TAFE Motors and Tractors has opened its DEUTZ engine production facility at its manufacturing plant in Alwar, Rajasthan. The facility was inaugurated by Colonel Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Minister for Industry & Commerce, Government of Rajasthan.

Under a licensing agreement with DEUTZ, TAFE Motors will manufacture 2.2-litre and 2.9-litre engines for domestic and international markets, targeting an annual production capacity of 35,000 engines and 50,000 sub-assemblies. The manufacturing setup incorporates Industry 4.0-enabled systems and digital connectivity.

Rajasthan’s Cabinet Minister, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, while addressing the gathering lauded TAFE's investment in the state, said, “TAFE’s new production facility at Alwar is a strong endorsement of Rajasthan's emergence as a preferred manufacturing destination and exemplifies the vision of 'Made in Rajasthan for the World' while contributing to the national goal of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. I reaffirm the state's commitment to fostering a business-friendly ecosystem through progressive policies and ease of doing business. I also commend TAFE’s Chairman & Managing Director, Mallika Srinivasan for her visionary leadership and contributions to nation-building, and I appreciate the commitment of TAFE's workforce, supply chain partners, and next-generation leadership in driving innovation, skilling, and empowering India's farmers through world-class technology and manufacturing excellence”

Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & Managing Director, TAFE, said, "Today marks a defining milestone in TAFE's growth journey. TAFE and the Amalgamations Group, together are one of India’s largest engine manufacturing ecosystems, with a production capacity projected to expand from 400,000 to 550,000 engines annually by 2030.”

She added, “Our partnership with DEUTZ, one of Europe's premier engine manufacturers and a pioneer in diesel engine technology brings together the precision of German engineering and the strength of India's manufacturing capabilities. This venture will also serve as a growth catalyst for the allied engineering industries in Rajasthan, further strengthening the state's position as a manufacturing hub. We extend our gratitude to the Government of Rajasthan for the continued support in enabling this landmark initiative."

Dr Lakshmi Venu, Vice Chairman, TAFE, said, " India's manufacturing sector is entering a new phase, driven by technology, operational excellence and globally benchmarked capabilities. The TAFE Motors - Deutz production facility reflects our commitment to and investments in, advanced manufacturing rigorous quality systems and continuous capability development that will enable us to respond to an evolving India and International market demand. With a 40 percent women workforce, the TAFE-DEUTZ production facility continues to advance gender diversity goals."

Sandeep Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, TAFE, said, " The TAFE-Deutz facility integrates high levels of automation across manufacturing, testing and logistics, along with vision systems, robotics and cobots for critical assembly functions and reaffirms our ability to manufacture world-class products at scale. We are creating a world-class platform that will deliver exceptional value to customers in India and across international markets. Further, the facility also incorporates a state-of-the art engine testing and an advanced quality laboratory with complete digital traceability to ensure global quality standards."

Dr. Sebastian Schulte, Chief Executive Officer, Deutz, said, “The inauguration of the new DEUTZ engine assembly line in Alwar marks an important milestone in our cooperation with TAFE. It reflects the commitment and strong collaboration of both teams in turning our shared vision into industrial reality.”

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German leading mechanical and plant engineering firm Durr has announced that it has been selected to equip Volvo Cars' manufacturing facility in Košice, Slovakia, with final assembly automation technology.

The plant represents the automaker's dedicated facility for all-electric vehicles and is planned to commence production in 2027 with a maximum annual output capacity of 250,000 units.

As per the understanding, Durr will supply turnkey conveyor, fluid filling and testing infrastructure integrated through its NEXT.assembly framework. The installation features fluid filling equipment configured to handle low-conductivity coolants and updated air conditioning refrigerants designed to comply with European regulatory changes. The vehicle conveyance network spans over three kilometres within the facility, utilising electric monorail systems, skillet platforms and modular chain conveyors to transport vehicle bodies and door components between assembly stations.

For end-of-line testing and quality control, Durr is installing its x-wheel chassis alignment system equipped with x-3Dsurface optical sensors, alongside the x-light camera-based measurement system for inspecting and adjusting headlamp modules in accordance with ECE and SAE standards.

Jorg Neumann, Director of the End of Line Product Line, Durr in Germany, said, “Volvo Cars has exceptionally high standards when it comes to measurement accuracy. We are very familiar with these standards, as Dürr equips all Volvo sites worldwide with vehicle geometry and headlight alignment technology.”

