South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Company, along with its Robotics LAB, has won 18 iF Design Awards for 2025 for its design and innovation across sectors.

Established in 1954, the iF Design Award honours innovative designs across the globe. The two-stage selection process saw over 10,800 designs being evaluated from more than 72 nations.

The Korean major marked 11^th consecutive year of recognition at the iF Design Awards. For 2025, Hyundai Motor received 18 awards across eight disciplines and 12 categories.

SangYup Lee, Executive Vice-President and Head of Hyundai and Gensis Global Design, said, “This recognition from iF Design Award is a testament to the exceptional dedication exhibited by our team of visionary designers and collaborative engineers. It highlights the remarkable competitiveness of Hyundai’s design identity within the global market.”

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LKQ SYNETIQ, a leading entity in the UK vehicle dismantling and recycling sector, has appointed Justin Elliot as its new Sales Director. In this capacity, he will be responsible for advancing the company's commercial strategy and fostering market development. Elliot brings over 13 years of extensive experience within the LKQ group, Europe's foremost provider of vehicle parts and services. His background includes several senior directorial roles within the organisation's Bodyshop Division. He will retain his European strategic responsibilities as Head of Collision and Coating – Strategy & Innovation for LKQ Europe, alongside his new duties.

The company itself is a joint venture established this year between LKQ Europe and SYNETIQ Ltd, an IAA company. This collaboration merges LKQ's robust distribution network and aftermarket knowledge with SYNETIQ's proficiency in dismantling, reuse and remanufacturing. In 2024, this partnership resulted in the dismantling of approximately 27,000 vehicles across four UK locations. In his new role, Elliot is tasked with executing the sales strategy, concentrating on enhancing relationships with clients, supporting business growth and uncovering new opportunities within the repair and insurance markets. He will collaborate closely with marketing, operations and other teams across the wider LKQ structure to ensure a unified approach to the market and to scale the availability of recycled Original Equipment parts.

His appointment represents a significant step in the venture's ongoing efforts to expand its sustainable parts offering, enabling workshops, bodyshops and insurers to lower costs and minimise their environmental footprint throughout the repair process.

Annick Jourdenais, Managing Director, LKQ SYNETIQ, said, “Justin is a great addition to the LKQ SYNETIQ team, and his experience across the group will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen customer partnerships and support the growth of our recycled OE parts offering.”

Elliot said, “LKQ SYNETIQ has a significant opportunity to reshape how recycled OE parts are brought to market, supporting customers with solutions that are both commercially competitive and sustainable at scale. I’m looking forward to getting started in this role, with a focus on strengthening our sales execution and ensuring we are fully leveraging the capabilities across LKQ and SYNETIQ to expand our reach, unlock new customer segments and deliver a consistent approach to market.”

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SANY India, one of the leading heavy machinery manufacturers, and the National Academy of Construction (NAC) have concluded the first all-women excavator operator training programme in India. A batch of 22 women trainees received their professional certifications at a ceremony held on 6 March 2026 at the NAC facility in Pulivendula.

The initiative provided technical instruction on the SANY SY120 excavator. SANY India facilitated the machinery, designed the training syllabus and certified the NAC instructors to ensure the programme met industry requirements.

The curriculum focused on hands-on operation and global best practices for infrastructure equipment. Participants were evaluated and certified under the Infrastructure Equipment Skill Council (IESC) framework.

Key programme components included:

• Technical Instruction: Training on the operation and maintenance of the SANY SY120.
• Trainer Validation: NAC faculty members were trained and certified by SANY India prior to the programme.
• Employment Support: NAC will provide placement assistance to the 22 graduates for roles in the construction sector.
• Standardisation: Alignment with IESC certification to ensure nationwide employability.

The completion of the programme was timed to coincide with International Women's Day. Representatives from SANY India and the NAC attended the handover ceremony to mark the transition of the trainees into the professional workforce.

Sanjay Saxena, COO, SANY India, said, “At SANY India, we believe true progress is inclusive. By empowering women with world-class skills and certification, we are not only shaping careers but also strengthening India’s construction ecosystem. This Women’s Day-aligned batch symbolises opportunity, confidence and capability.”

