Recording a 353 percent increase in the revenue for the first quarter of FY2021-22 at INR 29,510 million in comparison to the revenue generation of INR 6,510 million in the corresponding quarter of FY2020-21, Ashok Leyland is confident of a strong demand emerging post the second Covid-19 wave. Clocking export volumes of 1,437 units in the first quarter of FY2021-22, up 254 percent when compared to the export of 405 units in the first quarter of FY2020-21, the commercial vehicle manufacturer is concentrating on vaccination and the adherence of safety protocols to try and ensure that all its stakeholders stay protected from a potential third wave. Experiencing a 1,041 percent growth in domestic M&HCV volume in the first quarter of FY2021-22, which is almost twice than that of the industry growth volume at 562 percent during the same period, the company has reported a net loss of INR 28,20 million in the first quarter of FY2021-22 as against a net loss of INR 38.90 million in the corresponding quarter of FY2020-21. Selling 8,690 LCVs in the domestic market in the first quarter of FY2021-22, up 224 percent as compared to the sale of 2,686 LCVs in the corresponding quarter last fiscal, Ashok Leyland is closely observing the way the freight rates are shaping up. It is confident that freight rates will improve with higher availability of commercial vehicles once the Covid-19 subsidies and uncertainty fades. “We are hoping for the volumes to grow higher as the market gets better,” mentioned Mahadevan. “July (2021) has been a growth month,” he added. Stressing that they have had eight months of degrowth, Mahadevan said, “Economic growth will induce growth in CVs.”

CV trends
Working on a strategy for a robust domestic and exports growth, the commercial vehicle major is appointing dealers in Africa. Looking at gaining good traction in South East Asia, Ashok Leyland will launch new products in the LCV segment even though not in the immediate quarter. Buoyed by the international markets opening up and experiencing export thrust, the company is said to be testing an electric version of its LCV platform on which the Bada Dost is based in the UK. This vehicle is expected to be launched at the end of this fiscal or in the first half of the next fiscal. Of the opinion that electric vehicles are catching up, especially at the local point of use, on the encouragement of the governments, Mahadevan averred, “It is more to do with buses, but trucks will catch up.” Seeing a trend of petrol commercial vehicles in the low-tonnage segment of sub-1 tonne to 1.5 tonne, Mahadevan drew attention to the push on CNG. “We are ready in the LCV and ICV (segment),” he added. Of the firm belief that diesel vehicles will continue and the IC engine will coexist and not die overnight, Mahadevan said, “We are ready to cater to higher demand.” 
 

Watching closely how freight operators are able to pass on the fuel price hike to their end customers, Ashok Leyland is hoping that bus commute will pick up. A 40,000 units per annum market, according to Mahadevan, buses have been severely affected due to the Covid-19-led disruption. Delivering 40 electric buses to the city of Chandigarh recently (from where it has bagged an order to build and maintain e-buses with quick charging technology), Ashok Leyland is expecting pent-up demand to show up once normalcy returns. Also expecting demand to show up because of the need to ferry people without sacrificing social distancing norms, Mahadevan drew attention to their work towards further strengthening their position in the bus and LCV market segments. With the talk of schools reopening in regions where the Covid-19 infections are down, and the relaxation in Covid-19 norms in some region allowing more employees to return to their offices, bus demand is expected to improve post witnessing a sudden downfall mid-last year. Through the establishment of Switch Mobility, Ashok Leyland is keen to experience a speedier ride in the ‘cleaner and greener’ bus space. 
 

Managing costs and productivity 
Eyeing international markets like the US, Europe and Japan, the company, through the Switch Mobility subsidiary, has worked with a few consultants to make sure that its data points and numbers are on par with the current situation. Under Switch Mobility, it is developing new products to present an advantage of unique position in terms of value and premium positioning. For its Switch Mobility subsidiary that includes the erstwhile Optare of UK, Ashok Leyland has managed to get USD 18 million worth of investment from Dana Incorporated (Dana), a US-based manufacturer of drivetrain and e-propulsion systems. To do de-bottlenecking once enough demand is evident, Ashok Leyland, investing sufficiently in terms of capex, is confident of seeing early growth sprouts in LCVs. Therefore, if it were to do immediate capex investment, it would be in LCVs. Discussing with scrappage centres post the announcement of the scrappage policy, Ashok Leyland, the second-largest CV maker in the country, is witnessing good traction from its other business verticals like defence, power solutions and aftermarket. They are contributing to its top line. 
 