Andreas Hohmann, CEO of Durr Italy and Vice-President of NEXT.assembly, said, “Our fully automated final assembly system represents a significant advancement in automotive manufacturing, combining precision engineering with cutting-edge automation to deliver exceptional quality and efficiency.”

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra is moving towards taking possession of an initial package of approximately 800 acres for an automobile and tractor manufacturing facility at Additional Butibori in Nagpur, Maharashtra.

The site forms part of a planned 1,500-acre development in Vidarbha, which will be accompanied by a 150-acre supplier park in Sambhajinagar.

When fully operational, the site will feature an annual production capacity exceeding 500,000 vehicles and 100,000 tractors. The Sambhajinagar supplier park will provide components to the Nagpur facility and to Mahindra's existing production plants in Chakan and Nashik.

Furthermore, Mahindra is also establishing training frameworks to identify and develop workforce capabilities for manufacturing across powertrains and technologies. Over the next two to three years, existing associates will be considered through a selection process to fill roles at the facility based on technical capability, performance and alignment with company standards.

Mahindra also plans to establish a training centre in Nagpur to build technical skills in areas including mechanical operations, welding and painting. Further operational details regarding workforce requirements and recruitment processes will be released as project development continues.

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Czech automaker Skoda Auto is marking the 30th anniversary of the modern-generation Octavia, which first entered production on 3 September 1996. The model has served as the carmaker's core product following its integration into the Volkswagen Group, reaching total production of almost 7.9 million units across four generations. At present, the Skoda Octavia is manufactured in Mladá Boleslav and Kvasiny in the Czech Republic, as well as Kostanay in Kazakhstan.

Klaus Zellmer, CEO, Skoda Auto, said, "The Octavia has been an icon of the Skoda brand for three decades. As Combi or Liftback, it has consistently delivered what customers prefer: outstanding space, practicality, safety, and features at an exceptional value. In many ways, the Octavia defined the Skoda ambition to offer more than expected. This has resulted in the Octavia powering our international growth by earning the trust of generations of customers. While Skoda continues to evolve and expand into new segments, the Octavia remains a powerful symbol of customer-centric innovation and Simply Clever thinking."

The Skoda Octavia’s development began in 1992 under design chief Dirk van Braeckel, reviving a nameplate originally used by Skoda between 1959 and 1971. The initial liftback variant launched with a 528-litre boot capacity, supported by a production plant in Mlada Boleslav that increased the site's annual vehicle capacity from 90,000 to 350,000 units.

A Combi estate version joined the line-up in 1998, followed by an all-wheel-drive variant in 1999 and the first Octavia RS in 2000. The first generation recorded 1.44 million total unit sales before ending production in 2010.

The second-generation Octavia debuted in 2004, introducing dual-clutch transmission options and expanding boot capacity by 32 litres, achieving 2.6 million sales prior to its replacement in 2013. The third generation, manufactured from 2012 to 2020, incorporated revised driver assistance systems, reduced body weight, and efficiency updates, alongside an exterior facelift in 2017.

The current fourth-generation Octavia launched in November 2019 in liftback and Combi formats. An update introduced in early 2024 added safety equipment, including up to ten airbags and revised driver fatigue monitoring software, as the vehicle continues to serve commercial and private markets globally.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced its automobile rake reached Pollachi Railway Terminal in Tamil Nadu, making it the first passenger vehicle manufacturer to dispatch vehicles by rail to the terminal.

The rake carried 120 vehicles, including Wagon R, Ertiga, Dzire and Celerio models, and departed from the Manesar in-plant railway siding on 18 August 2026.

Maruti Suzuki worked with Indian Railways to operationalise Pollachi Railway Terminal for rail-based vehicle dispatches. The location adds a destination in Southern India alongside Coimbatore.

The terminal enhances the ability of the company to serve customers across the region ahead of the Onam festival in Keralam. The facility can support 70 automobile rakes annually, enabling the delivery of 11,000 vehicles each year through railways.

Interestingly, the manufacturer adopted rail-based vehicle dispatches during FY 2014-15 to reduce CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and road congestion. The company increased the share of rail in outbound vehicle dispatches from 5 percent in FY 2014-15 to 26.5 percent in FY 2025-26, dispatching 3.2 million vehicles cumulatively via rail networks to date.

Maruti Suzuki India aims to increase the share of rail-based vehicle dispatches to 35 percent by FY 2030-31 to reinforce commitments to rail logistics.

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