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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German automotive luxury brand Audi has unveiled the A2 e-tron electric compact model, which marks its most compact green offering, with prices starting EUR 38,200 in Germany.

Developed in Germany and produced at the manufacturer’s Ingolstadt facility, the EV has an energy consumption rating of 12.8 kWh per 100 kilometres under the WLTP test cycle.

The company will open bookings on 10 September, with European deliveries scheduled to begin in December.

The A2 e-tron is offered in four power outputs ranging from 125 kW and 350 Nm of torque in the base specification to 240 kW and 545 Nm in the top variant, paired with rear-wheel drive and permanently excited synchronous motors. Depending on the output, battery capacities are available in 52 kWh, 61 kWh, or 84 kWh gross options, achieving a maximum driving range of up to 646 kilometres under WLTP conditions.

The chassis design incorporates a drag coefficient of 0.24, utilising active cooling air intakes, aero wheels and wheel-arch gap reducers. Bidirectional charging capabilities support Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) external device powering and Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) energy transfer via compatible wall boxes.

On the inside, it features a curved MMI panoramic display housing a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 12.8-inch infotainment touchscreen with artificial intelligence assistant integration. Storage incorporates the Fidlock magnetic attachment system as standard equipment, alongside an optional 1.6-square-metre panoramic glass roof.

Audi states that around 300 components across the vehicle are constructed using recycled materials, including post-consumer plastics, aluminium and steel.

The EV assembly utilises 250 existing industrial robots and 1,200 reallocated production components at the Ingolstadt plant, using fixed-sequence manufacturing methods. Standard driver assistance systems include adaptive cruise control, emergency brake assist, evasive assist, attention assist and parking sensors with a rear-view camera.

Gernot Dollner, Chief Executive Officer, Audi, said, “The A2 e-tron is more than a new model: It represents Audi’s renewal. It shows how we are rethinking premium for Europe: using resources more intelligently without compromising on quality, technology, or customer experience. Developed for the needs of our European customers and built in Ingolstadt, it demonstrates our ambition to shape the future of premium mobility.”

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Stellantis-owned Citroen India has introduced additions to its vehicle lineup in India, launching variants of the AircrossX and BasaltX alongside an extended-range version of the e-C3X electric vehicle.

The releases expand engine options to include naturally aspirated petrol, turbocharged petrol and compressed natural gas (CNG) options, available nationwide across the manufacturer's retail network.

The AircrossX and BasaltX line-ups now feature the YOU Turbo variant to provide turbocharged engine options at lower price points, as well as the MAX Naturally Aspirated (NA) variant for buyers seeking features paired with a standard powertrain.

The company has announced an introductory price of INR 999,000 for the BasaltX YOU Turbo, INR 1.06 million for the AircrossX YOU Turbo Comfort Edition, INR 1.13 million for the BasaltX MAX NA and INR 1.16 million for the AircrossX MAX NA.

The models also get financing options including a 7-year step-up scheme with initial monthly instalments starting from INR 9,999 for the BasaltX and INR 10,555 for the AircrossX.

On the other hand, the updated e-C3X EXTENDED comes with a MIDC-certified range of 330 kilometres through efficiency adjustments. The EV is offered under a Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) ownership structure, with entry prices starting from INR 699,000 plus a battery usage charge of INR 2.26 per kilometre.

Kumar Priyesh, Business Head & Director, Automotive Brands, Stellantis India, said, "At Citroen, we continuously listen to our customers and evolve our products to better match their lifestyles and mobility needs. With the introduction of the new AircrossX and BasaltX editions, along with e-C3X ENHANCED, we are expanding customer choice across performance, comfort, and electric mobility. As we enter the festive season, customers across India look forward to celebrating new beginnings with their families. Our expanded portfolio gives customers more choice than ever before, whether they are looking for a spacious family SUV, a premium comfort-oriented vehicle, engaging turbo performance, or greater confidence in an electric vehicle. These updates reinforce our commitment to delivering accessible, practical, and customer-centric mobility solutions for Indian consumers with retail financing schemes."

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest passenger vehicle manufacturer, has introduced the updated Baleno hatchback in India with pricing starting at INR 609,900 (ex-showroom). The company has opened bookings for an initial amount of INR 11,000.

