Kiwi General Insurance, a digital-native non-life insurer, has officially commenced operations in India's non-life insurance market. Backed by private equity firm WestBridge Capital, which holds approximately a 70 percent stake, the company begins its rollout targeting the private car motor insurance segment.

Co-founded by industry veterans Neelesh Garg (Former MD & CEO of Tata AIG General Insurance) and Saurav Jaiswal, Kiwi received its regulatory certificate of registration from the IRDAI in March 2026

The company is operating under the brand philosophy ‘Your Peace, Our Policy,’ the insurer aims to leverage a completely in-house, proprietary technology stack and AI to dismantle legacy pain points, targeting a gross written premium (GWP) of INR 2 billion to INR 3 billion in FY2027.

Kiwi General Insurance’s core operating model signals a structural shift away from traditional asset-based pricing toward personalised customer pricing, allowing it to reward safer drivers with lower premiums.

By starting with motor insurance – a mass product category historically tied to low consumer trust and complex claim friction – Kiwi said it has engineered its product ecosystem directly around minimising the anxiety associated with repair cycles and policy updates.

To address the hesitation consumers face when deciding whether to file an insurance claim, Kiwi has introduced several proprietary features designed to eliminate out-of-pocket stress and administrative delays:

• Super NCB (No Claim Bonus): Protects a customer's accumulated renewal discounts if they file a claim. Instead of resetting to zero, the driver drops only one level down on the bonus scale. The architecture allows policyholders to earn up to 40 percent higher discounts than standard market NCB structures.
• Flexi Repair: Allows policyholders to digitally ‘bank’ minor aesthetic or physical damages from minor incidents over time, later combining them into a single, comprehensive claim. This shields the customer from paying a compulsory deductible for multiple separate micro-claims, allowing them to wait until a complete workshop repair event is worthwhile.
• InstaCash: Provides instant cash support transferred directly to the customer’s bank account on the exact day their vehicle is checked into a workshop for repairs, removing the burden of managing upfront out-of-pocket expenses.
• ‘PayFirst’ Outside-Network Experience: If a customer prefers to utilise a trusted vehicle repair shop that falls entirely outside of Kiwi’s extensive cashless garage network, the PayFirst protocol triggers an instant digital payout directly to the user to maintain total freedom of choice.

Kiwi's simplified operating architecture extends across its hybrid distribution networks to empower its field partners and independent agents for same-day digital onboarding for new distributors, instant premium reconciliation & real-time performance dashboards and shared, interactive claim trackers that provide single-point ownership, completely removing internal communication bottlenecks between the client, agent and repair facility.

Neelesh Garg said, “The insurance industry has long been shaped by legacy processes that create customer apprehension. Our goal is to rebuild it from first principles using technology, data, and disciplined execution. We are focused on making insurance simple, fast and consistent. With Kiwi, we are building an institution that customers and partners can truly rely on.”

Saurav Jaiswal, Managing Director & CEO, Kiwi General Insurance, added, “Indian consumers have a real trust deficit in insurance. If someone has to make a claim, they are already having a bad day. We are building Kiwi to get them through it as fast as possible. Customers today expect clarity, speed, and reliability, especially in moments that matter. From instant policy issuance and real-time claim tracking to faster decisions and single-point ownership, every element is designed to reduce ambiguity.”

Image credit: Pexels Mikhail Nilov

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BendPak will stage an expansive dual-location exhibit at the 2026 SEMA Show, headlined by an opening-day outdoor tailgate in the Silver Lot at Booth #80043 on 3 November, beginning at 1 p.m. The centrepiece of that event is the global debut of the company’s Valor C10 custom truck, a build that merges classic C10 styling with contemporary engineering and supercharged performance. A live DJ, refreshments, giveaways and a roster of prominent automotive influencers will round out the tailgate atmosphere.

Beyond the truck reveal, BendPak is using both official SEMA locations to introduce a broad slate of lifting and garage equipment spanning its Ranger, QuickJack, Cool Boss, APEX, JackPak, MaxJax and Ergochair brands. Visitors to the Silver Lot display can examine the Valor C10 alongside the new products, while the Upper South Hall Booth #36129 inside the Las Vegas Convention Center offers hands-on demonstrations of next-generation shop solutions.

Among the outdoor highlights are the MaxJax MAX7 two-post lift, which now incorporates BendPak’s proprietary Automatic Swing Arm Restraint System and three additional inches of lifting height, along with MaxJax accessories such as a portable mounting base that eliminates the need for permanent anchors and a turf kit for lawn equipment. A preview of the forthcoming Mobi-EVS2600, the latest addition to BendPak’s EV battery pack and powertrain lift table line, will also be available.

The indoor showcase centres on the OctaFlex 12DPS, described as the only eight-arm two-post lift in the world, designed to streamline cab-off repairs, EV battery replacement and other demanding jobs and now shipping. BendPak is also presenting its APEX range of affordable, no-frills car lifts, ramps and wheel service equipment, together with Vortex bead seaters that simplify tyre bead seating even on changers lacking a built-in system.

Several products will appear at both locations. New BMW-specific AutoPucks join existing universal, Tesla and Corvette jack pad adapters engineered to engage OEM-recommended lifting points. QuickJack caster kits, the first OEM versions designed to ease movement and precise positioning of QuickJack lifts beneath vehicles, will also be displayed. SEMA-only pricing and ordering incentives on BendPak lifts and garage equipment are available throughout the week.

BendPak equipment will additionally support partner displays, custom builds and feature vehicles elsewhere on the show floor, including at Battle of the Builders and the SEMA FutureTech Studio. The SEMA Show runs 3–6 November at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with the traditionally trade-only event opening to the public on 6 November.

