Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has announced that building on the success of its A Behavioural Change Demonstration (ABCD) initiative, it is now expanding the program to an additional 400 government schools in Raichur district for FY2024-25 and FY2025-26.

This program has already been successfully implemented in 100 schools over the past two years, positively impacting more than 26,000 students. The initiative will now benefit over 68,000 students in this next phase.

The program’s expansion officially commenced today with a one-day orientation session for the headmasters of the participating schools, held at the Krishi Vigyana Kendra (KVK) in Raichur. The orientation was inaugurated by Nitish K, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Raichur, who was the Chief Guest at the occasion. This session was aimed at equipping the headmasters with tools and strategies to effectively deliver the program’s hygiene and sanitation curriculum.

As part of the program, TKM will actively promote essential hygiene practices among students through a series of training sessions that focus on handwashing, sanitation practices, water conservation, waste management, and personal hygiene.

Additionally, the program will provide sanitary pads to 24,000 adolescent girls till March 2026. This initiative aims to ensure effective menstrual hygiene management and support young women in their health and well-being, empowering them to take charge of their menstrual health and advocate for their needs. Through this project, essential sanitation supplies, including buckets, mugs, cleaning agents, handwashing soap, and mopping items will be provided to support hygiene maintenance.

Beyond hygiene education, the program aims to strengthen school cabinets and School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMCs), empower students to advocate for better sanitation, and encourage families to build household toilets where needed. Community engagement will also play a pivotal role, with awareness campaigns, video demonstrations, and annual quiz and drawing competitions to reinforce the lessons learned in schools.

Nitish K said, “Education today is not just about academic excellence but about nurturing responsible, aware citizens who understand the importance of health and hygiene. The ABCD program by Toyota Kirloskar Motor is a shining example of how private enterprises can meaningfully contribute to community well-being. By teaching essential sanitation and hygiene practices to young minds, the program creates a foundation for healthier, more resilient communities. It’s heartening to see Toyota's commitment to expanding this initiative further into Raichur, reaching thousands of students and families. We look forward to the transformative outcomes this program will bring.”

Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs & Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we believe that true progress is driven by collective responsibility, and our ABCD program stands as a testament to this. The success of our first phase has encouraged us to scale up our efforts and reach an additional 400 schools in Raichur. We remain deeply committed to supporting the Swachh Bharat mission by promoting hygiene education and sustainable practices. Through this expanded initiative, we aim to not only improve sanitation in schools but also foster a culture of awareness and positive change across the community.”

Launched in 2015, the ABCD program begin its focus in Karnataka, especially in the Ramanagara district. By 2019, the initiative had reached 1,004 schools, benefiting 58,000 students and positively impacting 430,000 community members. Following its revitalisation in August 2023, the program continues to align with the national ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ mission, contributing to India’s ongoing efforts to improve sanitation and hygiene.

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Japanese auto major Nissan Motor Corporation has announced a major leadership change for the AMIEO (Africa, Middle East, India, Europe, & Oceania) region as part of its Re:Nissan recovery plan.

Effective 1^st October, Massimiliano (Max) Messina will take over as Chairperson of the region. He currently holds the position of Vice Chairperson and Senior Vice-President of Finance, Administration, and Strategy for the same region. His predecessor, Guillaume Cartier, will now concentrate on his global duties as Nissan's Chief Performance Officer.

His appointment is expected to provide continuity and align the region's operations with Nissan's global objectives. With over two decades of experience in the automotive industry, Messina will now oversee operations in 140 countries, 5 plants and a workforce of 13,000 employees.

"I'm honoured to take on this responsibility at such a critical moment for Nissan," said Messina.

The leadership change comes as Nissan prepares to launch four new electric vehicles in Europe and follows successful recent launches of models like the Patrol and Magnite in other markets. Victorino (Vito) Esnaola, will succeed Messina as Senior Vice President of Finance and IT for the AMIEO region. Esnaola joined Nissan in 2015 and has held several key financial roles within the company.

