Namma Yatri and EnAble India have joined hands with True Assistive Technology to enhance Purple Rides by introducing the TurnPlus swivel seat feature, which makes it easier for individuals with mobility challenges to enter and exit vehicles. The aim of this partnership is to make urban travel more inclusive.

TurnPlus is an award-winning, simple-to-install seat mechanism that was introduced in 2017 and makes getting in and out of automobiles easier for persons with impairments or medical issues. It has undergone extensive testing and certification, guaranteeing comfort and safety. By March 2025, 300 cars will have TurnPlus seats installed in Bengaluru as part of a test effort to launch this function. With ambitions to shortly extend to additional locations, the business hopes to add 1,000 accessible vehicles over the course of the next six months.

In order to make travel safe, comfortable and accessible for those with mobility impairments, visual impairments and deaf people, Namma Yatri established Purple Rides in October 2023 in partnership with EnAble India, a knowledge partner. Sensitised drivers who have received training to help passengers with impairments are offered by Purple Rides. Additionally, with features like ride preferences and driver assistance, the Purple Rides app is intended to be user-friendly for those with a variety of requirements.

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German automotive luxury brand Porsche has announced the closure of three subsidiaries, as part of its strategic realignment to refocus on its core business.

The move comes following the sale of its stakes in Bugatti Rimac and the Rimac Group.

The strategic decision affects more than 500 employees across –

• Cellforce Group: Based in Kirchentellinsfurt, the battery cell specialist no longer fits the company's ‘technology-open’ powertrain strategy. An estimated 50 employees are set to be affected.
• Porsche eBike Performance: Operations at sites in Ottobrunn and Zagreb will be discontinued due to shifting market conditions for e-bike drive systems. This affects around 350 employees.
• Cetitec: The Pforzheim-based software developer, which specialised in data communication, will be closed. The move affects 60 employees in Germany and 30 in Croatia.

The management of these subsidiaries will now begin discussions with relevant works councils to manage the closures. The integration of software scopes from Cetitec is expected to align with Porsche’s broader restructuring of its Research and Development division.

Dr. Michael Leiters, Chairman of the Executive Board of Porsche, said, “Porsche must refocus on its core business. This is the indispensable foundation for a successful strategic realignment. This forces us to make painful cuts — including our subsidiaries.”

This restructuring follows yesterday's announcement regarding the suspension of the Car-IT division and its integration into the R&D department under Dr. Michael Steiner. The company continues to adapt its industrial footprint to navigate what it describes as a challenging phase of transformation in the automotive sector.

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German automotive major Daimler Truck Holding has further strengthened its Leadership and Supervisory Board with new appointments.

The company announced that John O’Leary (North America), Achim Puchert (Mercedes-Benz Trucks and BharatBenz) and Eva Scherer (CFO) have been reappointed till 2028, 2031 and 2032, respectively.

Furthermore, following the departure of four shareholder representatives, the board has added Wayne Eyre, Claudia Nemat, Britta Seeger and Vipin Sondhi to bolster expertise in digital transformation and global growth markets.

Interestingly, Sondhi joins the German truck major and is expected to further strengthen and counsel the company on its global boards. Formerly, Sondhi was the top boss at Ashok Leyland and JCB India. He currently serves as the Chairperson of National Board for Quality Promotion (NBQP) and is advisor to several companies.

Additionally, Kurt Sievers was appointed to the newly established role of Lead Independent Director to reinforce oversight and investor relations.

Daimler Truck shareholders also backed the ‘Remuneration System 2027+’, which aligns executive pay with the company’s ‘Stronger 2030’ strategy. The new framework, effective from FY2027, emphasises share-based long-term compensation and ESG-related targets.

A mandatory auditor rotation was also approved. KPMG will remain the auditor for the 2026 fiscal year, with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) set to take over the mandate starting in 2027.

“The reappointments of John, Achim and Eva provide the leadership team with the necessary time horizon to drive the company’s rewarding transformation with foresight and continuity,” said Joe Kaeser, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.

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German luxury and high-performance vehicle manufacturing company Porsche is reducing its Executive Board divisions from 8 to 7 as part of a strategic realignment. The Car-IT division will be suspended and integrated into the Research and Development division effective 1 July 2026. Dr Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development, will lead the expanded department.

Sajjad Khan, who managed the Car-IT division for two and a half years, will step down from the Executive Board on 19 June. He will continue to work with the company through a software partnership model.

During his tenure, Khan led the development of connectivity and infotainment systems, including the introduction of the Porsche Digital Interaction design language in the Cayenne electric. These technologies are being rolled out to other models, with specific versions for the Chinese market being developed in Shanghai.

The restructuring is intended to adapt the company to current market conditions and increase the speed of software development.

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, said, “Porsche is in a challenging phase of transformation. We need to realign the company and are consistently adapting our structures under the leadership of Dr. Michael Leiters to the changed circumstances — including at Executive Board level. I would like to thank Sajjad Khan for taking on responsibility for the company. We will continue to benefit from his professional expertise and in-depth knowledge of our structures in the future.”

Sajjad Khan, stated, “I am proud of what we have achieved as a team over the past two and a half years. In a constantly evolving market environment, however, it is essential to continuously review and adapt structures and processes. Porsche’s outstanding engineering expertise, combined with agile, results-driven software development, provides an excellent foundation for the future development of software components.”

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The 47th International Vienna Motor Symposium concluded at the Hofburg Palace, gathering 1,000 industry professionals and 50 exhibitors to discuss the future of propulsion. The event featured 100 presentations focused on achieving carbon neutrality through a range of technologies rather than a single solution.

A highlight of the symposium was the European premiere of China SAE’s Roadmap 3.0, a strategy charting China's automotive direction through to 2040. Professor Xiangyang Xu of Beihang University detailed the plan, which anticipates that 1/3rd of new vehicle registrations in 2040 will still feature electrified combustion engines.

Madame Ruiping Wang of Geely Auto supported this view, stating that every technological solution is required to reach neutrality goals.

In the electric vehicle segment, Mercedes-Benz demonstrated the range of the new EQS, completing a 620-kilometre journey from Stuttgart to Vienna with 21 percent battery charge remaining.

PowerCo SE, the battery subsidiary of Volkswagen, reported that serial production of its ‘standard cell’ began in Salzgitter in December 2025.

Stefan Pischinger of RWTH Aachen University projected that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) could reach a 45 percent global market share by 2035 under favourable conditions.

The symposium also highlighted advances in internal combustion engine efficiency and alternative fuels:

AVL List presented an engine achieving 48 percent thermal efficiency.

Porsche detailed a direct oil-cooling system for high-output electric motors in the Cayenne Electric Turbo.

Horse Powertrain introduced a petrol engine platform designed specifically for range-extended electric vehicles (REEVs), a segment that saw 1.2 million sales in China last year.

Alpine CEO Philippe Krief discussed the potential revival of in-wheel motors.

Hydrogen remains a focus for both direct combustion and fuel cell applications. Professor Helmut Eichlseder of Graz University of Technology emphasised the importance of hydrogen research for industrial resilience.

Industry leaders expressed concerns regarding European competitiveness. Niklas Klingenberg of TRATON noted the need for harder work to remain competitive in Europe, while Matthias Zink of Schaeffler and CLEPA spoke on the challenges of navigating EU legislative environments. The 48th International Vienna Motor Symposium is scheduled for 21–23 April 2027.

Professor Bernhard Geringer, President of the organising Austrian Society of Automotive Engineers (OVK), and host for the annual symposium, said, “The big picture – from cradle to grave in terms of energy and propulsion – is what matters most.”

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