French auto major Renault Group has inaugurated its new Renault Design Centre in Chennai, as part of its new India-centric transformation strategy – renault. rethink.

The new design centre further strengthens the company’s ‘design in India’ and ‘make in India’ strategy. It is also expected to function as a hub of excellence, particularly due to its proximity to Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India (RNTBCI).

Laurens van den Acker, Chief Design Officer, Renault Group, said, "India is highly unique and locally driven. Having a dedicated design studio is essential to understanding its nuances, listening to its needs and building from its strengths. The Renault Design Centre Chennai will focus on developing models and concepts tailored to the Indian market while contributing to Renault Group’s global projects. By leveraging local talents and insights, this centre will play a key role in shaping Renault’s future mobility solutions. Its strategic location - at the heart of RNTBCI’s excellence hub - also enables closer collaboration across functions and faster integration of design into our engineering and innovation processes.”

Renault shared that the year 2025 marks an inflection point for the automaker in India, as it gears up to strengthen its presence in the world’s third-largest automobile market.

Venkatram Mamillapalle, Country CEO and Managing Director, Renault India Operations, said, "The launch of the 'renault. rethink' strategy heralds a new era for Renault in India. We are proud to be the most Indian of European carmakers, boasting the largest R&D centre, manufacturing unit, highly localised supply chain and now one of the largest design centres. The opening of new design centre in Chennai will play a crucial role in the deployment of the Renault International Game Plan 2027. Our commitment is to redefine our brand, product positioning, and customer experience to meet the evolving needs of our customers in the country, hence we recently witnessed the global debut of new ‘R store’ in Chennai, India."

It has renewed its commitment for India with a 90 percent localisation target, and the recent takeover of the alliance’s manufacturing plant RNAIPL.

In 2024, Renault Group clocked a record EUR 4.3 billion in profit, which is 7.6 percent of its revenue, and saw its revenue grow to EUR 56.2 billion, up 7.4 percent YoY.

Design & Engineering in India

At present, Renault Group’s Chennai R&D centre is one of its largest globally, with around 10,000 engineering working on global and local projects. Now, the Renault Design Centre Chennai extends over 1,500 metre and is equipped with the latest technologies. It features a high-tech environment designed for 3D model evaluation and virtual reality experiences, a next-generation visualisation studio, a creative collaboration zone, high-performance LED wall, advanced VR integration and a harmonious blend of European and Indian Design.

“renault. rethink is more than a sculpture – it’s a bold expression of Renault’s vision for India. It symbolises our commitment to innovation and to designing cars in India, for India. This artwork captures the energy of a nation in motion, a future taking shape, and Renault’s ambition to be part of this exciting journey,” stated Acker.

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Alpine has appointed Massimo Fumarola as Vice President Strategy & Product Performance, with effect from 1 April 2026. He will become a member of the Alpine Management Committee and report directly to CEO Philippe Krief. Fumarola replaces Sovany Ang, who is moving to a new position elsewhere within Renault Group.

Bringing more than three decades of international automotive experience, Fumarola has deep knowledge in product and portfolio strategy, project management, product development and premium brands. His career includes leadership roles at IVECO, CNH Industrial, Ferrari, Audi, Lamborghini and most recently as CEO of Morgan Motor Company, where he led that brand’s strategic turnaround.

Since joining Renault Group in 2025, he has served as Director of Renault Couture while also handling broader product and project management duties. In his new capacity, Fumarola will shape Alpine’s long‑term plans and product strategy, ensuring that brand identity, technological advances, market trends and future vehicle development remain closely aligned.

Holding a Master’s in Engineering of Industrial Technologies from Politecnico di Milano and an MBA from Cranfield University, Fumarola combines technical grounding with strategic leadership, international perspective and P&L experience. His background in high‑performance, premium and luxury vehicles will be crucial as Alpine pursues its goal of becoming a distinctive electric brand focused on performance.

Krief said, “First of all, I would like to thank warmly Sovany for her dedication, commitment and support over the last years, it has been a pleasure to collaborate with her and her team. While I wish her all the best, I will not forget her and she is now next door. I am now looking forward to working closer with Massimo. His solid expertise combining product, strategic vision and customer experience with high-end sportscars brands will certainly help us to deploy our new strategy and future product portfolio. Massimo is joining at an exciting time for the brand, as we are just starting to unveil our Alpine Performance Platform, which will be our strongest asset for our upcoming product range.”

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Agratas, the Tata group’s global battery business, has completed the steel frame at its Sanand site in India. This achievement brings the site significantly closer to operational readiness and confirms that the production is on track to begin in 2027.

The completed steel frame measures 700 metres in length, 150 metres in width and reaches 34 metres at its highest point, covering a built-up area of 105,000 square metres. More than 24,000 tonnes of steel were used in the main structure, while work on associated buildings advances in parallel. Tata Projects Limited is executing the project with support from Tata Consulting Engineers and multiple steel contractors. All steel and the majority of other materials have been sourced from across India, strengthening domestic supply chains and reducing import dependence, with sustainability integrated into the design and construction approach.

India has committed to net zero emissions by 2070 and set a target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030, requiring rapid acceleration in electric mobility and grid scale energy storage supported by a robust domestic supply of advanced battery cells. The Sanand facility will have an annual capacity of 20 GWh in its first phase, producing advanced battery cells for electric vehicles and energy storage applications once operational. This will enable a faster and more affordable transition away from fossil fuels while positioning India as a key player in the global battery value chain.

Beyond manufacturing, the Sanand plant is expected to generate widespread employment across production, maintenance, quality assurance, engineering and technical roles. Agratas is also investing in local workforce development, building a pipeline of skilled professionals to support India’s emerging battery ecosystem and its position in the global value chain.

