British design and engineering studio Callum has selected Aqua Mist as its Colour of the Year 2025. The colour a fresh pastel blend of green and blue, it says is not only vibrant and optimistic but also promotes relaxation and tranquillity.

The company says Aqua Mist represents renewal and innovation in a fast-changing world. The refreshing, soothing hue combines the calm of blue with the rejuvenation of green, perfect for creating peaceful, balanced spaces.

It is for the first time Callum has introduced the Colour of the Year 2025, which it says will become an annual forecast of colour trends from its growing team of colour, material and finishes experts.

Charlotte Jones, colour, material and finishes designer at Callum, said, “Aqua Mist offers a fresh, calming energy. Its soft and cool undertones are associated with tranquillity and openness, providing a balanced base that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. Its versatility means it is suited to a number of applications, materials and surface textures, while layering with Callum’s specially-selected balancing colours creates a fun, energetic vibe.

Recent projects and collaborations have given us valuable insights into the needs, preferences and experiences of a variety of customers, particularly those who rely on well-considered inclusive design to enhance accessibility and comfort. We want the Callum Colour of the Year to spark conversations about how colour resonates with the emotional needs of customers and can help shape spaces and products that elicit deeper emotional responses.”

Ian Callum, Design Director, Callum, said, “Every design team in the world looks at future aesthetics to stay relevant and appeal to ever-evolving consumer tastes. Plus, it’s creative and a lot of fun. The Callum Colour of the Year 2025 is the first time we’ve made any of our forecasting work public.”

The company has identified a concise complementary palette, which sees Aqua Mist being balanced with Neon Riot and Midnight Tide, to create a playful, dynamic trio that offers an energetic yet approachable look, ideal for designs that need both vibrancy and sophistication - perfect for playful brands.

Callum stated that Neon Riot is an attention-grabbing hot pink, which brings energy, fun and vibrancy to the palette by adding a pop of brightness. Midnight Tide on the other hand is a rich, deep blue, that grounds the other two colours with its darker, more intense shade, making the overall palette feel balanced and mature.

The combination of Aqua Mist, Neon Riot and Midnight Tide in automotive projects it believes can create a bold, futuristic and attention-grabbing aesthetic, especially for brands or models aimed at trend-conscious audiences

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The first month of FY2026 has begun on a slow start with almost all segments in the red, barring SUVs, which seems to be on a dream run.

A total of 1.85 million vehicles were sold last month in the country, which was a 13 percent decline as compared to 2.13 million vehicle sold last year. Even when compared to March 2025, this translates to a decline of 12 percent.

Looking at the passenger vehicles segment, SUVs with 201,062 units sales grew by 12 percent, while passenger cars and vans saw a decline of 5 percent respectively. A total of 348,847 passenger vehicles were sold last month, which was 4 percent higher YoY.

The three-wheeler space saw a flat decline with 49,441 units sold across categories, as compared to 49,774 units sold last year.

The two-wheeler segment registered a decline of 17 percent YoY, with 1.45 million units sold, as compared to 1.75 million units sold last year and 1.65 million units sold last month.

The scooter segment with 548,370 units saw a decline of 6 percent YoY , while motorcycle sales declined by 23 percent YoY at 871,666 units sold last year.

Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM said, “Passenger vehicles segment posted its highest-ever sales of April in 2025, with a growth of 3.9 percent as compared to April 2024. Auto industry smoothly transitioned to the new regulatory regime of 2nd stage of On-Board Diagnostics (OBD) 2 regulation for two-wheelers and three-wheelers from April 2025 onwards, in addition to rolling out E20 compliant gasoline vehicles across the country from this month.”

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Venkat Rajaram, Cygni Energy, Founder & CEO, along with Vipul and Gautam.

Hyderabad-based Cygni Energy has unveiled Phase I of its fully automated Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) gigafactory at E-Mobility Valley in Maheshwaram, Hyderabad, signalling a major leap in India’s electric vehicle (EV) and clean energy manufacturing landscape. The company is investing INR 2.5 billion over two phases to ramp up capacity from 4.8 GWh to 10.8 GWh over the next 12–24 months.

With a sharp focus on electric mobility, energy storage systems, and next-generation battery chemistries, Cygni is positioning itself to meet growing domestic and international demand for sustainable energy solutions. The company is also actively developing sodium-ion and sulphur-based batteries to complement traditional lithium-ion chemistries, alongside investments in thermal safety, recycling and advanced energy management algorithms tailored to Indian conditions.

