United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and BMW Group has honoured India’s grassroots Initiative ‘Football and Beyond’ during the 10th UNAOC Global Forum. ‘Football and Beyond’ is the initiative of India-based organisation ‘Shreeja India’, which is one of the ten grassroots initiatives that were honoured recently under the Intercultural Innovation Hub (IIH), a joint initiative of the United Nations of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the BMW Group. The joint initiative was implemented with the support of Accenture.

The ‘Football and Beyond’ initiative was honoured at a ceremony held in Cascais, Portugal, under the theme ‘United in Peace: Restoring Trust, Reshaping the Future – Reflecting on Two Decades of Dialogue for Humanity’.
The Forum convened prominent figures, political leaders, UN officials including the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, as well as representatives from civil society, academia, and the private sector, to share insights and reflect on the 20 years of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations’ impactful work.

The ’Football and Beyond’ initiative leverages the unifying power of football to bridge divides across diverse backgrounds while promoting inclusivity and empowerment. By using football as a development tool, the initiative integrates sports with education, mental wellness, social awareness, and skills development. This holistic approach empowers girls and uplifts communities that lack access to essential services such as basic education, nutrition, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities, paving the way for sustainable growth and social cohesion.

"Shreeja India’s inclusive tactic to empower underprivileged girls and children with a sports-based endeavour is producing powerful narratives in the grassroots of rural India. With the recognition of the Intercultural Innovation Hub, we feel more driven to connect, collaborate and contribute towards breaking barriers and building cohesive societies," said Somasree Basu, Program Manager at Shreeja India.

“With the Intercultural Innovation Hub, we celebrate outstanding initiatives implemented by extraordinary individuals working to bridge intercultural divisions in innovative and impactful ways,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG People and Real Estate, Labour Relations Director. “At the BMW Group, we believe that diversity not only enhances our company but is crucial for social unity and global progress. That is why we are deeply thankful for our strong partnership with the UNAOC. This collaboration allows us to support remarkable initiatives like Shreeja India’s work in empowering underprivileged children, making a tangible difference in their communities and contributing to a better and more inclusive Indian society,” she added.

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Pune-headquartered automotive company Kinetic Engineering has announced an investment of approximately INR 570 million to support its capital expenditure requirements and expand its electric two-wheeler segment.

The company shared that it intends to deploy INR 170 million toward CAPEX, while INR 400 million will be directed toward electric vehicle manufacturing and distribution. The capital injection is being executed through the final tranche conversion of 4,451,000 warrants issued to promoters in March 2025.

The investment follows an increase in the company's dealer network and product distribution footprint. Kinetic Engineering has signed letters of intent with over 150 dealers across India, with 60 dealerships operational featuring sales, service and spare parts operations. Promoter shareholding in Kinetic Engineering has increased from 50 percent to 69.27 percent over the past four years.

In its electric two-wheeler business, the company is focusing on its Kinetic DX and DX+ scooter models, which incorporate 3.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery packs that deliver a range of up to 132 kilometres under Indian Driving Cycle test conditions.

Ajinkya Firodia, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Kinetic Engineering, said, "Kinetic Engineering is entering an exciting phase of growth, with strong momentum across both our automotive components and electric mobility businesses. Our auto-components business is seeing a healthy pipeline of new orders, which will support growth and help us work towards our target of improving EBITDA margins to around 12%. At the same time, the response to our Kinetic DX electric scooter has been encouraging, giving us confidence to expand our presence across markets. With continued investments in capacity, technology and our retail network, we are focused on scaling both businesses and building Kinetic into a leading and enduring player in India’s electric mobility segment."

The company aims to secure a position among the top ten electric vehicle brands in India as industry projections indicate electric two-wheeler market volumes could expand from 1.8 million units to 7 million units by FY2030.

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Fluid transmission solutions provider Imperial Auto has opened its new Global Technology Centre in Backnang, Germany, expanding its engineering footprint within the European automotive sector.

Situated in the Stuttgart metropolitan area, the facility will function as a hub for technology development, engineering and customer collaboration. The centre is designed to support OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers across passenger cars, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery, off-highway equipment and mobility applications by integrating European client requirements with Imperial Auto's global manufacturing infrastructure.

