Toyota has accelerated its ‘Green Wave Project’ commemorating this year’s environment month. It is aimed at enhancing its nature conservation activity in the community with the company distributing saplings to its employees, under its sixth challenge that is termed as ‘Establishing a Future Society in Harmony with Nature’ and looks to contribute to the Toyota Environmental Challenge 2050. 

While the eco campaign continues to drive active community involvement to promote greenery, through employee engagement, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has successfully distributed over 7000 saplings to its employees, marking significant progress towards its 8,000-sapling target set under its plantation activity. 

With TKM employees encouraged to plant and nurture the distributed saplings within their neighbourhoods and submit periodic reports on plant growth, the it is noteworthy to mention about Toyota’s tree plantation activities that are strongly driven by adopting a unique concept namely the ‘Miyawaki Method of Afforestation’ since 2009, and TKM was the first corporate in India to implement such plantation methodology. TKM’s steadfast commitment to sustainability and ecological restoration is yielding remarkable results, as evidenced by the numerous advantages of the Miyawaki approach. A comprehensive study conducted in collaboration with experts from Bangalore University revealed that the Miyawaki method excels in carbon sequestration, capturing an impressive 30.86 tonnes of carbon per acre.

By doing so, TKM not only restored native habitats but also created self-sustaining ecosystem that contribute to a healthier planet. Under the guidance of Late Dr Akira Miyawaki himself, TKM initiated its maiden Miyawaki plantation drive, way back in 2009, marking a significant milestone in its journey towards conservation of greenery and eco-consciousness. Since that momentous day, TKM's plantation drives have continued to evolve and expanded to 112 acres of green cover within the factory premises, out of which 32 acres of afforestation has been developed using Miyawaki method. Today, Toyota’s manufacturing facility, located in Bidadi (on the outskirts of Bengaluru) proudly boasts more than 328,000 trees of over 790 native species planted within its premises. The results have been truly awe-inspiring with a remarkable increase in biodiversity observed over the years. 

From a mere 181 plant species, the count has surged to an impressive 790, while the number of faunal species has risen from 76 to 284. The vibrant ecosystem now encompasses 88 bird varieties, 38 butterfly species, 107 insects, 17 reptiles, 8 mammals, and 6 amphibians, reflecting the successful development of a thriving native forest ecosystem.

In addition, TKM has created an experiential environmental learning centre ‘Ecozone’ (spread across 25 acres with 17 theme parks and home to 65,000 trees with 650 native species) for children, teachers, community members and other stakeholders, within its manufacturing facility aimed at creating the environment leaders and change champions for the future, to usher in desired behavioural change in the communities. This green zone depicts the creation of dense forest within the plant facility using the ‘Miyawaki Concept’ of plantation. The forests are dominantly planted with species of 4 major forest types such as Dry Deciduous, Moist Deciduous, Semi-evergreen and Evergreen Forest, covering 21 different sub-concepts such as Pollination meadows, herbal garden, plants for spices etc. So far, more than 42,000+ students & other stakeholders have been covered through ecozone initiative.

B Padmanabha, Executive Vice President and Director of Manufacturing - Toyota Kirloskar Motor, averred, “At Toyota Kirloskar Motor, we recognise that environmental and social sustainability are just as crucial as economic progression. Guided by Toyota’s Global Environmental Challenge 2050 (six challenges announced in 2015), our sustainability efforts are far reaching that go beyond product zero emissions. While the first three challenges seek to achieve zero carbon emissions covering the entire life cycle of our products, across manufacturing operations as well as our value chain, the last three challenges focus to achieve water conservation, establishing recycled based society and living in harmony with nature.”

“We believe that a sustainable future is built through collective action and community involvement, as exemplified by one of our eco initiatives - Green Wave Program that covers afforestation (plantation drives, distribution of saplings), sharing best practices (e.g. Miyawaki plantation methodology), creating awareness on nature conservation and imbibing good eco behaviour (Toyota Ecozone – Experiential Eco Learning). Together with our employees and other stakeholders, we aim to catalyse positive change in the community to safeguard the environment to the future,” he added. 

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Maruti Suzuki India has established an Advanced Manufacturing Lab (AML) at the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Hassangarh, Rohtak. The facility is designed to train approximately 200 students in its first year of operation under the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) skill development programme.

The laboratory replicates automotive manufacturing environments to provide technical instruction in vehicle assembly, welding, industrial painting, machining, mechatronics and workplace safety protocols.

The project is aligned with the central government's Skill India mission and aims to prepare students for technical positions within the domestic automotive manufacturing sector.

The facility was opened during an event attended by Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta and executives from Maruti Suzuki. During the ceremony, the company distributed formal apprenticeship offers to selected students who will join Maruti Suzuki's production facilities upon completing their coursework.

Maruti Suzuki currently provides infrastructure and training support to 31 ITIs across India. The Hassangarh facility marks the 18th Advanced Manufacturing Lab established by the vehicle manufacturer. The firm also operates four Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing (JIMs) located in Mehsana and Gandhinagar in Gujarat and Manesar and Sonipat in Haryana, which deliver technical education based on Japanese shop-floor management principles.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer of Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Through the Advanced Manufacturing Lab at Hassangarh, we are bringing real shop-floor learning and modern machinery into classrooms. This initiative, aligned with Skill India mission, equips students with confidence to handle industry-specific processes and nurtures talent for the evolving automotive ecosystem. It is part of our commitment to build a skilled, future-ready workforce for India’s manufacturing sector.”