Venkat Rajaraman, Founder & CEO, Cygni Energy, said, “In the long term, as part of India’s 100 GWh roadmap, we expect to become self-sufficient in cell manufacturing. We are also seeing a convergence of newer chemistries like sodium and sulphur. Sodium-ion batteries, in particular, are expected to play a critical role in India’s EV journey –given their lower cost of USD 6 per kWh versus USD 24 for lithium. While lithium demand currently exceeds sodium by 3x, India’s early-stage advantage allows us to leapfrog.”

“We cater to three markets – BESS, commercial and industrial storage, and electric vehicles. We have been manufacturing EV battery packs for a long time, earlier from a rental facility and now from our own factory. Today, we have a gigawatt-scale order pipeline for two- and three-wheeler EVs and large-scale storage systems. We’re also working with IIT-Madras' Centre of Battery Engineering and Electric Vehicles (C-BEEV) to co-develop future technologies. EVs contributed nearly 50 percent of our revenue till FY2025.”

The new facility spans 160,000 square feet and is engineered with automated Poka-Yoke-enabled lines and end-to-end traceability for high-quality battery module production. Till date, the company has raised USD 6.4 million in 2018 and USD 12.5 million in 2022 to fund its expansion.

The first phase investment of INR 1 billion supports an initial 4.8 GWh capacity. An additional INR 1.5 billion will be invested to reach 10.8 GWh under Phase II. The company expects to generate INR 26 billion revenue from Phase I, which it aims to double post-expansion.

Cygni’s batteries are designed for EV and grid-scale applications. The company has delivered over 500 MWh of batteries and claims to have a confirmed 1 GWh order pipeline, with growing traction in electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and small commercial vehicles (SCVs). Most of the 80-plus components in its battery systems – such as busbars, cell holders, thermal and mechanical elements – are now locally sourced, reflecting India’s evolving EV ecosystem.

Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana and CEO of the Industry & Investment Cell in the CMO, inaugurated the facility alongside Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Chairman of IIIT-Hyderabad, and Srini Raju, Founder of iLabs Group.

Jayesh Ranjan, said, “The inauguration of Cygni’s battery manufacturing gigafactory in Telangana marks a transformative step toward sustainable energy, manufacturing excellence, and innovation. This facility not only strengthens India’s commitment to clean energy but also creates jobs, fosters local talent, and builds a robust ecosystem for the future of energy storage solutions.”

Cygni expects to create over 1,000 direct and indirect jobs and is planning additional 2 GWh cell-to-pack automated lines as part of its future roadmap. With government support and rising EV adoption, the company is well-positioned to be a catalyst in India’s energy transition

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has announced its financial results for FY2025. The company reported a record revenue of INR 362.51 billion, up 14 percent YoY, as against INR 317.76 billion a year ago.

The operating EBITDA came at 12.3 percent, while the net profit grew by percent at INR 27.11 billion, as against INR 20.83 billion last year.

During the year the company sold a total of 4.74 million vehicles, up 13 percent, as against 4.19 million vehicles last year. This includes 2.19 million motorcycles and 1.90 million scooters, clocking a growth of 10 percent YoY and 21 percent YoY respectively.

Electric vehicles sales grew by 44 percent to 279,000 units, as against 194,000 units last year. Three-wheeler sales came at 135,000 units, as against 146,000 units last year.

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Hindustan Zinc, the world’s largest integrated zinc producer, is marking World Corrosion Awareness Day on 24 April with a nationwide campaign titled #ZungKeKhilaafZinc, aimed at raising awareness about corrosion and promoting zinc galvanisation as a preventive solution.

The company shared that corrosion costs India around 5 percent of its GDP annually –over USD 100 billion – in infrastructure and asset damage. The company’s campaign included social media outreach, public demonstrations and a consumer survey to highlight the economic and structural impact of corrosion.

As part of the initiative, the company undertook a demonstration in Udaipur, where galvanised and non-galvanised two-wheelers were displayed side by side to show the visible difference in corrosion resistance. The initiative targeted general consumers, especially in the automotive and infrastructure sectors.

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said, “Corrosion poses a serious threat to our infrastructure and the nation’s economy at large. At Hindustan Zinc, we believe awareness is the first step toward real change. While it’s essential for manufacturers to adopt galvanisation, consumers also play a vital role by asking the right questions – especially when it comes to long-term investments like homes and vehicles. Through #ZungKeKhilaafZinc, we’re committed to educating industries and individuals alike about the critical value of zinc protection.”

India’s climate makes it especially vulnerable to corrosion, but global examples such as Japan and Australia show that losses can be reduced with protective measures. In the automotive industry, galvanised steel is increasingly used in vehicle structures to improve durability and reduce maintenance costs.

Hindustan Zinc had recently introduced EcoZen, a low-carbon zinc product made using renewable energy, and continues to supply to over 40 countries. The company holds about 75 percent of India’s primary zinc market.

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