Appointments, Partnerships, Investments & Acquisitions Archives | Automotive Testing Technology International

Joost Kessels named chief development officer at SEAT and Cupra

Rachel Evans — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 08:58:43 +0000

Joost Kessels will lead research and development at Cupra and SEAT in the newly created position of chief development officer. In this role he will be responsible for strengthening the two brands’ role within VW Group’s Electric Urban Car Family electrification strategy and the development of the group’s electric MEB21 platform.

Kessels has more than 20 years of experience within the Volkswagen Group, a PhD in mechanical engineering from the North West University in South Africa, and four years as director of R&D at FAW‑Volkswagen China. For more than a decade, he has contributed to the VW Group’s electrification journey, including the development of advanced battery systems. In line with the new brand group Core governance model, he will report to Markus Haupt, CEO of SEAT and Cupra, as well as to Kai Grünitz, member of the brand group Core board of management responsible for technical development.

Haupt said, “We are excited to welcome Joost Kessels for this new chapter. His strong technical background and deep experience in the group, including his role in China, make him the right leader to drive this next phase for our company. While we continue to lead the Electric Urban Car Family on behalf of the Volkswagen Group, we will now also start taking over the leadership of the electric MEB21 platform. A clear recognition of our work and demonstration of how much potential lies ahead for our company and the Iberian Peninsula.”

With the electric MEB21 platform, SEAT and Cupra will, for the first time in its history, assume the leadership of the technical development of a group platform. This mandate marks a significant milestone for the company further consolidating its responsibility for the region and strengthening its role within the group.

Grünitz commented, “I am very happy that Joost Kessels will take on responsibility for the development of SEAT and Cupra. With lean structures and accelerated decision-making processes, we will elevate development across the BGC-network to a new level. Our focus will be on achieving highly competitive development timelines and costs.”

Vehicles built on the MEB21 platform include the Cupra Raval and Volkswagen ID Polo, produced in Martorell, Spain; the ID Cross and Škoda Epiq, produced in Navarra, Spain; among others. The MEB21 platform, developed within the MEB+ matrix, debuts a new front‑wheel‑drive architecture with a highly efficient electric drive that cuts complexity, components and weight.

Dr Werner Tietz served as executive VP for research and development at SEAT and Cupra from 2020 and played a key role in the companies’ transformation. Since April, Dr Tietz has focused exclusively on his role as head of group research and development at the Volkswagen Group, a position he has held since July 2025.

Haupt added, “I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to Werner Tietz, who has played a decisive role in making the Electric Urban Car Family project a success. I’ve truly enjoyed working with him, and I know it will be a special moment for him to see the CUPRA Raval on the streets this year. His contribution has left a lasting mark on our company.”

Randle Engineering strengthens team with vehicle dynamics specialist Javier Maruenda

Rachel Evans — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 13:59:12 +0000

As part of its ongoing expansion, vehicle design and development service provider Randle Engineering has hired Javier Maruenda as senior vehicle dynamics engineer. According to the company, it will continue to bring on board new engineering team members as demand for its services in the passenger car, off-road, agriculture and defense sectors grows.

Maruenda brings a wealth of experience including more than nine years in vehicle dynamics, covering both passenger and commercial vehicles across multiple global OEMs, with specialist knowledge in multibody dynamics, simulation model creation, kinematics and compliance optimization, active chassis systems, vehicle testing, calibration and validation.

Most recently, he served as vehicle dynamics principal engineer at an automotive technology business where he was involved in developing software‑defined, zero‑emission vehicle platforms, integrating advanced drive and control systems. This involved both physical and simulation-based vehicle dynamics validation.

Prior to that, he held roles at Tata Motors European Technical Centre, Jaguar Land Rover and Idiada where he was heavily involved in ADAMS model development, target setting, objective and subjective benchmarking, procedural development, R&D leadership and technical training delivery.

Maruenda is currently completing an MSc in maths and computing engineering, specializing in numerical methods and dynamic systems modeling.

“Randle combines serious engineering intelligence with a genuinely welcoming culture, which is a rare and powerful mix,” he said. “The first‑principles mindset and cross‑sector work make it an inspiring place to think, test and build ideas. I’m delighted to be joining the team and contributing to what comes next.”

