Seeking details on how the Passenger Vehicle Business Unit of Tata Motors, like many other vehicle makers, faced several challenges from the aftermarket perspective during the lockdown and COVID-19 induced New Normal, the company spokesperson said, there were not many challenges as everything had been planned from their end well in time. However, during the initial days of lockdown, getting special permission from local authorities in certain markets was one challenge the company faced which was eventually resolved.

Tata Motors ensured that its customers and COVID frontline workers received seamless customer experience. As a part of its initiative, the company introduced tips to take care of their vehicles during lockdown along with breakdown assistance and hotline service, that was attending calls 24x7 to provide the necessary support. It also introduced an exclusive helpline for frontline COVID workers and healthcare professionals during the lockdown. Customers could dial the dedicated numbers for assistance in case of any emergency needs. The company has taken necessary approvals from local authorities to attend to vehicles safely and efficiently with all precautionary measures. It serviced 200 plus vehicles of COVID fighters such as doctors/police during the lockdown period across the country. To further support, it also extended the warranty and scheduled service period.

For all pending service appointments, the team called customers to ensure them that their vehicle was in safe hands. Given the relaxation in curbs, restarting of service appointments will be planned in a staggered manner to ensure sanitisation and social distancing to maintain utmost customer safety, the spokesperson said.

However, the average time to respond to customers’ call for repair/ service varied depending upon various factors. For service requests, customers could call the customer care number, where specialists were available to answer queries 24x7, he said. In the case of emergency roadside assistance, the company made arrangements that the services team reaches the location within 60 minutes under city limits and within 120 minutes on ghat roads and other places. The average time per service appointment depends on the type of job that needs to be done on the vehicle. For regular paid service it takes around three to four hours, and free services or minor check-ups are taken care of within 90 minutes, he said. “We have 633 workshops across the country, 444 dealer workshops and 189 TASCs (Tata Authorised Service Centres),” he added.

While these initiative are taken to cater to the requirements of the customers, the vehicle makers also face specific issues about increasing number of stock-keeping units, triggered by more models and variants being introduced. However, Tata Motors has been using a very sophisticated analytical tool to predict the consumption and stock accordingly. The planning for spare parts inventory is done at the dealerships to ensure that sufficient stock is available for all the models based on consumption pattern.

Skilling

Talking on the need to upskill the workforce at authorised service centres, the spokesperson said, upskilling is a continuous process to keep all the dealer workforce updated on the latest technological introductions in the new range of vehicles. “We have seven training centres across the country and are currently conducting regular online training sessions to ensure that our dealer manpower is well acquainted with the same,” he said.

With technological advancements in the cars increasing with every new model, the challenge is to match the service centres to cater to the emerging requirements. From a customer’s perspective, it is more convenient to operate any function with the click of a button or a touch screen. Therefore, from a service perspective, it has become easy to identify service requirements in the vehicle through the medium of a laptop, thereby resulting in faster repairs. “Tata Motors Passenger dealerships have a separate profile of DET (Diagnostic Expert cum trainer) who is skilled in identifying such service requirements and ensures that repairs take place faster and with accuracy. We do not see any challenges from a security perspective, as all technology and electronics in the vehicles undergo multiple tests before being launched,” he said.

Talking on sustainable initiatives, he said, “Earlier in September, the Tata Nexon became the first Indian car to be published on the prestigious International Dismantling Information System (IDIS) platform for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV). With this achievement, Tata Motors reiterated its holistic commitment towards making the entire life cycle of its products sustainable, i.e. from the development of ultra-low/zero-emission vehicles to responsible dismantling and recycling of the vehicle at the final ELV stage. This milestone on the Nexon signifies the increasing commitment of Tata Motors to ‘End of Life’ across its range of vehicles and the beginning of sustained declaration of dismantling procedures across its entire range of vehicles that are complex with increasing technological content, though over the years commercial vehicles have achieved good levels of recyclability where dismantling procedures are better understood.” (MT)

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Mahindra Tractors, the leading tractor brand in India and a key entity within the Mahindra Group, has inaugurated a vibrant new brand campaign specifically for the Punjab market. The initiative, titled ‘Duniya Vich Ikko Lalkaar’, was formally launched at a Chandigarh event, headlined by the release of a high-energy music video named ‘Oh Ho Ho Ho’. This contemporary track is a reimagination of Sukhbir Singh’s iconic 1999 hit, ‘Ishq Tera Tadpave’.