Madhusudan Katragadda, Dealer Principal at Madhura Engineering, added, “It is truly an honour to be part of such a historic initiative. I sincerely appreciate SANY India and the National Academy of Construction for taking this bold step toward empowering women in the construction equipment industry. Excavator operations have traditionally been a male-dominated field, and this programme marks the first step in changing that narrative. Seeing these talented women successfully complete their training fills us with pride and optimism for the future of the industry. I encourage all the trainees to continue learning and growing – this certification is just the beginning. With dedication and experience, they can explore many opportunities within the sector, including roles in operations, sales and service engineering.”

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UTAC, a prominent player in the automotive testing, inspection and certification sector, is significantly broadening its footprint in China. The company has unveiled plans for a cutting-edge proving ground in Huainan, situated in the central province of Anhui. This ambitious project is being developed through a collaboration with the Huainan City Government and is set to become the primary strategic hub for the UTAC Group’s operations within the country. By establishing this facility, UTAC aims to bolster the mobility industry with top-tier testing capabilities and specialised knowledge.

The new site will enable UTAC’s team of specialists to offer homologation and testing services that align with the most current international benchmarks and regulatory standards. This initiative is a direct continuation of the group’s overarching goal to foster a mobility landscape that is both safer and more environmentally friendly. The Huainan facility is designed to be comprehensive, featuring a variety of specialised tracks for vehicle testing, along with a technology park that includes rentable workshops and office spaces. It will also house a dedicated conference and exhibition centre and purpose-built laboratories outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment. These labs will be specifically geared towards testing the latest advancements in new energy vehicles.

Anhui province itself provides a rich environment for such an investment. Home to 70 million people, it hosts a dense and extensive mobility ecosystem. Major automotive manufacturers like BYD, Changan, Chery, JAC, NIO and Volkswagen, together with their extensive supply networks, are deeply embedded in the region. The province’s manufacturing prowess is underscored by its production of roughly 3.7 million vehicles in 2023, a figure that positions Anhui as China’s leader in overall vehicle manufacturing, new-energy vehicle production and vehicle exports. Consequently, the new proving ground in Huainan is poised to become a vital strategic component for UTAC, solidifying its presence in this central hub of the Chinese mobility industry.

Connor McCormack, CEO, UTAC, said, " We are extremely proud of our partnership with the city of Huainan, which is undergoing a significant transformation to support the future of the automotive industry. UTAC is delighted to contribute to this transformation and to bring our 100 years of specialist expertise, along with the European standards we have helped shape and validate, to China’s vital automotive sector.”

Mayor Zhang Zhiqiang of Huainan City said, “This represents a significant milestone in Huainan's efforts to accelerate the development of its intelligent connected vehicle industry. It is of great importance in bridging the critical gap in the regional automotive sector’s industrial chain of ‘testing-production-export' and establishing a specialised vehicle testing and certification platform with international recognition. The successful cooperation on this project will undoubtedly advance the high-end and intelligent transformation of the regional automotive industry, providing strong impetus for Anhui Province's efforts to foster a new energy vehicle industrial cluster with international competitiveness.”

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Gulf Oil Lubricants India, a Hinduja Group company, has announced a four-year extension of its partnership with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Gulf will serve as the Official Lubricants Partner for the franchise, continuing an association that has spanned 13 seasons.

The renewal maintains one of the longest-running brand partnerships in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The collaboration focuses on consumer engagement through marketing campaigns and fan-focused initiatives.

The 13-season history between Gulf and CSK has been a central part of Gulf’s brand strategy in India. The company uses the platform to reach cricket fans through digital activations and on-ground experiences.

This follows the recent announcement of fellow Hinduja Group company, Ashok Leyland, joining CSK as an official sponsor.

Ravi Chawla, Managing Director & CEO, Gulf Oil Lubricants India, said,“Gulf’s 13-season journey with CSK reflects a relationship built on trust, shared passion, and mutual success. This partnership has consistently delivered far beyond the commercial contract, forging a deep emotional connection with the loyal CSK fan base and cricket enthusiasts across the nation. Continuing this association is a proud moment for Gulf as it reflects our global heritage of supporting performance sports and iconic teams that inspire millions of fans.”

KS Viswanathan, Managing Director, Chennai Super Kings, stated, "We are pleased to continue our long-standing association with Gulf, a partner that has been with us through many memorable seasons. Over the years, Gulf has consistently brought creativity and energy to the partnership while engaging with our fans. We look forward to strengthening this relationship over the next four years. We are really pleased about how it has come together"

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