Arranged in one corner of Hall 6 of Pragati Maidan in the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was an air-taxi called Shunya. Developed by Sarla Aviation, a Bengaluru-based startup, the air-taxi attracted a good deal of crowd, reflecting a new and future mode of transport or mobility.

The Shunya air-taxi prototype could facilitate a new mode of mobility much like a radio-taxi does to travel between Mumbai and Pune; between Mumbai and Kalyan; between Delhi and Jaipur or between Delhi and Meerut, for example.

Intending to launch the electric air-taxi in Bengaluru by 2028 to become the first to introduce urban air transport in India, Sarla Aviation (the company’s name is inspired by Sarla Thakral, India’s first female pilot) is steadfastly focusing on an indigenous design and manufacture since the beginning of the operations.

A testament to Sarla Aviation’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, the Shunya air-taxi proto has been designed to execute short trips of 20 to 30 kms with speeds of up to 250 kmph with up to six passengers onboard. As the first eVTOL of its kind in the country, it marks a pivotal moment in the history of Indian civil aviation, showcasing the nation’s growing prowess in cutting-edge aerospace technologies.

Capable of carrying a maximum load of 680 kg, according to a source aware of the development, the air-taxi offers a market-leading payload capacity such that every passenger can bring his or her luggage. The luggage is conveniently stored in the rear of Shunya with exterior access for ease.

Prioritising safety, purpose-driven performance and accessibility, Shunya – poised to redefine mass transportation – can take off from any flat surface, whether on top of a building or in a rural area, making it the most infrastructure-efficient mode of mass mobility ever, according to the company.

Working on a strategy that will see Shunya facilitate efficient commuting in megacities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Pune, Sarla Aviation is also looking at how its offering could facilitate social commitments in the form of an air ambulance that reaches where no vehicle or other means of mobility is able to reach. An air ambulance could also be used in urban and semi-urban areas to beat the road congestion.

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Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) has reported a twenty-fold surge in granted patents over the past decade, rising from just 56 patents accumulated since its inception through fiscal year 2016 to 1,334 by fiscal year 2026. The Indian automotive and farm equipment major attributed this leap to sustained investment in research and development, alongside a firm backing of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. As of March 2026, the company’s total patent applications reached 2,728, underscoring a systematic drive toward technological innovation and engineering excellence.

An analysis of the 1,334 granted patents reveals that 60 percent are linked to the automotive business, while the remaining 40 percent belong to the farm equipment division. The company’s application-to-patent conversion ratio has improved dramatically from just eight percent in fiscal 2016 to over 65 percent for applications filed in the last 10 years. This patent portfolio also includes filings from M&M’s subsidiary, Mahindra Electric Automobile Ltd, reflecting a broadening scope of intellectual property development.

Beyond the numerical growth in patents, M&M’s expanded research capabilities have enabled more immersive technological experiences for customers. The company has also garnered multiple prestigious accolades in the past year alone, including the CII IP Award for Best Patent Portfolio, recognition as one of India’s Top 50 Innovative Companies 2025, the CII National Award for Industry-Academia Partnership, the Questel IP Excellence Award and honours at the CMO Asia Awards 2025.

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Venttup, a Manufacturing as a Service (MaaS) company,  has announced the appointment of Prashanth R. Menon as strategic advisor. He will work on the company’s strategy, expansion plans and growth roadmap, with a focus on profitability.

The company seeks to connect industries with manufacturing solutions from India and focuses on innovation to alter the manufacturing sector by aligning efficiency with the demand for sustainability.

Menon has experience in strategy, operations and business transformation. He previously served as Director – India at Tesla, where he managed the strategy for the company's entry into India and established its operations. He also served as Chairman of the Board for Tesla India.

Sandeep Nair, Co-Founder & CEO, Venttup, said, “We are excited to welcome Prashanth R. Menon to Venttup. His deep global experience in strategy and transformation, combined with his leadership in scaling global organisations, will help us accelerate our journey towards building a world-class manufacturing startup from India. We are focused on localisation and rapid development of critical components to support the growing deep-tech ecosystem."

Prior to his role in India, Menon was Director – Advisory at Tesla US, where he led teams focused on revenue, productivity and cost. Earlier in his career, he worked with EY, advising on corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain management and working capital.

Prashanth R. Menon, said, “I am impressed by the outlook and the energy of the Venttup leadership team, and their vision to build a sustainable and local supply chain to fulfill global needs. Venttup has a promising business model, and it is aligned with the Government of India’s “Make in India” initiative. I am looking forward to guiding the team in achieving their growth and operational goals.”

