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.

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

McLaren Automotive has appointed Kemal Curic as Chief Design Officer, effective from April 2026. Curic joins the company's Executive Leadership Team and assumes responsibility for the design vision and creative direction of the brand's vehicle portfolio. He will oversee all design functions, including interiors, exteriors, colour, materials, and finish (CMF), and digital design.

Curic moves to the British supercar manufacturer from Ford Motor Company, where he most recently held the position of Global Design Director for Performance Vehicles. His career spans over two decades in the global automotive industry, with a focus on luxury and high-performance vehicle design. In his new role, he will collaborate with the engineering and product strategy departments to maintain the company’s focus on lightweight and high-performance vehicle standards.

The appointment comes as McLaren continues to evolve its product line-up, integrating traditional racing heritage with new design innovations. Curic's previous work has been noted for its ability to update established vehicle series while maintaining brand authenticity.

Kemal Curic, Chief Design Officer, McLaren Automotive, said, “McLaren is one of the most respected and aspirational brands in the world. I’m excited to be part of their journey to help shape the design vision of a company so deeply rooted in engineering excellence and racing heritage. I look forward to working with the talented teams at McLaren to create the next generation of breathtaking, purpose‑driven cars.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that its participants secured 9 medals at the IndiaSkills National Competition 2025-26.

The cohort achieved 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medal across seven vocational categories. The competition serves as the primary platform for vocational excellence in India, with participants progressing through district, state and regional levels before reaching the national finals held in Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai.

In the Mechatronics category, Deepu M S and Jayanth K won gold, while Ganesh P B and Punith Kumar received silver. Shashank S and Abhishek S S secured gold in Robotic System Integration, followed by Chirag G and Vinay M H with silver. In Additive Manufacturing, Pavan B S achieved gold and Harshith K B took silver. Individual gold medals were also awarded to Tejas B S for Auto Body Repair and Punith P for Mechanical Engineering CAD, while Praveen Y H earned a bronze medal in Welding.

The winners will now enter selection rounds for the WorldSkills Competition 2026, which is scheduled to take place in Shanghai, China, from 22 to 27 September. WorldSkills involves young professionals from over 60 countries competing in more than 65 technical skills. Toyota Kirloskar Motors’ participation in these events is part of a broader strategy to train technicians through advanced infrastructure and curricula aligned with international manufacturing standards.

G Shankara, Chief Strategy Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota, we believe manufacturing excellence begins with nurturing exceptional talent. The remarkable performance of TKM participants at these prestigious events reflects their ability to excel across diverse skill categories and compete at the highest level. Their achievements embody the spirit of the Skill India Mission – empowering youth, nurturing creativity and fostering innovation. With such milestones, TKM continues to set new benchmarks in skill development and plays a pivotal role in shaping India’s growing talent landscape”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

Cars24 has announced that former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni has joined Crashfree India, a national road safety initiative, as its Goodwill Ambassador.

The partnership aims to address the high rate of traffic fatalities in India by shifting public focus towards driver accountability and discipline. India currently records the highest number of road deaths globally, with 180,000 fatalities reported in 2024.

Despite possessing approximately 1 percent of the world's vehicles, the country accounts for 11 percent of global road deaths.

The initiative highlights a demographic crisis, noting that 66 percent of those killed in 2024 were aged between 18 and 34. Data indicates that seven in ten fatalities were linked to overspeeding. Through this collaboration, Cars24 seeks to move the conversation beyond annual statistics and integrate safety into the daily mobility habits of Indian drivers.

The programme focuses on behavioural change, suggesting that improved judgment and patience on the road can prevent the majority of accidents.

