Firestone introduced a new farm tyre, the Performer Extra, which comes with a 20% extra life compared to its predecessors, in the European market.

Based on the popular Firestone Performer 85 and 70 tyres, the Performer Extra’s extended life of the tyre helps to reduce its environmental footprint, as well as cutting down on long-term operational costs and improving business efficiency.

Its dual-angel lug brings great traction, while the extra load option allows a higher loading capacity than many competitor products. Like its predecessors, the Firestone Performer Extra has been designed with reliability as a priority. The tyre has a self-cleaning tread for excellent traction and improved fuel efficiency, while the flexible casing of the tyre reduces soil compaction and improves road handling and comfort.

The Firestone Performer Extra will progressively be released to the European market in 43 different sizes, ranging from 20 to 42 inches, from July 2020. The tyre was developed in Bridgestone’s European R&D centre in Italy and is produced in the Bridgestone plant in Puente San Miguel, Spain. As the Performer and Performer Extra tyre ranges maintain the same dimensions they are inter-compatible both on the same vehicle and on the same axle. Like the Firestone Performer 85 and 70, the Performer Extra can be fit to most tractors used for agriculture.

“Helping farmers has been at the heart of Firestone since this business was founded – Harvey Firestone himself was born on a farm,” says Mark Sanders, Head of Sales Agriculture, Bridgestone EMIA. “This is why, to this day, we have maintained our commitment to solving common farmer needs through strong and reliable products. The Firestone Performer Extra, the latest addition to our popular Performer range, offers all the benefits of its predecessors but now with a significantly longer tyre life. 20 percent is a huge difference and will be a real cost-saver for the farmers that will choose to make their operations more efficient and sustainable with the Firestone Performer Extra.” (MT)

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THINK Gas, one of the leading players in city gas distribution business (CGD) has commenced the implementation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board’s (PNGRB) National Drive 2.0.

The campaign, inaugurated by Dr Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson of PNGRB, aims to expand the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) station network across 10 states.

THINK Gas, the merged entity of AG&P Pratham and THINK Gas, is a leading player in India’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) business. It has 19 CGD licenses awarded by the Petroleum & Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) under the aegis of Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) to exclusively develop CGD infrastructure and provide natural gas across 49 Districts in the 10 states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The initiative aligns with the ‘One Nation, One Grid, One Tariff’ framework, which seeks to standardise gas access.

Dr Anil Kumar Jain, Chairperson, PNGRB, said, “National Drive 2.0 is a focused initiative of PNGRB to deepen the reach of City Gas Distribution networks and accelerate the adoption of PNG and CNG across the country. The Unified Tariff framework is enhancing affordability, transparency, and access, ensuring that regulatory reforms translate into direct consumer benefits. THINK Gas has exemplified this vision by investing over INR 5.1 billion in the Barmer–Jodhpur–Jaisalmer Geographical Area and adopting a unique LCNG-based hybrid supply model to ensure uninterrupted gas supply even in the absence of pipeline connectivity.”

Amitava Sengupta, Chairman, THINK Gas, said, “PNGRB’s National Drive 2.0 is a landmark initiative that will play a pivotal role in accelerating the adoption of PNG and CNG across India. This drive comes close on the heels of the implementation of landmark tariff reforms by the PNGRB when Domestic PNG and CNG segments will benefit from a preferential tariff system.”

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The Institute Incubation and Innovation Council (I3C) at the Indian Institute of Technology Jammu (IIT Jammu) has formed a collaboration with Skill-Lync to provide certificate courses in mobility engineering.

The partnership is designed to address the transition within the automotive sector toward electric vehicles (EVs) and software-defined vehicle (SDV) platforms.

Till date, Skill-Lync is said to have trained over 20,000 engineering professionals in the last three years across 80 organisations in domains including electronics, embedded systems, and advanced manufacturing. The curriculum combines the academic research approach of IIT Jammu with industry practices derived from these collaborations. The global automotive electronics market is projected to increase from USD 280 billion in 2024 to over USD 468 billion by 2030, driving demand for engineers skilled in systems engineering and power electronics.

“At I3C-IIT Jammu, we remain committed to advancing engineering excellence and contributing meaningfully to India’s technology ecosystem. Collaborating with Skill-Lync allows us to support well-structured initiatives aligned with the evolving needs of the mobility and automotive sector,” said a statement from I3C-IIT Jammu.

Krishna Bandaru, Co-Founder, Skill-Lync, said, “Our in-depth work with automotive organisations has given us strong validation of how engineering roles are evolving across EVs, software-defined platforms, and advanced manufacturing. Partnering with I3C-IIT Jammu to offer IIT Jammu Certificate Courses allows us to shape these learnings with greater academic structure, credibility, and long-term impact.”

The initiative aligns with the shift by manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and JSW MG Motor India toward connected vehicle architectures. The programs cover battery technologies, over-the-air (OTA) architectures and data-enabled systems. Applications for the certificate programmes are open on the platforms of both organisations, with scholarship benefits available for eligible candidates.

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AIS Windshield Experts, a subsidiary of Asahi India Glass (AIS), has introduced a service model designed to manage the insurance claims process for motorists. As the company expands its network across India, it is transitioning into a concierge model to handle the administrative tasks associated with vehicle glass repair.

The brand has established tie-ups with major insurance providers in India to create a cashless ecosystem. Under this system, the company manages the lifecycle of the claim, including filing and document inspection. This removes the requirement for customers to fill out forms or pay for repairs upfront and wait for reimbursements.

In addition to administrative management, the company operates a fleet of mobile service vans. This allows company-trained technicians to perform glass replacement or repair at the customer’s home or office using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) grade materials.

Ratish Ramanujam, COO & Executive Director, AIS Windshield Experts, said: "Ours is a promise of accessibility. We know that for a car owner, the damage to the vehicle is only half the stress, the other half is the ordeal of getting it fixed and claim insurance. We have built a system where the customer’s only job is to give us a call. We handle the insurance companies, we handle the paperwork, and we handle the repair. Our goal is to save the customer's most precious resource: their time."

The expansion of these services across the country aims to standardise the car care experience by integrating repair services directly with the insurance sector.

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Tvarra, an Indian helmet brand for women, has announced that Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues has become an Investor Partner in the company.

The equity-led partnership is based on a long-term collaboration focused on the brand's vision of safety and independence for women.

Founded by Alpana Parida, Tvarra was established to address a gap in the safety ecosystem, where helmets were often versions of products designed for men. Tvarra helmets are claimed to be engineered for women’s head sizes, weight distribution and urban commuting requirements, including considerations for hair and earrings. The products carry ISI and DOT certifications, meeting both Indian and international safety standards.

Alpana Parida, Founder, Tvarra, said, “Every woman deserves the freedom to step out into the world with confidence. Whether it’s riding to college, heading to work, or pursuing something meaningful to her, safety should never be a barrier. Jemimah’s discipline, energy, and clarity of purpose reflect exactly how we think about building safety — thoughtfully, responsibly, and for the long term.”

As an investor partner, Rodrigues will participate in shaping the brand's vision and advocating for safety. Her role is defined as ownership rather than a standard endorsement.

Jemimah Rodrigues, Investor Partner, said, “Sport teaches you preparation, consistency, and belief. Everyday life teaches women the same things. Mobility builds confidence. Safety builds courage. Tvarra is building both—and that’s why this partnership feels personal to me.”

Tvarra helmets are available through online channels in over 600 cities. The company’s 2026 roadmap includes expansion into offline retail and the introduction of new categories, such as helmets for riders aged 5 to 16.

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