Menon will work with the founders and leadership team to shape the growth roadmap, drive expansion and manage scalability. He will also support investor engagement and partnerships.

Bhaskar Majumdar, Managing Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, added, “A warm welcome to Mr Menon to the Venttup Advisory team. His deep industry experience, decades of global exposure in the US, strong understanding of evolving global supply chain dynamics, and keen interest in contributing to India’s manufacturing deep-tech ecosystem will significantly strengthen Venttup’s scale-up strategy and growth journey."

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L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has officially announced the induction of Amitabh Kant and Rajeev Gupta to its Board of Directors, effective 22 April 2026. The appointments were finalised during the same board meeting where the company approved its FY2026 financial results, reporting a 14 percent revenue growth.

The additions to the Board aim to strengthen the company’s governance and strategic focus on ‘Engineering Intelligence’ and sustainable global growth.

Amitabh Kant is one of India’s most influential policy architects, previously serving as the CEO of NITI Aayog and as India’s G20 Sherpa. His 5-year term (extending to April 2031) is expected to provide strategic depth in innovation, sustainability and international economic transformation.

Rajeev Gupta, Executive Director has served as the Chief Financial Officer at LTTS since 2020. He has been promoted to the Board for a 3-year term and has nearly three decades of experience at firms like Amazon, PwC and Capgemini. He has been central to LTTS’ financial resilience and M&A strategy.

The leadership changes come as LTTS recalibrates its portfolio toward high-growth, technology-driven sectors. The company recently divested its Smart World and Communication (SWC) business to sharpen its focus on AI-integrated engineering services.

Amit Chadha, CEO & MD, L&T Technology Services, said, “We are delighted to welcome Amitabh Kant to the LTTS Board. His unparalleled experience in shaping India’s growth story, coupled with his forward-looking vision on innovation and sustainability, will be invaluable as we scale new heights globally. I also congratulate our CFO, Rajeev Gupta on his appointment to the Board. His strong financial stewardship and strategic acumen have been instrumental in strengthening LTTS’ growth trajectory, and we look forward to his continued contributions at the Board level.”

Rajeev Gupta, added, “I am honoured to be inducted into the Board of Directors at LTTS. It is a privilege to be part of such an esteemed group of Board Members and I look forward to contributing to the company’s continued growth and value creation journey.”

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TUV Rheinland, a global leader in independent testing and certification, has inaugurated its state-of-the-art Automotive Component Testing Laboratory (ACT Lab) in Manesar, Haryana. The facility is designed to support the Indian automotive industry by providing globally recognised testing for both conventional and electric vehicle (EV) components.

Strategically located in a major automotive hub, the lab focuses on accelerating time-to-market for manufacturers while ensuring compliance with evolving international and OEM-specific standards.

The ACT Lab offers a comprehensive range of end-to-end testing solutions under one roof, utilising advanced systems from leading international manufacturers:

• Structural & Durability Testing: Includes fatigue and lifecycle assessments for critical components to ensure long-term reliability.
• Environmental Simulation: Replicates extreme real-world conditions to test component resilience against corrosion, temperature fluctuations and moisture.
• Material Analysis: Provides deep insights into the performance and composition of both metals and polymers used in next-generation vehicle architectures.
• Operational Replication: The facility is specifically engineered to replicate the operational environments of diverse automotive sub-assemblies.

The investment highlights India's role as a high-growth market within TUV Rheinland’s global mobility portfolio. The facility acts not just as a testing centre but as a collaborative platform for innovation in the electric mobility ecosystem.

Dr. Matthias Schubert, Executive Vice-President Mobility at TUV Rheinland Group, said, “Our investment in the Automotive Component Testing Laboratory in Manesar reflects TUV Rheinland’s long-term strategic commitment to India as a key growth market. As the mobility sector undergoes rapid transformation, this facility enables us to support manufacturers with advanced testing capabilities that not only ensure compliance but also drive innovation, safety, and global competitiveness.”

Rajendra Kisanrao Bandal, Vice-President, Mobility at TUV Rheinland India, added, “This facility goes beyond a conventional testing laboratory – it is a platform for collaboration and innovation. Combining global expertise with local insight, it enables manufacturers to enhance quality, reliability, and performance, while strengthening India’s position in the global mobility landscape.”

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