Punch Powertrain won the ICE / Hybrid Powertrain / Alternative Fuel Tech Innovation Award at the ET AutoTech Awards 2026, held at the Sheraton Grand Whitefield, Bengaluru. The award recognises the DHT120, Punch Powertrain’s Dedicated Hybrid Transmission, as a breakthrough innovation in hybrid powertrain technology for India’s automotive market.
The ET AutoTech Awards are part of the ETAutoTech Summit, organised by The Economic Times Auto, one of Asia’s most prominent automotive technology platforms. The summit brings together senior automotive executives and industry leaders from across India. The 2026 edition marked the 7th year of the summit. The awards jury was headed by CV Raman, Former CTO of Maruti Suzuki India, who evaluated entries across multiple automotive technology categories.
Punch Powertrain was represented by Sanjeet Acharya (Country Manager India), Akshay Thange (Communication Specialist), and Ajay Balpande (Mechanical Architect) at the Bengaluru ceremony.
Winning this award at one of India's most prestigious automotive technology platforms is a proud moment for our entire global team. The Punch DHT120 was built to solve a real problem. India's B-segment had no affordable full hybrid solution. This recognition from the Indian automotive industry confirms that we are on the right path. We look forward to deepening our partnerships with Indian OEMs and contributing to India's hybrid transition.
About DHT120
India’s B-segment passenger vehicle market runs almost entirely on conventional ICE powertrains. With CAFE III regulations tightening from April 2027, Indian OEMs face the challenge of transitioning B-segment vehicles to hybrid without increasing vehicle cost or complexity. Existing hybrid systems were designed for mid and premium segments, making them too costly for entry-level vehicles. The Punch DHT120 was designed to fill this gap.
The Punch DHT120 is a Dedicated Hybrid Transmission purpose-built for B-segment vehicles, delivering full hybrid performance, EV-like drivability, and significant fuel efficiency improvement at an accessible cost. It replaces the conventional gearbox in any compatible vehicle, enabling full hybrid powertrain performance without engine replacement. Compatible with both conventional ICE and dedicated hybrid engines, the Punch DHT120 delivers up to 31% fuel efficiency improvement on the WLTP cycle and fuel consumption below 4 litres per 100km for B-segment vehicles.
The system supports four hybrid operating modes including Series, Parallel, EV, and Standstill Charging, enabling intelligent energy management across all driving conditions. The Punch DHT120 is also Range Extender capable, enabling EV-like urban driving without charging infrastructure dependency. The fully in-house developed powertrain domain controller integrates the Vehicle Control Unit, Hybrid Control Unit, Transmission Control Unit, and Motor Control Units on a single board. The complete software stack is ISO 26262 and ISO 21434 compliant.
The DHT120 is part of Punch Powertrain’s broader DHT family, spanning DHT120 for B-segment passenger cars, DHT150 and DHT200 for compact and larger SUVs, and DHT L for SCV and LCV applications. All variants share a common platform architecture developed across Punch Powertrain’s global teams in Belgium, China, India, Malaysia, and France.
Learn more about : DHT120
Read the full ET Auto coverage: ET AutoTech Awards 2026 Winners
About Punch Powertrain
Punch Powertrain is an independent automotive powertrain supplier, developing and producing transmission and electrification solutions, including hybrid systems, BEV drivetrains, and controllers for the global automotive industry. With operations in Belgium, China, India, France, and Malaysia, Punch Powertrain is committed to delivering affordable, innovative, and sustainable mobility solutions.
