Cars24 has announced that former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has joined Crashfree India, a national road safety initiative, as its Goodwill Ambassador.

The partnership aims to address the high rate of traffic fatalities in India by shifting public focus towards driver accountability and discipline. India currently records the highest number of road deaths globally, with 180,000 fatalities reported in 2024.

Despite possessing approximately 1 percent of the world's vehicles, the country accounts for 11 percent of global road deaths.

The initiative highlights a demographic crisis, noting that 66 percent of those killed in 2024 were aged between 18 and 34. Data indicates that seven in ten fatalities were linked to overspeeding. Through this collaboration, Cars24 seeks to move the conversation beyond annual statistics and integrate safety into the daily mobility habits of Indian drivers.

The programme focuses on behavioural change, suggesting that improved judgment and patience on the road can prevent the majority of accidents.

MS Dhoni, said, “I have spent a big part of my life around cars, bikes, and roads. When you love driving and riding, you also learn to respect them. You understand that control matters, judgment matters, and patience matters. A vehicle gives you freedom, but it also gives you responsibility. On our roads, too many people still see safety as a rule to follow only when someone is watching. That mindset has cost us far too much. We already know what is going wrong. We know how many lives are being lost. We know the habits that put people in danger every day. What we need now is not more excuses. We need more responsibility, more discipline, and more respect for life. Roads may be beautiful, but they come with real risks. As much as we love them, they can be dangerous. We have the data. We know what the problem is. We know what needs to change. The only thing missing is the will to make it a priority. This isn’t something I was asked to do. This is something I decided to do.”

Vikram Chopra, Founder and CEO, Cars24, sad, “Some missions need encouragement. This one needs scrutiny. Crashfree India cannot be built by people who only know how to say the right things. It needs someone who sets a harder standard: someone strict, deeply observant, unwilling to indulge comfortable language and clear enough to call out the truth without softening it. Dhoni is exactly that. He does not mince words and that is one of the most valuable things about him. His understanding of Indian roads is grounded in lived experience rather than theory alone. Years of navigating them have given him insights into driver behaviour, road conditions and the split-second decisions that matter most. Every meeting with him has been inspiring, not in a superficial way, but in a way that leaves you sharper, more serious and less satisfied with easy answers. Dhoni holds us to a higher standard and his involvement challenges us to push this mission further. That changes the seriousness of the work. And that is exactly what this mission needs.”

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Thirty emerging technology fields will drive global economic growth over the next 15 years, with their total market value projected to expand from EUR 2.5 trillion to more than EUR 20 trillion by 2040 says a report by global consulting firm Roland Berger.

The research titled ‘The 2040 Technology Gameplan ’ finds that these sectors will account for 37 percent of global industrial value creation by 2040, up from 9 percent today.

The study identifies 14 core technology areas as critical for industrial growth, representing a market potential of EUR 16 trillion. Semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) systems and data centres are projected to constitute more than half of this total. Additional sectors highlighted include energy storage, quantum technologies and humanoid robotics.

Furthermore, the report points out that Europe could capture approximately 20 percent of the global market across these 14 primary technology sectors by 2040, equivalent to EUR 3 trillion in value creation. However, European industry has lost market share to the United States and China due to scaling constraints, capital limitations and institutional complexity.

To address these challenges, the analysis outlines three approaches tailored to specific technology fields: pursuing global leadership in areas such as quantum technology, medical technology, microgrids and carbon capture; leveraging domestic demand in sectors like autonomous defence, humanoid robotics and charging infrastructure; and attracting foreign technology providers to establish local operations for large language models and next-generation semiconductors.

Felix Mogge, Partner, Roland Berger, said, "Europe faces a clear mandate for action. Policymakers and industry leaders must work together to create the right conditions for investment and scaling. Otherwise, the value creation generated by the next wave of technology trends will take place elsewhere."

The study indicates that existing European regulatory frameworks, including the AI Act, the EU Battery Regulation, and the European Chips Act, have not fully achieved their targets. The findings call for EU-wide policies to support commercial scaling, capital availability, and industrial strategy across member states.

Stefan Riederle, Partner, Roland Berger, said, "Europe has the technologies and the talent to compete for global leadership in a number of fields. The challenge now is to choose the right strategy for each technology area and secure Europe’s long-term competitiveness."

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Hero Motors has fixed the price band for its initial public offering at INR 79 to INR 84 per equity share of face value INR 10 each. The offer will open for subscription on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, and close on Friday, 18 September 2026. Bidders can apply for a minimum lot of 178 equity shares and in multiples of 178 equity shares thereafter.

The company’s INR 10 billion public issue comprises a fresh issue of equity shares raising up to INR 6 billion alongside an offer-for-sale of up to INR 4 billion by promoters O P Munjal Holdings and Hero Cycles. Out of the fresh issue proceeds, the company will allocate INR 1.9 billion toward the repayment or prepayment of outstanding borrowings and INR 2 billion for capital expenditure to purchase equipment for capacity expansion at its Gautam Buddha Nagar facility in Uttar Pradesh. The remaining capital will fund inorganic growth acquisitions, strategic initiatives, and general corporate activities.

Hero Motors operates as an automotive technology company designing, developing, and manufacturing powertrain solutions for original equipment manufacturers across the United States, Europe, India and the ASEAN region. The company provides integrated system-level and component-level powertrain products, electric motors, integrated drive units, gear sets and continuously variable transmissions for electric and non-electric applications. Its client portfolio includes two-wheelers, performance cars, e-bikes, off-road vehicles, electric and hybrid automobiles, heavy-duty commercial transport, and electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft.

The company supplies global original equipment manufacturers and component firms including BMW AG, Ducati Motor Holding, Enviolo International, Formula Motorsport, Hummingbird EV and HWA AG.

The IPO is structured through the book-building process, allocating up to 50 percent of the net offer to qualified institutional buyers, a minimum of 15 percent to non-institutional bidders and a minimum of 35 percent to retail individual bidders.

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Zuno General Insurance has launched Fuel Guard, an industry-first car insurance add-on. As per the new-age digital insurer, the product offers extra protection amid India’s growing adoption of approved blended fuels.

Fuel Guard covers specified engine and fuel-system components against accidental and unforeseen damage caused directly by manufacturer-approved blended fuel. It is available for private cars registered on or after 1 April 2023, provided the manufacturer has approved the fuel used.

Vehicles must follow the prescribed maintenance schedule and have no unauthorised engine or fuel-system modifications. The cover can be added to applicable private car package, standalone own damage and bundled policies, including three-year long-term policies. Zuno said the launch reinforces its customer-focused motor protection strategy, following offerings such as Zuno SmartDrive.

Shanai Ghosh, MD & 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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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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