Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) unveiled the Innova HyCross today. The Innova HyCross is a self-charging Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle (SHEV).

TKM claims that the Innova HyCross is powered by fifth generation self-charging Strong Hybrid Electric system, with a TNGA 2.0-litre four-cylinder gasoline engine and a monocoque frame with an e-drive sequential shift, delivering a max power output of 137 kW (186 PS). According to TKM, this provides rapid acceleration and best in-segment fuel economy. The TNGA 2.0 litre four-cylinder gasoline engine is also mated to a direct shift CVT in select grades, delivering an output of 128 kW (174 PS).

Present at the launch in Mumbai, Hideki Mizuma, Chief Engineer, Innova, Toyota, said, “Innova has become an iconic vehicle in India’s mobility journey and is a household name. Today, we are happy to launch the all new Innova HyCross for our Indian customers. The self-charging Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicle, with the spaciousness of an MPV and proportions and poise of an SUV, is loaded with features to meet the aspirations of Indian customers. This feature-packed vehicle is intended for those who seek safety and comfort while travelling and would love to be a part of the new Innova HyCross family. The latest fifth generation self-charging Strong Hybrid Electric system, built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) 2.0-litre gasoline engine provides exceptional fuel efficiency, performance and quick acceleration, and is sure to be a game-changer in this segment.”

Speaking on the occasion, Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “It has been an amazing year as we celebrate 25 glorious years of Toyota in India. At TKM, sustainability continues to be at the core of our business and with an unprecedented increase in carbon emissions globally, we firmly believe that its HY time to shift gears for a greener future. In this direction, we have adopted clean and green solutions across all our operations and value chain, so that the green products that we offer to our customers are also manufactured in green factories. Additionally, we are relentlessly working towards creating a local manufacturing eco-system for green technologies, not only for India but also for the world. With the launch of the new Innova HyCross, we are redefining the paradigm and redrawing boundaries of technological and product excellence, while taking customer experience to a new HY like never before.”

Also present at the event, an elated Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said “Ever since our inception, TKM has focused on complete peace of mind for our customers. One of our biggest success stories here has been the iconic Innova, that keeps finding continued appreciation and love, across the country. Being the undisputed leader of the MPV segment, the Innova has found its home in more than a million households in India, reflecting our core DNA of quality, durability and reliability, made possible through highly skilled global competitive manpower. Our customers’ trust in the brand has motivated us to make ever better ‘fun to drive’ cars and bring in latest global technologies to India, thereby bringing ‘mass happiness to all’. We are confident that the new Innova HyCross will carry forward the brand legacy and take customer delight to a new HY.”

Features of Innova HyCross
Designed for family needs, the Innova HyCross is a vehicle for every occasion delivering glamour, toughness, comfort, safety and advanced technology. Drawing inspiration from Toyota’s global SUV heritage, this latest vehicle features a muscular and tough design, with ample space, states TKM. This ample space provides flexible and comfortable seating for all. As per TKM, the vehicle is aimed at families wanting a vehicle that can handle rough roads, and provide a seamless, fatigue-free drive.

Other key features

Exterior features
- Panoramic sunroof
- Front grille with gun metal finish
- Automatic LED headlamps with auto high beam
- First in segment dual function Daytime Running Light (DRL)

Interior features / comfort and convenience
- The first in-segment features include a paddle shift, powered ottoman second row seats, front ventilated seats, air conditioner (dual zone – front and rear zone), rear retractable sunshade, electrochromic inner rear view mirror (EC IRVM) and power back door.

- Large TFT multi-information display
- Driver seat memory and slide return and away function
- Indirect blue ambient illumination

Infotainment system
- Connected 25.65 cm (10.1”) connected display audio with premium, JBL 9 speaker (including subwoofer)
- Toyota connected car technology - iConnect

Safety features
- TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE (TSS), which includes safety features like a dynamic radar cruise control, lane trace assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, etc.
- 6 SRS airbags
- rear disc brakes
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and hill start assist
- Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) with auto hold
- Antilock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD)
- Panoramic view monitor with dynamic back guide

The Innova HyCross features a tough, muscular exterior design. TKM claims that the raised bonnet line, a large hexagonal gunmetal finish grille, automatic LED headlamps, super chrome alloy wheels and a wider bumper further enhance its sophisticated and rugged look. Also complementing the look are the bigger tyres with shorter overhangs, along with a more curved rear to augment the SUV stance. 

