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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Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced the return of the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyan (SSA) 2026. This campaign brings together figures from the film industry to address road safety through a public awareness initiative. The ministry will host a telethon on 25 January in Mumbai to mark the fourth year of the programme.

Notable participants joining the movement include Amitabh Bachchan, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Kay Kay Menon, Shankar Mahadevan and Swanand Kirkire. Data from the ministry shows that India recorded 487,707 road crashes in 2024, leading to 177,175 deaths. Figures indicate that adults between 18 and 45 years old represent over two-thirds of these fatalities.

The theme for SSA 2026 is 'Kartavya' (Duty), which frames road safety as a shared responsibility. The tagline for the initiative is ‘Parvaah Se, Kartavya Tak’. The 2026 edition operates on four pillars: Kartavya (Duty), Kayda (Discipline), Kavach (Shield) and Kranti (Change). These are intended to influence road user behaviour across the country.

Factors contributing to fatalities include overspeeding, rash driving, overtaking, jaywalking and the non-use of helmets and seatbelts. The campaign also highlights the failure to provide assistance during the golden hour. The initiative aims to use conversations and performances to encourage the public to follow road regulations.

The event is designed to move from awareness to action within the road ecosystem. The telethon will be broadcast on CNN-News18 on 25th January from 11:00 am onwards.

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Sue Bai, Chief Engineer at American Honda Motor Co., Inc., has been elected to the SAE International Board of Directors.

She serves as the Director at Large for the 2026-2027 term, Bai is the second representative from Honda to join the governing body. Her appointment follows a career focused on the research and deployment of mobility technologies.

Bai manages the Sustainability & Business Development unit at American Honda. Her previous experience includes leading data business for the Digital Service Development Division, where she analysed transportation data to assist road infrastructure and traffic environments. Since joining Honda R&D Americas in 2004, she has held leadership positions at the Honda Research Institute USA and the Automobile Technology Division.

Within SAE International, Bai has chaired technical committees for Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) standards. These protocols aim to coordinate safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. She has also acted as the technical lead for industry-government projects, including the Ohio Smart Mobility Corridor, a test bed for connected safety systems.

SAE International is a global network that develops consensus standards and provides career development for engineers. Bai has been a member for nearly 20 years and has received honours including the SAE Top Contributor of the Year in 2021 and 2022, as well as the James M. Crawford Executive Standards Committee Outstanding Achievement Award.

Bai holds a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and a Master of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Michigan. Her work has spanned Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and automated vehicle research.

Sue Bai, said, “I’m honoured to be elected to the SAE International Board of Directors. SAE plays a vital role in bringing engineers together to solve complex mobility challenges, and I look forward to further contributing to work that advances knowledge and solutions for the benefit of society.”

The SAE Board of Directors oversees the organisation’s mission to connect members through standards and learning opportunities. Bai’s term will focus on the application of engineering knowledge to address mobility issues.

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GreenCell Mobility (GCM), the electric bus platform backed by Eversource Capital, has completed a USD 89 million mezzanine funding round. The investment was provided by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), British International Investment (BII) and Tata Capital. The capital is designated to support the expansion of GCM’s electric vehicle operations across India.

The company currently operates a fleet of more than 1,200 electric buses and 270 charging stations. This funding will facilitate the growth of the fleet to 3,700 units. The expansion includes buses secured through the National E-Bus Programme and the PM Seva E-Mobility initiative. These vehicles will serve routes in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Puducherry.

The mezzanine financing structure is intended to catalyse private and institutional capital for the transport sector. By increasing the number of electric buses on intra-city and intercity corridors, GCM aims to address air quality and carbon emission targets. The project also focuses on establishing payment-security models and financing structures that can be replicated in urban transport markets.

GCM functions as an OEM-agnostic platform, allowing it to integrate various bus models into its network. The investment will also fund the development of charging infrastructure required to support the larger fleet, specifically targeting connectivity in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.

