The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, has posthumously conferred Padma Vibhushan, one of the highest civilian awards, to Late Osamu Suzuki, Former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation and Former Director & Honorary Chairman, Maruti Suzuki India, in a formal conferment ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on 28 April 2025.

The Padma Vibushan was conferred to Osamu Suzuki for his outstanding contribution in the field of trade and industry. The award was accepted by Toshihiro Suzuki, Representative Director and President, Suzuki Motor Corporation on behalf of his late father.

Toshihiro Suzuki, said, “My sincere gratitude to the Honourable President of India and the Government of India for awarding the prestigious Padma Vibhushan to my father, Osamu Suzuki, Former Chairman, Suzuki Motor Corporation. I have just received this high-level award on his behalf, and I am deeply honoured. I believe he is, from heaven, looking back fondly on the 45 years he spent with India, his second home.”

“This award goes not only to my father, but also to all the people who have worked at Suzuki, Maruti Suzuki and all our business partners, who have supported us in this journey. My father must be feeling very proud today. I am also feeling extremely proud to receive this award. All the employees at Suzuki and Maruti Suzuki and our business partners must be feeling proud of this recognition. This award also expresses thanks to the ‘love of Indian people towards Suzuki’. This award belongs to all of you.”

“We, at Team Suzuki, will carry forward the commitment of Osamu Suzuki with the same passion to bring inclusive and sustainable mobility solutions that will be loved by the people of India,” he added.

Osamu Suzuki played a key role in driving the Indian automotive industry, especially the passenger vehicle segment. Under his leadership, Maruti Suzuki began manufacturing passenger vehicles with around 100,000 units per annum capacity in 1983.

The company is now one of the largest passenger vehicle manufacturers not just in India, but globally.  It was last year that the company reached a cumulative production milestone of 30 million units, an annual production of 2 million units and exporting over 3 million units cumulatively today.

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Sona Comstar, in partnership with Tata STRIVE, has opened a vocational training facility in Chakan, Pune.

The Sona Comstar–Tata STRIVE Skill Development Centre was inaugurated by Priya Kapur, Non-Executive Director of Sona Comstar and Chairperson of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee.

Located within the Chakan industrial cluster, the facility aims to train 220 individuals during FY2026–27. The centre offers instructional programs in computer numerical control (CNC) machine operations, electrical maintenance and banking, financial services & insurance (BFSI) roles to match workforce requirements in local manufacturing and service sectors.

The Chakan project expands an existing skill development initiative between Sona Comstar and Tata STRIVE, following the establishment of a similar facility in Chennai. The Chennai centre has provided training to 623 individuals, recording an 80 percent job placement rate and 42 per cent female participation.

Priya Kapur said, "Every young person I met had a different story to tell. Different struggles, different ambitions, but the same dream of building a better future. It was inspiring to hear their journeys and learn what brought them here. Skilling is about much more than employability. It equips young people with the confidence, dignity and practical skills to build better livelihoods. Partnerships like the one between Sona Comstar and Tata STRIVE demonstrate how industry can play a meaningful role in preparing young people for the jobs of tomorrow. I hope the Chakan centre becomes a launchpad for hundreds of such journeys."

The facility will conduct continuous technical training, faculty interactions and industry placement assistance to facilitate employment across manufacturing plants and corporate entities operating in the Pune region.

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Toyota Motor Corporation-owned luxury brand Lexus has introduced Lexus Flight, a helicopter transportation service operated by Aero Toyota Co, with operations scheduled to commence from 24 August 2026.

The service expands the brand's product offerings beyond ground vehicles and maritime vessels into air transport. The operational structure combines road transfers in Lexus vehicles between passenger departure points and heliports, flight connections between cities and resort locations aboard helicopters and marine transport options utilising the LY680 yacht.

The service utilises the Leonardo AW169 helicopter, manufactured in Italy, which accommodates seven passengers. The aircraft measures 14.65 metres in length, 3.21 metres in width and 4.56 metres in height, powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW210A1 turboshaft engines. The twin-engine helicopter reaches a maximum cruise speed of 267 kilometres per hour and maintains an operational range of 785 kilometres.

Cabin specifications for the aircraft include Wi-Fi connectivity and an onboard tablet interface allowing passengers to control climate settings, interior lighting, flight map tracking, exterior camera feeds and entertainment systems.

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has executed a binding agreement to raise approximately INR 3.22 billion for its electric commercial vehicle subsidiary, Mahindra Last Mile Mobility (MLMML). The investment transaction values the last-mile transport business at INR 108.22 billion.

The funding round was led by global investment firm Lightrock, with participation from existing investors International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the India-Japan Fund (IJF), managed by National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF).

The capital injection follows sales metrics recorded by the subsidiary, including an 85 percent YoY volume increase in electric three-wheelers during the first quarter of FY2027 and sales exceeding 100,000 units in FY2026.

Dr Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD, Mahindra Group, said, “We welcome Lightrock as a partner marking a pivotal milestone in our last mile mobility initiative, highlighting the transformative potential of our growth gems. Our robust business model continues to draw top-tier investors. With Lightrock joining alongside IFC and IJF, MLMML has now achieved unicorn status in the electric vehicle market. This investment brings us closer to our goal of deploying 1 million EVs on India roads by 2031 and solidifies our leadership in the electric commercial vehicle sector.”

Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO - Auto & Farm Sector, Mahindra & Mahindra, said, “This investment from Lightrock reinforces Mahindra Last Mile Mobility’s leadership in the EV space. With around 40 percent market share in the L5 segment, it is at the forefront of a market that has rapidly scaled from 12 percent to 40 percent electrification in just two years. We are proud to be India’s No.1 electric commercial vehicle manufacturer for the fourth consecutive year. Crossing 100,000 EV sales in FY26 and 6 billion e-kilometres cumulatively underscores the trust of our customers and our commitment to driving sustainable, inclusive growth.”

Samir Abhyankar, Partner and Head of India, Lightrock, said, “It is a privilege to partner with the Mahindra Group through Lightrock’s investment in Mahindra Last Mile Mobility. The leadership team has done an exceptional job of building the company from the ground up into a market-leader in electric three-wheelers, underpinned by a focused strategy and outstanding execution ability. Lightrock is excited to support the Group as it continues to build sustainable, high-growth businesses capable of meeting the evolving needs of tomorrow’s India.”

At present, Mahindra Last Mile Mobility holds approximately 40 percent market share in the L5 electric three-wheeler category in India. The fund raised from the round will support product engineering, expansion of manufacturing operations and fleet deployment plans targeting one million electric vehicles by 2031.

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Honda Motor Co, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has appointed Toshiyuki Yanagisawa as President and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Cars India (HCIL), effective 1 October 2026.

He will succeed Takashi Nakajima, the outgoing President and Chief Executive Officer, who will transfer to Asian Honda Motor Co., at the regional headquarters upon completion of his term in India.

Yanagisawa, an Operating Executive at Honda, currently serves as head of the India Strategic Development Office and Chief Executive Officer of Honda Digital Innovation India (HDII). In his new role, he will manage operations across both HCIL and HDII.

The structural alignment follows Honda's designation of India, North America and Japan as primary markets for its growth strategy. The India Strategic Development Office has established market plans to support business expansion in the country. Development initiatives for a vehicle scheduled for market launch in 2028 have transitioned from planning to execution.

Yanagisawa previously held positions within HCIL during earlier international postings at Honda, providing experience with domestic market operations, consumer demographics and regulatory frameworks.

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