By collaborating with Delhi Traffic Police to organise a comprehensive safety awareness week, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to enhancing road safety. The leading Indian tyre maker has contributed to the road safety initiative held as part of National Road Safety Month (January 1–31, 2025) and spearheaded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to foster responsible driving habits and reduce road accidents.
Held at the Delhi Police Traffic Training Park, BKS, the road safety initiative under the theme ‘Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha,’ features a series of engaging awareness activities conducted at high-traffic zones across the city. 
The company, in collaboration with the Delhi Traffic Police, has conducted over a period of six days, interactive sessions at key traffic intersections such as the ITO, Connaught Place, Punjabi Bagh and Dhaula Kuan. The emphasis of these session was to take crucial safety measures such as adhering to traffic rules, wearing helmets and seat belts, and not using mobile phones while driving.
Speaking about the initiative, Srinivasu Alahan, Director – Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre, said, “For over three decades, JK Tyre has been at the forefront of road safety awareness and education. We take immense pride in supporting this cause through our National Road Safety Month initiatives. Ensuring road safety remains a top priority for us, and our cutting-edge products, such as SMART Tyres and Puncture Guard Tyres, have significantly contributed to enhancing driver safety. These innovations empower drivers by providing real-time alerts on potential issues, enabling preventive action and reducing accident risks. Through our sustained efforts, we remain dedicated to creating safer roads for all.”
 

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French automotive supplier Valeo has joined the Automotive Plastics Circularity project, a flagship initiative of the Global Impact Coalition (GIC). The move marks a strategic expansion of the coalition, connecting chemical producers directly with component design and manufacturing to create a closed-loop system for automotive plastics.

As a tier-one supplier, Valeo occupies a critical position between raw material producers and vehicle manufacturers (OEMs). Its involvement is expected to bridge the gap between technical feasibility and large-scale commercial adoption of recycled materials.

As part of the commitment, Valeo will help establish the rigorous performance standards required for recycled plastics to be used in high-performance automotive components. The collaboration focuses on ‘circular design’ – ensuring that components are engineered from the start to be easily recovered and reused at a vehicle's end-of-life (ELV). Moving beyond ‘proof of concept’ to create a predictable and affordable supply chain for high-quality recycled polymers. It will address the increasing global pressure and evolving regulations that mandate a higher percentage of recycled content in new vehicles.

Christophe Le Ligne, Group Vice President Research & Development, Valeo, said, “Circularity is central to Valeo’s strategy, and joining the Global Impact Coalition is a promising next step in our sustainability journey. True scaling of circularity requires deep cooperation across the entire value chain. Our focus is on tackling the challenge of integrating high-quality recycled materials from End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) into demanding applications, building a new circular value chain that ensures long-term material affordability and accessibility.”

Charlie Tan, CEO, GIC, added, “Valeo brings the perspective of where design and material decisions are actually made, and that is vital. This strengthens our ability to move from proof of concept to something that can be implemented across the industry.”

The Automotive Plastics Circularity project has already proven that recovering plastics from ELVs is technically possible. The current phase, now bolstered by Valeo’s engineering expertise, focuses on economic viability. By aligning the incentives of chemical companies and component designers, the project aims to ensure that circularity becomes a standard operational model rather than a niche sustainability project.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has selected six startups from the 10th Cohort of its flagship Accelerator Program to co-create advanced business solutions.

The selected companies have been awarded paid Proof of Concepts (PoCs) to develop AI-based and technology-driven tools aimed at enhancing plant safety, streamlining product development and improving customer engagement.

The initiative aligns with the Government of India’s ‘Startup India’ program, providing growth-stage startups with mentorship and access to real-world industrial environments to scale their innovations.

The six start-ups selected include Goat Robotics, which is working on safe and efficient movement of materials within facilities. SheerDrive, which provides a real-time, market-linked used car price visualiser for transparent valuations. Schijnenn Digital is working on technologies to shorten the product design and development cycle. GenbaNEXT, an advanced material traceability system to support circular economy and recycling efforts. Swayatt Drishtigochar that provides predictive maintenance and safe operation of industrial equipment. And Swiftex, a sales assistance platform to help dealer executives engage customers more efficiently.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “As our operations continue to grow, the solutions that we are co-creating with these startups will enable us to further improve safety in our plants, help reduce product design and development lead time, and strengthen material traceability.”

Over the last seven years, Maruti Suzuki’s innovation programs have screened more than 6,800 startups. To date, the company has engaged with over 250 startups, and 34 have been officially onboarded as business partners. The company currently operates four distinct programs to support the startup ecosystem at various stages:

Accelerator: Focuses on growth-stage startups for co-creating technological solutions.

Incubation Program: Early-stage support in partnership with NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore.

Mobility Challenge: For mature-stage startups to showcase cutting-edge mobility tech.

Nurture: A pre-incubation program for idea-stage entrepreneurs.

The integration of these new technologies, particularly in circularity and predictive maintenance, is expected to make Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing and sales operations more future-ready as the company expands its production capacity in India.

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SPARX Group Co., (SPARX) has announced the establishment of the Mirai Creation Fund IV (Fund IV), with initial capital from major Japanese financial institutions and Toyota Motor Corporation. The fund targets total commitments of JPY 100 billion by March 2027 and is scheduled to begin investment operations in June 2026.

The fund marks a strategic evolution from its predecessors by integrating the investment scope of the Space Frontier Fund into the Mirai Creation framework. Consequently, Fund IV will focus on four key technology categories: Intelligent Technologies (including AI), Robotics, Carbon Neutrality and Space.

Fund IV is backed by five core participating companies – Toyota Motor Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank and SPARX – with an initial combined investment of approximately JPY 15 billion. The fund will be managed by SPARX Asset Management Co, a subsidiary of SPARX.

The fund aims to accelerate innovation by investing in unlisted venture companies, both within Japan and internationally, that possess transformative technologies. The inclusion of Space as a core category reflects a broader strategic integration, following the 2024 launch of the Space Frontier Fund II, aimed at leveraging space-related technologies to drive terrestrial growth and sustainability.

This move continues a decade-long partnership between SPARX and Toyota, which began with the first Mirai Creation Fund in 2015. Since then, the funds have raised over JPY 177 billion and invested in more than 150 companies globally, focusing on technologies that address critical social issues and promote human well-being

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced the launch of DesignXathon 2026, the second edition of its flagship automotive design challenge.

The competition is open to students from Indian and global design institutes based in India, offering a platform to showcase futuristic mobility concepts.

The theme for this year's challenge is ‘Envision an iconic vehicle, Gen Z and Alpha aspire to own in 2036.’ Participants are tasked with designing a vehicle tailored for the 2035-2040 period, focusing on lifestyle relevance, sustainability and the integration of design philosophy with emerging technology.

DesignXathon 2026 will have cash rewards of up to INR 450,000, the winners have the opportunity to secure a 6-month internship with the Maruti Suzuki design team. The top 25 shortlisted teams will receive direct mentorship from experienced automotive design professionals. The last date for application submission is 13 July 2026.

The inaugural 2025 edition saw participation from over 400 students across 70 institutes, with winners emerging from the MIT Institute of Design, VIT Vellore and Strate School of Design. Currently, eight students from the first edition are undergoing internships with the company.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Automotive design goes far beyond aesthetics; it is a blend of innovation, creativity, and fresh perspectives. I strongly believe that young minds play a pivotal role in challenging conventional design thinking and shaping the future of mobility. Through DesignXathon, we aim to nurture emerging talent and lay the foundation of a strong design ecosystem in India.”

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