The India Tech Centre, located in Bengaluru, India’s “Silicon Valley”, is a key innovation and development hub for HL Klemove, located in the tech city of Bengaluru, India. Established in 2012, the centre leverages the region’s highly skilled talent pool, renowned for its engineering and technology expertise, to drive advancements in automotive solutions.
As of 2024, the India Tech Centre employs over 250 engineers and technical professionals. This talented workforce focuses on critical areas of automotive technology, including vehicle electrification, autonomous driving, advanced safety systems, and connected vehicle solutions, making it a cornerstone of HL Klemove’s global innovation strategy.
Type of Work Done:
HL Klemove India Tech Centre is dedicated to R&D, product development, and system integration for the automotive industry. We offer expertise in automated driving systems, infotainment, electrical powertrain solutions, battery management systems, ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), vehicle connectivity, and mobility solutions.
The centre plays a dual role, contributing to global projects and developing India-specific solutions tailored to unique demands of the local market. This approach ensures both innovation and relevance in addressing diverse automotive needs.
Key Highlights in 2024 at India Tech Centre
In 2024, the India Tech Centre witnessed several important developments:
1. Establishment of India’s First ADAS Production Line: The centre played a pivotal role in setting up India’s first ADAS production line, marking a major milestone in the country’s automotive industry. This initiative ensures localized manufacturing of advanced safety systems, catering specifically to the needs of Indian OEMs and customers.
2. Launch of New Vehicle Electrification Solutions: The India Tech centre significantly advanced its capabilities in electric vehicle (EV) development, supporting HL Klemove’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.
3. Strengthening Local Product Development: The India Tech Centre made significant advancements in designing and testing vehicle solutions tailored to India’s unique road and weather conditions, ensuring robust performance in diverse environments. Additionally, the centre expanded its testing and simulation infrastructure, boosting capacity for evaluating vehicle performance, safety, electrification, and autonomous driving technologies to support the development of cutting-edge automotive solutions.
4. Collaboration with Academia: The centre deepened its industry-academia partnerships with local universities and research institutions. These collaboration have accelerated the development of talent specialized in key areas such as automobile engineering, AI/ML (Machine Learning) for autonomous systems, and electric propulsion technologies, fostering innovation and supporting the growth of India’s automotive ecosystem.
Industry-Academia Collaboration
At HL Klemove, collaboration with academia plays a critical role in nurturing talent and innovation. The company actively partners with universities, research institutes, and technical colleges, focusing on the following areas:
1. Internship Programs: The India Tech Centre offers internships for engineering students, providing hands-on experience in cutting-edge automotive technologies such as autonomous driving, EV solutions, and connected car systems.
2. Joint Research Initiatives: HL Klemove partners with academia on joint research projects in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), vehicle electrification, and sustainable mobility.
3. Talent Development and Recruitment: The company actively collaborates with educational institutions by conducting workshops, training programs, and seminars to share industry insights, fostering skill development in specific automotive technologies while creating a pipeline for recruiting top talent
4. Sponsorships and Scholarships: HL Klemove supports promising students through scholarship and sponsorships, enabling them to pursue degrees and certifications in automotive-related fields and ensuring a steady supply of skilled professionals for the industry.
Major OEM Clients and Services
HL Klemove partners with leading OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) globally and in local market, delivering advanced automotive technologies tailored to client needs. Key clients include Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) and other notable India based OEMs.
The key offerings to OEMs include:
1. Autonomous and ADAS Systems: Solutions for autonomous driving and driver-assistance systems such as lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and emergency braking systems.
2. Connected Vehicle Technologies: Telematics, infotainment systems, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication systems for advanced technology.
3. Software and Simulation: Software for vehicle simulation, testing, and validation, particularly in the areas of safety, performance, and mobility solutions meet rigorous standards.
Our strength lies in developing India-Specific Products/applications
With India’s unique challenges, including diverse road conditions, extreme weather, and varied driving behaviours, demand specialized solutions. HL Klemove leverages its global capabilities to design and develop products tailored to these needs by:
1. Testing Under Local Conditions: Products are rigorously tested under real-life conditions in India, accounting for the factors such as high temperatures, humidity, dust, and monsoon rains. The India Tech Centre has a dedicated test fleet and infrastructure for this purpose.
