered EV charging station in partnership with JLR’s venture capital arm, InMotion Ventures.
India, with its rapidly expanding startup ecosystem and JLR’s strong ties to the Tata Group, offers a fertile environment for this latest Innovation Hub. This expansion will support JLR’s global engineering teams by accelerating the development of innovative vehicle features and improving customer satisfaction.
Igor Murakami, JLR’s Innovation Director, highlighted the importance of the new hub in connecting JLR to the next generation of talent and technologies, stating, “The addition of a Hub in India will support our engineering teams to innovate quickly, enhancing vehicle design and customer experiences.”
Lalitha Indrakanti, CEO of JLR Technology & Business Services India (TBSI), emphasised the hub’s role in fostering collaboration: “ Through the Innovation Hub we are looking to tap into India’s deep technology ecosystem to discover new possibilities with a strong focus on engineering and sustainability.”
“The hub will act as a dedicated space to attract disruptors to bring meaningful and scalable solutions to market. We aim to be the leading Innovation Hub for mobility and sustainability and be the top collaborator of choice for startups,” she added.
Plug and Play’s partner, Sobhan Khani, also highlighted the ongoing partnership, noting, “This initiative empowers innovators to develop transformative technologies that redefine the future of mobility and align with JLR’s commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences.”
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