Peter Benzie, engineering manager at Randle Engineering, commented, “We are thrilled to bring Javier into the team. He is a fantastic fit with his technical ability, inquisitive nature and collaborative skills. Known for his questioning approach and desire to truly understand the mathematics behind every problem, he brings a rare depth of analytical thinking to his work in vehicle dynamics, modeling and advanced control. This mindset significantly underpins our capability and reflects our commitment to delivering intellectually rigorous consultancy across automotive, defence, aerospace, robotics and beyond.”

The company said it has had a strong start to 2026 with numerous new engineering projects secured.

AGL releases initial SoDeV reference platform

Zahra Awan — Tue, 19 May 2026 09:30:13 +0000

Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), a collaborative project at the Linux Foundation, has announced the initial availability of its open-source SoDeV reference platform. The project has also welcomed five new members: EMQ, Lineo Solutions, MediaTek, VA Linux Systems Japan and Very Good Ventures.

AGL SoDeV is an open-source reference platform for building software-defined vehicles. It combines the AGL Unified Code Base (UCB) with Linux containers, VirtIO, the Xen hypervisor, Zephyr RTOS and other Linux Foundation projects in a single pre-integrated package that runs on automotive systems-on-a-chip (SoCs), on virtual machines or in the cloud. SoDeV enables auto makers and suppliers to decouple software development from hardware availability, accelerating SDV time-to-market.

As the automotive industry moves toward software-defined vehicles (SDVs), demand is increasing for shared, open-source software platforms. AGL brings together auto makers, Tier 1 suppliers and technology companies to develop and maintain a common software stack to reduce fragmentation, shorten development timelines and support innovation across vehicle systems.

The addition of EMQ, Lineo Solutions, MediaTek, VA Linux Systems Japan and Very Good Ventures expands AGL’s expertise across areas including automotive semiconductors, connectivity, Linux engineering, in-vehicle user interfaces and embedded software tools that support large-scale SDV development.

“We’re excited to welcome these new members to the AGL community, each of which brings distinct and valuable expertise to the table,” said Dan Cauchy, executive director of Automotive Grade Linux. “The ecosystem around our SoDeV reference platform continues to grow, reflecting the breadth of innovation that open-source collaboration makes possible. The automotive industry is undergoing a fundamental shift to software-defined vehicles, and AGL is proud to be at the center of it.”

Available in latest AGL software release

An initial version of the AGL SoDeV reference platform is available in the latest AGL UCB software release, Ultimate Unagi, enabling developers to build and test an SDV system on Renesas Sparrow Hawk reference boards and cloud-based processor environments.

Announced in December 2025, the AGL SoDeV Reference Platform combines the AGL Unified Code Base (UCB) with multiple open-source projects hosted by the Linux Foundation to support the consolidation of ECUs, hardware abstraction through virtualization, and cloud integration for software-defined vehicles.

“The AGL platform represents exactly the kind of production-focused, community-driven approach to SDV software that our customers and partners need,” added Masahiro Sano, the chairman and CEO of Lineo Solutions.

Univrses AI technology integrated into Pirelli Cyber Tyre platform

Zahra Awan — Fri, 08 May 2026 09:12:08 +0000

Pirelli and Univrses have announced that they have signed an agreement for the integration of the Swedish deep tech specialist’s AI‑based computer vision 3DAI technologies into the tier maker’s Cyber Tyre system. Pirelli has also acquired a 30% stake in Univrses.

The combination of the technologies developed by Univrses and Pirelli will deliver vehicles that are “safer and more performant”, the companies said, with potential applications in ADAS and autonomous driving systems. The solution will also deliver timely, relevant and actionable data, for a range of road management use cases. Insights will enable road authorities to make better decisions and deploy resources more effectively, potentially reducing road-related accidents and saving lives.

The technologies use onboard cameras and tires to collect data that provide vital feedback on road conditions. Pirelli Cyber Tyre processes the information collected using the company’s proprietary software and algorithms, and communicates in real time with the vehicle’s electronics and with the cloud, enhancing a car’s safety systems and enabling the monitoring of road infrastructure status.

