Toyota Kirloskar Motor has concluded the 24-hour Toyota Hackathon 2025 in Mumbai engineered to empower young innovators to drive road safety solutions. It has been a part of the automaker’s commitment to education and road safety. 
Held at Vidyalankar Institute, Wadala (East), Mumbai, and coinciding with ‘Road Safety Month’ (January 18 – February 17, 2025), the event brought together over 400 talented students from over 100 schools across Mumbai, turning in turn into an effective platform to develop actionable solutions to critical road safety challenges.
Attracting the presence of Atul Moreshwar Save, Minister for OBC Welfare, Dairy Development, and Renewable Energy, Government of Maharashtra; Arprit Save, President Chamber of Marathawada Industries and Agriculture, and Senior leadership from TKM (including Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, TKM, and Sudeep Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer, Senior Vice President and Head State Affairs, TKM), the event – a key pillar of TKM’s comprehensive Road Safety Initiative designed to address this critical issue by integrating road safety education into school and college curriculums – began with team selection and idea submissions, progressed through a boot camp, culminated in a 24-hour final hackathon, and concluded with incubation support for the top one winner per city. 
Fostering critical thinking, innovation and a sense of responsibility, the Hackathon – structured in five phases – saw participants tackle key road safety themes such as ‘Road Safety Awareness and Education’, ‘Community Engagement for Safety’, ‘School Zone Safety’, ‘Road Infrastructure and Pollution’, ‘IoT/ICT in Road Safety’, ‘Traffic Easement’ and ‘Making Roads Inclusive’. 
Out of 100 initial teams, 28 advanced to post- boot camp, 10 teams completed in the final hackathon out of which 3 emerged as winners, earning continued support to bring their innovative ideas to life.
Following the success in Mumbai, the Toyota Hackathon 2025 will move to Bangalore on 14 February 2025. For the 2024-25 academic year, TKM aims to expand the initiative to 300 institutions across key cities, with over 400 innovative concepts already submitted.
Speaking at the event, Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we are driven by the belief that empowering the younger generation with the right tools, mentorship, and opportunities can lead to transformative change. The Toyota Hackathon 2025 serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to road safety and innovation, as it brings together young minds to ideate, collaborate, and develop solutions for safer roads. This initiative reflects our holistic approach to fostering a culture of safety and sustainability, aligning with Toyota’s global vision of zero traffic fatalities.”
 

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Japanese luxury car brand Lexus India has inaugurated its new Guest Experience Centre in Surat, expanding its retail presence in Gujarat following a recent opening in Ahmedabad.

The facility is operated by Lexus Bharat, a joint venture between Kirloskar Systems, Toyota Tsusho India and Japan's Toyota Tsusho Corporation. The location features a vehicle showroom and an operational Lexus Service Point for aftersales maintenance. The inauguration ceremony was led by Lexus Bharat Managing Director Sreenivas Chivikula and Lexus India Executive Vice President Ryosuke Tawara.

Hikaru Ikeuchi, President, Lexus India, said, "India's luxury automotive market is evolving rapidly, with guests increasingly seeking distinctive products, meaningful experiences and brands that align with their values. At Lexus, our vision is to bring the Lexus experience closer to guests across the country. The inauguration of Surat Guest Experience Centre marks an important milestone for Lexus India. As the second GEC in Gujarat, following the recent inauguration of Ahmedabad GEC, the Surat outlet further strengthens our presence in this vibrant and growing luxury market. Known for its entrepreneurial spirit and legacy of craftsmanship, Surat's pursuit of quality and excellence resonates strongly with Lexus. We are delighted to welcome guests into a space that reflects our dedication to innovation, exceptional hospitality and Omotenashi. Through this new Guest Experience Centre, we look forward to building deeper connections with our guests while delivering the unique luxury experience that defines Lexus."

Sreenivas Chivikula added: "The inauguration of our Guest Experience Centre at Surat marks an exciting new chapter for Lexus in India. Lexus Bharat is committed to supporting Lexus India's efforts to deliver exceptional guest experiences. As we enter new markets, our focus remains on delivering world-class luxury retail standards and personalised guest experiences that embody Lexus' unique experience."

The Surat facility increases Lexus India's retail network to nine Guest Experience Centres across major metropolitan markets, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Kochi and Ahmedabad, supported nationwide by 19 Lexus Service Point locations. Ownership programs include an eight-year or 200,000-kilometre warranty covering the vehicle and hybrid battery system, alongside five-year roadside assistance packages.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has attained a new sales milestone of 1.5 million units for its popular compact SUV – the Brezza.