The Re:Nissan plan aims to return the company to profitability and achieve positive free cash flow by fiscal year 2026. Cartier stated that Messina's leadership will be crucial in ‘accelerating transformation’ and ensuring the region's performance contributes to this ambitious goal.

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Stellantis-owned Citroen India has inked a strategic partnership with Oriental Insurance Company, one of India’s leading public sector insurers, to further expand insurance options for its customers.

The automaker stated that with Oriental Insurance on board, Citroen customers will now get access to a wider bouquet of tailored motor insurance solutions, including easy policy issuance, best-in-class coverage and faster, hassle-free claim processing.

Established in 1947, Oriental Insurance has an extensive branch network, including a strong presence in Tier 3 and Tier 4 towns.

Shishir Mishra, Business Head & Director – Strategic Partnerships and Institutional Business, Stellantis India, said “At Citroen India, our focus has always been on offering hassle-free mobility and a seamless ownership journey to our customers. Partnering with Oriental Insurance not only expands our insurance choices but also leverages Oriental’s vast reach and strong reputation. Their presence & reach in upcountry locations perfectly complements with growth plans of Citroën 2.0 – Shift into the New.”

Sanjay Joshi, Chairman and Managing Director, Oriental Insurance, said “We are delighted to be first PSU partnering with Citroen India, a trusted name in the automobile industry. This OEM tie-up highlights our focus on comprehensive coverage and service excellence-providing Citroen India customers with end-to-end protection, backed by Oriental's reliability and nationwide reach.”

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Tata Motors, one of India’s leading automobile manufacturers, has announced that its all-new Altroz hatchback has recently bagged 5-star safety rating in Bharat NCAP (B–NCAP) crash tests.

The hatchback scored 29.65/32 in adult occupant protection and 44.9/49 in child occupant protection, which makes the Altroz, India’s safest hatchback.

Furthermore, the Altroz is also the first car in its segment and body style to attain 5-star safety rating in Bharat NCAP across all powertrains, including CNG.

The new Altroz was launched in May 2025 and can be had in three powertrain options – 1.2L Revotron Petrol (Manual, DCA & new AMT), 1.2L iCNG with Twin-Cylinder Tech and 1.5L Revotorq Diesel engine.

Interestingly, the Altroz continues to be the only premium hatchback in its segment to be offered with a diesel engine.

Mohan Savarkar, Vice-President & Chief Product Officer, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, said, “The Altroz has always been a pioneer in the premium hatchback segment. With its combination of contemporary design, advanced technology, and a multi-powertrain led approach, it truly makes the customer ‘Feel Special’. A trendsetter for the industry, the Altroz has once again redefined benchmarks by being the only car in its segment to achieve the coveted 5-star rating by Bharat-NCAP across petrol, diesel, and CNG powertrains, making it the safest CNG-powered car in India. This achievement reaffirms our commitment to deliver cars that our customers can depend on with confidence.”

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Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) has reached a significant wage settlement agreement with the United Union of Hyundai Employees (UUHE) for 2024–2027. The deal, the company said, sets a new industry standard and was finalised and signed today after what both parties described as a period of constructive dialogue.

Effective from 1 April 2024, through 31 March 2027, the three-year agreement includes a substantial all-inclusive compensation increase of INR 31,000 per month. This raise will be implemented in three phases, with a 55 percent increase in the first year, 25 percent in the second and the remaining 20 percent in the final year.

Youngmyung Park, Function Head - People Strategy at HMIL, the agreement is a testament to “At Hyundai, our people are the cornerstone of our success. This agreement, built on mutual trust, respect and constructive dialogue, reflects our shared commitment to fostering a progressive workplace culture that prioritises employee welfare and supports long-term organisational growth.”

In addition to the pay raise, HMIL confirmed that it will continue to provide top-tier employee benefits, including best-in-class health coverage and advanced wellness programs.

The United Union of Hyundai Employees, which was registered in 2011, represents 1,981 employees – 90 percent of the company's technician and workmen cadre. The union is said to have played a crucial role in negotiating the new compensation package on behalf of its members.

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