Dhanpal Jhaveri, Vice-Chairman of Everstone Group and CEO of Eversource Capital, said, "Through this funding round for GreenCell Mobility, we are deepening our partnership with IFC, BII and Tata Capital (leaders in sustainable investments). The transaction exemplifies the catalytic role that private, development and institutional capital can play in accelerating India’s clean transport revolution. GCM’s expanded operations will drive transformation efficient transportation to cities and commuters while delivering returns."

Devndra Chawla, Managing Director & CEO, GreenCell Mobility, said, "This fundraise marks a significant milestone in GreenCell Mobility’s journey to build electric mobility as a mainstream, scalable public transport solution for India. The participation of IFC, BII and Tata Capital reflects strong conviction in our platform, our operating model, and our ability to execute at scale. As we expand our fleet and charging infrastructure across states under programmes such as PM Seva E-Mobility, our focus remains on delivering reliable, cost-efficient and zero-emission transport for cities and intercity corridors."

Katherine Koh, Regional Industry Manager, IFC, added, “Electrifying buses is central to India’s urban transformation agenda, and our mezzanine investment in GreenCell will accelerate the rollout of sustainable public transport for thousands of people across India’s tier-2 and tier-3 cities. It will create jobs while catalyzing private capital through innovative financing and payment-security models.”

Shilpa Kumar, Managing Director and Head of India, BII, said, “Climate action is a key priority for BII in India, with electric mobility as a key pillar of our climate investment strategy. Electric buses are a critical lever for decarbonising public transport at scale. Our investment in GreenCell Mobility reflects our commitment to supporting proven platforms that accelerate clean mobility.”

Manish Chourasia, Chief Operating Officer, Tata Capital, noted, "Tata Capital is pleased to participate in this strategic investment that accelerates India’s transition to cleaner, more efficient transport. GCM’s innovative approach aligns with our vision for sustainable urban development and inclusive growth.”

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ZEISS Industrial Quality Solutions recently hosted its landmark ZEISS Quality Innovation Worldwide forums in New Delhi and Pune. These events, integral to a global series originating from the flagship summit in Berlin, positioned India as a central architect in the evolving narrative of worldwide metrology. Focused squarely on ‘The Future of Metrology’, the gatherings engaged key manufacturing sectors – from automotive and electric mobility to medical technology and electronics – on overcoming modern precision and quality challenges.

A core insight emphasised metrology's transformative shift from merely assessing outcomes to proactively predicting performance. This evolution empowers manufacturers to accelerate innovation while adhering to rigorous quality standards. The forums established a pioneering national platform, merging strategic dialogue with exhibits of advanced technology. Attendees engaged with cutting-edge innovations across optical, tactile and X-ray measurement, explored connected digital ecosystems like ZEISS PiWeb and witnessed AI-driven and automated inspection solutions aligned with smart industry principles. Practical, hands-on demonstrations bridged these technologies with real-world production scenarios.

Notably, the India editions amplified the voice of local industry, with leading manufacturers detailing their own journeys in quality transformation. They shared experiences in building resilient quality cultures, pioneering process innovation and implementing best practices in complex environments. This highlighted a collaborative model for progress, where the future of Indian metrology is being jointly shaped by global technology leaders and domestic industrial innovation.

By selecting two of India’s premier industrial hubs, ZEISS reinforced its deep commitment to the nation's manufacturing ascent. The initiative frames India not merely as a growth market but as a vital contributor to global manufacturing excellence. Ultimately, the events united industry leaders and quality champions to collectively define how predictive intelligence and precision will forge the next decade of manufacturing.

Aveen Padmaprabha, Head of Industrial Quality Solutions, ZEISS India, said, “As manufacturing continues to transform, the expectations from metrology are expanding rapidly – from speed and accuracy to data-driven decision-making. ZEISS Quality Innovation Worldwide in India, which witnessed a humbling participation of 350+ individuals from the manufacturing fraternity, demonstrated how advanced metrology solutions can empower the industry to achieve higher productivity and quality consistency. Our focus remains on enabling our customers with future-ready technologies and deep application expertise.”

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