The achievement follows the launch of the updated Brezza model, which has accumulated over 100,000 customer bookings.

The Brezza range includes multiple powertrain options, featuring the K15C petrol engine, a turbocharged Boosterjet variant and S-CNG technology. The S-CNG variant incorporates an underbody fuel-tank packaging layout to preserve boot compartment capacity. Safety specifications for the updated model include a 5-star rating under the Bharat NCAP testing protocol.

The company said that customer demand indicates that 56 percent of buyers evaluate the Brezza prior to starting their vehicle purchase process.

The milestone reinforces the model's position within Maruti Suzuki's SUV portfolio as production and sales volumes continue across domestic dealerships.

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has launched the XUV 3XO ZNG, marking its initial entry into the compressed natural gas (CNG) passenger vehicle segment. The model is priced from INR 999,000 (ex-showroom), with top-tier variants reaching INR 1.22 million (ex-showroom).

The vehicle utilises a 1.2-litre mStallion TCMPFi turbocharged engine engineered to deliver 82 kW of power and 200 Nm of torque in both CNG and petrol operating modes. The engine system incorporates a 10-bar CNG injection pressure configuration, achieving a certified claimed fuel efficiency of 24.7 km/kg and zero-to-60 kmph in 4.9 seconds. Storage design features an underfloor twin-cylinder layout below the rear compartment, maintaining a flat cargo floor and 270 litres of usable boot space, with the spare tyre positioned externally under the body.

Dr Velusamy R, President of the Automotive Business at Mahindra & Mahindra, said, "The XUV 3XO ZNG comes with a clear promise: Zero Compromise. Customers today want the space, technology, safety and driving experience of an SUV, along with the lower running costs of CNG. With category-leading torque, turbocharged performance and impressive efficiency, the XUV 3XO ZNG brings together the practicality of CNG and the excitement of an SUV, setting a new benchmark for customer expectations from a CNG SUV."

Standard safety hardware across all variants includes six airbags, electronic stability control, ISOFIX child seat mounts, and an integrated gas leak detection system programmed to automatically switch fuel supply to petrol if a leak occurs. Higher trim levels feature a 26.03 cm infotainment display, digital instrument cluster, sunroof options, automatic climate control and connectivity software.

The company is set to begin test drives from 15 October 2026, with formal bookings and customer deliveries scheduled to open on 20 October 2026.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor has launched the updated Toyota Glanza hatchback in India, priced from INR 699,000 ex-showroom. The updated hatchback introduces revised exterior styling, including an updated front bumper, side skirts, a wide chrome grille bar and LED headlamp assemblies.

Under the bonnet, it transitions to a 1.2-litre three-cylinder Z12E petrol engine producing 61 kW of power and 112.4 Nm of torque, with claimed fuel efficiency figures of 23.80 kmpl for the manual transmission and 24.77 kmpl for the automated manual transmission (AMT) variant. The alternative CNG powertrain delivers 51.3 kW of power and 101.8 Nm of torque, and now incorporates an AMT option.

Tadashi Asazuma, Deputy Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "Ever since its launch in 2019, the Toyota Glanza has been a popular choice among customers seeking a stylish, feature-rich and dependable hatchback. The 2026 New Toyota Glanza builds on this strong legacy with a sharper and sportier design, a more premium cabin experience and advanced safety technologies making it an even more compelling choice for today's customers. The hatchback segment continues to be an important entry point for customers beginning their mobility journey, and the Glanza is thoughtfully designed to meet these aspirations with style, quality and peace of mind. As customer needs evolve, we remain committed to delivering ever-better cars and creating happiness for our customers."

Sabari Manohar, Executive Vice-President of Sales-Services-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "As customer expectations continue to evolve, the New Toyota Glanza introduces several meaningful enhancements across safety, convenience and connectivity. With the introduction of Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), featuring Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Departure Prevention, Autonomous Emergency Braking and High Beam Assist, the New Glanza offers a premium mobility experience. The addition of AMT in the CNG variants further enhances driving convenience, while ventilated front seats, wireless charging and refreshed styling add to its overall appeal."

The Glanza features level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, a 360-degree camera system, six airbags, ventilated front seating, wireless device charging, a head-up display and a 22.86 cm touchscreen display with connected car telemetry.

Bookings have opened for an initial amount of INR 11,000, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in the first week of November. The Glanza can be had in seven paint options and comes with a standard 3-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty.

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