With the pace of vaccination picking up and positively setting in, Ashok Leyland is expecting a demand spike in commercial vehicles after the fear of a third Covid-19 wave is over. This, according to Mahadevan, could happen in the second half of this fiscal. Focusing on costs, productivity and middle level management, the commercial vehicle major is also concentrating on reducing its carbon footprint. Apart from announcing strategic steps to move towards net zero carbon mobility through Switch Mobility, Ashok Leyland, said Mahadevan, has formed an ESG committee of the Board. The committee will guide and propel the commercial vehicle manufacturer to achieve its sustainability agenda.
 

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The Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) has granted approval to the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2026–2030, a comprehensive four-year framework designed to significantly boost electric vehicle adoption, combat air pollution, and establish a robust ecosystem for sustainable mobility in the capital.

Interestingly, the Delhi government has approved a humongous budget outlay of INR 150 billion towards supporting the transition towards green vehicles and enabling the necessary electric vehicle ecosystem.

The policy responds to the Supreme Court’s directives and recent findings by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), wherein vehicular emissions remain a leading contributor to Delhi’s poor air quality, with two-wheelers accounting for approximately 67 percent of the vehicle stock and high-utilisation segments such as three-wheelers and light commercial goods vehicles adding disproportionately to pollution.

Key highlights of the approved policy include generous purchase incentives that taper over the years. For electric two-wheelers (ex-factory price up to INR 225,000), buyers will receive INR 10,000 per kWh (capped at INR 30,000) in the first year, reducing to INR 6,600 per kWh (max INR 20,000) in year two and INR 3,300 per kWh (max INR 10,000) in year three.

Electric three-wheeler auto-rickshaws (L5M) will attract incentives of INR 50,000, INR 40,000 and INR 30,000 respectively across the three years, with additional support for replacing old CNG vehicles. Electric N1 goods vehicles receive INR 100,000 in year one, INR 75,000 in year two and INR 50,000 in year three.

Substantial scrapping incentives have also been introduced to accelerate the phase-out of older BS-IV and below vehicles. These range from INR 10,000 for two-wheelers and INR 25,000 for three-wheelers to INR 100,000 for eligible electric cars (ex-factory price up to INR 3 million, limited to the first 100,000 applicants) and INR 50,000 for N1 trucks, provided replacement occurs within six months of scrapping.

All electric vehicles registered in Delhi during the policy period will enjoy 100 percent exemption from road tax and registration fees. Incentives will be disbursed via direct benefit transfer, with eligibility aligned to the central PM E-DRIVE scheme.

Furthermore, to support the electric vehicle ecosystem, the government aims to support the establishment of 30,000 public charging points across the city.

On the infrastructure front, Delhi Transco (DTL) has been designated as the nodal agency for expanding public and community charging stations as well as battery swapping facilities. The policy mandates OEMs to install at least one public charging station per dealership and emphasises grid readiness, single-window clearances, and integration with central government schemes. A dedicated EV Fund will support implementation, backed by an Apex Committee chaired by the Delhi Transport Minister.

Electrification mandates form a core pillar of the policy. From 1 January 2027, only electric three-wheelers will be permitted for new registration, followed by two-wheelers from 1 April 2028. School bus fleets must achieve progressive electric shares (10 percent by end of year two, 20 percent by year three, and 30 percent by March 2030). Government fleets, hired vehicles and new intra-state buses will transition to electric, while fleet aggregators face restrictions on adding new ICE vehicles.

Additional measures focus on battery recycling under the Battery Waste Management Rules, digital integration for all processes, and institutional coordination across departments. The policy remains in force until 31 March 2030, unless extended or modified.

This approval marks a decisive step by the Delhi government towards cleaner air and a sustainable transport future, balancing incentives, mandates, and infrastructure development to drive meaningful emission reductions in the National Capital.

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The Royal Academy of Engineering, the United Kingdom's national academy of engineering, is set to honour three engineers for their breakthrough innovations in different fields with The Princess Royal Silver Medal in London on 8 July 2026.

The medal celebrates contributions to UK engineering by individuals at the early to mid-career stage that result in market exploitation. The recipients for 2026 are Dr Ian Campbell, Co-Founder of Breathe Battery Technologies, Dr Liucheng Guo, Co-Founder & Chief Technical Officer of TG0 and Professor Robert Thomson, Professor of Photonics at Heriot-Watt University.