Univrses has adapted its technology, originally developed for vehicle perception, to enable AI-based road monitoring. It’s 3DAI solution is an AI system that digitizes city and roadside infrastructure using data from vehicle-mounted sensors such as cameras; and its 3DAI Engine provides autonomous vehicles with perception capabilities including 3D positioning, 3D mapping and spatial deep learning.

In 2025, Pirelli and the Puglia Region launched the first project based on this partnership, with a monitoring system for the regional road network creating an up-to-date map of infrastructure conditions. The system provides analyses based on data collected by tires and processed through the Cyber Tyre platform, together with visual data collected via cameras and interpreted using Univrses technology.

Pirelli chief executive officer Andrea Casaluci said, “The agreement with Univrses further enhances our Cyber Tyre platform, thanks to advanced AI‑based artificial vision technologies. The collaboration between Pirelli and Univrses will make a significant contribution to the ongoing transformation of cars into true software‑defined vehicles.”

Univrses CEO Jonathan Selbie added, “Continuous monitoring and data are becoming the new foundation for infrastructure asset management, and Univrses technology is able to provide powerful analytical capabilities based on reliable and frequently updated data. In this context, we are pleased to welcome Pirelli as an investor and to take our partnership to the next level: we will join forces to deliver increasingly advanced services and products.”

Novel test solution drives progress in Hybrid eCall

Rachel Evans — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:08:48 +0000

Anritsu has developed a test package for Hyundai Mobis for the development and verification of its Hybrid eCall and NG eCall technology

When Hyundai Mobis required a reliable test solution to verify its Hybrid eCall system, the company selected Anritsu for its proven expertise in automotive communication testing.

As the automotive industry transitions from the conventional eCall emergency call system operating on 2G and 3G networks, where vehicles automatically contact emergency services in the event of an accident, to the next-generation (NG) eCall system using 4G networks, Hybrid eCall is crucial in bridging the gap.

Hyundai Mobis has adopted Hybrid eCall and overcome significant challenges, including acquiring test equipment, mastering the advanced 4G and 5G mobile protocols required for call initiation, and addressing the limitations of network simulation environments in the early stages of development.

Anritsu’s eCall Tester MX703330E and Signalling Tester MD8475B provided an effective solution to these challenges. By establishing a comprehensive test environment and using automated conformance testing and log analysis functions, Hyundai Mobis promptly identified the root causes of operational issues. Furthermore, sharing the test environment between the development and verification teams improved consistency, reliability and operational efficiency.

Hyundai Mobis integrates Hybrid eCall functionality into its data connectivity unit (DCU). Conformance testing is conducted to EU regulations and ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) standards to verify the system’s functionality across various network conditions as well as ensuring interoperability with public safety answering points (PSAPs).

In addition, Hyundai Mobis was required to design test scenarios, perform error analysis, prepare detailed test reports and develop technical verification documents necessary for certification. These processes were supported by Anritsu’s simulation and functional testing capabilities.

There were two primary reasons why the company selected Anritsu’s test solution.

First, it enables comprehensive Hybrid eCall testing with an all-in-one tester. Previously, separate testers were required to verify Hybrid eCall, NG eCall and eCall. By integrating Anritsu’s MX703330E software-based tester with the MD8475B hardware tester, all three types of eCall functionality can be tested using a single solution. This integration reduced initial investment requirements and operational workload, improving overall verification efficiency.

The second reason was enhanced collaboration and efficiency using the same test environment as the development team. This alignment facilitated accurate issue reproduction and streamlined root cause analysis. Additionally, Anritsu’s clear setup documentation contributed to more efficient software updates and debugging activities.

With Anritsu’s technical support, Hyundai Mobis teams gained early access to the MX703330E, MD8475B and beta firmware versions. This enabled them to verify Hybrid eCall‑related software updates prior to official release, and perform conformance testing during the development stage.

Anritsu’s test solution also helped Hyundai Mobis build expertise in 4G and 5G mobile communications and Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling. Analyzing the operation of the SIP using the sequence log feature provided a practical understanding. Furthermore, the setup procedures were based on the provided manuals, and network simulations were repeatedly conducted with on-site support and phone consultations with Anritsu’s staff. With this support, the teams steadily acquired the knowledge of mobile communications required for eCall verification.

