Auto Tech Summit To Showcase Kerala’s Potential In EV, Software-Defined Vehicles

Kerala Automotive Technology Summit (KATS 2025), to be held here on February 6, will showcase the state’s strategic advantages in futuristic automotive technology in the backdrop of the fast-paced global shift to Electric and Software-driven vehicles.

Top policymakers and automobile industry experts attending the event will deliberate on measures to position the capital city as a global leader in automotive R&D and technology.

The conclave, to be held at Hotel Hyatt Regency, will bring together Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Tier-1 suppliers, policymakers and technology leaders to explore investment opportunities in the state’s Electric Vehicle Research and Industrial Park.

Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan and Industries Minister Shri P Rajeeve will top the list of speakers along with domain experts at the event, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC).

“A precursor to the February 21-22 Invest Kerala Global Summit, KATS 2025 will showcase the state’s strategic advantages and competitiveness as a leader in the future of mobility. It will also highlight advancements in key Electric Vehicle (EV) components, including batteries, motors and chargers, cementing Kerala’s role as a key player in the futuristic automotive technology,” Shri Rajeeve said.

The minister noted that the state is already home to leading players such as Acsia, dSPACE,

Nissan Digital India, Tata Elxsi and Visteon. The government has shown its commitment to electric mobility through initiatives such as the Electric Vehicle Research and Industrial Park at Vilappilsala near the capital city, he said.

The topics to be deliberated at the conclave include ‘Enabling the SDV Future of Mobility’; ‘SDV Landscape: Opportunities and Challenges’; ‘Preparing for the SDV Future’; ‘How New-Gen OEMs are Disrupting the Automotive World?’; ‘Driving Innovation: India as an Automotive GCC Hub’; ‘Shaping the Future of E-Mobility Technology’; and ‘Starting up in Kerala’.

Among the array of speakers are Shri Santosh Iyer, MD & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India Pvt Ltd; Shr. Aditya Khera, CEO, BMW Techworks India, Shri Nitin Pai, CMO & Chief Strategy Officer, Tata Elxsi; Shri Stefan Juraschek, former Vice President R&D, Electric & Electronics, BMW Group; Shri Jijimon Chandran, Chairman, CII Thiruvananthapuram Zone & Founder & CEO, Acsia Technologies; and Shri Franklin George, MD, dSPACE India.

Mr. APM Mohammed Hanish, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce Department, Govt. of Kerala; Mr. Balagopal Chandrasekhar, Chairman, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and Mr. Harikishore S, Managing Director, KSIDC; will make presentations on the state’s initiatives in the sector.

The list of speakers also includes Shri Uday Narang, Chairman, Anglian Omega Group and Omega Seiki Mobility; Shri Mathew Vachaparampil, CEO, Caresoft Global; Shri Rahul Singh, Vice President, Software Engineering Visteon Corporation; Smt. Latha Chembrakalam, Vice President, India Continental Automotive Components (India) Pvt Ltd; Smt. Madhu Ganguly, Head, Global Vertical and Strategic Accounts, Amazon Web Services (AWS) India and Shri Vinodkumar R, Partner & Head, Business Consulting, KPMG India.

The Kerala Automotive Technology Summit 2025 will also feature an exclusive EV Display, bringing together some of the most advanced electric vehicles from leading global and domestic manufacturers. Among the highlights, Mahindra's Born Electric Vehicles 6 and 9e will make their debut showcase in Kerala, marking a significant milestone for the brand’s electric vehicle expansion in the region. The display will also include cutting-edge EV models such as the Mercedes-Benz EQA and EQS-SUV, Hyundai IONIQ 5, BMW, BMW Motorrad, and BYD, offering visitors a glimpse into the future of sustainable mobility.

In addition to the vehicle showcase, KATS 2025 will host booths from leading automotive technology companies, where industry pioneers will present their latest innovations in infotainment, e-mobility, telematics and autonomous driving solutions. This segment of the summit is set to provide a comprehensive view of the rapidly evolving landscape of electric and intelligent mobility, reinforcing Kerala’s position in the global automotive technology ecosystem.

KATS 2025 is envisaged as a launch pad for establishing Thiruvananthapuram as a global hub for SDV and EV innovation. Kerala, with its robust integration of software, hardware, and clean energy solutions, world-class infrastructure, and engineering talent pool, has the potential to emerge as a front-rank player in the mobility sector.

A report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) says the SDV market is projected to grow from $320 billion in 2024 to a whopping $1.2 trillion by 2035, reflecting a CAGR of 11.9 per cent.

Such a scenario provides significant opportunities to Kerala to unlock enormous potential in vehicle hardware and software ecosystems. In particular, Thiruvananthapuram, with its thriving technology ecosystem and expertise in automotive R&D, is uniquely positioned to capitalize on this transformative opportunity.

Further, the automotive technology revolution promises significant economic benefits for Kerala in terms of economic growth, high-value job creation and retention of talent. Increased investments in SDV and EV technologies will create thousands of high-paying jobs, boost Kerala’s GDP, drive ancillary industry growth, and attract global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers to establish R&D and manufacturing operations in the state.

Significantly, by hosting KATS 2025, Thiruvananthapuram will position itself as a key player in the global automotive supply chain and give an impetus to its vision for sustainable transportation by reducing carbon emissions and dependency on fossil fuels. Also, the city will gain recognition as a hub for cutting-edge automotive R&D and innovation, attracting international collaborations.

For registration, log on to https://ciiautotechsummit.in/