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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Nissan Motor India (NMIPL), a leading manufacturer of passenger vehicles in the country, is observing World Quality Month across its network of 315 sales and service touchpoints during November 2026.

The campaign operates under the theme 'Unmistakable Quality. Every Customer. Every Vehicle. Every Time.' and centres on the operational principle of 'Fix It Right the First Time' to standardise repair processes and aftersales support across dealerships.

The programme is structured around four weekly pillars covering environment, personnel, customer experience and repair quality.

Activities throughout the month include workshop standard audits, technical training programmes for service personnel, customer education workshops, vehicle health check-up camps and feedback collection mechanisms aimed at verifying service quality across the network.

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Cars24 has published its festive performance report covering the period from Navratri through Diwali, reporting 19,039 pre-owned vehicle sales, a 44 percent increase compared to the previous festive period.

The company disbursed over INR 3 billion in vehicle loans during the period, with financing penetration reaching 55 percent of total sales. First-time buyers represented 72 percent of customers, while rural buyers accounted for 40 percent of sales and women buyers formed 36 per cent of the customer base. Maruti Suzuki India, Hyundai Motor India and Tata Motors were the top-selling manufacturers on the platform, with Tata vehicle sales growing 85 percent YoY.

Hatchbacks accounted for over 50 percent of total sales, while SUVs recorded the highest category growth rate. Demand for petrol vehicles reached 65 percent against 58 percent of supply listings, while CNG and electric vehicles combined represented over 15 percent of bookings against 10 percent of supply listings.

The platform recorded 52 million unique users and processed over 700,000 ownership-related transactions, with peak volume reaching one transaction per second. Inspection and verification services saw 40,000 vehicle health report bookings, 660,000 pre-delivery inspection searches, 10,000 completed vehicle inspections and 30,000 vehicle history checks for external purchases.

Vikram Chopra, Founder, Cars24, said, "Festivals have always been a special time for families to bring home a car. But what we are seeing is that the relationship with a vehicle begins well before the purchase and continues long after it. People are researching more, checking vehicle histories, arranging inspections, taking finance and using digital services to manage everyday ownership. Buying and selling are important moments, but ownership is a much longer journey. Our focus at Cars24 is to make that entire experience simpler, more transparent and more convenient, like a trusted family member you can always turn to for guidance on every vehicle-related decision."

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Dubai-based M Monogram Atelier has completed the first G 3.0 Iconic, a bespoke project based on the Mercedes-Benz G-Class that combines redesigned bodywork with an extensively customised interior. The vehicle is the first example of a planned worldwide series of 50 units and is currently available for sale.

The project focuses on reworking the G-Class's exterior proportions and bringing together individual design elements across the bodywork and cabin. The exterior features widened and lengthened bodywork, pronounced wheel-arch extensions, sculpted side steps and enlarged door hinges. A fine contrasting line runs along the body, visually connecting the front and rear sections.

The design draws inspiration from the expressive character of 1930s motoring, while the oversized front grille takes separate cues from automotive styling of the 1960s. M Monogram Atelier has used contrasting gloss-black upper surfaces and satin-black lower panels to emphasise the revised body contours. The side steps also feature a contrasting edge running between the wheel arches, while decorative side gills carry the atelier's emblem.

The front bumper incorporates three-pointed light modules that also house the turn indicators. The front splitter, rear diffuser and roof spoiler follow a consistent design approach, while two strobe-light sections are positioned at the outer edges of the front roofline. Completing the exterior are six-spoke sculpted wheels featuring M Monogram centre caps.

Inside, the G 3.0 Iconic adopts a Cognac Heritage colour scheme, combining warm cognac-coloured Nappa leather with black accents. The treatment extends across the seating, interior trim and luggage compartment creating a consistent finish throughout the cabin.

The rear seating features sculpted surfaces, vertical contours and detailed stitching. Individual tray tables with integrated cup holders have been incorporated for rear passengers, while an analogue clock with a circular dial adds a traditional design element to the dashboard.

Further detailing includes a combination of perforated leather and weave-textured inserts along with leather door pulls. The leather headliner features a pattern of stylised stars, accompanied by the Iconic inscription.

The same cognac finish continues into the luggage compartment through matching side panels and a luggage cover. On the rear door, a weave-textured insert surrounds a central panel bearing the M Monogram emblem. The project name and individual vehicle number are also incorporated into the interior.

M Monogram Atelier is offering three decorative treatments for the project: Black, Silver and Gold. These provide different combinations of finishes for elements such as the grille, wheels and exterior accents. Customers can also select individual colours, finishes and decorative details with the final specification agreed for each vehicle.

With the first example completed, the G 3.0 Iconic marks the beginning of the atelier's proposed 50-vehicle series. Its approach centres on combining exterior modifications with coordinated interior craftsmanship rather than limiting the customisation to individual cosmetic additions.

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French auto major Renault Group has secured a 4-star rating for adult occupant protection and a 3-star rating for child occupant protection in the latest Global NCAP Safer Cars for Africa crash tests for its popular Kiger SUV.

The results for the Indian-manufactured Renault Kiger are based on the updated rating following a voluntary submission by Renault after the SUV was initially selected for testing in its previous standard specification.

Global NCAP initially selected the Kiger when the model featured two airbags without ISOFIX anchorages or electronic stability control, resulting in a 2-star rating for adult occupant protection and a 1-star rating for child occupant protection.

Renault subsequently updated the vehicle specification to include six airbags, electronic stability control, ISOFIX anchorages, and pedestrian protection as standard equipment. In the re-assessment, the SUV demonstrated good protection for the head, abdomen, and pelvis in side impact testing, met UN127 pedestrian protection regulations, and complied with Global NCAP requirements for electronic stability control and seatbelt reminders.

Richard Woods, CEO, Global NCAP, said, “It’s satisfying to see the safety improvements Renault has introduced with the updated Kiger in South Africa. We welcome their positive engagement and hope that this approach now becomes a trend across the industry. It demonstrates what can be achieved when a manufacturer seeks to prioritise safety, and it shows why six airbags must become a standard requirement.”

Bobby Ramagwede, CEO – Automobile Association of South Africa, said, “The Automobile Association of South Africa welcomes this considerable improvement in the Global NCAP safety rating of the Renault Kiger, going from a concerning two-star rating to a commendable four-star result. This updated Indian-built Kiger proves that the #SaferCarsForAfrica program is indeed yielding real change and saving many lives on South African roads. It is also a reminder to both the manufacturer and the consumer that improving safety needn’t cost much nor affect the production of entry-level model ranges. The result, when manufacturers prioritise the safety of their customers, saves many lives and revives the image of the industry. We commend the French brand on voluntarily submitting the Kiger for testing and strongly encourage those local brands with recent poorer results to work with us on improving the safety of their affected entry-level models, ensuring that safety is prioritised over cost and proving that African lives indeed matter.”

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