2. Adaptation to Road Conditions: Systems are designed to withstand unpredictable traffic, poor-quality roads, and diverse driving habits, ensuring durability and reliability specifically for the Indian market.
3. Collaboration with Local Manufacturers: HL Klemove works closely with Indian suppliers to ensure that the parts and materials used are well-suited to local environmental conditions and cost-effective.
Key highlights in 2024 at the India Tech Centre include the establishment of India’s first ADAS production line, the launch of new vehicle electrification solutions, and the strengthening of local product development.
Mission of excellence: Interview with Kian S You, Head of R&D at HL Klemove India Tech Center
HL Klemove Bengaluru Tech Center was launched to research, develop and test future generation products tailor made for Indian Automotive industry. Kian S You, Head of R&D at HL Klemove India Tech Center has seen the rise and rise of this establishment.
1. How long have you been working in India, and what has been your experience so far?
I began working in India in 2019, and it has been nearly six years now. My initial focus was on AI software development and ADAS localization. Over time, I’ve come to admire India’s incredible diversity and the energy it brings to innovation. Today, I consider India my second home.
2. What were the key highlights in 2024 at the India Tech Centre?
In 2024, the India Tech Centre (ITC) achieved key milestones, such as localizing ADAS production, advancing Basic Software (BSW) capabilities, and delivering end-to-end AI solutions. We also focused on hardware development, validation, and improving software testing. A standout achievement was the successful launch of vehicles tailored for India, featuring ADAS L2/L2+ systems optimized for the country’s unique environment.
3. We understand that there’s a fair amount of collaboration between industry and academia to nurture talent dedicated to automobile solutions these days. What’s HL Klemove’s policy in this respect?
HL Klemove strongly values the collaboration between industry and academia. We offer internship programs and host the ‘Stride Conference,’ where we engage with top talent through research paper submissions from Indian universities, providing rewards and job opportunities. Additionally, we’re forging MOUs with Indian universities to enhance research partnerships, while in Korea, we collaborate with academia on advanced R&D initiatives.
4. Who are your major OEM clients, and what services/products are you offering them?
We collaborate with leading Indian OEMs to localize ADAS solutions, covering everything from system requirements to validation. We develop camera and radar software tailored to India’s diverse driving conditions, ensuring seamless integration of these systems for local needs.
5. How do you develop India-specific products given your global capabilities?
The ITC combines global expertise with deep local insights to create solutions designed for India’s unique challenges. By considering factors like road conditions, vehicle types, and driving behaviors, we craft products that address the specific needs of the Indian market.
6. In your view, what are the challenges in developing products for the Indian market?
One key challenge is the lack of ADAS-related regulations in India, which need to be established promptly to ensure safety. Additionally, increasing consumer awareness about the benefits and importance of these systems is crucial for their widespread adoption.
7. HL Klemove’s clients are mainly India based OEM’s which sells both ICE vehicles and BEVs. What’s your role in developing technologies and solutions for them?
HL Klemove collaborated with key India based OEM’s to provide advanced ADAS technologies, specifically L2+ systems based on radar and camera technologies, enhancing the capabilities of both their ICE and BEV models.
8. How do you see the India market developing in the medium to long term, and what does it mean for HL Klemove’s India setup?
India’s market is poised for steady growth with a rising middle class, increasing vehicle ownership, and a projected 6.5% annual GDP growth rate. As India emerges as a key player in the global supply chain, HL Klemove plans to expand production capacity and enhance the ITC’s capabilities to capitalize on this dynamic opportunity in the automotive sector.
9. What are the emerging trends relevant to your business in India?
India is aligning quickly with global automotive trends, such as end-to-end AI, Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs), and ADAS L2+ solutions for both highways and urban environments. HL Klemove is focusing on these trends to meet the growing demands of the Indian market and deliver cutting-edge solutions.