Sachin Gupta, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Rohtak, said, “The establishment of the Advanced Manufacturing Lab at ITI Hassangarh marks a defining milestone in Rohtak’s journey towards becoming a centre of excellence in skill development and a significant contribution to the vision of Viksit Bharat. By introducing industry-grade infrastructure, advanced manufacturing technologies, and hands-on technical training, Maruti Suzuki has created an ecosystem that seamlessly aligns academic learning with the dynamic requirements of modern industry. This initiative will not only equip students and trainees with future-ready skills and enhance employability, but will also nurture a culture of innovation, productivity, and technical excellence. The lab will play a pivotal role in developing a highly skilled workforce capable of supporting India’s industrial transformation and strengthening the nation’s competitiveness in the global manufacturing landscape.”

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SheerDrive, an AI-led pre-owned vehicle technology platform, has been named First Runner-Up in the 10th Cohort of the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator Program. Following the selection, the startup has secured a paid Proof-of-Concept (PoC) engagement with Maruti Suzuki India.

The Maruti Suzuki Accelerator Cohort 10 evaluates and selects startups developing artificial intelligence (AI) and technology-driven solutions for application across manufacturing, mobility, customer experience and automotive operations.

SheerDrive’s digital pricing infrastructure is designed to streamline price discovery in the used-car sector. The system processes live market signals, historical transaction trends, vehicle condition data and machine learning analytics to establish a real-time pricing layer. The platform is used by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), dealerships, financial institutions and consumers to guide vehicle valuation and trade-in decisions.

The company has developed a portfolio of products aimed at digitising the pre-owned vehicle supply chain for automotive players, banks, non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and insurers.

Its products include VIAR, an AI-driven vehicle evaluation and pricing platform – Otobids Meta, a patented auction aggregation infrastructure that links multiple auction marketplaces through a single digital layer and SheerDrivePRO, a dedicated B2B auction marketplace for used vehicles.

Ravi Mehra, Founder, SheerDrive, said, “Price discovery remains one of the most critical unsolved problems in the used-car ecosystem. We’ve always believed that the future of vehicle upgrades in India will depend on transparent, data-backed pricing and scientific vehicle evaluation. Being recognised by Maruti Suzuki through this engagement is a meaningful validation of that vision, and we look forward to contributing to the next phase of innovation in India’s mobility ecosystem.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka to establish its global ‘TKM Bizintel Hub’ in KWIN City, Bengaluru.

The automaker will infuse INR 12 billion as initial capital over the next five years, marking the first anchor investment for the smart city development project.

The facility will be spread across 300 acres along the Doddaballapur–Dabaspet Highway. The hub will serve multiple corporate objectives, including the testing and evaluation of new mobility solutions, digital transformation across supply chain operations and the implementation of intelligent vehicle manufacturing systems. The initial phase of the project is expected to generate approximately 200 jobs.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Large and Medium Industries Minister Dr M.B. Patil. KWIN (Knowledge, Wellbeing, and Innovation) City and is being developed in phases across a total area of 5,800 acres, with a focus on integrating technology, healthcare and educational sectors.

Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, said, “Toyota Kirloskar Motor has been a trusted long-term partner in Karnataka’s growth journey. The MoU marks another important milestone as we work together to deepen technology-led investments, create quality employment and promote sustainable industrial development. This partnership further strengthens Karnataka’s leadership as a global investment destination and reinforces our commitment to innovation‑ driven growth.”

Masakazu Yoshimura, Chairman, MD & CEO, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, stated, “We are grateful to the Government of Karnataka for its continued support and collaboration over the years which has played a key role in our journey. India has always been a strategically important market for Toyota to drive innovation and sustainable mobility initiatives. The TKM Bizintel Hub will support testing and evaluation activities, advancements in digital transformation and intelligent manufacturing across the entire supply chain business, leveraging on India’s robust information technology ecosystem with skilled talent. Anchored in TKM’s focus on localization and responsible growth, this initiative aligns with the company’s multi pathway approach towards achieving carbon neutrality goals and meeting the national priorities such as Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.”

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The UK government has opened applications for operators to run self-driving cars, allowing citizens to book autonomous taxi and bus-style services across Great Britain later this year.

The pilot scheme will allow technology firms to deploy autonomous vehicles on public roads to gather real-world performance evidence. These services will be subject to safety assessments and rigorous regulatory approval checks by the government, including verification of protections against cyber and security threats. Local transport authorities, such as Transport for London, must also provide local consent to ensure operations align with regional infrastructure priorities.

Learnings collected from these commercial pilots will guide the development of permanent self-driving vehicle regulations. This regulatory framework follows a formal government call for evidence that concluded in March. Data shows that human error currently contributes to 88 percent of collisions on UK roads, and the implementation of automated systems aims to improve overall road safety. Industry projections estimate that the British automated passenger services market could be worth up to GBP 3.7 billion annually by 2040.

Simon Lightwood, Roads and Buses Minister, said, “Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, while driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK. This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.”

Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery, Uber, stated, “This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK. London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year.”

Ben Loewenstein, Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, Waymo, added, “The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services. We hope to soon become part of London’s transport network and demonstrate the safety, accessibility and sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles through the government’s pilot scheme. We are working closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to ensure our operations align with their goals.”

Sarah Gates, VP of Global Affairs and Assurance, Wayve, noted, “The UK has all the ingredients to become a global leader in the deployment of self-driving vehicles and today’s launch of the automated passenger services scheme marks an important milestone. Wayve has been developing its technology in the UK for nearly a decade and we’re excited to bring our supervised passenger service to market here this year.”

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive, SMMT, commented, “Today is a significant milestone in the safe and responsible rollout of automated vehicles on British roads. For the first time, legislation will allow operators to offer passenger-carrying commercial services – such as robotaxis – to the general public. Government’s decision to bring forward this legislation has positioned Britain as a leading European market for automated vehicles and a frontrunner in physical AI investment, development and deployment.”

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