The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) launched the project on development of ‘Motor Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool (Bharat VECTO) for Real Drive Fuel Consumption/CO2 Emissions’, a landmark project in India’s homologation process, at the ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. ARAI is showcasing its technology and services at stall no H11-04, Bharat Mandapam; stall no H2-02, Yashobhoomi and stall no H1-A14, India Expo Centre & Mart from 17 to 22 January 2025.

Minister of Road, Transport and Highway Shri Nitin Gadkari; Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI; P K Banerjee, Chief Executive Director, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) and Dr Sukrut S. Thipse, Senior Deputy Director – ARAI and Bharat VECTO Project Leader graced the event.

In accordance with Europe, the United States, Japan, China and other countries, the developed Bharat VECTO will be used to compute the realistic fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) (GVW > 3.5 tonnes) on a driving cycle basis. The BS-VII regulation will include it. Various mission profiles will be created under the Bharat VECTO project to address all HDV classifications, driving styles, road topography etc. Before being finalised for usage, the created tool will be tested on a few vehicle classifications. Along with project partners, ARAI will make every effort to create Bharat VECTO. It will be made available in Bharat Stage-VII and will serve cars powered by internal combustion engines, electric vehicles (EVs), fuel cell EVs and flex fuel vehicles (FFVs) in a phased way.

At Bharat Mandapam, a concept demo of the Over-Head Automated Charging Device (OH-ACD), one of ARAI's projects in collaboration with IIT-Madras, is on exhibit. Fast charging is possible with the 600-kW charging power, 1000V voltage and 600A current, which is made to satisfy the needs of the changing transportation environment. In addition to OH-ACD, the company is showcasing its in-house ADAS Validation Platform, a Light Commercial Vehicle with a 117 HP engine and an E-Axle for European customers and a Training Kit for the Battery Management System.

Stall number H2-02, Yashobhoomi, lists ARAI's specialised service portfolio for certification and support in developmental validation for components, systems and sub-systems. Along with engine models and lightweight components from the ARAI Fatigue Material Centre of Excellence, ARAI is also exhibiting the Acoustic Vehicle Alert System (AVAS) Bike and Battery Management System Kit, which was constructed by ARAI engineers.

Dr Reji Mathai, Director, ARAI, said, “It is a great pleasure to host Hon’ble Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and have his presence for the launch of Bharat VECTO project. Ministry of Road Transport and Highway has played a significant role in enabling ARAI guide the auto industry towards one direction. Hence, ‘Motor Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool for Real Drive Fuel Consumption/CO2 Emissions’ will be instrumental in accelerating the momentum for industry-wide adoption of green mobility. ARAI, while being a major stakeholder in homologation and developmental testing and standardisation has also been fundamental in innovating technologies for sustainable mobility like Over-Head Automated Charging Device, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Powertrain, which are at display at Bharat Mobility Global Expo. We are thrilled to showcase these technologies and drive conversations for greener tomorrow.”

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Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has marked FY2026 as a pivotal year of transformation, emerging as an independent, pure-play personal mobility company following the successful demerger of its Commercial Vehicles business.

With Tata Motors split, the company renamed Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, a move Chairman N Chandrasekaran described as ‘more than a structural milestone’ that positions it to build a differentiated, future-ready enterprise with a strong presence in India and a global footprint through Jaguar Land Rover.

In his address at the company’s 81st AGM on 8 July 2026, Chandrasekaran highlighted resilient performance amid global headwinds, including supply chain disruptions and geopolitical tensions in West Asia, as well as a temporary production pause at JLR due to a cyber incident. Despite these challenges, the India passenger vehicles business delivered robust results.

The domestic PV business achieved record sales of approximately 642,000 vehicles in FY2026, representing 15.3 percent growth – nearly double the industry average. India business revenue reached a record INR 584.65 billion, up 20.7 percent YoY, with EBITDA margins holding steady at around 7 percent and profit before tax (before exceptional items) rising approximately 33 percent. The company maintained a strong balance sheet with a net cash position of INR671 billion.

Over the past six years, the business has grown nearly 5x in volume and 6x in revenue, swinging from significant cash burn to a free cash flow surplus while elevating its market position from 4.8 percent share in FY2020 to 14.2 percent in Q1 FY2027, securing the No. 2 rank in the Indian passenger vehicle market. The company has sustained EV market leadership for seven consecutive years and surpassed 300,000 cumulative electric vehicle sales.

Chandrasekaran emphasised the success of the multi-powertrain strategy, noting strong demand for models such as the Nexon and Punch, the reintroduction of the iconic Sierra and outperformance in CNG vehicles. The company also re-entered the South African market as part of its international expansion.

Looking ahead, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles has set clear ambitions for the decade to FY2031. The company aims to grow the business 10x, scaling to over 1.2 million annual sales, achieving 20 percent market share and attaining double-digit EBITDA margins. Plans include the launch of 6 new nameplates and more than 20 product refreshes, with EVs expected to contribute over 30 percent of sales volumes.

On the JLR front, despite a 21 percent revenue decline to GBP 22,911 million due to external disruptions, the business demonstrated operational resilience and progress on next-generation models.

A leadership transition saw PB Balaji take over as CEO. For the year ahead, JLR is focusing on modern luxury, North American growth and customer personalisation, supported by new vehicle launches.

