Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has opened a new Open Innovation Hub in India, focused on advancements in electric vehicle (EV) technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomous driving systems. The India facility is JLR’s fifth such hub, following similar centres in the UK, US, Israel, and Brazil. This expansion aligns with JLR’s ongoing initiative to foster innovation since it launched its Open Innovation Programme in 2022.

The new hub in India will work closely with local startups and technology firms, with support from Plug and Play, a corporate innovation platform and investor. Key areas of collaboration include deep tech fields such as data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and sensor technologies. The hub will also prioritize enhancing EV battery performance, refining ADAS capabilities, and assessing locations for EV charging infrastructure.

Since the Open Innovation Programme’s inception, JLR has engaged with over 2,500 startups globally, establishing 33 formal partnerships. Igor Murakami, JLR’s Innovation Director, noted that India’s startup ecosystem and JLR’s connections with Tata Group contribute to making India a strategic location for the new hub. “The addition of an Innovation Hub in India enhances our capacity to collaborate globally and drive innovations that support vehicle design, features, and customer experiences,” Murakami stated in the press release.

Lalitha Indrakanti, CEO of JLR Technology & Business Services India, highlighted the focus on leveraging India’s technical talent to advance sustainability and mobility innovations. Sobhan Khani, Partner at Plug and Play, also expressed optimism about the collaboration, emphasizing its potential to strengthen Plug and Play’s global mobility ecosystem.