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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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra Group has announced the appointment of Purnima Lamba as its new Chief Brand Officer, effective 1 September 2026.

In this role, Lamba will shape and steward the corporate brand and communications strategy for the Group. She will lead the development and execution of a brand narrative aligned with the values, vision and business ambitions of the organisation.

Her responsibilities include overseeing brand consistency across business verticals, ensuring alignment with the identity of the Group and driving initiatives that enhance brand salience across traditional and digital ecosystems.

Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said, “We are pleased to welcome Purnima Lamba as Chief Brand Officer. Her global experience, strategic thinking, bold creativity and deep consumer insight make her an ideal leader to further strengthen the Mahindra brand. As we continue to build a compelling brand narrative aligned with our values, vision and business ambitions, Purnima’s ability to elevate brands, inspire teams and translate insights into impact will be invaluable. I wish her the very best in this key leadership role.”

Lamba joins the Group after a career spanning 25 years at Unilever, where she held leadership roles across India, the UK and the Netherlands. She has experience in building tech-enabled beauty experiences and digital media models.

She holds a BSc and MSc in Management from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her background includes work across various beauty brands.

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Maruti Suzuki India has established a state-of-the-art Smart Factory Lab at the Government Polytechnic College in Lucknow. The initiative, launched under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, is designed to train approximately 400 diploma students in its inaugural year, bridging the gap between academic theory and shop-floor engineering.

The Lucknow facility is part of a broader educational upgrade across the country, wherein Maruti Suzuki has deployed Smart Factory Labs across four selected government institutions:

• Government Polytechnic College, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
• Institute of Engineering and Rural Technology (IERT), Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh)
• Government Polytechnic, Ambala (Haryana)
• Government Polytechnic, Nilokheri (Haryana)

During the inauguration ceremony in Lucknow, Maruti Suzuki also awarded merit-based scholarships to five top-performing students to encourage academic excellence.

The Smart Factory Labs are engineered to replicate modern industrial settings, transitioning students from traditional mechanical coursework into digitised production ecosystems. The facilities provide hands-on training with several industry-standard systems – Industry 4.0 & Industrial IoT (IIoT), Automation & Motion Control, Pneumatics & Fluid Power and Energy Measurement Infrastructure.

Under the guidance of Maruti Suzuki technical experts, the curriculum emphasises experiential learning, machinery operations, diagnostics and modern shop-floor safety workflows.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Skill development is a core pillar of Maruti Suzuki’s CSR initiative. By upgrading facilities into Smart Factory Labs, we are building future-ready professionals in alignment with the Government of India’s Skill India mission. These labs will provide experiential learning opportunities to meet the evolving needs of the manufacturing sector, minimise the skill gap, and instil confidence in students in using industry-specific equipment’s.”

“Alongside upgrading facilities at Government colleges, Maruti Suzuki has also set up four Japan India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM), a collaboration between the governments of Japan and India. JIMs impart advanced manufacturing techniques, hands-on learning, and efficient shop-floor management practices based on Japanese manufacturing principles and soft skills required to make students industry-ready,” he further added.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced a landmark three-year partnership with the Tennis Premier League (TPL), coming on board as the league's Exclusive Sponsor.

The multi-year agreement integrates the automaker across the entire TPL ecosystem, including its digital application and all eight franchise teams as the front-of-jersey sponsor.

The partnership marks a significant milestone for the homegrown league, which broadcasts live on Jio Hotstar and has completed 7 seasons under the auspices of the All India Tennis Association (AITA).

The event is backed by Indian tennis legends Leander Paes and Sania Mirza, alongside celebrity franchise co-owners Sonali Bendre Behl (Lucknow Blazers) and Rakul Preet Singh (Hyderabad Strikers). The league has established itself as an impactful non-cricket sporting property in India.

A core focus of the multi-year deal is the expansion of TPL’s grassroots and talent-identification infrastructure. Over the past two years, the league’s flagship ‘Race to Gold Scholarship’ initiative has provided developmental support to more than 80 young tennis players across the country.

