Sports goods giant adidas has signed a multi-year partnership with the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, one of the most successful teams ever in Formula 1.

The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team and adidas will collaborate to develop a whole line of clothing, accessories and footwear for the team and its supporters for the 2025 season and beyond. The custom team uniform will be constructed to fit the unique requirements of each player's position and made accessible to supporters as well. As part of the collaboration, clothing, accessories and footwear will be made especially for team and driver supporters. There will also be a number of limited-edition drops throughout the year. The adidas x Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team apparel range will be unveiled next month.

Bjørn Gulden, CEO, adidas, said, “We are very happy to be back in the world of motorsport. Interest in motorsport in general and Formula 1 in particular has been growing a lot. It is reaching new consumers and has a big influence on sport and street culture. We are extremely proud to introduce the Three Stripes into F1 as Official Team Partner of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team – one of the most successful teams ever. Together, we share the passion for speed, innovation and performance. We will support the drivers and the team to push the limits on the track. Off the track we will bring a fresh perspective to the sport by introducing exciting lifestyle product and extending the reach to a new generation of fans. We look forward to supporting Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 and win together.”

Toto Wolff, Co-owner, CEO and Team Principal, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, said, "Our partnership with adidas is a clear statement of intent as we begin to write our next chapter as a team. adidas is an iconic brand, one that shares our dedication not only to peak performance but to style and sophistication too. This announcement therefore represents a groundbreaking collaboration that will redefine what team and fanwear means in our sport. We are excited to break this new ground and work with adidas as we collectively strive to fight for world championships."

Richard Sanders, Chief Commercial Officer, Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, said, "Performance is at the heart of everything we do. The core of our relationship with adidas is rooted in that belief. They are an iconic brand that has achieved record-breaking success in so many other sports. To bring them into F1 as part of our team is therefore not only a great honour, but also incredibly exciting. We look forward to working with them on reinventing what teamwear means to chase every millisecond of performance on and off the track. Our shared value of innovation will also be focused on bringing a refreshed energy to our wider fanwear ranges. F1 is riding a cultural wave at present, and we will build on this to provide apparel, footwear and accessories that engage our loyal fanbase whilst engaging new audiences that continue to discover our sport and our team."

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The UK government is securing 4,200 jobs following an investment of more than GBP 700 million into the advanced manufacturing sector.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle announced the measures during a visit to Agratas in Somerset, where a GBP 380 million grant was confirmed to support the construction of a gigafactory. The facility, built using British steel, is projected to generate GBP 43 billion in economic growth over 25 years and will include a training unit to provide 300 apprenticeships.

Additional funding includes GBP 47 million for the Battery Innovation Programme to support research and development projects and GBP 190 million for the automotive industry. Of this, GBP 90 million in DRIVE35 funding has been awarded to firms including Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover for prototype development, while GBP 100 million is allocated to suppliers in the North East and West Midlands to assist in the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing.

The UK government is also providing GBP 115.44 million through the Made Smarter programmes to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt digital technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, a GBP 182 million engineering skills package has been implemented to train the next generation of technicians, alongside GBP 1.4 million for autonomous freight and passenger service trials in UK ports.

Peter Kyle, Business Secretary, UK Government, said, “This government is backing the industries of the future by investing in auto firms, SMEs and battery manufacturers across the country - helping to boost economic growth and our resilience, secure jobs and put more money in people’s pockets. In an unstable world, our Modern Industrial Strategy is providing investors the stability and confidence they need to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond. That is what sets us apart from the rest, and will help ensure advanced manufacturing remains a thriving sector in the UK for decades to come.”

Earl Wiggins, Vice-President of Manufacturing Operations, UK for Agratas, said, “We welcome the UK Government’s investment as we build a battery manufacturing facility that will play a vital role in delivering net zero and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in battery manufacturing. This funding will support the development of our Somerset facility, enabling us to produce battery cells for our anchor customer, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover). Over the next year we will have over 2,200 people working on the site, and that growth will continue over the coming years.”

Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation Director at the APC, said, “This globally significant investment by Agratas reinforces the UK’s accelerating position in pursuit of road transport decarbonisation through the production of vital high-performance batteries for electrified vehicles. I’m delighted that the ATF has been able to support Agratas in their investment in new facilities, creating secure and highly skilled jobs in this area and across the supply chain.”

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said, “Recent global events have highlighted the need for resilient supply chains, making this new investment in the sector both timely and important. The UK has a highly skilled and innovative automotive industry, but long‑term competitiveness depends on a policy framework that encourages investment. The modern Industrial Strategy provides that forward‑looking support, and today’s announcement demonstrates strong government backing for one of the UK’s most vital industries.”

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Hyderabad-headquartered electric vehicle company Olectra Greentech has launched a new brand identity and tagline, ‘Transforming Everyday’. The update marks the company’s transition from a specialist bus manufacturer to an organisation providing integrated mobility and energy solutions.

The brand repositioning is built upon three operational pillars intended to guide product development and market engagement:

• Pragmatic Futurism: Developing platforms for real-world conditions.
• Accessible Innovation: Ensuring technology remains scalable and usable.
• Trusted Guide: Establishing the company as a partner within the electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem.

The mission statement accompanying the refresh focuses on delivering innovation and execution excellence to create value for stakeholders in the mobility and energy sectors.

The updated visual language reinterprets existing company elements – the Olectra Prism – a central triangle representing structural integrity and direction. The Olectra Universe – a surrounding circle symbolising the ecosystem of stakeholders, infrastructure and cities.

