A good 15m long, the Mercedes-Benz OC 500 RF 2542 has two-axles at the rear and one at the front. Its name suggests it to be German. It is therefore perhaps that a European influence is evident from the smooth surfaces and well-defined lines of the G-Python’s exterior design. The standards of fit and finish are good. A sense of sleek and muscular build apparent from the vehicle’s exterior design, the G-Python, according to Kukreja, draws inspiration from the python’s prowess and size. He drew attention to the fine curves and added, “Look carefully at the headlamps; they will remind you of the eyes of a python. They shine like diamonds”. Reflecting luxury, style and an ability to stand out, the sleek and sweeping headlamps of the G-Python coach body work make an interesting part of the facia. The facia in turn has a large windshield with a black theme patch at its bottom. The pasted windows and tall sides of the G-Python nicely complement the facia design, highlighting a good sense of proportion in the process. Like a fully grown python – a reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) can reach over 6.25m in length and is termed as the longest snake in the world – the G-Python luxury coach design does appear long and attractive on the Mercedes-Benz multi-axle chassis. 
 

Finer detailing
Powering the Mercedes-Benz OC 500 RF 2542 is a 388 hp, six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz OM 470 Euro VI 10.7-litre diesel engine situated transversely at the rear. It is so located that it feeds power to one of the two rear axles. Its access is governed by an engine lid at the rear. When viewed from a three-fourth angle, the rear accommodates the engine compartment access lid nicely in a large black patch. Replicating the colour theme of the facia (there is a similar albeit smaller black patch under the windshield), the large rear patch of black cleverly hides the enormity of the coach structure. It is no doubt tall and fairly enormous when viewed against a car or a van! On either side of the black patch are sleek and stylish LED tail lamps. “True to our penchant for aerodynamic styling and discreet elegance, the G-Python coach design is based on a modular concept,” said Kukreja. “As much as the exterior, there’s much attention that has gone in the designing and building of the interior too,” he added. Containing diffused lighting, a warm shade of blue and white, the interior exudes a touch of luxury and elegance, much the same way the exterior does. 
 

Employing CR tubes and fire retardant FRP material in its construction, the interior of the G-Python coach design offers good space between each seat row. The seats of the reclining variety are designed and positioned to offer maximum comfort and leg room for passengers. This makes for a relaxing atmosphere. Cabin isolation is brought up to speed with much use of insulation material. “There’s been a good deal of innovation that has gone into the noise isolation of the cabin,” averred Kukreja. With maximum luggage compartment space, easy to operate functions and a long list of optional features like heating, AC, LED screens, mobile-laptop charger, metallic paint, infotainment system, pantry and chemical toilet etc., the G-Python, when it comes to features, offers almost all the bells and whistles. “From the very inception of the design, we made sure that we could accommodate each and every feature that a coach operator could ask for,” Kukreja remarked. “The colour combination and graphics is optional.” 
 

Stating that the attention to European standards has ensured superior built quality, Kukreja said, “From the safety point of view, we have made every effort to exceed the regulatory requirements.” The G-Python coach design employs a laminated glass windshield. The pasted windows on the sides are of the toughened variety. The emergency door has been situated at the rear. Conforming to the bus code, the G-Python seeks proximity to a European integral coach design. It is capable of seating 53 passengers. Available in ‘semi-sleeper’ guise as well, there are no plans to introduce a ‘sleeper’ version as of now. “We may offer a ‘sleeper’ version in the future,” said Kukreja.  
 

An eye for quality 
Built with close attention to quality at Guru Ram Dass Body Builders’ Sonipat facility in Haryana, the G-Python coach body design flaunts a super strong reinforced structure that is crash resistant. It is backed by a pan-India after sales support. Offering ease of maintenance and service through easy accessibility to key aggregates and parts, the luxury coach body design is subject to regular updating, according to Kukreja. “This is in line with our philosophy to keep improving a design and incorporate new developments in bus/coach body design and development,” he added. Explaining that his company’s modern plant at Sonipat has state-of-the-art paint booth, shearing and press brake machines, an R&D centre, shower booth and an FRP moulding facility among others, Kukreja said, “The build quality of the G-Python is in line with the company’s quality management system and regulatory requirements.”  

