Meta Materials Circular Markets (MMCM) organised a conference at the Indian Habitat Centre in New Delhi on 18 December 2023. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, unveiled the DigiELV online platform as well as the Automotive Circularity Orchestrator. 
MMCM's Automotive Circularity Orchestrator addresses global environmental concerns by helping collaboration for eco-friendly alternatives. It connects consumers, manufacturers and recyclers to promote sustainability and facilitates seamless data as well as material exchanges. 
The DigiELV online platform – authorised by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) – aids lawful trading of Certificate of Deposit (CD) for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs). It ensures transparency and rewards sustainable efforts of ELV owners. In the beta phase, the DigiELV platform facilitated trading of more than 800 certificates in the past three months.
Besides the Automotive Circularity Orchestrator and DigiELV, the MMCM also introduced a public educational series on benefits of vehicle scrapping during the programme. The series was shown at the conference to those present and turned out to be quite engaging in the booklet form. It included cartoon stories for kids to encourage parents to take a sustainable action on their vehicles in terms of their scrappage at the end of their life. 
Organised in collaboration with the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) and the Policy Times Chamber of Commerce (PTCC), the conference brought together key stakeholders to discuss not just about the DigiELV or the Automotive Circularity Orchestrator but also about the ELV Policy, certificate of deposits, CD Trading, lawful ELV scrapping, need for material traceability and carbon emission reduction through vehicle scrappage waste recycle/circular economy. The launch edition made efforts to spread awareness about vehicle modernisation programme, CD trading on DigiELV and the role of the Auto Circularity Orchestrator in environmental sustainability. 
"The launch of platforms like DigiELV and Automotive Circularity Orchestrator aligns with our commitment to reducing pollution and moving towards sustainable mobility,” said Gadkari 
Gadkari emphasised on moving ahead with the 3E concept, which stands for ecology, environment and economics. He mentioned that the scrappage policy will reduce environmental pollution by approximately 20-25 percent. 
Nitin Chitkara, CEO, MMCM, averred, "Around eight percent of India's total GHG emissions come from the transport sector, and in Delhi it exceeds 30 percent. The 2021 Vehicle Scrappage Policy is a crucial step toward systematically phasing out unfit cars and promoting technologically advanced vehicles to reduce pollution. Our solutions, DigiELV and the Automotive Circularity Orchestrator, aim to revolutionise the automotive industry by promoting sustainability and addressing the pressing issue of automotive pollution.” 
There was no standard scrapping facility available. After the introduction of this, cars would be scrapped properly. Consumers in-turn will benefit by receiving a certificate recognised by the government which they can use to avail a discount on road tax as well as registration fees when buying a new car, he added.

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Mumbai-headquartered SUV major Mahindra & Mahindra has upgraded its popular offering, the Scorpio-N Z8L variant, with Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) tech.

This will see the Scorpio-N Z8L variant coming with Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Smart Pilot Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition and High Beam Assist features.

The ADAS tech will further enhance safety quotient for the Scorpion-N with exclusive features such as Speed Limit Assist and Front Vehicle Start Alert, marking a first for Mahindra ICE SUVs.

Furthermore, the company has also expanded the Scorpio-N line-up with the introduction of the Z8T variant at INR 2.02 million. The new variant will sit between the Z8 and Z8L variants. It comes with a compelling mix of premium features, including R18 diamond-cut alloy wheels, a 12-speaker Sony-branded audio system, front camera, front parking sensors, 6-way powered driver seat, electronic parking brake (EPB), ventilated front seats and an auto-dimming IRVM.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has achieved a new milestone in its aftersales service. The company recorded servicing (free and paid) over 2.45 million vehicles in May, the highest in a single month in its history.

The feat was achieved through the company’s vast network of over 5,400 service touchpoints.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “This is the first time in the company’s history that we have serviced over 24.5 lakh vehicles in a month, an achievement that reflects scale, depth, and efficiency of the service network. It is a result of the tireless efforts of our service teams and dealer partners across the country.”

