Railway Shipment Accounted For 26% Of Hyundai Motor India Dispatches

Rail Freight

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of India’s leading passenger vehicles manufacturers, has been taking huge strides to cut down on its carbon footprint both on-road and off-road.

Taking advantage of the country's robust railway network, Hyundai Motor India shipped 26 percent of its total domestic wholesale vehicles through rail freight in 2024.

This translates to a total of 1,56,724 units transported through Indian Railways, cutting down on almost 18,352 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Interestingly, the company claims that 100 percent of its dispatches to North East India were utilised rail freight. Furthermore, between 2021 and 2024, Hyundai Motor India transported 5,37,499 vehicles using the rail route, which led to a prevention of 63,452 tonnes of CO2 emissions versus road freight.

Tarun Garg, Whole-time Director and Chief Operating Officer – Hyundai Motor India, said, “At HMIL, we have been relentless in our pursuit of promoting sustainability in all facets of our operations, be it manufacturing, dispatches, sales or after sales support. By utilising Indian Railways’ extensive rail-network for delivering Hyundai vehicles from our plant in Sriperumbudur, Chennai, to multiple locations across India. As the Government of India continues to upgrade the rail infrastructure with dedicated freight corridors and modern and energy efficient rolling stock ensuring faster movement of goods, HMIL remains committed to utilising rail freight to optimise its logistic operations, leading to long-term reduction in emissions.”

Daimler Truck North America Announces Plots New Manufacturing Facility To Strengthen Operations

Daimler Truck North America

Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), a subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, has announced plans to construct a manufacturing facility in the United States. The plant aims to expand production capacity for vocational and on-highway trucks while increasing operational flexibility across North America.

The facility will utilise production technologies, manufacturing systems and assembly processes to handle various vehicle configurations. DTNA is evaluating site locations based on supply chain access, workforce availability, logistics infrastructure, and business conditions. Construction is scheduled to commence in late 2026, with production expected to begin in 2029. The project is projected to generate jobs and local economic activity through supplier and community partnerships.

Karin Radstrom, President and CEO, Daimler Truck, said, “This new manufacturing facility supports our long term growth plans for North America. It strengthens our ability to serve customers by responding faster and more flexibly to their evolving needs while unlocking our full potential through growth, scale and efficiency in line with our global strategy.”

John O’Leary, President and CEO, Daimler Truck North America, stated, “Our industry never stands still, and neither can we. This investment reflects our confidence in the future of commercial transportation and the strength of the North American market. We are building for the future by creating a manufacturing network that is more flexible, resilient, and aligned with our customers' evolving needs. This facility will strengthen our ability to deliver industry-leading products while supporting long-term growth in the United States.”

At present, the company operates manufacturing sites across North Carolina and South Carolina, including facilities in Cleveland, Gastonia, Mount Holly, High Point and Gaffney. It maintains its corporate headquarters and engineering development hub in Portland, Oregon.

Hindalco Industries Posts INR 70 Billion Net Profit For Q1 FY2027

Hindalco

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.

Vega Auto Commences Production Of Revo Optical Coated Visors In India

Vega - Revo

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.

Maruti Suzuki India Commences Production At Hansalpur Plant, Scales Up To 1 Million Unit Capacity

Maruti Suzuki India

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.