The teams also needed to simulate various network conditions. Using the handover and cell configuration features of the MX703330E and MD8475B, including signal strength control, ECL settings and service controls, they were able to effectively reproduce real-world network conditions. This enabled prompt and effective software verification.

Since implementing Anritsu’s test solution, compatibility between the DCU and the test environment has remained consistently high. The teams experienced no notable issues when integrating the product with existing hardware. The test environment was configured efficiently, and stable operation was achieved from the initial stage of deployment.

Hyundai Mobis has been able to conduct reliable, repeated testing in the laboratory, building a normal testing environment. It has also automated conformance testing and network simulations. Test scenarios were created using Anritsu’s SmartStudio Manager (SSM) MX847503A, which supports the generation of rapid and reliable test results, thereby contributing to improved development efficiency and product quality.

When issues arise, reviewing the sequence and message logs of the tester allows immediate determination of whether the problem is due to device settings or the hardware itself. This enables the verification team to provide accurate and timely feedback to the development team, reducing the time required for root cause analysis and problem resolution.

As of this year, the EU mandates the installation of NG eCall, which uses 4G (LTE) networks, in
all new vehicle models requiring type approval. Hybrid eCall is compatible with both NG eCall and eCall, which previously required separate test solutions

During the implementation process, Anritsu supported the teams from the program installation stage, which allowed them to establish the test environment smoothly. One unexpected issue was that the USIM card initially provided for the device was not compatible with performing the test eCalls required for functionality verification. Anritsu promptly provided a compatible USIM card, allowing the verification activities to continue without interruption. No additional compatibility issues were observed with the existing DCU verification setup.

Another challenge was the provision of a reporting tool, including testers’ logs. The initial conformance test reports could not be presented as objective evidence to certification bodies and relevant departments, necessitating further improvements. In response, Anritsu updated the reporting tool to create highly reliable reports that included logs from the MX703330E. As a result, verification results could be presented more clearly and convincingly.

Anritsu’s tester is stable and reliable, enabling the Hyundai Mobis teams to focus on analyzing hardware issues during the verification processes. On-site support and telephone and email communication from Anritsu – along with the manuals provided by Anritsu’s representatives – enabled the Hyundai Mobis teams to acquire the skills to operate the tester.

With Anritsu’s technical support, Hyundai Mobis plans to expand automation within its verification processes.

Beyond the eCall functions, the Anritsu test solution supports verification capabilities, including SMS transmission and throughput measurement. Although the details of these functions are still being finalized, Hyundai Mobis hopes to use them to increase the value of the equipment by broadening the scope of verification, enabling a more multifaceted analysis of product performance and, ultimately, contributing to the development of even higher-quality products.

Need to know

• Anritsu’s test solution enables comprehensive Hybrid eCall testing with an all-in-one tester
• Real-world network conditions can be reproduced, enabling effective software verification
• Hyundai Mobis recently sought a reliable partner to test its Hybrid eCall technology
• It chose Anritsu for the supplier’s expertise in automotive communications testing

Agillence and Toyota Motor Europe partner on logistics optimization software

Zahra Awan — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:58:00 +0000

Following the successful completion of an initial pilot program, Agillence has entered a long-term contract with Toyota Motor Europe (TME) to continue providing its proprietary Agillence Lean Logistics Optimizer (ALLO) software for inbound parts logistics network planning.

During the pilot, ALLO demonstrated its ability to improve inbound logistics planning performance across TME’s complex European logistics network, reduce planning cycle times and support TME’s carbon neutrality objectives.

“The results of our pilot with Agillence have exceeded expectations,” said Jean-Christophe Deville, vice president of supply chain at TME. “ALLO has proven to be a strategic asset in our pursuit of a sustainable, cost-efficient logistics network across Europe. We are confident that this long-term partnership will continue to drive meaningful progress toward our carbon neutrality goals while delivering real operational value.”

