Mercedes-Benz India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to foster innovation, sustainability, societal development and entrepreneurship within India’s startup ecosystem. 
This collaboration is aimed at accelerating the development of product startups, innovators and entrepreneurs, reinforcing Mercedes-Benz India’s commitment to driving positive societal impact through technology and sustainability. 
It also aligns with the Government of India's vision to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem, with a particular focus on overall societal development, road safety and environmental sustainability. Under the MoU, Mercedes-Benz India will work closely with DPIIT to provide startups with crucial infrastructure, mentorship, funding access and market linkages. 
Commenting on the collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Government of India, stated "We are excited to have Mercedes India on-board our drive under the Startup India initiative encouraging corporates to collaborate with startups. This MoU paves the way for groundbreaking collaboration where Mercedes’s global expertise, legacy of innovation and high-tech resources will empower our startups to drive technological advancements, sustainability, and mobility solutions for the future. We look forward to seeing our startups leverage this collaboration to develop world-class solutions that redefine industries and create lasting impact." 

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Hindalco Industries, the flagship metals company of the Aditya Birla Group, has reported its financial results for Q1 FY2027, recording 32 percent YoY growth in revenue at INR 848.25 billion, as compared to INR 642.32 billion a year ago.

The EBITDA came at INR 149.89 billion, up 73 percent YoY, as compared to INR 86.73 billion a year ago, while net profit came at INR 70.13 billion, up 75 percent YoY, as against INR 40.04 billion a year ago.

The robust performance was supported by earnings across the aluminium upstream, aluminium downstream, copper and Novelis business segments.

The company's subsidiary, Novelis, reported revenue of USD 5.8 billion, representing a 23 percent increase from USD 4.7 billion in the same period last year, driven by metal price movements. Adjusted EBITDA for Novelis rose 24 percent to USD 516 million, while shipments stood at 916 kilo-tonnes compared to 963 kilo-tonnes in the previous year.

Operational developments at Novelis included the restart of the Oswego hot mill in June 2026 and ongoing commissioning at the Bay Minette plant, with commercial shipments planned for the first quarter of the 2028 financial year.

Satish Pai, Managing Director, Hindalco Industries, said, “Hindalco has started FY27 on a strong note, delivering record Revenue, EBITDA and PAT, with every business segment contributing meaningfully to this performance. Our India business delivered another record quarterly performance while Novelis reported improved profitability supported by the successful restart of Oswego and continued benefits from cost optimisation measures. Our Aluminium Upstream business reported an all-time high EBITDA, backed by favourable macros and operational efficiencies. Both our Copper and Aluminium Downstream businesses also delivered record quarterly EBITDA reflecting the continued strength of our diversified business model, value added products and operational excellence.”

“Looking ahead, our pipeline of strategic investments remains robust across upstream and downstream. As we continue to expand upstream capacities in alumina, aluminium and copper, we are scaling up our downstream projects. Projects such as Aditya FRP, battery foil, battery enclosure, Inner Grooved Tube are progressing well while the ramp of Novelis’ Oswego plant and Bay Minette plant will mark another milestone in our downstream growth journey. Together, these investments position Hindalco uniquely as an integrated global metals company with the right balance of upstream strength and downstream value addition to deliver sustainable, long-term growth,” said Pai.

On operational measures, Hindalco commissioned a 65 MW captive round-the-clock renewable energy facility at Aditya Aluminium. The company recorded an overall waste utilisation rate of 80 percent for the quarter and expanded bauxite residue quarry backfilling operations at Dalla in Uttar Pradesh. Water recycling rates reached 29 percent across industrial operations, and the company planted 80,000 saplings during the three-month period.

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Vega Auto, the parent company of helmet brand Axor, has commenced production of Revo optical-coated helmet visors in India, marking the start of local manufacturing for the component.

The production launch follows an investment of over INR 20 million in optical coating technology and manufacturing infrastructure. The company plans to produce up to 2.4 million units of the coated visors at its domestic facilities.

The visors utilise multilayer optical coating technology designed to control light glare in bright environmental conditions and reduce visual fatigue. The product engineering focuses on glare management and optical clarity during daylight riding, expanding safety design beyond structural impact protection to address rider visual field requirements and road environment awareness.