With Kia India’s financial backing and resources, the program plans to empower an additional 120-plus young athletes in the coming years. The long-term objective of this sustained investment is to nurture Olympic-level talent capable of competing at the 2036 Olympic Games.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice President - Sales and Marketing, Kia India, said, “At Kia India, we believe sports have the power to inspire aspirations and create meaningful cultural connections. Tennis, with its youthful energy, global appeal, and premium character, strongly resonates with our brand philosophy. Our partnership with Tennis Premier League reflects a shared vision to make tennis more engaging and relevant for a new generation of audiences in India. Through TPL’s growing ecosystem and grassroots focus, we look forward to supporting greater participation, engagement, and talent development around the sport.”

Kunal Thakkur, Co-Founder, Tennis Premier League, added, "This partnership with Kia India is a great moment for us. Over the last few years, we have focused deeply on building a strong grassroots ecosystem through our app and initiatives like Race to Gold along with our League. Having a global brand like Kia India recognize and back this vision gives us the confidence to scale our efforts and truly impact the future of Indian tennis."

Mrunal Jain, Co-Founder, Tennis Premier League, stated, "TPL has always believed in creating a complete tennis ecosystem—from identifying young talent to giving them a platform at the highest level. With Kia India coming on board, we are not just adding a sponsor; we are gaining a long-term partner who shares our vision of building champions for India."

Leander Paes, 18-time Grand Slam Champion, remarked, “Over the years, Tennis Premier League has created a strong platform that is helping tennis grow at every level – from grassroots development to professional competition. Partnerships like this with Kia India is extremely important for the future of Indian tennis, as they bring long-term vision, credibility, and meaningful support to the ecosystem.”

The alliance links Kia's global sports portfolio, which includes a 25-year legacy as the major partner of the Australian Open, with India's emerging contemporary sports culture.

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Caterham has unveiled a new limited-edition model, the Seven Nürburgring Edition, marking a century of the famous German circuit widely regarded as the world’s most demanding race track. Production will be strictly limited to just 100 units globally, with customers able to choose between the Seven 420R or Seven 340R platforms depending on their market. Pricing in the United Kingdom starts at GBP 48,995 (approximately USD 65,690) including VAT.

Engineered specifically for the challenges of the Nürburgring, the car features a bespoke race suspension developed exclusively by Bilstein using its advanced vertical dynamics test rig. The setup was refined to deliver exceptional capability on both road and track, resulting in a tailored package unique to this edition. Power comes from a naturally aspirated 2.0 litre Ford Duratec engine producing 210 brake horsepower at 7,600 rpm, giving a power-to-weight ratio of 375 bhp per tonne. Paired with a five-speed gearbox, the Seven Nürburgring Edition sprints from zero to 60 miles (approximately 96 km) per hour in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 136 miles (approximately 219 km) per hour.

As a fully licensed Nürburgring product, the car incorporates distinctive circuit branding and logos, along with three available paint finishes named Traffic Red, Agate Grey and Basalt Grey, though custom colours are also offered. Exterior upgrades include a red track day roll bar, a mesh grille with a dual-colour Seven logo, a 620-style nosecone with carbon aero whiskers, a Gunmetal Grey chassis, carbon front wings and a Black Pack comprising a black windscreen, headlamp bowls and exhaust heat shield. Inside, leather seats feature Nürburgring embroidery and red stitching, echoed on the transmission tunnel, while carbon interior panels, four-point road harnesses, sequential shift lights and an individually numbered plaque for each of the 100 cars complete the package.

For a century, the 12.9-mile circuit in Germany’s Eifel Mountains, nicknamed the Green Hell, has served as the ultimate proving ground for cars and drivers with its changing elevation and 73 corners. Caterham has flourished there for decades, most notably achieving an 11th place finish at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2002 driven by Chris Cooper, Chris Harris, Clive Richards and Peter Haynes.

Trevor Steel, Senior Vice President – Operations, Caterham Cars, said, “For a century, this track has championed values that are at the heart of what the Seven is all about – balance, precision and an unmatched driving experience. We set out to capture the spirit of the ‘Ring, with every element of the car being honed to reflect the track’s unique demands and character. Designed both for use on the track and the road, the Seven Nürburgring Edition is a unique vehicle that perfectly pays tribute to this famous, globally renowned circuit.”

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