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.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Hyderabad-based electric vehicle company Keto Motors has marked its debut on the Bombay Stock Exchange following the completion of its reverse merger with Taaza International.

The transaction, which received approval from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Hyderabad Bench, alters the corporate identity and core business operations of the listed entity to focus on the commercial electric vehicle (EV) market.

The listing coincides with the development of the company's INR 3 billion electric bus manufacturing project in Telangana. The facility, situated in Jadcherla, is being established to support the assembly and production of commercial EV platforms, including the upcoming rollout of the Urbanova KE9, a 9-metre electric bus platform that has secured Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR) Type Approval certification.

To support its engineering requirements, Keto Motors has formed a technical association with Taiwan-based TRON Energy Technology. The collaboration provides the manufacturer with access to powertrain solutions, battery systems and chassis engineering technologies for its vehicle line-up. The company is targeting demand from State Transport Undertakings (STUs), institutional fleet operators, and urban transit networks.

Venkatesh Challa, Director, Keto Motors, said, “Our BSE debut marks an important milestone in Keto Motors’ journey as we continue building a scalable electric commercial mobility business in India. This development strengthens our ability to expand manufacturing capabilities, accelerate product innovation, and support the growing adoption of sustainable transportation solutions across the country. We believe India’s commercial EV sector is entering a transformative phase, and Keto Motors is well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to this transition.”

“To all our shareholders, I would like to convey that this journey is not only about business growth, but also about contributing to India’s progress. We remain committed to building cutting-edge technology, world-class manufacturing capabilities, generating employment, and advancing sustainable mobility solutions that can play a meaningful role in the country’s growth story,” added Challa.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra and DBS Bank India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce a sustainability-linked dealer financing program. The initiative provides preferential interest rates on vehicle inventory loans to authorised dealers that meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance criteria.

The framework operates in conjunction with Mahindra’s Green Dealership Program to evaluate dealership locations against specific metrics. These operational parameters include the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption levels, deployment of renewable energy sources, implementation of rainwater harvesting systems and waste management practices. The assessment also factors in the installation of public electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and the volume of electric sport utility vehicles (eSUVs) sold by the business.

Under the financing structure, dealerships purchase passenger and commercial vehicles from the manufacturer using credit lines from DBS Bank India. Financial incentives and interest rate adjustments are calibrated based on the dealer's audited ESG scores and sustainability targets.

Nalinikanth Gollagunta, Chief Executive Officer – Automotive Division, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “The launch of our sustainability-linked dealer financing programme with DBS Bank India comes as India stands at a critical juncture in its sustainability journey. As a company with a long-standing commitment to sustainability we very much see it as our responsibility to support India’s sustainability ambitions. The launch of this financing program will enable us to step up the breadth of our decarbonisation efforts, bring our dealerships into the fold and drive a reduction in Scope 3 emissions.”

Divyesh Dalal, Managing Director and Country Head – Global Transaction Services, Corporate Banking – Financial Institutions and SMEs, DBS Bank India, added, “DBS is proud to partner with Mahindra & Mahindra to turn green ambitions into reality. Our new financing program goes beyond the balance sheet, providing the practical tools needed to decarbonise their dealer network at scale. We have leveraged our cross-border expertise to customise this innovative solution that supports our client’s growth, while driving the transition to a net-zero future.”

Terence Yew Tiek Yong, Managing Director and Group Head of Corporate Sales & Solutioning, Global Transaction Services, DBS Bank, said, “DBS is proud to have partnered Mahindra & Mahindra in driving prominence of ESG among its dealers. DBS is supporting Mahindra & Mahindra by incentivising their dealer network to promote EV adoption in the community and enable higher ESG standards of operations and investment. We are inspired by the active collaboration across Mahindra & Mahindra’s organisational functions, from Production to Sustainability, from Channels to Finance, to take the wheel in climate adaptation.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra Group has highlighted the development of its corporate exhibition space, The Museum of Living History, at Mahindra Towers in Worli, Mumbai, to mark International Museum Day.

Established in July 2022 to document the group’s operations since its inception, the facility records an average attendance of 900 to 1,000 visitors per month, including students, professionals and the public.

The facility incorporates physical and digital art installations to display the timeline of the company’s business sectors. Recent updates made to the repository include a ‘culture wall’ detailing the group’s involvement with the Mahindra Season of Festivals music events, alongside exhibits representing updated corporate values.

The architecture of the 4,000-square-foot space is based on the nautilus shell, utilising a spiral design to illustrate business expansion and structural changes. The interior layout uses variations in light and texture to connect historical records with current industrial projects. The curation, designed by creative consultant Elsie Nanji and experience designer Harsh Manrao, focuses on individual narratives and commissioned artworks rather than traditional historical artifacts.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group, said, “The Museum of Living History has evolved to reflect the changing Mahindra business and cultural landscape, while still staying true to the Group’s philosophy and core values. The cornucopia of stories from both businesses and our people is reflective of the brand we are – a living, breathing entity in this ever-changing world.”

The exhibition path follows a nonlinear format, allowing visitors to interpret the installations independently. The museum serves as a central repository for the group's corporate history while functioning as an interactive space for public and institutional visits.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Chennai-headquartered mid-sized motorcycle major Royal Enfield has announced plans to secure a land parcel for a greenfield manufacturing facility in Tada (Tirupati), Andhra Pradesh.

The company intends to invest approximately INR 25 billion in the expansion project, which will be implemented in phases subject to board approval and market conditions.

At present, the motorcycle manufacturer has a capacity to produce 1.46 million units per year, which is currently operating near full utilisation. This announcement follows an INR 9.58 billion investment made in February 2026 for a brownfield expansion in Cheyyar, Tamil Nadu, which is projected to increase the company's total production capacity to 2 million units annually. In FY2026, Royal Enfield recorded sales of 1.2 million motorcycles.

B. Govindarajan, Managing Director - Eicher Motors, and Chief Executive Officer, Royal Enfield, said, “Royal Enfield's philosophy has always been to stay connected with our community to deliver the best possible products and experiences. We currently operate four world-class manufacturing facilities in Tamil Nadu, with a total projected capacity of 2 million units annually. This investment in Andhra Pradesh will augment that capacity and provide the impetus for our next phase of growth. We are grateful to the Government of Andhra Pradesh for their support and partnership as we strengthen our presence in a state with immense potential. Having already established over 100 retail and service outlets and more than 1,200 direct and indirect employment opportunities, we are proud to contribute to its industrial and economic landscape.”

The company’s existing infrastructure includes four manufacturing bases in Tamil Nadu, alongside seven Completely Knocked Down (CKD) assembly plants located in Bangladesh, Nepal, Brazil, Thailand, Argentina and Colombia. Technical operations are managed through two centres in Bruntingthorpe, UK, and Chennai, India.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!