The newly released video is a cinematic tour across Punjab, designed to visually represent the scale, advanced technology and robust power of Mahindra’s agricultural machinery. It features prominent artists, including the celebrated ‘Prince of Bhangra’, Sukhbir Singh, alongside rapper and director Parmish Verma. This launch serves as the initial phase of a larger, multi-platform campaign intended to resonate with local audiences by celebrating regional pride and a forward-looking mindset.

At its core, the campaign aims to honour the ambitious and entrepreneurial character of Punjab’s populace while underscoring the brand’s substantial legacy and deep ties to the region. The initiative recognises Punjab’s status as a globally significant agrarian hub and seeks to reinforce the trust that Mahindra has cultivated with local farmers through decades of collaborative growth and mutual progress.

This enduring relationship has allowed Mahindra to stay attuned to the evolving agricultural demands of the state. The company’s commitment to innovation is exemplified by its award-winning tractor platforms, including the NOVO, ARJUN and YUVO TECH+ series. These machines are specifically engineered to provide the power, performance and durability necessary to support the highly progressive farming economy prevalent across Punjab.

Parikshit Ghosh, Sr Vice President & Head – Marketing & National Business Operations, Mahindra Tractors, said, “Mahindra Tractors is a global brand born in India, trusted by farmers across markets and recognised for its power, technology and performance. Through Duniya Vich Ikko Lalkaar, we are celebrating the shared spirit of ambition, confidence and global influence that defines both Mahindra Tractors and Punjabi music. This is an expression of our global offerings, bringing together culture and creativity to connect with audiences in a way that is contemporary and unmistakably Punjabi.”

Sukhbir Singh said, "Growing up, Mahindra Tractors was a common sight on farms, and over the years I have watched this brand become a global success story while staying deeply connected to Indian farming. This journey of Mahindra Tractors resonates strongly with me personally. I am delighted to collaborate with this powerful brand on Duniya Vich Ikko Lalkaar. It was exciting to recreate my song with these campaign lyrics that celebrate the passion, pride and global influence that both Punjab and Mahindra Tractors share."

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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification proposing amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, to introduce Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication systems in motor vehicles across India.

Under the proposed regulatory schedule, vehicles in categories L, M and N manufactured on or after 1 October 2027 that are fitted with V2V hardware must comply with Automotive Industry Standard 230 (AIS-230). Compliance and mandatory installation of V2V communication systems conforming to AIS-230 will be required for all manufactured vehicles in categories L, M and N from 1 October 2028.

V2V systems enable vehicles to exchange data regarding speed, position, direction and acceleration. The technology provides alerts for safety scenarios including emergency braking, forward collision risks, lane changes and approaching emergency vehicles beyond line-of-sight visibility, acting alongside Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

The technical framework operates on Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology utilising the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency spectrum. The Department of Telecommunications exempted this frequency band from licensing requirements via notification G.S.R. 466(E) on 10 June 2026, following recommendations from a dedicated Intelligent Transportation Systems task force.

The AIS-230 standard was finalised following the 56th meeting of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules Technical Standing Committee on 7 May 2026. The standard defines requirements for factory-installed On-Board Units, covering radio performance, receiver sensitivity, Global Navigation Satellite System positioning accuracy, electromagnetic compatibility, cybersecurity provisions and power supply operations. The framework also supports safety alerts including Emergency Brake Alert, Forward Collision Warning, Wrong-way Driving and Emergency Vehicle Alert.

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German steel and technology group Salzgitter has agreed to sell its subsidiary Klockner DESMA Elastomertechnik to German-French industrial group NAME & MAWI Partners S.A.S. (NMP). The transaction forms part of Salzgitter's corporate portfolio adjustments under its ‘Salzgitter AG 2030’ strategy.