MS Dhoni, said, “I have spent a big part of my life around cars, bikes, and roads. When you love driving and riding, you also learn to respect them. You understand that control matters, judgment matters, and patience matters. A vehicle gives you freedom, but it also gives you responsibility. On our roads, too many people still see safety as a rule to follow only when someone is watching. That mindset has cost us far too much. We already know what is going wrong. We know how many lives are being lost. We know the habits that put people in danger every day. What we need now is not more excuses. We need more responsibility, more discipline, and more respect for life. Roads may be beautiful, but they come with real risks. As much as we love them, they can be dangerous. We have the data. We know what the problem is. We know what needs to change. The only thing missing is the will to make it a priority. This isn’t something I was asked to do. This is something I decided to do.”

Vikram Chopra, Founder and CEO, Cars24, sad, “Some missions need encouragement. This one needs scrutiny. Crashfree India cannot be built by people who only know how to say the right things. It needs someone who sets a harder standard: someone strict, deeply observant, unwilling to indulge comfortable language and clear enough to call out the truth without softening it. Dhoni is exactly that. He does not mince words and that is one of the most valuable things about him. His understanding of Indian roads is grounded in lived experience rather than theory alone. Years of navigating them have given him insights into driver behaviour, road conditions and the split-second decisions that matter most. Every meeting with him has been inspiring, not in a superficial way, but in a way that leaves you sharper, more serious and less satisfied with easy answers. Dhoni holds us to a higher standard and his involvement challenges us to push this mission further. That changes the seriousness of the work. And that is exactly what this mission needs.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!

The UK government is securing 4,200 jobs following an investment of more than GBP 700 million into the advanced manufacturing sector.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle announced the measures during a visit to Agratas in Somerset, where a GBP 380 million grant was confirmed to support the construction of a gigafactory. The facility, built using British steel, is projected to generate GBP 43 billion in economic growth over 25 years and will include a training unit to provide 300 apprenticeships.

Additional funding includes GBP 47 million for the Battery Innovation Programme to support research and development projects and GBP 190 million for the automotive industry. Of this, GBP 90 million in DRIVE35 funding has been awarded to firms including Nissan and Jaguar Land Rover for prototype development, while GBP 100 million is allocated to suppliers in the North East and West Midlands to assist in the transition to electric vehicle manufacturing.

The UK government is also providing GBP 115.44 million through the Made Smarter programmes to help small and medium-sized enterprises adopt digital technologies such as robotics and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, a GBP 182 million engineering skills package has been implemented to train the next generation of technicians, alongside GBP 1.4 million for autonomous freight and passenger service trials in UK ports.

Peter Kyle, Business Secretary, UK Government, said, “This government is backing the industries of the future by investing in auto firms, SMEs and battery manufacturers across the country - helping to boost economic growth and our resilience, secure jobs and put more money in people’s pockets. In an unstable world, our Modern Industrial Strategy is providing investors the stability and confidence they need to plan not just for the next year, but for the next 10 years and beyond. That is what sets us apart from the rest, and will help ensure advanced manufacturing remains a thriving sector in the UK for decades to come.”

Earl Wiggins, Vice-President of Manufacturing Operations, UK for Agratas, said, “We welcome the UK Government’s investment as we build a battery manufacturing facility that will play a vital role in delivering net zero and strengthening the UK’s position as a global leader in battery manufacturing. This funding will support the development of our Somerset facility, enabling us to produce battery cells for our anchor customer, JLR (Jaguar Land Rover). Over the next year we will have over 2,200 people working on the site, and that growth will continue over the coming years.”

Julian Hetherington, Automotive Transformation Director at the APC, said, “This globally significant investment by Agratas reinforces the UK’s accelerating position in pursuit of road transport decarbonisation through the production of vital high-performance batteries for electrified vehicles. I’m delighted that the ATF has been able to support Agratas in their investment in new facilities, creating secure and highly skilled jobs in this area and across the supply chain.”

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said, “Recent global events have highlighted the need for resilient supply chains, making this new investment in the sector both timely and important. The UK has a highly skilled and innovative automotive industry, but long‑term competitiveness depends on a policy framework that encourages investment. The modern Industrial Strategy provides that forward‑looking support, and today’s announcement demonstrates strong government backing for one of the UK’s most vital industries.”

Comments (0)

ADD COMMENT

Link Copied!