Maini Group, which introduced India’s first electric vehicle in the 1990s, has a longstanding commitment to electrifying in-plant machinery, especially in the Class 3 category of the material handling industry.
In a significant development in India’s autonomous mobility sector, Maini Group has partnered with SiMa.ai to integrate autonomous technology into industrial vehicles. This collaboration is aimed at enhancing material-handling vehicles through SiMa.ai’s ONE Platform for Edge AI under Maini’s subsidiary, Virya Autonomous Technologies. Maini Group, a leader in electric vehicles since launching India’s first EV in the 1990s, holds a substantial 35% market share in organized, in-plant handling solutions. The firm produces approximately 2,000 machines annually within the Class 3 material handling segment, which includes tow trucks, stackers, and reach trucks.
The deployment of SiMa.ai’s technology, which features MLSoC technology for machine learning on the edge, aims to improve logistics and industrial operations by making them safer, more cost-effective, and more intelligent. With a planned rollout by April 2025, this initiative represents a pivotal step in Maini Group’s long-term strategy to electrify in-plant machinery, a commitment dating back to its founding in 1984.
Harald Kroeger, a board member at SiMa.ai, emphasised that the rapid advancement of AI is set to transform the autonomous mobility landscape, with the partnership poised to set new standards in the industry. On the other hand, Saba Gurusubramanian, CTO of Virya Autonomous Technologies, highlighted the future potential of AI in robotics and autonomous systems, promising enhanced performance and power efficiency in logistics solutions.
Maini Group also expressed intentions to extend its autonomous technology solutions beyond industrial applications to include autonomous passenger transport, with ongoing projects at airports and educational institutions. This move marks a strategic expansion in their autonomous mobility offerings, aiming to address a broad spectrum of operational needs across various industries. The partnership underscores a joint vision to drive innovation and establish a sustainable future for autonomous mobility in India.
