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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TVS Racing has announced that the third season of the TVS Apache Racing Experience GP (ARE) International will begin on 15 November 2026, marking the widest reach yet for the customer-focused championship. The 2026–27 series will visit seven nations – India, Mexico, Colombia, Nepal, Morocco, Egypt and Ivory Coast – as the brand pushes to widen access to competitive riding. Organisers describe the move as a step towards a structured and aspirational entry point into motorsport while extending the company's international racing footprint.

The upcoming season will run multiple categories, including a women's customer class introduced earlier, and will extend to 20 cities with over 1,200 expected entrants. To date, the property has already covered 20 cities and drawn more than 4,000 participants since launching. TVS Racing views the growth as part of a wider mission to make the sport more inclusive and open to ordinary enthusiasts.

Originally launched in 2007, the initiative gave Apache owners a safe, professional setting in which to try competitive racing. It was reorganised into a formal championship in 2023. The 2025–26 edition took the series abroad for the first time, spanning India, Mexico, Colombia and Nepal and closing with a finale at the Madras International Circuit in Chennai. The third season builds on that foundation.

The championship now serves customers, enthusiasts and budding racers alike, drawing them together around performance and competition. The Apache line has over seven million international customers, backed by the Apache Owners Group, which counts more than 500,000 registered members. More details are available on the company website.

Vimal Sumbly, Head – Premium Business, TVS Motor Company, said, “TVS ARE GP has grown from a customer racing platform into a championship that embodies TVS Racing’s belief in making competitive motorsport more accessible and creating a strong pathway for racing talent. As we enter Season 3, our expansion to seven countries marks an important step in taking this racing ecosystem to a truly global stage. For us, this is not simply about expanding the championship’s footprint but about extending our racing culture, expertise and standards to riders across markets while creating opportunities for emerging talent to experience competitive racing. With a strong foundation built on championships and a deep understanding of grassroots motorsport, TVS ARE GP is evolving into a globally connected platform that will continue to nurture riders, strengthen racing communities and take the spirit of TVS Racing to the world.”

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Chinese automotive major BYD has become a participant of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), formally joining the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative on 14 September 2026. The Chinese new energy vehicle manufacturer has committed to upholding the compact’s Ten Principles while embedding the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) more deeply into its corporate strategy and daily operations, with the company framing the move as a contribution to global sustainable development through concrete action.

The UN Global Compact, founded in 2000, pioneered the concept of environmental, social and governance performance and now counts more than 25,000 participating enterprises across over 160 countries. It works to translate its Ten Principles into business operations and strategic development, helping companies meet their compact responsibilities while advancing the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The initiative also promotes collaboration and partnerships aimed at addressing the challenges of globalisation and accelerating sustainability worldwide.

BYD, the world’s largest new energy vehicle enterprise, sells its vehicles in more than 100 countries and regions. Guided by its vision to cool the Earth by 1°C, the automaker stopped producing purely fuel-powered vehicles in 2022, becoming the first carmaker to do so, and aims to reach carbon neutrality across its entire value chain by 2045. Its DREAMS sustainability strategy, unveiled in 2025, rests on six pillars: decarbonisation, revolution, equity, alliance, moral integrity and shared value. In 2025, BYD delivered 4.6 million new energy vehicles and reduced carbon emissions by 46.6 million tonnes, equivalent to planting 776 million trees. It has also established a RMB 3 billion charity fund supporting education, university scholarships and the popularization of new energy vehicle technology.

The company described joining the compact as a milestone in its sustainability journey. Going forward, BYD intends to adhere strictly to the initiative’s principles and requirements, fulfil its corporate social responsibility and promote responsible governance and business practices throughout its operations while working with value chain partners to advance broader sustainable development goals.

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India Pistons, the flagship company of Chennai-headquartered Amalgamations Group, has announced the appointment of Suresh KV as Chief Executive Officer effective 14 October 2026.

The appointment marks his return to corporate leadership following a sabbatical of nearly three years spanning from January 2024 to October 2026. Prior to his sabbatical, Suresh served as President of ZF India from June 2015 to December 2023, where he led the vision, strategy, governance, and business performance across 18 manufacturing plants, eight engineering centres, three subsidiaries, and four joint ventures nationwide.

At present, IPL's major OEM customers include Hyundai Motor Company, Maruti Suzuki India, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, VE Commercial Vehicles, Simpsons & Co, TAFE, Mahindra & Mahindra and Greaves Cotton, among others.

He also represented the company on the Executive Committee of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), serving as Co-Chair for its Western Chapter.

His earlier tenure at ZF included serving as Executive Director of ZF Wind Power Coimbatore from November 2010 to May 2015. He managed a 60-acre manufacturing facility producing wind turbine gearboxes, axles, and transmissions for agricultural and construction equipment, achieving an annual turnover exceeding INR 9.50 billion in 2015.

Suresh's career in the automotive and industrial manufacturing sectors spans more than three decades, including operational and managerial positions at Hansen Transmissions, High Technology Plastics India, Motherson Sumi Systems, Climate Systems India, Visteon Automotive Systems, Bajaj Auto and Asian Paints.

In his new role at India Pistons in Chennai, Suresh will oversee operations, performance execution, and growth strategy for the manufacturer.

"My nearly three-year break from the corporate world has been much the same – a welcome pause to reflect, rejuvenate and rediscover purpose. This new chapter is much more than professional achievement, alone. It is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference, create lasting value, and perhaps pursue the fifth level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs – self-actualisation. As the saying goes, 'Old wine in a new bottle' – though I would like to believe that, with age, the wine only gets better! The break is over. The final stint begins, with renewed energy, a clearer sense of purpose, and the excitement of being back in the game," said Suresh KV.

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Japanese automotive companies Honda Motor Co and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a Honda pickup truck based on the Mitsubishi Triton.

The agreement marks the first product-supply initiative between the two manufacturers, with the new Honda model scheduled to enter the ASEAN market in 2028. The collaboration originates from a strategic partnership framework established in August 2024 among Honda, Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan Motor, which explores vehicle supply arrangements to expand product lineups across international markets.

As per the agreement, Honda will enter the pickup truck segment in the ASEAN region by utilising Mitsubishi's 1-tonne ladder-frame Triton platform. For Mitsubishi Motors, the OEM supply contract will increase production volumes and vehicle assembly capacity utilisation at its manufacturing facilities in Thailand. The three partner companies continue to examine additional vehicle supply and technology-sharing initiatives.

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