The company has not disclosed the financial terms of the transaction, while the completion of the sale is expected in autumn 2026, subject to customary closing conditions.

Headquartered in Fridingen, Baden-Württemberg, Klockner DESMA Elastomertechnik operates within Salzgitter's Technology Business Unit. Founded in 1965, the company manufactures injection moulding machines for rubber and silicone products, employing more than 500 people globally. Its product scope includes mould systems, cold runner systems and automation equipment used across automotive manufacturing, power distribution, medical technology and infrastructure sectors.

Gunnar Groebler, CEO, Salzgitter, said, "The decision to sell Klockner DESMA Elastomertechnik follows a careful strategic review and forms part of the group’s consistent portfolio management.”

The idea is to advance the implementation of its 2030 Group strategy while creating long-term and sustainable prospects for its portfolio companies.

Groebler noted that Salzgitter is convinced Klockner DESMA Elastomertechnik will have ‘strong conditions for further development under its new owner, NMP.’

He concluded that the transaction ‘benefits both the company and its employees by providing a clear vision for the future.’

NMP, headquartered in Weil der Stadt, Germany, and Strasbourg, France, operates 10 companies with 500 employees across Germany, France, Switzerland and Slovakia. The group specialises in splitting, skiving and cutting machinery for materials used in the leather, rubber, footwear and packaging sectors.

Narith Meksavanh, CEO, NMP Group, said that group’s strategic focus on quality and customer service has supported steady growth over the past decade.

He added that NMP is seeking to ‘expand production capacity and strengthen its international sales network in order to meet growing customer demand.’

The acquisition serves both as an opportunity and a solution that will help NMP address industrial challenges by using the capabilities available at DESMA’s locations.

The combined operations further strengthens its market position, particularly in high-growth markets such as the United States, India and China.

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Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has facilitated a landmark achievement in accessible mobility through its ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative. The company supported international para-athlete Chandeep Singh in completing a record-setting cross-country drive spanning over 7,000 kilometres. The expedition, undertaken in a specially modified Hyundai CRETA, saw Singh successfully traverse from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and back to the starting point.

This arduous journey stands as one of the longest transcontinental drives ever undertaken by a para-athlete in India. The customised vehicle proved instrumental as Singh traversed a vast array of challenging terrains and severe climatic conditions. His successful completion of the route not only demonstrated exceptional personal endurance but also served as a powerful testament to the principle that mobility solutions should enable all individuals to chase their goals without barriers.

Consequently, Singh’s feat has earned him a distinguished place in the Golden Book of Records. Beyond this personal victory, the expedition solidifies HMIL’s ongoing dedication to social progress and inclusive mobility. Through ‘Samarth by Hyundai,’ the company continues to champion interventions that improve accessibility, ensure equal opportunities, and empower persons with disabilities.

Virat Khullar, Head – Marketing, HMIL, said, “At Hyundai Motor India, we believe mobility is about empowering people and enabling possibilities. Through our ‘Samarth by Hyundai’ initiative, we are committed to creating a more inclusive and accessible ecosystem where every individual can dream bigger and achieve more. Chandeep Singh’s remarkable journey is a powerful testament to the indomitable human spirit, resilience and determination. We are honoured to have supported him in this historic achievement, which not only finds a place in the Golden Book of Records but also inspires millions across the country to redefine what is possible.”

Singh said, “Completing this 7,000+ km drive from Jammu to Kanyakumari and back, and securing a place in the Golden Book of Records, is a dream realised through years of relentless preparation, grit and belief. This journey was never just about setting a record; it was about showing every person that with determination, the right support and accessible technology, no destination is out of reach. The specially adapted Hyundai CRETA performed flawlessly across every terrain, truly becoming an extension of my body and spirit. I am deeply grateful to Samarth by Hyundai for believing in my vision and helping turn what seemed impossible into a reality for India. Furthermore, I am also grateful to Hyundai dealership network for their unwavering support throughout this remarkable journey.”

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