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)

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!