UFI Filters, an industry leader in filtration and thermal management solutions, today launched a cabin air filtration, SOFIMA D+FEND Anti-virus, which delivers a 99.5% reduction in viruses and a 99.9% in bacteria.

According to UFI Filters,  the laboratory tests have certified the capacity of the new filter to neutralize coronaviruses from the SARS-COV family (kill rate 99.5%), as well as influenza A H1N1, H3N2 and H7N9, in addition to various types of dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and staphylococcus aureus (kill rate 99.9%).

For the Indian market, innovative SOFIMA D+FEND Anti-virus filters will be produced at SOFIMA FILTERS INDIA Plant in Bahadurgarh. It belongs to product code family ending with KN2 and caters to the aftermarket space.

Luca Betti, Group Aftermarket Business Unit Director, said, "We are extremely proud of the results achieved thanks to the collaboration of our Innovation Centers in China, India and in Italy. UFI Filters Group has chosen to give a meaningful name to this innovative D+FEND Anti-virus filter media, which has been certified according to ISO 11155-1:2001 standard having a filtration efficiency of more than 95 percent for aerosol particles, with dimension equal to 0.3 microns. When applied to cabin air filters, this innovative material thus offers a clear improvement in the quality of the air inside vehicles, during a historical period in which the health of the individual is absolutely paramount."

Hridesh Sharma, CEO of UFI Filters India, said, “The investment made by UFI Filters Group in Research and Development is ongoing. This innovative product bears testament to our desire to remain at the cutting edge when it comes to innovation and is evidence of the exceptional ability of our technicians to work with laboratories and certified institutions at international level."

SOFIMA D+FEND Anti-virus incorporates the antimicrobial and antiviral active substances into the fibers themselves, which are made up of polymeric material. Thanks to the prolonged release of ions from the two elements embedded in the fibers, the filter has the power to destroy the bacterial and viral load over a prolonged period, unlike other solutions on the market today, the properties of which are diminished after just a few working cycles following the installation of the filter on the vehicle. (MT)

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Lusso Designs India, a vehicle customisation company and part of Arpanna Group of Companies, has opened its first flagship experience centre in Mumbai.

The facility will function as a showroom and design atelier, displaying vehicles and components such as alloy wheels and upholstery. Lusso Designs is collaborating with designer Dhanesh Chheda of Just Men for this venture.

The company operates production hubs in Pune and Dubai and caters to brands such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Porsche, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Kia India and Hyundai Motor India.

Pratik Malkan, Chairman, Arpanna Group of Companies, said, "For over five decades, our Group has been built on the belief that enduring businesses are created by combining craftsmanship, innovation and an uncompromising commitment to quality. Lusso Designs represents the natural evolution of that philosophy into the luxury mobility space. India today is witnessing a new generation of discerning consumers who seek experiences that are deeply personal and globally benchmarked. With Lusso, we are not simply introducing another automotive customisation brand—we are creating an ecosystem where design, engineering and craftsmanship come together to redefine luxury ownership for the Indian market and beyond."

Vihaan Malkan, Director, Lusso Designs, said, "The inauguration of our flagship experience centre in Mumbai marks the beginning of a new chapter for the luxury automotive ecosystem in India. Over the past five decades, our group's legacy has been anchored on absolute discretion, precision engineering, and uncompromising quality. Through this experience centre, we are seamlessly fusing international luxury benchmarks with local design sensibilities. We are empowering discerning Indian vehicle owners to realise their ultimate vision of ultra-luxury, personalised comfort, and sustainable design, transforming their vehicles into a true extension of their individual identity."

The new facility is designed for vehicle customisation, offering services ranging from interior overhauls to the integration of materials.

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Tropicool Autotronics has unveiled its 360deg Around View Monitoring (AVM) System for commercial vehicles at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in India. The system is designed to improve driver visibility and eliminate blind spots.

It provides a bird's-eye view using four HD cameras, offering dynamic guidelines for parking and reversing. The system features automatic camera switching based on vehicle movement and multi-channel recording. The architecture is built to support future safety applications and is designed for buses, trucks and commercial vehicles.

Khushboo Shinagare, CEO, Tropicool Autotronics, said, "Commercial vehicle safety is evolving rapidly, and visibility is one of the biggest challenges drivers face every day. Our 360deg AVM System empowers drivers with complete situational awareness, reducing blind spots and improving passenger and pedestrian safety. We are delighted to introduce this solution at Prawaas 5.0 and support India's vision for safer, smarter mobility."

This launch expands the company’s portfolio, which includes vehicle electronics, parking assistance and passenger systems.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has attained a new milestone of having a total of 6,000 service touchpoints across India with the opening of a new facility in Kozhikode, Kerala. The company’s service network now operates in over 3,000 cities and towns.

The new workshop in Kozhikode covers 1,820 square metres and includes service bays, body repair bays and electric vehicle charging and service capabilities.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO of Maruti Suzuki India, said, “In automobile business, along with the product, the convenience of quality service support is essential to enhancing a customer’s vehicle ownership experience. As our customer base continues to grow, we are equally focused on expanding our service network to provide greater convenience and peace of mind to customers. The inauguration of our 6,000th service touchpoint reflects this commitment. I would like to thank our dealer partners and service team, as together we have accelerated workshop activation and added our most recent 1,000 touchpoints in just around two years. Going forward, we will continue to strengthen our service footprint, and in FY 2026-27, we plan to add about 500* service touchpoints across the country.”

The company’s service network includes workshops, sales and service points, rural workshops and mobile service units. Maruti Suzuki also provides digital tools for customers, such as the Maruti Suzuki App, an AI-powered virtual assistant called S-Assist and vehicle health assessment documents.

In the 2025-26 financial year, Maruti Suzuki opened 502 service touchpoints and recorded 28.4 million vehicle services.

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Tesla has inaugurated a destination charging station at Nexus Select Citywalk in New Delhi. The site features six 11 kW AC destination chargers located in the P1 parking area. This addition brings Tesla's total in India to 6 charging stations, comprising 20 superchargers and 20 destination chargers.

Alongside the charging site, Tesla has opened a pop-up store at the mall, which operates from 6 July to 10 July between 11 AM and 9 PM. Visitors can view the Model Y L and the 2026 Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive.

The Model Y L is a six-seat SUV with a cargo capacity of 2,539 litres and a range of 681 km. Pricing for the Model Y L begins at INR 6.19 million, with monthly EMIs from INR 49,990 and a down payment of INR 650,000.

The 2026 Model Y Premium Rear-Wheel Drive seats five passengers, offers 2,138 litres of cargo space, and provides a range of 500 km. It is priced at INR 5.08 million, with EMIs starting at INR 39,990 and a down payment of INR 650,000.

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