Luke Logan, Chair of the Academy’s Awards Committee, said, “This year’s winners of The Princess Royal Silver Medal have each pushed the boundaries of engineering. Through their research and innovative ideas, they have supported the UK in being a leader in engineering and sustainability, making significant contributions to our national economy through inspiring entrepreneurship and collaboration.”

Dr Campbell Co-Founded Breathe Battery Technologies to improve battery charging processes. The company developed software that simulates battery function to provide insight into electrochemistry, enabling manufacturers to optimise charging and design without hardware modifications.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the Princess Royal Silver Medal. Climate change and air pollution continue to threaten health and livelihoods worldwide. By combining battery physics simulation with materials libraries built in industrial-scale labs, we can screen millions of potential designs and rapidly optimise the most promising candidates using advanced software. This capability is helping to bring cleaner, quieter, healthier and more affordable cars, trucks and energy storage systems to market faster,” said Dr Campbell.

Founded in 2019 as a spin-out from Imperial College London, Breathe Battery Technologies has now grown to operate the largest battery testing facility in London and has raised more than USD 33 million in funding. It counts the likes of Volvo Cars, OPPO and Polestar amongst its early backers.

Professor Ricardo Fernando Martinez-Botas, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Imperial College London, said, “Ian’s success in commercialising world-class research from Imperial College London exemplifies how UK academic excellence can translate into real-world impact. His contributions are not only advancing the UK’s position at the forefront of the international battery technology race but helping to shape the future of cleaner transport.”

Dr Guo developed ‘AI for Sensing’ technology for electronic products, which replaces mechanical buttons and sensors with touch-sensitive surfaces powered by embedded AI. The system detects pressure, location, direction and movement of touch.

“I am deeply honoured to receive the Princess Royal Silver Medal. This recognition reflects not only my own journey, but also the dedication of my co-founder Ming, the TG0 team, investors, collaborators and mentors. I believe engineering has a vital role to play in shaping a resilient and sustainable future, creating technologies that are not only intelligent, but also accessible, energy-efficient and beneficial to society,” said Dr Guo.

Professor Robert Thomson is recognised for his work in photonics, specifically the use of lasers and optical fibres to capture information from space.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has completed its 37th iCARE (I, Community Action to Reach Everyone) initiative. The project took place at the Government High School in Doddaghollarahatti, Karnataka, to mark National Reading Day 2026.

The event saw 250 volunteers, including TKM employees and their family members, participating in the event. The group refurbished the school library by cataloguing books, assembling furniture and installing signage. Volunteers also contributed books to the library collection.

The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises the role of libraries as learning spaces.

Vikram Gulati, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "At Toyota, we believe that every child deserves access to spaces that inspire learning and curiosity. A library is often the first place where students discover new ideas, perspectives and opportunities beyond the classroom. Through the 37th iCARE initiative, we have worked to create a more welcoming and engaging environment that encourages students to read, explore and learn. By strengthening access to books and learning resources, we hope to support students in building knowledge, confidence and aspirations that can help shape their future."

Launched in 2017, the iCARE program has involved over 4,500 volunteers across 37 programs, impacting more than 68,800 people. Toyota Kirloskar Motor conducts these activities under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) pillars: education, health and hygiene, environment, skill development, road safety and disaster management.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker, has onboarded five startups – MiniMines, Easework AI, Sarvam AI, Siftly and CodeMate AI, to develop solutions for business operations and customer experience.

The startups were chosen as winners of the fifth cohort of the Maruti Suzuki Incubation Program (MSIP), which is run in partnership with the NSRCEL incubation hub at IIM Bangalore.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “At Maruti Suzuki, we have been actively working with startups to co-create innovative and practical solutions to address real business challenges. We are delighted to collaborate with five more startups. One of these startups, MiniMines, will support us in safely recycling end-of-life batteries, while the other four startups will help improve customer engagement and drive efficiency across our business operations.”

Maruti Suzuki has developed programs to support startups in solving business problems. Over seven years, the company has screened 7,400 startups, engaged with 250 and partnered with 38. These programs include the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator, the Maruti Suzuki Incubation Program, the Mobility Challenge, Nurture and FundRays.

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