The new Baleno features exterior design changes, including a revised front grille with horizontal chrome slats, modified lower bumper styling, chrome fender accents and a shark fin antenna. It is offered in seven paint options, including a new Enigmatic Teal shade.

The hatchback is powered by a 1,197cc Z12E 3-cylinder engine equipped with idle start-stop technology and dual variable valve timing. The engine produces 61 kW at 5,700 rpm and 112.4 Nm of torque at 4,500 rpm, paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or an Auto Gear Shift automatic transmission.

The Baleno comes with a claimed fuel efficiency of 23.80 kmpl for the manual variant and 24.77 kmpl for the automatic model. A CNG variant, the Baleno S-CNG, produces 51.3 kW of power in CNG mode and achieves a fuel efficiency rating of 33.61 km per kg with the five-speed manual gearbox.

In terms of safety, it features a Level 2 advanced driver assistance suite that utilises radar and camera sensors to operate functions such as emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, lane departure prevention, adaptive cruise control, high beam assist, vehicle sway warning and forward collision warning.

The Baleno gets six airbags, electronic stability program, anti-lock braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, hill hold control, reverse parking sensors, three-point seat belts, emergency stop signalling and a tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) as standard.

On the inside, it incorporates ventilated front seats, leatherette upholstery, dual-tone trim, a 22.86 cm infotainment system supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Clarion sound system, a wireless smartphone charger with active cooling, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system and Suzuki Connect telematics. The vehicle measures 3,990 mm in length, 1,745 mm in width and 1,530 mm in height, with a 2,520 mm wheelbase.

Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer of Marketing and Sales, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The Baleno has been a definitive pillar for NEXA and the premium hatchback segment over the course of a decade. The Stunning new Baleno is now here to redefine customer expectations with the introduction of segment-first features including Level 2 ADAS, and an unmistakable new identity established with a modern rendition of the signature NEXWave grille. The stunning new Baleno’s ‘Dare to go Glam’ philosophy is formed around the ambitious, young customers of today who dare to challenge the norm and express their individuality in an unapologetically original manner.”

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Kia India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has entered the three-row sports utility vehicle (SUV) segment in India with the launch of the Kia Sorento, priced from INR 2.79 million rupees for the diesel variant and INR 2.94 million for the hybrid model.

The Sorento SUV is manufactured at the company’s Anantapur facility in Andhra Pradesh, and marks the introduction of Kia's initial hybrid powertrain in the Indian market alongside the global deployment of its voice-controlled generative artificial intelligence assistant.

The SUV is built on Kia’s global N3 platform and measures 4,815 mm in length, 1,900 mm in width and 1,785 mm in height, with a 2,815 mm wheelbase.

It can be had in two powertrain options – a 1.6-litre turbo petrol hybrid delivering 180 PS from the engine and 65 PS from an electric motor paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, or a 2.2-litre diesel producing 193 PS and 442 Nm of torque mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Both come with all-wheel-drive capability.

On the inside, it gets a curved panel combining two 12.3-inch displays for infotainment and instrumentation, integrated with NVIDIA computing hardware. Available in six-seat and seven-seat configurations, the cabin includes ventilated seats in the first and second rows, a windshield head-up display, digital rearview mirror and level-two driver-assistance systems comprising 30 features. The SUV is fitted with up to 10 airbags and provides wireless software update capability across 30 onboard control units.

Gwanggu Lee, MD and CEO, Kia India, said, “The arrival of the Kia Sorento represents a defining milestone in Kia India’s journey as we enter the premium three-row SUV for the first time. We are doing so with one of Kia’s most successful global nameplates, bringing Indian customers the most advanced Sorento yet. Built in India, for India, its arrival offers customers a compelling new choice in the segment, while also bringing two important firsts for Kia India — our first Hybrid offering and the global debut of Kia AI Assistant with Real-Time Generative AI capabilities with the India-spec Sorento. More than expanding our portfolio, Sorento reflects our commitment to bringing globally proven products and future-ready technologies to meet the evolving aspirations of Indian customers. We are confident that it will set a new benchmark for the segment and further strengthen Kia’s premium journey in India.”

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