Moreover, according to TKM, the car provides unmatched comfort and convenience through a raised eye point and the newly-introduced Ventilated Front Seats that take care of the hot Indian summers. For the second row, the 25.65 cm (10.1″) connected display audio with JBL premium nine speaker system (including subwoofer), segment-first powered Ottoman second row seats and multi-zone A/C combine, offer a luxurious experience. TKM states that the flat floor design, wheelbase of 285 cm (longest in the segment) and platform width enhancement further ensure a spaciousness for extended family and friends to travel together. Additionally, the power back door and tilt-down seats ensure maximum space utilisation and enhanced luggage space.

As per TKM, the Innova HyCross is available in super white, platinum white pearl, silver metallic, attitude black mica, sparkling black pearl crystal shine, avant grade bronze metallic and a new colour – blackish ageha glass flake. The Interiors in black and with two new colours – chestnut and black and dark chestnut – reflect a premium impression.

TKM states that the car offers a warranty of three years/100,000 kilometres and an option of extended warranty of up to five years/220,000 kilometres, three years free roadside assistance, attractive financial schemes and eight years/160,000 kilometres warranty on the hybrid battery.

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Eicher Trucks and Buses, part of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has completed a journey from Kashmir to Kanyakumari using its Eicher Pro X EV.

The record verified by the India Book of Records (IBR), saw the electric vehicle cover over 4,000 kilometres in 6 days under loaded conditions. The run commenced in Srinagar on 20 January 2026 and concluded in Kanyakumari on 26 January 2026, traversing the Himalayas, plains and the Deccan Plateau.

Throughout the expedition, the vehicle utilised public chargers located via the MyEicher App. An adjudicator from the India Book of Records accompanied the truck to monitor route compliance, load, distance and charging stops. The mission served as a demonstration of electric vehicle endurance across diverse altitudes and climates to validate the technology for logistics corridors.

The journey was intended to show that electric commercial vehicles can operate beyond short-haul deliveries. By maintaining performance across hilly and coastal routes, the Pro X EV aimed to establish total cost of ownership (TCO) benefits and maintenance predictability for fleet operators. The successful completion of the route suggests that current charging infrastructure can support long-haul electric freight movement.

Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “For more than four decades, Eicher trucks and Buses have earned customer trust through leadership in fuel efficiency and application-specific engineering. The record-setting performance of the Eicher Pro X reinforces our unwavering focus on application excellence, reliability, and performance, anchored in robust product development and manufacturing capabilities, and enabled by a customer-centric, pan-India commercial and dealer network. I commend the entire Eicher team for achieving these well-deserved records”.

SS Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “By covering the K2K route with a loaded Pro X EV, Eicher Trucks & Buses has proven that electric mobility is no longer restricted to short-haul, ‘last-mile’ deliveries. We are not just setting records, but through the strength of our service network and extensive dealer set-up, we are demonstrating that our EV technology is commercially viable, reliable, and has the range to serve as the backbone of India’s green logistics corridors”.

Abhishek Chaudhary, SVP – SCV Sales & Marketing, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “The Eicher Pro X EV was put to the ultimate test – covering over 4000 kilometres across diverse climates and challenging altitudes. With this recognition from the India Book of Records we’ve moved beyond our own stringent testing benchmarks to real-world validation - Demonstrating that Eicher Pro X EV is a dependable partner for logistics movement across varied operations in India”.

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Montra Electric, the electric medium and heavy commercial vehicle business of the Murugappa Group, has become the first manufacturer in India to receive certification for heavy-duty electric trucks under the government's PM E-Drive Scheme.

To mark the achievement, the company delivered a Rhino 5538 EV 6x4 Tractor trailer to UltraTech Cement. The handover took place in the presence of Arun Murugappan, Chairman of Montra Electric and Sathia Raj, Chief Procurement Officer of UltraTech Cement.

The PM E-Drive scheme includes a budget of INR 5 billion specifically for electric trucks, providing a benefit of up to INR 960,000 per vehicle for the Rhino 5538 EV. This incentive is intended to lower operating costs and reduce exposure to fuel price volatility for fleet operators in the logistics, mining, and manufacturing sectors. The Rhino 5538 EV range is designed for Indian conditions and is available in 6x4 and 4x2 variants.

The Rhino 5538 EV 4x2 variant features a 282 kWh LFP battery that produces 380 HP and 2000 Nm of torque. It offers a range of approximately 198 km under standard test conditions and supports six-minute battery swaps. These specifications suit the vehicle for high-utilisation applications in ports, steel plants, and cement logistics.