Vikram Wagh, Managing Director and CEO, Imperial Auto, said, “Europe is an important market for Imperial Auto, and establishing a dedicated technology centre in Germany is a significant step in our global growth journey. The centre will strengthen our ability to work closely with customers, understand their evolving technology and product requirements, and translate these insights into innovative solutions. Being closer to our customers will enable faster technical responses, more effective collaboration and stronger product development. The Backnang centre will also facilitate the exchange of engineering knowledge, technologies and best practices across our global network, helping us accelerate innovation and deliver reliable, future-ready solutions to customers across markets.”

The Backnang facility will house teams dedicated to product development and technical support, aiming to accelerate decision-making cycles and facilitate joint engineering initiatives between regional clients and the company's central development units.

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Saudi Arabia’s first homegrown brand CEER has revealed its first flagship vehicles, the EXOBOT e-sedan and SUV, during a ceremony led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The EVs were showcased at the CEER Manufacturing Complex located in King Abdullah Economic City, marking the initial step in a planned portfolio of 7 vehicle models scheduled for release by 2030.

The EXOBOT models are built on a tri-motor all-wheel-drive electric powertrain architecture. In its highest specification, the powertrain produces 1,111 horsepower and 1,500 Nm of torque.

The e-sedan accelerates from standstill to 100 kmph in a claimed 2.1 seconds with a top speed of 250 kmph, while the SUV reaches 100 kmph in 2.4 seconds with a maximum speed of 210 kmph.

Thermal management systems, termed Halo Cooling, is designed to lower cabin temperatures from 65deg C to 32deg C within 10 minutes. The EV incorporate steer-by-wire technology, reducing steering input angles from 400 degrees to 160 degrees, alongside rear-wheel steering capabilities.

In terms of dimension, the EXOBOT sedan measures 5.26 metres in length, 2.1 metres in width and 1.43 metres in height. The SUV measures 5.02 metres in length, 2.1 metres in width and 1.69 metres in height.

On the outside, it features include a 2.4-metre windshield angled at a 15-degree inclination, three-metre-long Shahin Wing doors that open in a 60cm arc and light signatures comprising 32 individual light elements.

Inside, the cabin contains a 48-inch curved digital display operating at 8K resolution, a 10.4-inch central control screen and an eight-inch rear display screen.

Commercial roll-out will begin with the EXOBOT First Edition, offered in sedan and SUV configurations powered by an 850-horsepower tri-motor setup producing 1,000 Nm of torque.

The EXOBOT utilises a 112 kWh battery pack and an 800-volt electrical architecture, the First Edition delivers an estimated range of up to 670 kilometres for the sedan and 560 kilometres for the SUV, with 10 to 80 percent charging achieved in under 30 minutes.

CEER is targeting a local content ratio of 45 percent for its vehicle supply chain by 2034.

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Tejas Cargo has added a Blue Energy electric heavy-duty trucks to its fleet. The e-trucks will cater to the needs of Dalmia Cement logistics requirements with an eye on reducing the carbon footprint. The deployment underlines the growing need of various industrial sectors such as cement, e-commerce etc. to reduce transportation-related emissions and build a more sustainable supply chain.
As businesses across different industrial sectors look beyond their manufacturing operations to reduce emissions, freight transportation is visited in terms of how it can contribute positively to Scope 3 norms. It makes an important area for action. 
This association between Blue Energy Motors and Tejas Cargo marks a new arrangement that is emerging in the logistics space where vehicle OEMs, logistics providers and end customers look at a sustainable and carbon footprint reducing means to transport the produce. To build an efficient supply chain that is robust and risk averse for the various shifts that are taking place. 
"The logistics sector is undergoing a significant transformation, and sustainable transportation will play a defining role in its future. We are pleased to deploy Blue Energy Motors' electric heavy-duty truck for Dalmia Cement's operations and look forward to contributing to the adoption of cleaner and more efficient freight solutions across the industry," said hander Bindal, Chairman & Managing Director, Tejas Cargo India Limited. 
Anand Mimani, CEO – EV & New Energy Business, Blue Energy Motors, said, "As India accelerates its transition towards a lower-carbon future, decarbonizing freight transportation will be critical to achieving meaningful emissions reductions. Electric heavy-duty trucks are increasingly proving their ability to deliver the performance, reliability and economics required for commercial operations. This deployment is a strong example of how clean mobility solutions can help industries reduce transportation-related emissions while advancing their broader sustainability ambitions."
 

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