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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Chennai-headquartered electric vehicle company Raptee.HV has opened an electric mobility Centre of Excellence at Rajalakshmi Engineering College, establishing an industry-academia partnership focused on electric vehicle technology.

The new facility, inaugurated on World EV Day, is spread across 3,000 square feet and will operate under the Raptee.HV Academy initiative will introduce industrial exposure and prototyping tools to academic institutions.

The project represents an INR 5 million investment and accompanies a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Raptee.HV and Rajalakshmi Engineering College. The agreement covers industrial training, site visits, guest lectures, internships, academic courses and research projects.

It is designed for students across electrical, electronics and automotive engineering; the laboratory contains a Raptee.HV T30 motorcycle, core electric vehicle components, a stripped motorcycle fitted with digital twin technology and equipment for testing battery packs, electric motors, power electronics, charging systems, vehicle communications and diagnostics.

Dinesh Arjun, Co-Founder and CEO, Raptee.HV, said, "The next generation of mobility will be built by engineers who understand the machine from the cell to the software. But you cannot build that understanding from a classroom alone. You have to get your hands dirty, take systems apart, question how they work, experiment and build again. The HV Lab is our attempt to bring that experience into engineering education. If even a few students walk out of this lab wanting to build the next great EV technology, we have done our job."

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Zuno General Insurance has launched Fuel Guard, a car insurance add-on offering financial protection against component damage caused by manufacturer-approved blended fuels.

The policy addition targets private motor vehicles in India as alternative and blended fuel adoption expands across the country. The coverage applies to specified engine and fuel-system parts in cases of accidental or unforeseen damage arising directly from approved blended fuel use.

At present, the insurance cover eligibility is restricted to private cars registered on or after 1 April 2023, provided the vehicle manufacturer has endorsed the specific fuel blend used. Vehicle owners must adhere to the manufacturer's prescribed maintenance schedule without making unauthorised modifications to the engine or fuel system. Fuel Guard can be added to private car package policies, standalone own-damage coverage, bundled options and three-year long-term policies.

Shanai Ghosh, Managing Director and CEO, Zuno General Insurance, said, "At its core, Fuel Guard is built around a simple idea: as the mobility ecosystem evolves, insurance protection needs to evolve with it. At Zuno, we continuously look at how changes in mobility are shaping customer expectations and ownership experiences. Fuel Guard reflects our effort to translate those insights into simple, practical solutions that make protection more relevant in everyday life."

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JSW Group and Volkswagen Group have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) for a proposed 51:49 alliance involving JSW Green Mobility Limited and Skoda Auto Volkswagen India Pvt Ltd. No official statement or press release has been issued by either the JSW Group, Skoda/Volkswagen yet regarding the development. 
“The signing of the non-binding MoU has actually taken place,” claimed an industry source. Pointing at the news in Economic Times, he said, “The non-binding MoU paves way for further negotiations between the two organisations in terms of valuation and other factors.” 
“The non-binding MoU would explore setting up of a strategic joint venture in India that would develop, manufacture and sell passenger vehicles for the domestic as well as international markets,” he added. 
Stating that the nature of vehicles would include ICE, electric and hybrid powertrain ones, the source averred, “The non-binding MoU would pave the way for internal approvals, regulatory clearances and other nitty-gritties such as sourcing, manufacturing, technology, localisation, management etc. before a concrete structure is engineered by both the companies and the groups that control them by the end of this year or early next year. 
Entering India is 2000, Skoda, the Czech passenger vehicle arm of the Volkswagen Group has been driving activities for Volkswagen and Skoda brand of vehicles in India. While the Chakan (Pune) plant has been under Volkswagen, the Shendre MIDC (Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar) plant has been under Skoda. The Volkswagen Group premium luxury vehicles of the Volkswagen, Skoda and Audi brand are assembled at the Shendre MIDC facility. It has been some time that the Volkswagen Group is looking to turn the Indian operations into a regional hub catering to the immediate neighbouring markets among others. 
Holding a 35 percent stake in JSW MG Motor India, which involves SAIC Motors and is separate from JSW Green Mobility, the JSW Group has presence across steel, infrastructure, energy, cement, paints and automobiles. While there have been reports indicating plans to increase its holding to 45 percent in JSW MG Motor India, the Group has committed up to USD 3 billion over five years in investment in its automotive arm, which includes the building of a greenfield manufacturing footprint at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar. 
The development about the non-binding MoU between JSW Group and Volkswagen Group, the source claimed, has taken place at around the same time the CEO of Skoda Auto, Klaus Zellmer, and the CEO of Volkswagen, Thomas Schäfer, were visiting India. 
 

