The second annual edition of Toyota Kirloskar Motor's (TKM) flagship Toyota Safety Education Programme (TSEP) has finished successfully in Bangalore. Titled ‘Road Safety – My Right, My Responsibility’, the campaign keeps educating and enforcing the obligation of future road users in order to create safer roads throughout India.

Chief Guest Dr Anil Kumar, Bangalore Traffic Police Department, along with Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President & Head State Affairs, TKM, highlighted the importance of fostering road safety awareness at the grassroots level. TSEP, which was created to include schoolchildren as important road safety ambassadors, has shown itself to be a transformative programme that fosters responsible driving behaviour and has a cascading effect on families and communities. Measurable results show that TSEP is successful; assessments show that participants' understanding of road safety has significantly increased, underscoring the programme's ability to instil a culture of road safety in young students.

With more than 150,000 fatalities annually, India has the greatest number of road collision deaths worldwide. For those aged 5 to 29, road accidents continue to be the primary cause of mortality. TKM introduced TSEP in 2007 to address this challenge by including road safety into the curriculum of schools. Over 800,000 pupils countrywide have benefited from TSEP's ‘Child to Community’ programme, which has turned schoolchildren into road safety champions. Building on its achievements, TKM commemorated the completion of programme batches in Delhi and Bangalore this year. Mumbai will host the next phase of the programme as it grows, with an annual event scheduled for 11 February 2025. The initiative seeks to strengthen its commitment to attaining zero road fatalities by involving nearly 70,000 children and 600 instructors in 140 schools.

Students demonstrated their knowledge of road safety through activities including poster-making, skits, songs, Mad Ads and fact-based video presentations at the Bangalore event. These interactive formats inspired creative ideas for safer roadways while making learning interesting and effective. An awards ceremony celebrating the outstanding work of students, instructors and schools that were instrumental in enhancing the programme's effect marked the event's conclusion.

Dr Kumar said, “Programmes like the Toyota Safety Education Programme demonstrate the powerful impact of early education and community engagement in fostering responsible road behaviour. By focusing on schoolchildren, TKM is successfully empowering a generation to lead the change within their families and communities. The creativity and enthusiasm shown by students highlight the effectiveness of this initiative in inspiring a long-term commitment to road safety. Toyota’s dedication to reducing road accidents and ensuring citizen safety sets a commendable benchmark for corporate contributions towards national safety goals.”

Dalvi said, “At Toyota, our commitment to road safety extends beyond the manufacturing of safe cars; we strive to grow in tandem with society and enrich the lives of the communities we serve. By promoting road safety and instilling behavioural change, we aim to create a safer future for all. Since 2007, through initiatives like the Toyota Safety Education Programme, we have reached over 800,000 students, empowering them to become 'road safety ambassadors' who inspire positive change within their families and communities. This holistic approach is a reflection of our core philosophy of giving back to society and addressing critical challenges like road safety. Together with our partners, we remain dedicated to achieving our vision of zero road fatalities and fostering a culture of responsible road behaviour across the nation.”

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Bajaj Auto has introduced its range of electric three-wheelers under the Bajaj WEGO brand. The portfolio includes multiple passenger and cargo variants, positioning it as a significant entry in the Indian electric three-wheeler segment.

The e-three-wheelers utilise an electric drivetrain featuring a two-speed auto transmission, a battery management system and regenerative braking technology.

The passenger line-up is divided into three categories based on range and application. The 50 Series (P5009, P5012) is intended for intra-city use, offering ARAI-certified ranges of 213km and 272km, with prices starting at INR 311,908. The 70 Series (P7009, P7012) is designed for shared urban commuting, providing ranges of 182km and 259km at prices from INR 323,001. The 90 Series (P9018) serves semi-urban and rural shared mobility requirements with a range of 296km, priced at INR 448,303.

For the logistics sector, the C9009 and C9012 cargo variants are built for last-mile delivery, offering ranges of 149km and 207km, with pricing starting at INR 387,371. Technical features across the range include hill hold, climb mode, Bluetooth connectivity and a digital LCD cluster. The vehicles are supported by a 5-year warranty and a service network of over 1,500 touchpoints.

Samardeep Subandh, President - Intra-City Business, Bajaj Auto, said, “With Bajaj Wego, we are launching the most comprehensive range of electric three-wheelers under a single brand. Each product is purpose-built to meet the distinct needs of diverse customer segments. The P50 series is optimised for high-frequency operations in congested urban environments, the P90 series is designed for longer distances and higher capacities and the C90 series delivers high range and loading ability for intra-city goods transport. Bajaj Wego is poised to play a transformative role in the three-wheeler segment by offering customers the right product for their specific needs.”

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Switch Mobility, the electric vehicle arm of the Hinduja Group, has completed the export of 100 electric buses to the Government of Mauritius. The final batch of 90 vehicles was handed over by India's External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, to the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

This marks the largest export of electric buses from India to date and was conducted as part of a government-to-government arrangement where the vehicles were provided as a donation from India to support the modernisation of public transport in Mauritius.

The e-buses were procured through a tender conducted by Convergence Energy Services (CESL) and are operated by the state-owned National Transport Corporation (NTC).

