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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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra & Mahindra has announced the return of the BE 6 Batman Edition, a themed electric SUV developed in association with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products. The decision to reopen bookings follows the initial launch, where 999 units were sold in 135 seconds.

The EV available at INR 2.84 million is based on the top-end Pack Three 79 kWh variant of the BE 6. This second release provides a window for customers who missed the previous allocation. Priority for deliveries will be granted to new bookings referred by existing owners of the original 999 units.

The BE 6 Batman Edition incorporates design motifs from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Trilogy. The exterior features a satin black colour with alchemy gold accents on the suspension and brake callipers. It sits on R20 alloy wheels.

External features include:

• Badging: BE 6 × The Dark Knight rear badging and signature stickers on door cladding.
• Emblems: The Bat emblem is placed on hub caps, quarter panels, bumpers, and windows.
• Lighting: Carpet lamps projecting the Bat emblem.
• Roof: An Infinity Roof featuring trilogy-inspired graphics.

On the inside, it gets a brushed alchemy gold Batman Edition plaque and pinstripe graphics on the dashboard. Suede and leather seating with gold sepia stitching and embossed emblems upholstery. Emblems on the ‘Boost’ button and custom detailing on the steering wheel and key fob. A digital themed welcome animation on the infotainment system and custom exterior engine sounds.

For customers interested in purchasing the limited-edition model, Mahindra has outlined the specific schedule for the procurement process:

• 6 March 2026: "Add Your Preference" window opens on the official website.
• 10 March 2026: Bookings commence at 11:00 AM for a 24-hour period.
• 10 April 2026: Commencement of vehicle deliveries.

Mahindra stated that the reopening of bookings is a response to demand across social media platforms. The technical architecture remains identical to the high-performance BE 6 electric platform, utilising the 79 kWh battery system for range and power delivery.

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced the commencement of Phase II of its ‘Buckle Up’ road safety initiative. The project is conducted in partnership with The Social Lab Foundation (TSL) and is supported by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The second phase was inaugurated by Ajay Tamta, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, at Transport Bhawan. As part of the launch, Kia India and TSL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand the programme’s geographic reach into Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand over the next two years.

Phase I, which ran from February 2024 to February 2026, focused on Gurugram in collaboration with local traffic police. Key outcomes included the installation of 750 crash barriers at high-risk locations and road safety education for 32,000 students across 100 schools.

Phase II (April 2026 – March 2028) shifts focus toward older students and expanded infrastructure. The programme aims to engage 20,000 students across 100 colleges using driving simulators and experiential modules to demonstrate real-world risks.

The initiative combines physical safety installations with behavioural training. Future infrastructure work includes placing additional crash barriers along the Delhi-Uttarakhand highway and in Gurgaon.

Key programme components for Phase II include:

• Simulated Training: Use of advanced driving simulators to teach safer driving behaviours to college students.
• Infrastructure Upgrades: Continued installation of safety barriers in high-risk zones.
• Awareness Campaigns: Integrated on-ground and digital engagement programmes.
• Geographic Expansion: Operations extending across Delhi-NCR and Uttarakhand.

Ajay Tamta, said, “Securing CMVR Type Approval for the Urbanova KE9 is a defining milestone for Keto Motors. This certification reinforces our commitment to delivering dependable, high-performance electric mobility solutions designed specifically for Indian roads and fleet operators. With approvals in place, we are now focused on accelerating customer deployments and supporting India’s transition toward clean, zero-emission public transport.”

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, “At Kia India, safety is a fundamental pillar of our mobility vision, extending beyond our vehicles to the communities we serve. ‘Buckle Up’ reflects our long-term commitment to creating safer mobility ecosystems through infrastructure enhancement and sustained behavioural change initiatives. With Phase II, we are scaling our efforts to reach young and first-time drivers while strengthening on-ground safety interventions. Through this initiative, we are proud to support the Government of India’s vision of safer roads and contribute meaningfully towards building a stronger culture of road safety across communities.”

Apoorva Sharma, Executive Director, TSL Foundation, added, “Our collaboration with Kia India in Phase I laid a strong operational foundation through targeted infrastructure and school-level engagement. With Phase II, we are building on these learnings to scale the programme across new geographies and age groups, further strengthening its impact through structured, experiential road safety interventions.”

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Zenvo Automotive, a manufacturer of limited-edition hypercars based in Præstø, Denmark, has appointed Mark Harrison as its new Chief Commercial Officer, bringing in a seasoned expert from the premium and performance car sector. His arrival marks a significant step in the company’s ambitious growth strategy as it prepares for the final development phase of its highly anticipated V12 Aurora hypercar. Harrison will oversee all commercial operations, including sales, marketing, public relations, global events and the expansion of the dealer network, working closely with the established leadership team comprising Chairman Jens Sverdrup, Chief Technical Officer Jon Gunner and Design Director Christian Brandt.

With three decades of industry experience, Harrison joins Zenvo from Praga Cars, having previously held influential management roles at McLaren Automotive and BMW Group, including its MINI division. His comprehensive understanding of the luxury automotive landscape is expected to be instrumental as the company moves towards the Aurora’s launch. Harrison’s appointment reinforces the management structure during this critical period, ensuring the commercial strategy aligns with the final engineering and design efforts to bring the new hypercar to market.

Jens Sverdrup, Chairman, Zenvo Automotive, said, “It is great to welcome Mark to the team, and to benefit from his experience and insight of the industry. We have known each other for many years, and our professional paths have crossed on several occasions, so I know first-hand what an impact he will be able to make. We are at an exciting part of the programme, and this appointment also highlights, once again, the talent that this project is attracting as we gear up for the launch of Aurora.”

Harrison said, “It’s really exciting to join Zenvo’s team and help bring to market a truly exceptional car in both its design and technical specification. I have admired the brand since the Aurora was announced and especially how the programme is pushing the boundaries in such a competitive sector. I have shared offices, showrooms, show stands and factories with great teams wherever I have worked, but this will be my first V12. I feel privileged to now have an opportunity to work together with this strong and passionate team helping bring this stunning car to market later this year.”

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Renault has unveiled the name of its latest show-car, the Bridger Concept, as part of its continued international expansion. This model serves as a precursor to a forthcoming production vehicle, specifically an urban SUV designed with new dimensions to accommodate the evolving needs of city-dwelling families.

The Bridger Concept stands out with its bold and robust design, featuring surprisingly compact proportions. Measuring under four metres in length, it maximises interior space, demonstrating that a smaller footprint does not necessitate a compromise on roominess. The name itself, derived from the English word ‘bridge’, was chosen for its connotations of strength, connection and linkage. This choice highlights the vehicle's assertive styling and reinforces the brand's commitment to fostering human connections within the cabin, a core aspect of its ‘voitures à vivre’ philosophy.

A comprehensive reveal of the Bridger Concept is scheduled for 10 March 2026. This unveiling will occur during the presentation of Renault Group's futuREady strategic plan, with the entire event being streamed live from the company's official events platform.

Explaining the thinking behind the name of the new show-car, Sylvia dos Santos, Head of Naming Strategy with Renault's Global Marketing Division, said, “With Renault Bridger, we are adding to our family of names based on English words.  This one comes from the word 'bridge', with the letters 'ER' added for identification. The name Renault Bridger is part of the same approach as the name of Renault Duster. It’s a powerful, robust and versatile name, ideal to identify our new urban SUV show-car and open a new page in our international offensive!”

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