Girdhari Chandak, Managing Director, Vega Auto Accessories, said, "At Axor, we believe rider safety begins long before impact, it begins with vision. A rider who can see more clearly can anticipate better, react faster and ride with greater confidence. Becoming the first company in India to manufacture Revo Optical Coated Helmet Visors is a proud milestone for Vega Auto. Our investment of over INR 20 million in advanced optical coating technology reflects our commitment to building world-class innovation in India. Revo is more than a premium visor. It represents a new approach to helmet innovation, one that combines protection with superior visual performance, comfort and rider confidence. This is only the beginning of our journey to redefine rider vision technology."

The manufacturing process incorporates multilayer coatings applied directly to the visor surface to produce a reflective finish while maintaining light transmission properties. Vega Auto will integrate the locally produced visors into its Axor product portfolio while continuing the development of component manufacturing capabilities in India.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has commenced commercial production at Plant D, the fourth manufacturing unit at its Hansalpur facility in Gujarat.

The new line adds 250,000 units of annual capacity, raising the total annual production capability at the Hansalpur site from 750,000 units to one million vehicles. The expansion makes Hansalpur the first manufacturing location across Suzuki's international network to achieve a million-unit annual capacity and establishes the site as the largest single-location passenger vehicle manufacturing plant in India.

The commissioning of Plant D increases Maruti Suzuki's total installed manufacturing capacity across India to 2.9 million units per year. Total investment in the Hansalpur site stands at INR 252.88 billion, which includes INR 39 billion allocated for the construction and equipping of Plant D. Initial assembly operations at the new plant will focus on the company's battery electric vehicle, the e Vitara.

In addition to the e Vitara, the Hansalpur manufacturing complex produces the Fronx, Baleno and Swift models. The site serves as a primary export hub for Maruti Suzuki, generating approximately 47 percent of the company's total overseas vehicle shipments during the 2025-26 financial year.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Gujarat has emerged as a manufacturing and export hub for Maruti Suzuki, backed by strong infrastructure and a progressive industrial ecosystem. The start of commercial production at the fourth plant of our Hansalpur facility augments its annual production capacity to one million vehicles, making it India’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturing facility at a single location. The new line will further strengthen our ability to meet the growing demand from customers in India and overseas while advancing our ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision and expanding our global footprint.”

“Together, the Hansalpur and the upcoming Sanand facility in Gujarat will play a pivotal role in achieving our long-term ambition of producing 4 million units annually in India. These projects reflect our commitment to strengthening India’s manufacturing competitiveness, creating employment, boosting exports, and contributing towards Viksit Bharat,” he added.

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Godrej Enterprises Group's Tooling business is expanding its engineering and manufacturing capabilities to support domestic original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier-1 suppliers as the Indian automotive sector increases localisation and develops new mobility platforms.

With over 85 percent of its business linked to the automotive industry, the division supplies precision tooling solutions across passenger vehicles, two-wheelers, commercial vehicles and electric vehicle platforms.

At present, 95 percent of the tooling supplied to its automotive client base is manufactured locally within India, driven by government initiatives such as Make in India and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes that encourage domestic supply chain resilience.

The business produces press tools, die-casting dies and precision tooling systems. Alongside its core automotive operations, the unit supplies components to industrial machinery, railways, metro rail networks and defence manufacturing sectors.

Pankaj Abhyankar, Business Head – Tooling at Godrej Enterprises Group, said: "India's automotive industry is evolving rapidly, driven by localisation, changing mobility technologies, and the need for greater manufacturing agility. As vehicle architectures become more advanced, tooling is playing an increasingly important role in enabling precision, productivity, quality, and faster product development cycles. Our focus remains on building advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities that help customers meet these evolving requirements while supporting India's manufacturing ambitions."

To meet changing manufacturing standards, the division is integrating digital simulations, additive manufacturing, Internet of Things (IoT) monitoring systems and large-tonnage dye equipment into its production processes. The business is also utilising vacuum-assisted systems, thermo-regulation processes, squeeze casting and conformal cooling methods.

The expansion comes as the Indian tooling market experiences increased demand driven by capital investments in automotive manufacturing, electric mobility infrastructure, railways and defence production. Godrej Enterprises Group aims to scale its domestic manufacturing output to support long-term supply chain localisation across these industrial sectors.

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