On a consolidated basis, the company reported revenue of INR 3,355 billion and PBT (before exceptional items) of INR 25.19 billion.

Beyond financials, the company continues to advance sustainability and community initiatives, reaching over 1.8 million citizens through CSR efforts and aligning with the Tata Group’s Project Aalingana to achieve Net Zero by 2040, with electrification central to its strategy.

Chandrasekaran concluded with confidence for FY2027, citing a strong product pipeline, enhanced collaboration between TMPVL and JLR – including the new facility in Panapakkam, Tamil Nadu – and greater use of digital technologies and AI.

“Our ambition remains clear. To build trusted, aspirational and globally competitive mobility brands that connect meaningfully with customers,” he concluded.

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Electric vehicle fleet company Hala Mobility has announced the promotion of Shivam Agarwal to the position of Chief Business Officer (CBO). In his new role, Agarwal will lead the company’s commercial strategy, including enterprise partnerships, business growth, market expansion and customer success as it continues to scale its operations.

Agarwal has been part of Hala Mobility's leadership team, having previously led business development, enterprise sales and network expansion. His work has contributed to the company’s growth from its early stages to its current position within the EV mobility sector.

Shrikanth Reddy, Founder & CEO, Hala Mobility, said, "Shivam has been one of the key architects of Hala's growth journey. His deep understanding of customers, strong execution capabilities, and ability to build long-term strategic partnerships have contributed significantly to where we are today. As we enter our next phase of expansion, his leadership will be critical in scaling our commercial operations, deepening enterprise relationships, and building new growth opportunities while staying true to our focus on sustainable and profitable growth."

Shivam Agarwal, added, "Hala has always been driven by a simple belief - that sustainable mobility can transform both businesses and livelihoods at scale. I'm grateful for the trust the leadership team has placed in me and excited about the opportunity ahead. As EV adoption accelerates across India, we remain focused on building strong customer partnerships, expanding our ecosystem, and creating sustainable growth while delivering meaningful value to our enterprise partners, driver community, and the broader mobility ecosystem."

Hala Mobility operates a fleet of more than 15,000 electric vehicles across multiple cities in India, supporting over 100,000 gig workers. The company has integrated fleet operations, battery swapping, technology platforms, and financing into its business model. Looking forward, the company plans to expand its fleet to 32,000 vehicles and increase its presence to 13 cities.

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Sting Energy and Alan Walker have released the official video for ‘The Sting Within Me,’ an anthem inspired by the sounds of Formula 1. The track originated from an observation that Formula 1 engine sounds resemble the word ‘Sting,’ a concept that has since developed into a campaign across music and motorsport.

The video aims to translate the feelings of anticipation, tension, and celebration associated with a race weekend into a visual experience. It incorporates engine sounds and race-day atmospheres, following the track's live debut at the Barcelona Grand Prix.

Vandita Pandey, VP Marketing at PepsiCo, International Beverages, Hydration and Energy, said, “Few ideas get the chance to evolve the way this one has. What started as a fan observation became a global anthem – and now a video fans can experience. With the official video of ‘The Sting Within Me’, we’re bringing the sound, speed and emotion of Formula 1 to screen in a way fans can see, hear and feel. This story has always belonged to the fans and creators who made it bigger.”

Alan Walker, said, “When you're building a track from raw sounds, you start visualising it from day one. This track carries the rhythm and tension of race weekend, so the official video had to match that energy. Barcelona showed me what that emotion feels like live - this video is about bringing that same feeling to screens everywhere.”

Chandni Mehta, CEO, Kinnect Media, said, "This campaign was always about taking the energy of Formula 1 beyond race weekend and turning it into something fans could participate in. From music and creators to social storytelling and live experiences, every element was designed to bring audiences closer to the sport. The official video is the culmination of that journey – bringing the worlds of music, motorsport and fandom together in one shared experience.”

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American autonomous technology company May Mobility has announced the appointment of Balajee Kannan as Senior Vice-President of Autonomy Core Engineering, effective 29 June 2026.

Kannan will lead the development of autonomy capabilities, the scaling of vehicle deployments and the execution of the company’s ride-hail strategy.

He comes with over 25 years of experience in robotics and autonomous systems and previously served as the Vice-President of Autonomy at Motional, where he led programs for Level 4 driving. His career also includes roles at Argo AI, Amazon and GE.

In his new position, Kannan will manage autonomy performance, machine learning, perception, behaviour, mapping and localisation. He will work with Jacob Crossman, Senior Vice-President of Autonomy Engineering and CEO Dr Edwin Olson to oversee technical strategy.

“I’ve spent more than 25 years in robotics and autonomy, and believe this industry is now at a critical inflection point where breakthrough technology is meeting real-world scale. May Mobility stands out for its bold vision and passionate individuals dedicated to the mission, and I’m excited to help shape the next generation of autonomous systems alongside this team,” said Kannan.

Dr Edwin Olson, CEO and Founder, May Mobility, said, “Balajee is one of the most accomplished autonomy leaders in the industry, with a proven track record of turning breakthrough technologies into reliable, deployed systems. His technical expertise and leadership will be instrumental in preparing our autonomy system to scale to new markets globally.”

May Mobility has completed over 550,000 rides and 1.1 million autonomous miles in the U.S. and Japan. The company has also recently appointed Thomas Fennimore as Chief Financial Officer and Matthew Wood as Vice-President of Autonomy Verification & Validation.

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