Returning for the 2025 season and 75th anniversary year this weekend, the Formula 1 sport has released a round-up on the progress made towards its sustainability and social commitments last year. In the form of 2024 Impact Report, which will be released later this year, the progress made towards its sustainability and social commitments with Net Zero as the goal for 2030, the Formula 1 sport has – on the environmental front – made significant investments in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as part of its ultra-efficient logistics strategy. 
It has invested significantly in SAF as it delivers an estimated 80 percent reduction in associated carbon emissions per flight compared to the use of conventional aviation fuel. The combined investment in SAF with Global Partners DHL and Qatar Airways reduced total related emissions by more than 8,000 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), an approximate 19 percent reduction in related emissions– compared to traditional aviation fuel – for the air freight charter programme operated by Formula 1 across the flyaway events of the 2024 season.
The delivery of innovative low-carbon energy generation systems using renewable sources such as hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biofuel, solar panels, and battery began testing in 2023. Last year, they were used at the Red Bull Ring, the Hungarian Grand Prix and the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. For the 2025 season, a programme will be rolled out to reduce more than 90 percent of carbon emissions at all European Grands Prix in key areas such as the Paddock, Pit Lane, and Event Technical Centre. 
As part of the sport’s ongoing efforts to reduce carbon emissions associated with travel and logistics, improvements were made to the geographical flow of races around the world in 2024. This included agreement from the Promoter in Japan to move the Suzuka race back from September to April to fit with the Asia Pacific segment of the schedule, while Azerbaijan took its slot to align with Singapore. The organisers of the Qatar Grand Prix also approved a move to the penultimate spot in the schedule, back-to-back with Abu Dhabi. From 2026 the Canadian Grand Prix will be hosted earlier in the year and the Monaco Grand Prix will take place on the first full weekend in June, consolidating the European leg of the F1 season into one period, removing an additional transatlantic crossing and delivering significant associated carbon reductions. 
Last year, F2 and F3 cars ran on 55 percent Aramco advanced sustainable fuel and the FIA medical and safety cars operated on 40 percent of it. In 2025, the F2 and F3 cars will move to 100 percent use of it, ahead of the Formula 1 cars adopting the fuels in 2026 in the new hybrid engines that will take to the circuit next year. 
The technology has implications for the automotive industry and existing petrol cars, as the fuel developed by Formula 1 will be a ‘drop-in’ that can be used in road cars without modification and will serve as a sustainable alternative of global benefit. 
Throughout the 2024 season, the cars all operated with FSC approved Pirelli tyres, which means the natural rubber in the type complies with the FSC’s strict standards for sustainable forestry. Some 80 percent of promoters powered aspects of their events using alternative energy sources such as solar panels, green tariffs, and biofuels. Over 90 precent of promoters began offering greener ways to travel to the race.
On the social commitments front, the Formula 1 sport – in 2024 season – marked the fourth year of its F1 Engineering Scholarships programme, which would support 50 underrepresented students by the end of 2025. The Scholarship covers the entire cost of the student’s tuition, together with living expenses for the full duration of their degree, enabling them to focus on their studies. It also offers them support to set them up for their careers, including work experience with one of the ten Formula 1 teams, as well as career workshops and mentoring. 
Formula 1 also launched the global education programme ‘Learning Sectors’ in collaboration with the British Council to inspire young learners in Brazil, India, South Africa, and the UK to pursue STEM subjects. The year long programme kicks off this year with 130,000 students in 700 schools. 
F1 Academy, the sport’s female-only series, competed alongside Formula 1 at seven events last year, completing 21 races. Through F1 Academy’s partnership with the international karting series, Champions of the Future, female participation in racing increased from five percent in 2023 to 25 percent in 2024. 
The sport also continued with hosting apprenticeships and workshops, such as The Next Grand Prix challenge in association with the Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP) charity, which challenges students aged between 16 and 18 from a breadth of backgrounds to assume a business leadership role and deliver a fictional bid for a new Formula One World Championship location. 
Ellen Jones, Head of ESG at Formula 1, said, “Innovation and community drove Formula 1's work in 2024. We are thrilled to outline our progress and continued work in this space. Formula 1 as a sport is uniquely positioned to take action through our global reach and technological leadership.”
 
 
 

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IndiGo Ventures has completed a INR 100 million strategic equity investment in Sarla Aviation, marking a formal entry into the Indian electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) sector.

The funding was part of a recent round led by Accel and Nikhil Kamath. The partnership is intended to establish an infrastructure for air taxi operations across India, specifically targeting transport corridors between zero and 300 kilometres.

Sarla Aviation is a startup focusing on the development of hybrid-electric aircraft platforms. The firm operates a private eVTOL demonstrator and employs an engineering team with previous experience at international firms including Lilium, Joby and Volocopter.

By utilising electric flight technology, the company aims to provide transport services for airport transfers, inter-city commutes and emergency medical runs at lower costs than traditional helicopter services.

The collaboration pairs Sarla's hardware development with the operational infrastructure of IndiGo, India's largest airline. At present, IndiGo operates over 2,000 daily flights across 85 airports and maintains a national network of maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities. This investment aligns with global trends where major carriers, such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, have backed eVTOL manufacturers to secure future urban air mobility solutions.

Beyond passenger transport, the investment is expected to influence the domestic aerospace supply chain, including the production of composites, avionics and battery systems. Potential routes identified for future operations include Bengaluru Airport to Electronic City and Gurugram to Noida, which could see transit times reduced from over 90 minutes to approximately 15 minutes.