The fleet consists of the Switch EiV12 model, which features a seating capacity for 45 passengers. Technical specifications include floor-mounted lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries to maintain a low centre of gravity and a rear dual-gun charging interface designed to reduce turnaround times during depot operations.

The e-buses incorporate the Switch iON telematics system, which allows for real-time monitoring of vehicle health and fleet optimisation. This deployment is intended to assist Mauritius in reaching environmental goals by reducing urban emissions and improving the efficiency of its transit network. The project serves as a significant marker in Switch Mobility’s strategy to expand its manufacturing and export operations from India into international markets.

Ganesh Mani, CEO, Switch Mobility, said, "Mauritius is taking meaningful strides towards building a cleaner and more sustainable public transport system, and we are proud to be part of this journey. The completion of this 100-bus delivery marks an important milestone in strengthening the country’s transition to electric mobility, with tangible benefits for urban efficiency, environmental sustainability, and everyday commuter experience. As a global EV manufacturer building in India for the world, Switch Mobility remains committed to supporting Mauritius in shaping a greener, more resilient, and future-ready transport ecosystem."

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IVECO BUS has completed the delivery of 53 CROSSWAY Hybrid buses to Interbus Group, a Spanish passenger transport operator. The buses are destined for interurban routes in the Madrid and Andalusia regions, following the award of the ECO label for these transport corridors.

The majority of the new fleet will be integrated into the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium (CRTM) to support mobility within the capital's metropolitan area. The remaining units will be deployed in Andalusia to operate regional interurban services.

The delivery is part of a broader infrastructure renewal programme aimed at improving the environmental footprint and operational efficiency of Spanish public transport.

The CROSSWAY Hybrid model utilises a 48V mild-hybrid system. This architecture recovers energy during braking and provides motor assistance during start-up and acceleration. The system does not require external charging infrastructure, allowing for service continuity on long-distance routes.

Giorgio Zino, Head of IVECO BUS Commercial Operations in Europe, said, “The renewed confidence shown by Interbus demonstrates the strength of our partnership and our ability to provide concrete support to operators throughout their transition. In our sector, sustainability is truly meaningful when it delivers tangible benefits for operators while helping to improve air quality for citizens. This delivery confirms that IVECO BUS hybrid technology now represents a practical and effective solution to connect regions and ensure high-performance daily mobility”.

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Tata Motors, one of the leading commercial vehicle manufacturers, has expanded its electric-CV portfolio with the launch of the Intra EV Pickup at prices starting INR 1.19 million (ex-showroom). The EV is positioned as a high-payload solution for urban and regional cargo requirements.

The Intra EV is engineered for demanding duty cycles across sectors such as e-commerce, FMCG and dairy distribution. It features a purpose-built electric architecture designed to handle diverse Indian weather and terrain conditions.

The e-SCV has 1,750 kg payload capacity with load body options extending to 10.2-feet. It uses a 72kW electric motor generating 230 Nm of peak torque and 23 percent gradeability. It features an IP67-rated 28.2 kWh battery providing a certified range of 211 km on a single charge. The Intra EV supports CCS2 fast charging, enabling a 10-80 percent charge in approximately 55 minutes.

The EV integrates an Electronic Braking System (EBS) for stability and a three-level regenerative braking system to enhance energy recovery. Fleet management is supported via the Tata Motors Fleet Edge platform, which provides real-time tracking, vehicle health monitoring and predictive maintenance data.

The cabin is crash-tested and features Electric Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) and a walk-through design to reduce driver fatigue during extended operating hours.

Tata Motors provides a 6-year or 200,000 km high-voltage battery warranty. It is supported by a network of over 25,000 charging points and 200 dedicated EV service centres across India. The launch follows the deployment of the company's electric buses and the recent introduction of the Ace EV 1000 and Ace Pro EV mini-trucks.

Girish Wagh, Managing Director & CEO, Tata Motors, said, “Our commitment to green mobility is focused on delivering sustainable solutions that are proven at scale and relevant to India’s diverse commercial mobility needs. Building on the strong market response to our electric mini‑trucks and the successful deployment of our electric buses serving commuters across 10 cities nationwide, we rolled out our next‑generation electric trucks earlier this year and are now advancing further with the launch of electric pickups. Through this progression, Tata Motors has established the country’s most comprehensive electric commercial vehicle portfolio across segments. This momentum is being enabled by progressive Government policies and strong collaboration across customers, partners and suppliers, accelerating India’s transition to cleaner and more sustainable mobility.”

Pinaki Haldar, Vice-President & Business Head – SCVPU, Tata Motors, said, “The all-new Intra EV Pickup has been developed with a clear focus on earning capability and everyday usability, combining one of the highest payload capacities in its segment with strong performance, long range and high uptime, all at a segment-beating price. Its comfortable, crash‑tested cabin, car‑like driving dynamics and thoughtfully integrated features are designed to reduce fatigue and improve productivity across long operating hours. As adoption of cleaner technologies accelerates, Tata Motors remains committed to raising industry benchmarks and making electric cargo mobility a practical, confident choice for businesses.”

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