“Good quality aftersales service is critical to maintain vehicle health, leading to a delightful car ownership experience and strengthen customer retention. Even before we started mass sales of vehicles in India, our focus was on building a robust service network, a foundation that continues to support us as we expand our business further. Going forward, we aim to expand our service touchpoints to 8,000 by FY 2030-31 and introduce innovative formats to cater to the requirements of diverse customer needs. This will help in our EV launch as well. We are preparing 1,500 EV enabled service workshops covering over 1,000 cities with specially trained manpower and special equipment to extend all EV related support to our customers,” he said.

Maruti Suzuki India has through its dealer partners introduced several innovative and industry-first service formats, to address the smallest query to full-car service needs ranging from traditional brick-and-mortar workshops to mobile workshops. Over the years, it has also created a dedicated Quick Response Team (QRT) to provide emergency on-road assistance across the country.

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Mercedes-Benz India, the German luxury car brand, has announced a significant organisational change, effective from 1 August 2025, with the appointment of Brendon Sissing as the new Vice-President of Sales and Marketing. He will take over from Lance Bennett, who has moved to Mercedes-Benz Middle East as their Chief Financial Officer.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, "We are excited to welcome Brendon Sissing as the Head of Sales & Marketing for Mercedes-Benz India. Brendon takes over the responsibility from Lance Bennett, who has joined Mercedes-Benz Middle East as the CFO. Brendon brings rich experience from the world of financing and insurance, as he successfully steered Mercedes-Benz Financial Service India, doubling its portfolio, driving record profit and business transformation, while elevating the integrated customer journey. We are confident Brendon will continue the growth momentum of Mercedes-Benz in this highly diverse and dynamic Indian luxury car market. We thank Lance for his immense contribution and wish them both, the very best in their respective new roles."

Brendon Sissing previously served as the Head of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India, where he was instrumental in doubling the company's portfolio and achieving record profits. He is recognised for his strong advocacy of digital transformation and risk management, leveraging his expertise in credit risk to drive operational excellence. He has extensive experience within the Mercedes-Benz group, having worked with Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and Mercedes-Benz South Africa, leading Credit Operations in both markets. He also held roles in Credit Underwriting and Key Accounts at Daimler Mobility, Stuttgart, before joining Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India in 2022.

The German brand stated that under Sissing's leadership, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services India significantly enhanced customer journeys through integrated online and offline platforms. He is also noted for his passion for coaching and mentoring, fostering high-performing team environments. Sissing holds a B. Tech degree in Cost & Management Accounting from Technikon Pretoria, South Africa and a Diploma in Credit Management from the Institute of Credit Management. He is also a founding member of Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia, established in 2012.

A South African national, Sissing has worked in various international locations, including Malaysia, South Africa, Germany and India.

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Honda Cars India has launched a new variant of its popular mid-size sedan, the Honda City Sport, adding a dynamic and youthful edge to the City line-up. Priced at INR 1.48 million (ex-showroom, Delhi), the City Sport is positioned as a limited-edition offering designed to appeal to style-conscious, spirited drivers.

The new variant will be exclusively available with a CVT automatic transmission and is offered in three colour options — Radiant Red Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, and Meteoroid Gray Metallic.

Sporting a blacked-out exterior theme, the car features a Sporty Black Grille, Glossy Black Shark Fin Antenna, Trunk Lip Spoiler and multi-spoke grey alloy wheels. Inside, the cabin gets an all-black treatment with red stitching, leather seats and ambient lighting for a premium, performance-inspired feel.

Under the hood, it retains the 1.5L i-VTEC petrol engine, delivering 121 PS and 145 Nm of torque, with a claimed fuel efficiency of 18.4 kmpl. The model also comes equipped with Honda Sensing, the brand’s advanced driver assistance suite.

Kunal Behl, Vice-President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India, said, “The new City Sport has been crafted to meet the aspirations of young buyers who value individuality and a spirited driving experience. It embodies a perfect blend of sporty exterior and interior style, fun to drive performance and the everyday usability that Honda City is known for, at a price that makes it even more compelling.”

The City Sport is being positioned as a limited-unit, exclusive edition for customers seeking distinction in both design and driving dynamics.

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