L-R: Andreas Dick, Board Member for Production and Logistics, Skoda Auto and Piyush Arora, MD & CEO, SAVWIPL.

Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVWIPL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has started production of the new Kushaq SUV at its manufacturing plant in Chakan, Pune.

The vehicle is a continuation of the Group’s INDIA 2.0 strategy, which focuses on localisation and manufacturing for both domestic and international markets.

Originally launched as the first model under this strategy, the Kushaq contributed to the Group’s sales of 117,000 units in 2025. The updated version follows its world premiere in January 2026, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in March.

The new Kushaq maintains its focus on driving dynamics and safety standards. Updates to the model include a panoramic sunroof, a rear-seat massage function and the introduction of an 8-speed automatic transmission option.

The SUV is produced with a focus on high localisation to manage ownership costs and parts availability. It serves as a base for export operations from India to various global markets.

Andreas Dick, Board Member for Production and Logistics, Skoda Auto, said, "For us, the Kushaq holds a very special place as the first car developed specifically for a market outside Europe and born from true collaboration between India and the Czech Republic. The start of production of the new Kushaq in Pune in such a short span of time highlights how strongly India is integrated into our global manufacturing ecosystem. The robust production quality, combined with the continuous improvement in our processes, allows us to deliver feature-packed vehicles that meet domestic expectations and international standards. Kushaq’s continued success underlines how India is not only a key growth market but also an increasingly important production and export base for our global operations."

Piyush Arora, Managing Director & CEO, SAVWIPL, said, “The new Kushaq is an evolution and continues to be a key pillar in our mission to bring European engineering excellence within reach of Indian families. This SUV embodies our DNA with its robust design, advanced features and uncompromising safety. Listening closely to our customers, we have added several premium features such as a Panoramic Sunroof, rear-seat massage function and a new 8‑speed automatic transmission option, making it an even more compelling offering. With the start of production, we reaffirm our long-term commitment to India and to positioning it as a strategic manufacturing hub.”

Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Skoda Auto India, added, “The Kushaq has been a transformative product for Skoda in India. As our first model under the INDIA 2.0 strategy, it marked the beginning of a new chapter, one that combined high localisation, world-class manufacturing at Pune, a deep understanding of Indian customers, and our commitment to democratising technology for the Indian market. With the new Kushaq, we are further building on that strong foundation, delivering European driving dynamics and 5-star safety that customers associate with Skoda.”

JSW Greentech, the electric commercial vehicle division of JSW Group, has selected software company Dassault Systemes to implement a manufacturing execution system at its production facility in India.

The company will deploy Dassault Systemes’ DELMIA Apriso applications to build a digital platform across the plant floor. The system will manage operations for JSW Greentech's line of electric trucks and buses from the start of production.

Headquartered in Mumbai, JSW Greentech is establishing technology development and manufacturing capacity within India's commercial vehicle sector. The deployment of the manufacturing execution system aims to standardise operations management by connecting production execution directly with quality control and material tracking.

Sumit Mittal, Chief Executive Officer, JSW Greentech, said, “As we build a state-of-the-art commercial EV manufacturing facility, it is imperative that we complement it with equally advanced technology systems. Our partnership with Dassault Systèmes and its MES platform brings global expertise and digital capabilities to our manufacturing ecosystem. Together, this will enable us to create a smart, connected and future-ready operating environment, setting a new benchmark for technology-led manufacturing in India’s commercial vehicle industry.”

Deepak NG, Managing Director for India, Dassault Systemes, said, “In India, considering the pace at which the market is moving, it is equally important that we address sustainability during production. Leveraging Dassault Systèmes' systems like DELMIA Apriso is further strengthening our commitment toward technology adoption and sustainable manufacturing standards. The future of sustainable mobility in India depends on how efficiently we can scale clean transportation. By building its production around a connected digital backbone from day one, JSW Greentech is driving this transition. This collaboration underscores Dassault Systèmes' commitment to empowering India's EV ecosystem with virtual twin technology to accelerate innovation, manufacturing excellence, and sustainable growth.”

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, 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, 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.