“We are pleased to formalize our long-term relationship with Toyota Motor Europe,” said Srini Paruchuri, vice president of customer strategy and solutions at Agillence. “This partnership is a testament to the power of ALLO in addressing the unique logistics complexities of large-scale European automotive operations. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with TME as they continue to lead the industry in sustainable supply chain practices.”

Swiss Council for Accident Prevention joins Euro NCAP as affiliate member

Zahra Awan — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:23:58 +0000

Euro NCAP has welcomed the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (BFU – Beratungsstelle für Unfallverhütung) as an affiliate member of its car safety testing program. The BFU conducts research and offers guidance aimed at reducing the number of serious accidents in Switzerland. For nearly 90 years, the organization has worked to make Swiss citizens safer both on the roads and in their everyday lives. Joining the safety program will further reinforce Euro NCAP’s network of collaboration and advance progress in vehicle safety and accident prevention.

“Euro NCAP is delighted to have BFU as an affiliate member of the car program. Their strong expertise in accident research and prevention, together with a unique Swiss perspective and their contribution to our technical working groups, will help ensure that our ratings continue to reflect real-world risks and drive meaningful vehicle safety improvements,” said Dr Michiel van Ratingen, secretary general at Euro NCAP.

As an affiliate member, BFU will actively participate in Euro NCAP’s technical working groups, contributing to shared goals in vehicle safety and the long-term development of assisted and automated driving technologies. The organization will provide Swiss accident insights and national data, combining expertise in engineering, human factors and behavioral science to identify where safety systems can prevent severe crashes.

BFU will also support the alignment of Euro NCAP’s assessments with evolving regulations and promote road safety and public acceptance of new technologies through its national activities. The collaboration will further enable BFU to contribute to the development of Euro NCAP’s future strategic roadmaps.

“At BFU, we are very pleased to become a new member of Euro NCAP. Euro NCAP’s independent safety ratings provide important impetus for manufacturers, policymakers and consumers alike. As BFU, we aim to contribute to ensuring that new vehicle technologies realise their full potential in preventing accidents and reducing serious injuries. We see this membership as a major opportunity to amplify the impact of our work,” added Dr Stefan Siegrist, director, BFU.

Rivian-Volkswagen joint venture completes SDV architecture winter testing

Zahra Awan — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 14:05:27 +0000

The Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies (RV Tech) joint venture has completed winter testing of its production-intent zonal architecture for the first generation of software‑defined vehicles (SDVs). Over the course of several months of testing in Phoenix, Arizona, and Arjeplog, Sweden, a joint team from Volkswagen, Audi, Scout and RV Tech validated the functionality and performance of the electronics and software.

The partnership is developing SDV technology, from operating systems to zonal controllers to cloud and connectivity solutions.

Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group, said, “We are accelerating toward the future. With the successful completion of the winter tests, our joint venture once again demonstrates the speed and precision of its work. The close integration between the joint venture, our brands and the group follows a clear objective: to excite people with products and technologies that set new standards. This is how we are driving development forward across the Volkswagen Group – with the ambition to become the global automotive tech driver.”

Winter endurance testing

The program consisted of two phases. In Arizona, engineering teams from the brands and the joint venture worked together to finalize key software functions and prepare the reference vehicles for the winter tests in Europe. In Sweden, the systems were then subjected to stress testing under extreme weather conditions with snow and ice. The teams examined, among other things, the interaction between hardware and software for functions such as all-wheel drive, traction control and driving performance. Over-the-air (OTA) functionality was also validated. In total, the joint venture and brands conducted hundreds of tests and validation cycles. Individual approval drives in Germany and Sweden, led by the brands’ development teams, marked the completion of the winter testing program.

The results show the SDV architecture operates reliably in harsh winter and dynamic driving conditions. This milestone also lays the foundation for the next development phases across the joint venture and individual group brands. The Volkswagen Group will deploy this SDV architecture in electric vehicles across Western Hemisphere markets, delivering highly automated driving features and advanced infotainment, with continuous updates delivered over the air.