H D Kumaraswamy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries, said, "The PM E-Drive scheme is a testament to the growing prowess of Indian innovation in the heavy-duty electric vehicle segment. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we are committed to decarbonizing our logistics and making India a global hub for EV manufacturing. Electric trucks are pivotal to our Net Zero goals, and by fostering a self-reliant ecosystem through such certifications, we are driving the spirit of Atmanirbhar Viksit Bharat. We are very happy to see our Prime Minister’s vision coming to life with the 1st PM E-Drive certified heavy duty electric truck from 'Montra Electric' getting delivered today."

Arun Murugappan, Chairman, Montra Electric, said: “Decarbonising freight is one of the most critical challenges in India’s energy transition. We are grateful to the Government of India and our Prime Minister Narendra Modi for introducing forward-looking and progressive policy frameworks such as the PM E-Drive Scheme, which represent a welcome and transformative step in accelerating this shift, particularly in heavy commercial vehicles where emissions intensity is high. At Montra Electric, we are proud to contribute to this national mission by delivering technologically advanced, reliable, and scalable electric M&HCV solutions that can drive meaningful and lasting change in India’s mobility ecosystem.”

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Chartered Speed and EKA Mobility have received a Letter of Confirmation of Quantity (LOCQ) to deploy 1,750 electric buses in Bengaluru under the PM E-Drive Scheme. This allocation accounts for approximately 39 percent of the city's total planned induction of 4,500 electric buses. The initiative is part of the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation effort to expand its network in line with the decarbonisation roadmap of the Government of India.

The partnership combines the operational services of Chartered Speed with the vehicle manufacturing and technology of EKA Mobility. Operational protocols for the fleet include maintenance, battery monitoring, and driver training. Chartered Speed has stated its intention to transition 25 percent of its total fleet to electric power by Fiscal 2027.

The deployment aims to support public transport infrastructure in the region through investments in charging and maintenance facilities. Bengaluru is currently expanding its electric transport capacity to meet state mobility targets. The project focuses on providing urban transport solutions for the city's commuter base while reducing the carbon footprint of the public system.

Sanyam Gandhi, Whole-Time Director, Chartered Speed, said,  “Bengaluru is a key mobility hub in India, and electric buses are part of the efforts to build a cleaner and more efficient public transport system. The PM E-Drive allocation strengthens Chartered Speed Limited’s long-term commitment to sustainable mass mobility. As one of the early adopters of e-mobility, we aim to convert around 25% of our fleet to electric by Fiscal 2027, supported by strong infrastructure investments to deliver commuter-centric services aimed at lasting socio-economic impact.”

Rohit Srivastava, Business Head & Chief Growth Officer, EKA Mobility, added, “The PM E-Drive initiative is a powerful enabler of India’s electric mobility vision, and Bengaluru’s large-scale adoption of electric buses sets a strong benchmark for urban transport transformation. At EKA Mobility, we are proud to partner with Chartered Speed and contribute to Bengaluru’s journey towards a more sustainable urban future. It is not just about scale, but about creating cleaner mobility solutions, quieter streets, and a better daily commute for millions.”

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Suzuki Motor Corporation and its subsidiary, Suzuki R&D Centre India (SRDI), have inaugurated the Banas Suzuki Biogas Plant in Bhukhala, Gujarat. The facility, which opened on 18 January 2026, is the second such plant following the Agthala site that commenced operations in December 2025.

The plant is designed to process up to 100 tonnes of cow dung per day to produce approximately 1.5 tonnes of biogas. This output is equivalent to the daily fuel requirements of 850 compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. In addition to fuel production, the facility will sell organic fertiliser generated as a byproduct of the process.

The project is part of an agreement signed in September 2023 between SRDI, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and Banas Dairy. The partners have agreed to construct a total of five biogas plants in the region. The Bhukhala site covers an area of 27,000 square metres and forms a component of Suzuki’s strategy to support carbon neutrality in India.

The use of biogas serves as a carbon-neutral alternative for CNG vehicles, which currently represent 20 percent of the Indian passenger car market. Beyond emission reductions, the initiative is intended to improve energy self-sufficiency and increase rural income through the purchase of cattle waste from local farmers.

The opening ceremony was attended by Acharya Devvrat, Governor of Gujarat and Shankar Chaudhary, Chairman of Banas Dairy and Speaker of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. Representing Suzuki was Kenichiro Toyofuku, Managing Officer and Executive General Manager of Biogas Operations.

The company stated that it will continue to develop its biogas business to contribute to national growth and environmental targets. The operation is expected to create jobs within the district while providing fuel for high-demand vehicle segments.

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