Stressing on a robust quality control mechanism in place at GRD’s Sonipat plant to ensure thorough inspection of every material that is procured and every weld joint that is carried out on the structure, Kukreja expressed, “Trained professionals use calibrated measuring instruments and various other machines as part of the quality management system.” “There’s a ‘Red Table Area’ in the Sonipat plant where the selected and reject material are segregated,” he added. Explaining that the G-Python will complement the existing G-Dolfino bus body design, Kukreja averred, “They are more or less parallel offerings.” “The G-Dolfino was launched in 2019 and the G-Python was launched in June 2021,” he said. Asked if the G-Python coach body design would fit a 12m long front-engine bus chassis like the BharatBenz 1624, and Kukreja was quick to answer, “Modifications in the floor structure should make it possible.” Whether it would be done at once? Kukreja is not in favour it seems. “We will take a call on whether we want to offer the G-Python luxury coach body design on any other chassis than a rear engine multi-axle one,” he announced. “For the 12m long front-engine BharatBenz 1624, we have yet another fine design in the form of the G-Dolfino,” he concluded. The G-Dolfino, it should not take long to understand, is inspired by a Dolphin!
 

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Bajaj Auto Foundation, the CSR arm of Bajaj Auto Limited, has announced a significant INR 4 billion commitment over the next decade to support women engineers through the Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering (RRBSWE). The initiative is aimed at increasing female participation in core technical fields.

The scholarship, recognised as India’s largest such programme for women in core engineering, targets meritorious students pursuing disciplines like Mechanical Engineering, Electronics, Industrial Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Robotics. Scholars at 40 leading institutes, including IITs, NITs, IIITs and reputed state and private universities, can receive up to INR 800,000 in financial aid throughout their engineering education.

Beyond monetary support, the programme focuses on holistic leadership development. It offers structured mentorship, industry immersion and professional networking opportunities to cultivate future women leaders in engineering and manufacturing sectors. The launch event at Bajaj Auto Ltd.’s Pune headquarters also celebrated the first cohort of 506 scholars, with chief guest Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw and Rajiv Bajaj in attendance.

The foundation highlighted that this effort tackles the persistent underrepresentation of women as advanced manufacturing and deep technology grow critical for India’s economy. Unveiling its overarching proposition, ‘Where there’s a skill, there’s a way’, the foundation reaffirmed its dedication to skilling and education for the nation’s future workforce.

Rajiv Bajaj, Managing Director, Bajaj Auto Limited, said, “Women possess inherent skills of patience, empathy and diligence, which are very strong attributes to excel in core engineering jobs. We identified this long back and made women engineers a significant part of our workforce. In fact, from virtually no women in our operations till around a decade back, today they account for nearly 20 percent of our workforce. This has brought a meaningful difference to our way of working and contributed to Bajaj Auto’s global scale, thereby making us the World’s Favourite Indian. This programme would extend our learning with the larger manufacturing industry.

“The Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship for Women in Engineering holds a special place in my heart, as it carries the name of my beloved mother, Rupa Rahul Bajaj. Her dedication to education and her belief that women can drive change in their communities inspire this programme. The Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship is an investment in talent, ambition and the belief that opportunity can unlock extraordinary potential. We are deeply committed to ensuring that women play a far greater role in shaping the future of engineering and manufacturing.”

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Biocon Limited, said, “The future of science, engineering and manufacturing must be built on inclusion and equal opportunity. Encouraging more women to pursue core engineering disciplines is not just a social imperative but an economic one. Initiatives like the Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship can help create a stronger and more diverse innovation ecosystem for India.”

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Autodesk has overhauled its India digital storefront into a complete self-service procurement hub targeting startups, freelancers, entrepreneurs and small businesses. The redesign lowers barriers to professional design software and reflects a broader digital-first sales strategy for how local customers buy and manage licenses.

Internet usage in India has reached 958 million active users, fundamentally changing professional technology purchasing. The updated platform introduces flexible consumption models for the country’s growing digital economy. Emerging firms and first-time users driving the Viksit Bharat initiative are primary beneficiaries.

Launched in 2017, the online store is now a critical customer acquisition channel. Startups, freelancers and smaller enterprises account for over half of first-time buyers. Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities contribute more than one-fifth of online customers, making smaller hubs engines of digital adoption.

The platform adds monthly subscriptions starting at INR 1,062 for AutoCAD Web, plus Autodesk Flex token packs at INR 29,300 for 100 tokens, valid one year and shareable. Users can generate quotes, complete multi-product checkouts, renew subscriptions and manage GST compliance without callbacks.

Autodesk has expanded payment options to include UPI alongside debit cards, credit cards and net banking, making professional software procurement seamless for India’s creator community.

Kamolika Gupta Peres, Vice President, Autodesk India and SAARC, said, “India has nearly a billion active internet users – and for this generation, digital is not a channel. It is the expectation. Today, the Autodesk creator community that includes designers, animators, manufacturers want to explore, evaluate and purchase professional technology instantly, just as they would any other product or service online.

“Over the past year, we analysed the online buying behaviour and preferences of our customers and Autodesk’s creator community across India. The insights and feedback have shaped the evolution of the Autodesk Store into a more intuitive, inclusive, seamless and locally relevant experience, designed around the needs of modern Indian businesses and professionals. As Autodesk’s reach expands across Bharat, we are making it easier to access professional design technology, regardless of where they are located.”