Adrian Schmidt, Co-Founder & CEO, Sarla Aviation, said, “IndiGo’s investment marks a turning point — not just for Sarla, but for the future of how India moves. For decades, Indians have accepted that distance means delay, that geography is a constraint you live with. We believe that era is ending. Having IndiGo — the airline that made flying accessible to hundreds of millions of Indians — stand behind this vision gives it a weight and credibility that we could not have built alone. India has always dreamed big. Now we have the partners to match the dream.”

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German technology company Robert Bosch has announced its 2030 strategy, prioritising technological leadership in automation, electrification and artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate a challenging global economic environment.

Despite geopolitical tensions, the group reported 2025 sales revenue of EUR 91 billion, a slight increase from the previous year. For 2026, the company expects sales growth of 2–5 percent and an improved EBIT margin from operations between 4–6 percent.

The 2025 financial results were impacted by structural and personnel adjustments, resulting in provisions of EUR 2.7 billion. These measures reduced the EBIT margin from operations to 2 percent, down from 3.5 percent in 2024. However, the group maintained a high level of investment, dedicating EUR 12 billion to research, development and capital expenditure. Bosch remains a prolific patent applicant, registering approximately 6,300 patents in 2025.

A primary focus for the company is the advancement of sensor technology and automotive software. The global market for sensors is projected to exceed USD 440 billion by 2031, and Bosch is positioning its BMI5 sensor platform for applications in robotics and automated driving.

In the mobility sector, the firm secured orders worth EUR 10 billion in 2025 for driver assistance solutions and central vehicle computers. The group also expects to deliver more than 7 million components for electric vehicles this year.

The company is diversifying its reach through regional partnerships, including a joint venture with Tata AutoComp Systems in India to manufacture electric motors and axles. In the consumer goods sector, artificial intelligence is being integrated into products such as home appliances and professional power tools to drive sales.

To support future investments and improve capital market access, Bosch will begin publishing interim consolidated financial statements. The group's equity ratio remains high at 41.6 percent, with a positive free cash flow of EUR 300 million recorded in 2025. Total headcount saw a slight reduction of 1 percent during the year, ending with 412,774 associates worldwide.

Stefan Hartung, Chairman of the Board of Management of Robert Bosch, said, “Bosch can deliver the future – even under unfavourable conditions. 2026 will be a year of progress. As a global technology leader, we are committed to shaping the trends of automation, digitalization, electrification, and artificial intelligence, as this also paves the way for profitable growth in our business. An important prerequisite for this are the cost-cutting effects of the structural measures we have already initiated and innovations in all business areas.”

Markus Forschner, Member of the Board of Management and Chief Financial Officer, Robert Bosch, said, “Competitiveness is the foundation for profitable growth – it secures our investments for the future. This strengthens our resilience in the face of upcoming challenges and at the same time boosts our investment capacity for the future.”

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Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. recently received independent verification from third-party certification body SGS Japan Inc. confirming that it has reached capability Level 2 under the Automotive SPICE international standards, which evaluate the quality of automotive software development. This achievement reflects a major step forward in the company’s software engineering practices.

As next-generation software-defined vehicles become more common, where performance increasingly depends on digital systems, developing software that enhances product value has grown essential. Toyoda Gosei has responded by integrating electronic components with its traditional rubber and plastic products. The company has therefore established structured processes and strengthened its software development systems, which serve as the foundation for creating advanced products.

Specifically, within an interior lighting project, the company has achieved capability Level 2 in Automotive SPICE international assessment standards, confirmed by a third-party organisation that the company’s software development processes demonstrate systematic execution and proper management, achieving a uniform level of maturity. Moving forward, Toyoda Gosei aims to continue producing higher value products that contribute to more comfortable mobility spaces.

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Chinese automotive major Geely Auto has officially launched its i-HEV Intelligent Hybrid technology, which enters mass production immediately with the system slated for deployment across several models this year, including the Preface, Monjaro, Starray, and the fifth-generation Emgrand.

The technology utilises an artificial intelligence system and a dedicated hybrid powertrain to address historical gaps in fuel efficiency and smart feature integration.

The i-HEV system is built upon the i-CMA architecture, a hybrid-optimised version of the CMA platform that centralises the control of driving, cockpit and chassis functions.

A primary feature is the AI Cloud Power management system, which monitors exterior data such as temperature, humidity and altitude to optimise petrol-electric energy distribution. The company reports that this self-optimising strategy improves energy efficiency by more than 10 percent, while the engine achieves a thermal efficiency of 48.41 percent.

By decoupling the internal combustion engine (ICE) from the electric motor, the i-HEV adopts a motor-led layout designed to provide an electric-drive experience without external charging. The electric motor delivers up to 230kW, allowing the vehicle to operate on electricity for approximately 80 percent of the time. Performance data indicates a claimed zero to 30 kmph acceleration time of 1.84 seconds and a top speed of 66 kmph in electric mode.

The i-CMA architecture incorporates physical separation between oil and electric systems to enhance safety. Battery protection is managed through the Geely Battery Safety System, which includes a liquid-cooled battery with an IP68 resistance rating. The system is capable of real-time prediction for over 50 fault types.

Jerry Gan, CEO, Geely Auto Group, said, “Energy diversification is a strategic foresight for Geely Auto. A company’s true strategic focus is ensuring every path leads to the future, which tests the technological depth and powerful energy resilience of our entire system. The new i-HEV perfectly embodies this resilience, serving as a powerful testament to how artificial intelligence can elevate hybrid efficiency and performance to new industry standards.”

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