Jeff Kritzer, President and CEO, BendPak, said, “Everyone on our team is a car and truck enthusiast, so when it came time to debut the Valor C10, we knew we had to drop the tailgate, put on some music and hang out with the community that inspires us. SEMA is all about spotlighting the coolest builds, but it’s also about equipping the shops that bring them to life. Alongside the truck, we’re bringing a massive lineup of new gear across both booths. For us, this week is about celebrating where custom car and truck culture is right now and showing where we’re taking equipment engineering next.”

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has partnered with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) to open an automotive skill development centre at Don Bosco Industrial Training Institute in Kurla, Mumbai.

The initiative forms part of a four-centre regional programme spanning Mumbai, Faridabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata to train 360 candidates under corporate social responsibility (CSR) operations.

The Mumbai facility will provide training for 150 candidates across three job roles, covering four-wheeler service technology, service advisory and sales. The curriculum combines classroom instruction, practical training and workplace exposure delivered without financial cost to participants. Additional partners including the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) support the initiative to align workforce capabilities with dealership and retail requirements.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Kia India, said, "At Kia India, we view skill development as an important enabler of inclusive growth and long-term industry advancement. Our partnership with ASDC is aimed at creating meaningful pathways for young people by providing access to structured, industry-relevant training without any financial burden. By integrating classroom instruction with practical learning and workplace exposure, the programme will help candidates develop capabilities aligned with the evolving needs of the automotive sector. The initiative reflects our commitment to creating sustainable value for communities while contributing to a stronger and future-ready mobility ecosystem."

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German premium luxury car brand Porsche AG has presented its medium-term corporate strategy, named Sportwagenschmiede 35, at its Capital Markets Day at the Weissach Development Centre. The strategy outlines operational restructuring, portfolio expansion and financial targets aimed at lowering the manufacturer's break-even point to below 200,000 vehicles annually.

The plan prioritises value creation over volume expansion by shifting the product lineup further toward high-margin vehicle segments. Porsche plans to reduce its overall model variant count by 20 percent while increasing the share of D and E segment vehicles in its portfolio by 45 percent.

The strategy includes plans for a mid-engined super sports car platform positioned above the 911 range, alongside potential additions to its SUV lineup. Product releases will include all-electric 718 Boxster and Cayman models scheduled for full-year market support in 2028, as well as a B-segment SUV featuring combustion and plug-in hybrid powertrains planned for production in 2028. Porsche is also expanding its individualisation operations under its Sonderwunsch programme, targeting a sixfold increase in customisation revenue.

Operationally, Porsche plans to lower development costs by up to 20 percent through modular development processes and shorter project timelines, while merging Porsche Engineering and Porsche Digital into a unified entity named Porsche Technologies. The company aims to reduce production personnel costs by up to 30 percent, cut sales and distribution expenses by 20 percent by restructuring its sales regions from five to four, and reduce material costs across new vehicle projects by 10 percent.

Management positions will be reduced by 40 percent, alongside an overall workforce reduction of 25 to 30 percent across direct and indirect functions. These measures follow existing agreements that include a reduction of 9,000 positions, alongside divested equity stakes in Rimac, Bugatti Rimac and MHP, as well as the planned closure of cell and e-bike development units.

Porsche has established its financial targets with the medium-term Group operating return on sales between 10 and 15 percent, with an Automotive net cash flow margin target of 9 to 12 percent. In the long term, Porsche targets a 15 percent operating return on sales and a 12 percent net cash flow margin, backed by projected Group revenue of EUR 41 billion to 45 billion.

Michael Leiters, Chairman of the Executive Board, Porsche AG, said, "We are pursuing a clear plan with our strategy Sportwagenschmiede '35. The ultimate goal is to further strengthen our unique sports car brand – across all model lines and with new, highly desirable models in particularly high-margin segments. Our strategy will lay the groundwork to make Porsche significantly more efficient, productive and profitable in three phases. At the moment, the main focus is on reducing costs and making the company more financially robust. We have already achieved some important milestones. Our strategy focuses very much on our medium-term ambition so that the measures and the associated results take effect as early as possible. The term 'Sportwagenschmiede' was deliberately chosen because it captures everything Porsche aims to stand for in the future: our aspiration to offer the sportiest vehicles in every segment, but also craftsmanship, down-to-earth thinking and entrepreneurial, business-focused action. Our goal is to be attractive to all stakeholders: our customers, our workforce, our partners and our investors."

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Honda India Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Honda group companies in India, has handed over 20 Emergency Response Vehicles to the Bengaluru Traffic Police to support traffic management, emergency response and field operations across the city.

The fleet consists of 20 modified Honda CB350 motorcycles equipped with dual-tone sirens, public address systems, LED emergency lights, display boards, windscreens and storage compartments for police operations. This deployment adds to the 50 Quick Response Team vehicles provided by the foundation to Bengaluru police in October 2025, bringing the total number of modified vehicles supplied to Karnataka police authorities to 70 units.

The handover forms part of the foundation's initiative under which 835 Emergency Response Vehicles have been deployed across multiple Indian states since August 2025.

Alongside the vehicle handover, Honda India Foundation signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Bengaluru Traffic Police to establish a Traffic Training Park aimed at providing road safety education to road users. Groundbreaking for the facility was completed during the event, where the foundation also launched its road safety programme based on education, engineering, enforcement, and emergency care.

The ceremony was attended by Priyank Kharge, Minister for Home, Information Technology and Biotechnology, and E-Governance, Government of Karnataka, Seemant Kumar Singh, Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru City, Karthik Reddy, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bengaluru City, Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Officer for Corporate Affairs at Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India and Vishal Saxena, Operating Officer for the Narasapura Plant at Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India.

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