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Chinese automotive major BYD (Build Your Dreams), one of the leading manufacturers of new energy vehicles (NEVs) across product categories, has outlined an ambitious target to become the No.1 automaker in the next five years.

The statement was made by Wang Chuanfu, CEO, BYD, who told investors in China, according to a Reuters report.

In 2025, BYD surpassed American automotive major Ford Motor Co in terms of sales, with 4.6 millions sold globally, thanks to robust domestic demand, as well as its aggressive expansion in global markets such as Europe and Asia.

The company now aims to surpass Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation, which continues to be the No.1 automaker (in terms of volumes), consistently selling over 10 million vehicles.

In 2025, Toyota Motor Corporation sold 11.32 million vehicles, Volkswagen Group sold 8.98 million units, Hyundai Motor Group sold 7.27 million units, GM (including SAIC-GM-Wuling) sold 6.18 million units, Stellantis sold 5.6 million units, while Ford had sales crossing 4 million units.

BYD Showcases DM-i Electric-First Hybrid Technology In India

For the unversed, the Shenzen-headquartered automaker had stopped producing Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles in 2022 and solely focused on electrification and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEV).

Since then, the company has consistently expanded its customer base and tech upgrades.

In fact, BYD has recently started expanding its flash-charging station across Germany, which are capable of delivering up to 1,500 kW of charging speed. This allows its EVs (using Blade Battery 2.0 and Flash Charging 2.0 tech) to be charged from 10 percent to 70 percent in under 5-minutes and upto 97 percent in 9-minutes. The company is targeting to build 6,000 such flash-charging stations outside China by the end of 2026, with Europe expected to get half of it.

As per industry reports, BYD has already set up over 6,000 flash-charging stations across 300 cities in China till last month.

Interestingly, the company sold 383,453 EVs last month, taking its cumulative sales to 16.5 million EVs to date.

To further make smart inroads in the European market, BYD has also started conversations with automakers for acquiring their under utilised production facilities.

Also read: BYD Overtakes Tesla And BMW To Become UK’s Best-Selling EV Brand

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WACKER is presenting a portfolio of battery electric vehicle safety innovations at the Battery Show in Stuttgart, Germany, running from June 9 to June 11. Among the products featured at the company’s Hall 1, Booth K45, are a ceramifying silicone for thermal barriers, thermally conductive potting compounds for power electronics and materials under the ELASTOSIL, SEMICOSIL, SILRES and WACKER Silgel brands. The ceramifying silicone notably enhances heat and flame resistance, while the potting compounds enable effective temperature control with minimal sedimentation, allowing processing after long storage without complex pretreatment.

New potting compounds for thermal management take centre stage as another key exhibit. The spotlight falls on ELASTOSIL RT 7616 TC and ELASTOSIL RT 7624 TC, both filled addition-curing silicone elastomers that cure at room temperature, enabling energy-saving handling of large components. ELASTOSIL RT 7616 TC offers a thermal conductivity of 1.6 W/mK, while ELASTOSIL RT 7624 TC achieves 2.4 W/mK.

Thermally conductive potting compounds must balance on-spec thermal conductivity with low viscosity, but low viscosity can cause particulate fillers to sediment and cake after prolonged storage. Redispersing such fillers is time-consuming and may require special mixing equipment. WACKER has now eliminated these concerns with the optimised rheological properties of its new products, making sedimentation and agglomeration effects irrelevant for customers.

Even if fillers settle under unfavourable transport or storage conditions, standard mixing equipment can easily redisperse them. ELASTOSIL RT 7616 TC and ELASTOSIL RT 7624 TC feature low viscosities of 5,500 and 8,000 mPa•s, respectively, allowing quick, bubble-free filling of gaps as small as a few hundred micrometres. Their room-temperature curing eliminates the need for ovens regardless of component size.

These heat-resistant, low-emission formulations are primarily used in electromobility battery chargers, DC/DC converters and inverters for thermal management of discrete components like coils or inductors. Other silicones for electromobility include SILRES MK, a methyl silicone resin for mechanical and thermal barriers and ELASTOSIL CM 18x potting compounds for side potting of cells and top potting of pressure-relief vents, providing electrical and thermal insulation without impairing vent function.

ELASTOSIL R 531/60, a ceramifying silicone rubber for busbar insulation in high-voltage batteries, rounds out the offerings. This extrudable material improves electric vehicle safety by ceramifying in a fire, encasing busbars in a ceramic layer to maintain electrical insulation. WACKER is demonstrating all these solutions live at the Stuttgart exhibition.

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