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), in partnership with Vibrant Nissan, reached a significant sales milestone by delivering 100 units of the all-new Nissan Gravite in a single day in Hyderabad.

The mass delivery event, held at Le Palais Royal Crown Villa Garden on 22 April 2026, the company said, highlights the strong market reception for the Gravite following its recent entry into the mid-size SUV segment.

The Nissan Gravite is positioned as a versatile family vehicle, featuring a bold design language and a focus on cabin flexibility. The successful delivery of 100 units underscores rising customer confidence in Nissan's refreshed product portfolio, which is currently anchored by the long-standing success of the Nissan Magnite and now bolstered by the Gravite's premium features and safety package.

With an expanding dealer network and a renewed focus on the Indian market, Nissan is entering a new phase of growth. The Gravite's performance in high-potential markets like Hyderabad is seen as a key indicator of the brand's ability to compete in the highly contested SUV categories.

"The 100 Gravite delivery milestone reflects growing demand for Nissan Motor India and rising customer confidence in the all-new Nissan Gravite. Backed by the Gravite’s bold design, spacious and flexible cabin, strong safety package, Nissan’s expanding network and the continued strong run of the Nissan Magnite, the company is entering a new phase of growth in India," said the company in a statement.

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US-based electric vehicle maker Tesla India has launched the Model Y L, an all-new 6-seater SUV, at the Ballard Pier Downtown Experience Centre in Mumbai at prices starting INR 6.19 million.

Positioned as a versatile family vehicle, the Model Y L features an extended wheelbase and a three-row configuration. Online orders are open as of 22 April 2026, with the first deliveries scheduled to commence in June 2026.

The Model Y L is designed to maximise utility, offering a unique 2+2+2 seating layout.

• Second Row: Features individual captain seats with powered armrests, one-touch folding, ventilation and heating.
• Third Row: Equipped with power recline, one-touch folding and dedicated vented climate control.
• Cargo Space: Provides a massive storage capacity of up to 2,539 litres with seats folded.

The Model Y L is integrated into the broader Model Y lineup, offering a balance of range and acceleration. The Premium RWD (5-seater) with 500km range came at INR 5.98 million, L Premium AWD (6-seater) at INR 6.19 million and the Premium LR RWD (5-seater) at INR 6.78 million.

The EV features a refined chassis with adaptive suspension and electronic damping to filter road vibrations. For a premium cabin experience, it includes acoustic glass and an 18-speaker immersive Tesla Audio system.

Furthermore, as part of its focus on driving adoption of the green vehicles, Tesla continues to build its ecosystem in India to support new and existing owners:

At present, Tesla operates 5 Supercharger stations (20 Superchargers) and plans to add 7 more along major highways connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other key cities.

Existing service centres in Mumbai, Gurugram, Delhi and Pune are being augmented this quarter with new locations in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

The Model Y L will be available for public viewing from 23 April 2026 at Tesla locations in BKC (Mumbai), Aerocity (Delhi) and Orchid Business Park (Gurugram).

Monthly financing for the Model Y L starts at INR 49,000, and the EV supports the full suite of Tesla connected features, including live traffic visualisation and integrated streaming services like Spotify and Netflix.

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has marked Earth Day 2026 by providing an update on its progress toward the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050.

The company has reported significant milestones in manufacturing decarbonisation, water stewardship, and logistics efficiency, aiming to achieve carbon-neutral manufacturing operations by 2035.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has focused on eliminating its environmental footprint across its production and supply chain through several key initiatives:

Renewable Energy: For the 5th consecutive year, Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s manufacturing facilities have utilised 100 percent renewable grid electricity, effectively eliminating all Scope 2 emissions.

Logistics Decarbonisation: The company has shifted 24 percent of its vehicle logistics to rail transport, reducing emissions per vehicle from 185 kg to 175 kg. Additionally, the pilot of electric trucks for short-distance transport has resulted in an annual reduction of approximately 950 CO2 emission.

Water & Waste Management: Approximately 89 percent of water requirements are currently met through recycling and rainwater harvesting. The company also maintains a Zero Waste-to-Landfill status, with a recycling rate of over 96 percent.

Aligned with India’s energy landscape, Toyota Kirloskar Motor is pursuing a multi-pathway approach to clean mobility. This includes active pilot projects for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEV) and Electrified Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFV-SHEV) to reduce dependence on energy imports and leverage domestic resources.

On-site, TKM’s Green Wave Project has successfully sequestered 8,118 CO2-emission through afforestation, supporting over 650 plant species. The company's Ecozone, a 25-acre experiential learning centre, has trained over 62,000 students to date, fostering environmental awareness in the next generation.

B Padmanabha, Executive Vice-President of Manufacturing, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “On Earth Day 2026, Toyota Kirloskar Motor proudly reinforces its commitment to ‘Our Power, Our Planet,’ advancing a carbon‑neutral future by embedding sustainability into every aspect of our products, operations, and partnerships. Since 2021, our manufacturing facilities have been powered entirely by renewable grid electricity, eliminating Scope 2 emissions for five consecutive years and demonstrating that industrial growth and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”

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European automaker Renault India has announced that its all-new Renault Duster SUV has achieved a 5-star safety rating from the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP).

The results apply across the vehicle's entire range, including the 1.0-litre and 1.3-litre turbo-petrol variants. The SUV scored 30.49 out of 32 for Adult Occupant Protection (AOP) and 45 out of 49 for Child Occupant Protection (COP).

The rating is based on crash tests conducted on the Evolution, Techno and Iconic trims.

Built on the new RGMP platform, the Duster was engineered to meet structural integrity targets for various crash scenarios. Standard safety equipment across all variants includes six airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and ISOFIX child seat anchors. The vehicle also features Level 2 Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), providing 17 active safety functions such as autonomous emergency braking and lane keep assist.

The Duster, which launched in the Indian market last month with a starting price of INR 1.04 million (ex-showroom), is the first Renault model in India to offer this level of automated safety technology. The SUV is backed by a 7-year warranty, positioning it as a highly competitive entry in the mid-size segment against rivals like the Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.

Francisco Hidalgo-Marques, VP, Sales & Marketing, Renault Group India, said, “Since the moment of its reveal, the Duster has appealed to Indian customers with its strong SUV design, outstanding ride and handling, and confident performance. With this latest achievement, the Duster now also makes a compelling case for rational buyers combining one of the best fuel efficiency figures in the segment with a 5-star BNCAP safety rating for adult and child occupant protection, and the added reassurance of a best in-market 7-year warranty.”

Dr. V Vikraman, Chief of Renault Engineering, India, added, “This result is rooted in engineering execution on the ground. The Duster was subjected to extensive simulations, physical crash tests, and system-level validations, with a strong focus on real-world Indian driving conditions. From body structure performance to restraint calibration and electronic safety systems, every element was engineered, tested and refined to work together. The 5-star BNCAP rating reflects the rigour of that end-to-end engineering and validation process.”

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