Olectra currently operates with a portfolio that has expanded to include electric trucks and tippers alongside its established bus manufacturing division. The company maintains a manufacturing pipeline primarily serving government sectors.

Mahesh Babu, Managing Director, Olectra Greentech, said, “Olectra’s new brand identity is not just a visual change – it represents our ambition, mindset and the direction we are heading. It ensures that our brand, organisation and long-term strategy are aligned. As we transform from a pioneering electric bus manufacturer to a future-ready, innovation-led organisation delivering integrated mobility and energy solutions, this new identity reflects our core values and our commitment to ‘Transforming Everyday’ across the mobility and energy ecosystem.”

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Astranova Mobility, an electric vehicle (EV) financing and asset management platform, has raised INR 600 million in a Series A equity funding round. The investment was led by IvyCap Ventures, with participation from existing investors Asian Development Bank and Advantedge Founders, as well as Silicon Valley-based Trucks Venture Capital.

Founded in 2023 by Kunal Mundra and Grip Invest, Astranova Mobility provides financing and operational services for commercial electric vehicles. The company’s portfolio includes two-wheelers, cars, buses and heavy-duty trucks. To date, the platform has enabled the deployment of over 25,000 EVs with an asset value exceeding INR 3.6 billion.

The company’s "full-stack" platform includes EV financing and leasing, asset selection and maintenance, proprietary data and technology dashboards, and operational support.

The capital will be used to enhance the company's data, AI, and engineering capabilities. Astranova aims to increase its scale fivefold over the next 18 months, with a long-term goal of enabling USD 1 billion in EV deployments over the next four years. The partnership with Trucks VC is intended to provide access to technical expertise from the United States automotive technology ecosystem.

Kunal Mundra, Founder and CEO, Astranova Mobility, said, “We are delighted to welcome IvyCap Ventures as a partner on this journey. Their deep experience and strong track record in the Indian startup ecosystem, combined with best-in-class access to institutional capital and engineering capabilities through institutions such as the IITs, will be a key differentiator for Astranova. With this fund raise, we have simultaneously unlocked significant debt capital and are now all set to grow over 5x in the next 18 months which will create a strong foundation for us to enable the deployment of USD 1 Bn EVs in the next 4 years and accelerate India’s transition to net zero.”

Vikram Gupta, Founder and Managing Partner, IvyCap Ventures, added, “Astranova Mobility is a strong enabler of India’s clean mobility transition, combining data-driven insights, financing strength, and deep sector expertise. Their rapid execution and clear vision for the commercial EV segment position them well to scale sustainable transportation nationally. We’re delighted to partner with them on this journey.”

Puneeth Meruva, Partner at Trucks Venture Capital, commented, “India’s transition to commercial electric vehicles will require over USD 100 billion in financing. Yet, traditional lenders lack the expertise to underwrite EV assets, while small fleet operators remain underserved due to limited credit access. Astranova addresses this gap through a data-first, full-stack platform spanning leasing, asset management, and maintenance.”

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German luxury brand BMW Group India has recorded its highest-ever Q1 sales, delivering 4,567 cars in the first three months of CY2026. This represents a 17 percent YoY increase, with every month in the quarter achieving record performance levels.

The Group maintains a 70 percent market share in the Indian luxury electric vehicle (EV) segment. In Q1, the company sold 1,185 BMW and MINI EVs, marking an 83 percent YoY growth. Currently, 1 in 4 vehicles sold by BMW in India is an electric model, with EV penetration reaching 26 percent of total sales.

The company’s electric portfolio includes 6 cars and 2 scooters, supported by a network of over 6,000 charging points nationwide. Initiatives such as Destination Charging and Smart E-Routing have been implemented to support the transition to luxury electric mobility.

As per the luxury brand, it observed growth across several specific vehicle categories:

• Long Wheelbase (LWB) Range: LWB models accounted for over 50 percent of total sales, with 2,256 units delivered, which marks 23 percent YoY increase.
• Sports Activity Vehicles (SAV) segment grew by 38 percent YoY, totalling 2,966 units and representing 65 percent of the group's car sales.
• MINI: The brand delivered 213 units, achieving 42 percent growth.
• BMW Motorrad: The motorcycle division delivered 1,216 units, led by demand for the G 310, S 1000 and GS series.

BMW Group India has planned 27 product launches for 2026, covering all-new models, facelifts and limited editions. Four models were introduced in Q1, including the BMW M2 CS and BMW X3 30, with a further eight launches scheduled for the second quarter.

Under its Retail.NEXT strategy, the group plans to expand its presence by adding 19 outlets across 18 cities this year. The current network comprises 97 touchpoints in 40 cities. Additionally, BMW India Financial Services financed 25 percent of the vehicles sold in Q1, offering products with assured buy-back values of up to 74 percent.

Hardeep Singh Brar, President and CEO, BMW Group India, said, “BMW Group India has entered 2026 in an extremely strong position. We have achieved our highest-ever Q1 sales, registering solid double-digit growth, despite macroeconomic and geopolitical headwinds. Our lead in India’s luxury electric mobility also continues thanks to the immense trust our valued customers have put in our electric offerings in terms of performance, EV ecosystem and technology. We are geared to a pulsating 2026 that will be marked by our most ambitious product offensive, with 4 already launched and 23 more to go. Sustaining this momentum into long-term success, our unwavering focus on customer experience, aftersales and brand connect will be taken to the next level. With each new car, we aim to deliver JOY to our customers who enable this success story for BMW Group India.”

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