General Atomics to partner with Indian startup

IN a boost to the ‘Make in India' initiative, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has announced a strategic partnership with an Indian start-up company that develops next generation computer chips, integrated circuits and other semiconductor technologies.

‘General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) is delighted to announce a strategic partnership with 3rdiTech,' said Dr Vivek Lall, chief executive of General Atomics Global Corporation.

‘Semiconductors are going to be the defining technology of this era. The team and capability being developed at 3rdiTech are representative of the new India under Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's leadership,' he said on Tuesday (27).

Lall said GA-ASI will work with 3rdiTech, one of the inaugural winners of the Indian Ministry of Defence's flagship iDEX Programme, to transition this cutting-edge capability onto some of India's platforms.

GA-ASI has been working closely with 3rdiTech since 2021 and the companies will now work to co-design and co-develop products for the Indian and global markets.

Tata leads India's EV market, helped by government subsidies and high tariffs on imports.

Tata's Tiago EV, an electric version of its popular Tiago hatchback, will have a sticker price starting from Rs. 849,000 ($10,370). The bulk of cars sold in India, the world's fourth-largest car market, are priced below $15,000.

That is much cheaper than India's next most affordable EV - the electric version of Tata's Tigor compact sedan which starts at around $14,940.

The Tiago EV's operating cost is expected to be about a seventh of the gasoline version, making it a ‘compelling proposition', said Shailesh Chandra, managing director of Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles and its EV subsidiary.

‘We are not chasing to be the lowest cost,' said Chandra, adding the aim was to pack in connected car features and other advanced technologies while keeping the price accessible.