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Japanese automotive major Honda has become the first company globally to earn a five-star rating in the products and services category of the FIA Road Safety Index. The award was presented at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza during the FIA Formula One Italian Grand Prix.

The FIA Road Safety Index measures organisational impacts on road safety across operations, supply chains, products and services. The FIA expanded the index from a 3-star to a 5-star framework, introducing modules for planning, performance monitoring, safety culture management and supply chain or product coverage.

To qualify for the updated framework, Honda expanded its assessment scope to cover 17 countries, representing over 90 percent of its global motorcycle and automobile sales volume. The evaluation reviewed Honda's safety governance, global fatality tracking, safety technology deployment and traffic safety data disclosures. The company maintains targets to halve traffic collision fatalities involving its vehicles per 10,000 units sold by 2030 compared to 2020 levels, with a long-term goal to eliminate traffic collision fatalities by 2050.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA, said, “Road safety remains one of the world’s most urgent challenges, and no single organisation or sector can address it alone. Progress depends on action at scale across the public and private sectors, uniting all stakeholders around our shared goal of saving lives on the road. The FIA has an important role to play in accelerating that change for road users worldwide. Alongside our work with companies, we encourage governments to consider how the FIA Road Safety Index methodology can support regulatory compliance frameworks and strengthen road safety standards globally. We aim to build a shared culture in which road safety is recognised as a fundamental responsibility. I congratulate Honda on leading the way and becoming the first organisation to receive five stars.”

Willem Groenewald, FIA Secretary General for Automobile Mobility, Sustainability and Tourism, said, “The expansion of the FIA Road Safety Index to five stars marks an important step in our ambition to make road safety a measurable and accountable part of corporate decision-making. Organisations worldwide have a significant influence on road safety through their operations, employees, products, services and supply chains. With this expanded methodology, they can not only understand that impact more broadly, but set targets, measure progress, showcase in-depth commitment and continuously improve their performance. Honda becoming the first organisation to achieve the new five-star rating demonstrates the level of ambition we want the Index to inspire. We hope this milestone will encourage many more organisations across the public and private sectors to measure their road safety footprint and take concrete action to save lives.”

Mikihito Kojima, Assistant Vice-President and General Manager of Traffic Safety Promotion Operations, Honda Motor Co, said, “We are deeply honoured that Honda safety initiatives have received the 5-Star rating, the highest recognition in the FIA Road Safety Index. At Honda, our goal goes beyond delivering safer products. We look to the safety of each and every customer who uses our products, and everyone sharing the road around them. Through the advancement of our safety technologies, activities to promote safe driving and riding practices, and a clearer understanding of how traffic collisions occur so that we can keep improving, we work to reduce the number of traffic collisions themselves. The FIA Road Safety Index brings visibility to corporate road safety efforts, and has given us a clearer view of where we stand today and of what we need to address next. We see this recognition as an important milestone on the way to our challenging goal of achieving zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050, and we will continue to take on that challenge. We also hope that the FIA Road Safety Index will encourage broader commitment to road safety among companies and organisations worldwide beyond individual companies and industries, helping to drive road safety forward across society.”

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