Sudhir Ghalsasi, Vice President – Capital Delivery, Agratas, said, “This milestone reflects the scale, complexity and pace of execution at Sanand. In a dynamic and evolving environment, translating detailed designs into on-ground reality comes with its own set of challenges. What began as a vision is now taking shape through strong collaboration, disciplined execution and a shared commitment across teams. Together with our partners, we’ve turned our plans into tangible progress, building a future-ready facility that will deliver long-term value.”

Deepak Khare, Vice President – Manufacturing Operations, Agratas, said, “Completing the steel frame at Sanand marks an important step in our journey towards operational readiness. As we move forward, our focus is on building the systems, processes and capabilities required to deliver reliable, world-class batteries made in India for the world while developing a highly skilled workforce to support safe and high-quality manufacturing.”

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Volvo Group, Daimler Truck and Toyota Motor Corporation have signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate within the fuel cell joint venture, cellcentric.

As per the understanding, Toyota intends to acquire an equal shareholding in the entity alongside the two founding partners. The collaboration aims to accelerate the development, production and commercialisation of fuel cell systems for heavy-duty vehicles and stationary applications.

Toyota and cellcentric plan to jointly manage the production of fuel cell unit cells, which serve as the core component of the power systems, along with related control elements and architecture.

The partners intend for cellcentric to operate as an autonomous centre of competence. While the three companies will collaborate on the underlying technology and hydrogen infrastructure, they will remain independent competitors in all other areas of their respective businesses.

The agreement focuses on achieving the scale required to make hydrogen a viable energy source for decarbonising the transport sector. The partners aim to support the broader hydrogen value chain, aligning with the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Hydrogen Society Act in Japan.

The transaction is not expected to have a significant impact on the financial position of the Volvo Group. The final legally binding agreement remains subject to approval by relevant boards and regulatory authorities.

Martin Lundstedt, President and CEO, Volvo Group, said, “We are thrilled to explore this collaboration with Toyota, so that we through cellcentric can accelerate and create critical mass for hydrogen applications. This is an important signal to customers, suppliers, and others in the ecosystem. Given the importance of accelerating the transformation into net-zero transportation, the need of great companies coming together and collaborating is more important than ever. Welcoming Toyota onboard will be a big leap towards realising decarbonisation of our industries.”

Karin Radstrom, President & CEO, Daimler Truck, said, “We are proud that Toyota plans to join cellcentric as a shareholder. This will enable us to strengthen development and further scale hydrogen technology, which we believe must complement battery-electric drives in decarbonising transport.”

Koji Sato, President and CEO, Toyota Motor Corporation, noted, “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to soon be joining Daimler Truck and Volvo Group as partners in building a hydrogen society. Cellcentric which possess deep expertise in commercial fields together with Toyota ‘s over 30 years of fuel-cell development in the passenger car sector, can combine their strengths to deliver one of the world-leading fuel cell systems for heavy commercial vehicles. Toyota will continue to contribute to realising a hydrogen society alongside like-minded partners.”

Nicholas Loughlan, Managing Director, cellcentric, added, “We are extremely proud that Toyota is intending to join as a shareholder of cellcentric - a great sign of trust in our company from one of the world‘s leading automotive companies. Together, in this new set-up, we look forward to seizing the opportunity to significantly improve our company across the entire value chain.”

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The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), in partnership with the Delhi Traffic Police, Yamaha Motor India and Hindustan Times, held the Annual Principals’ Meet 2026 in New Delhi. The event, themed “Bridging the Gap: Connecting Road Awareness with Education,” convened over 400 school principals from across the Delhi-NCR region to discuss the formal integration of road safety modules into student learning.

The meeting is part of SIAM’s ‘Surakshit Safar’ initiative, which seeks to address rising road fatalities through a focus on human behaviour rather than vehicle technology alone.

The program saw over 100,000 students reached through structured modules in collaboration with Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. Focus on pedestrians and two-wheeler users, who account for the highest percentage of road fatalities, promoting the consistent use of helmets and seatbelts while discouraging over-speeding through early-age education.

During the forum, SIAM recognised educational institutions for their efforts in promoting road safety awareness for the 2025–26 academic year:

1. School of the Year: Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi.
2. 1st Runner Up: Mount Abu Public School, Rohini Sec-5, New Delhi.
3. 2nd Runner Up: Greenway Modern Sr. Sec. School, Dilshad Garden, New Delhi.

Prashant Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, stated, “India has already adopted the best of vehicle technologies, including active and passive safety systems, but road accident fatalities are still rising. What has been found is that this is largely a behavioral aspect which needs to be controlled. Enforcement alone cannot solve the issue. It is education that brings humility, politeness, and responsibility, and that is something we do not see on roads today.”

Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Member, Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, added, “Enforcement combined with education is the most effective and economical way to reduce fatalities. With schools, industry, media, and enforcement agencies coming together, we can ensure a significant reduction in accidents and make our roads much safer.”

Vijayanta Arya, Additional Commissioner of Police – Traffic, Delhi Police, commented, “Road safety cannot be achieved through enforcement alone, because the decision ultimately rests with the people using the road. This is where schools become central to the solution. While enforcement acts as a deterrent, education creates understanding, and together they can bring far more sustainable outcomes in improving road safety.”

S Kumar, Vice-President, India Yamaha Motor, said, “If we want to create lasting change, we must begin at the school level, where awareness can be translated into values and eventually into lifelong habits. From an industry perspective, we see a critical opportunity to promote road safety through school-level awareness and engagement.”

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