Qualification program

In parallel, the Volkswagen Group brands are strengthening their software capabilities for the SDV. Volkswagen Passenger Cars is expected to rapidly launch a long‑planned qualification program at the beginning of May where software specialists will spend several months at RV Tech locations, including Palo Alto, California, to deepen their knowledge of the joint venture’s architecture and code. Upon returning to Wolfsburg, these specialists will serve as internal experts and bring this expertise back into their development departments as multipliers. This will help to integrate brand-specific functions more quickly into future production models. Audi and Porsche are also preparing to launch similar training programs.

Horse Powertrain launches kAIros initiative to expand industrial AI capabilities

Zahra Awan — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:42:54 +0000

The company-wide kAIros AI initiative aims to improve efficiency in support of the company’s ambitions to reduce time-to-market by nearly 50%, cut low-value process work by 40% and increase design cycle efficiency by 25%. Supported by Nvidia, Google Cloud and Deloitte, kAIros is intended to enhance how the company designs, engineers, manufactures and operates across its business.

kAIros is part of Horse Powertrain‘s wider strategy to strengthen the competitiveness of advanced manufacturing in Europe through the use of AI in development, simulation and industrial operations. By combining advanced supercomputing with cloud platforms, the company aims to provide the computing power, security and scalability needed to support these activities and enhance its long-term innovation capabilities.

AI Factory to support industrial AI applications

At the heart of kAIros is the Horse Powertrain AI Factory, supporting AI use cases across engineering and production, including model training, simulation and digital twins, with the aim of accelerating industrial innovation and real-world deployment. A key part of the concept is the generation of training data to help continuously improve models and digital twins over time.

These capabilities enable the company to run advanced simulations and optimize operations in real time across products, factories, warehouses and logistics, with Google Gemini Enterprise used to deploy AI agents across the business, helping reduce coordination tasks that add limited value.

kAIros also supports physical AI by linking real-world operations with virtual systems in real time. This enables systems to interpret their environment, support autonomous decision-making, and interact with cobots, automated guided vehicles and smart machines. Applications include automated video-based quality inspection, faster product simulation and robotics for process optimization.

A dedicated Center of Excellence will lead the development of internal AI capabilities, bringing together cross-functional teams to build applications and scale expertise across the organization. Alongside this, the AI Factory will support scenario simulation, algorithm optimization and the development of intelligent propulsion solutions to improve efficiency and predictive performance. The initiative also aims to build long-term industrial AI capability to support advanced manufacturing in Europe.

Patrice Haettel, COO of Horse Powertrain and chief executive officer of Horse Technologies, said, “Industry advances at moments when technology doesn’t just follow change – it drives it. With kAIros, we are taking a decisive step into a new era where AI can redefine speed, cost, efficiency and sustainability.

“Our goal is to turn data into knowledge, simulations into real value, and innovation into competitive advantage. Horse Powertrain aims to be more agile and reliable because we understand that AI is not just a tool and kAIros is among the first AI factories in Europe for the automotive industry.”

Speedgoat opens larger North American facility for HIL test benches and services

Rachel Evans — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:49:13 +0000

To boost its capabilities in providing locally integrated real-time hardware-in-the-loop test systems and more hands-on support for customers in the USA and Canada, Speedgoat has opened a larger office in Framingham, Massachusetts.

From here, the developer of real-time test technology for control designs and embedded controllers will be able to give greater support in earlier validation phases and collaborate closer throughout system development and testing.

The new hub is near the MathWorks headquarters; Speedgoat’s real-time test systems support model-based development workflows integrated with MathWorks Matlab and Simulink for controls applications.

Essentially, the local assembly and integration capabilities will enable Speedgoat to more efficiently support OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, system integrators and research teams with application-specific HIL systems tailored to required sample rates, connectivity and environmental conditions.

Patric Schenk, MD AMER (North, Central and South America) at Speedgoat, said, “By expanding our North America operations, we are bringing our expertise, systems and services closer to our customers. The new office allows us to deliver fully integrated HIL test benches locally while providing faster, more responsive support to engineering teams across the United States and Canada.”

In addition to the well-established local technical support, the new facility provides an improved on-site lab and training where customers can perform factory acceptance testing on the HIL test benches. The new office will also offer workflow integration and application services along with extended jumpstart sessions to support faster adoption.