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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Abu Dhabi has officially launched its first pilot program for autonomous delivery vehicles. The initiative is a collaboration between the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), the Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and private partners K2 and EMX, the logistics arm of 7X. This milestone also includes the issuance of the emirate's first official license plate for a self-driving delivery vehicle.

The pilot program will operate in Masdar City with vehicles developed by Autogo, a K2 subsidiary. These vehicles use advanced AI and smart mobility technologies to navigate urban streets and complete deliveries without human drivers. This trial is a crucial step toward a full-scale commercial rollout across Abu Dhabi in the coming months.

This initiative is a key part of Abu Dhabi's larger strategic vision for smart mobility, with the goal of having 25 percent of all trips made using smart transport solutions by 2040. The move builds on previous successes, such as the introduction of autonomous taxis in the city.

Dr. Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Acting Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre, said, “The pilot operation of autonomous delivery vehicles in Masdar City is a pivotal milestone in Abu Dhabi’s journey towards building a smart, sustainable transport system that supports our vision of a more innovative and efficient future. It also demonstrates Abu Dhabi’s readiness to adopt and implement the latest global solutions within a safe and reliable regulatory framework. This project is not just a technical trial but part of a comprehensive strategy to strengthen smart logistics, leverage advanced technologies to reduce emissions and congestion and improve quality of life in our cities. Through strong public-private partnerships, we are working to enable sustainable urban mobility and reinforce Abu Dhabi’s position as a global leader in smart transport and innovation.”

The launch of the pilot program also aligns with the vision of the Smart and Autonomous Vehicle Industries (SAVI) cluster, which aims to develop smart infrastructure and localize the production of autonomous systems in Abu Dhabi. After this regulatory achievement, Autogo plans to expand its operations beyond Masdar City and partner with more businesses for wider deployment.

Tariq Al Wahedi, Group CEO, 7X, said, “Integrating autonomous delivery vehicles into Abu Dhabi’s regulatory framework is a strategic milestone toward next-generation smart logistics. At 7X, and through our logistics arm EMX, we are pleased to play an active role in this transition via an integrated ecosystem that includes last-mile solutions. We remain committed to a logistics model that is faster, safer, more adaptable and more sustainable, aligned with the UAE’s ambitions and its agenda for digital transformation and the green economy.”

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Israel-headquartered UVeye, a global leader in AI-powered vehicle inspection, has announced a significant expansion of its automated inspection systems to include commercial fleets.

The company’s new heavy-duty platform is specifically engineered for Class 6–8 trucks and buses, addressing critical challenges faced by fleet operators in the US and UK.

The new system, which is compliant with CTP AT17 requirements, provides an automated 17-point inspection process. By utilising its proven AI-powered drive-through scanners – referred to as the ‘MRI for vehicles’ – the platform performs a complete 360-degree scan in seconds. This allows for the rapid detection of mechanical flaws, external damage and foreign objects.

Amir Hever, CEO and Co-Founder, UVeye, said, "Extending UVeye into the trucking and bus market is a pivotal milestone. We've already scanned millions of vehicles for OEMs and dealerships, and now we're bringing that same proven accuracy and transparency to fleets. It's all about helping operators maximise uptime, reduce costs and deliver a better customer experience."

Commercial fleets frequently struggle with low vehicle uptime and costly delivery delays. UVeye's new platform aims to tackle these issues head-on by providing a comprehensive, end-to-end solution that integrates seamlessly into existing workflows. The system generates a shareable digital report with annotated images, providing fleet managers, drivers and compliance officers with a new level of clarity.

The AI computer vision systems can detect a wide range of issues, including:

• Tyres: Worn treads, mismatched sets and compliance issues.
• Underbody: Leaks, cracks, rust and hidden structural damage.
• Exterior: Hard-to-spot flaws like scratches and dents.

At present, UVeye counts the likes of Amazon, Hertz and GM, among its customers. With this latest expansion, the same proven technology will now be available to commercial operators, enabling them to improve safety, streamline compliance and minimise costly downtime.

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Nawgati, an Indian fuel-tech platform, has partnered with Seed Group, a company from The Private Office of Sheikh Saeed bin Ahmed Al Maktoum, to modernise the fuel retail industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The collaboration aims to deploy advanced digital tools to improve efficiency at petrol stations across the country.

The partnership will give Nawgati access to Seed Group's extensive regional network and market expertise, accelerating its entry into the UAE. By combining Nawgati’s technology with Seed Group's local influence, the partners expect to reduce congestion at busy fuel outlets, enhance operational efficiency and improve compliance monitoring.

Vaibhav Kaushik, Co-founder and CEO, Nawgati, said, “This partnership with Seed Group marks a significant milestone in Nawgati’s journey as we step out of India and into global markets. Having proven our capabilities with some of the largest energy companies back home, we are now ready to bring the same efficiency, transparency, and innovation to the UAE’s fuel retail ecosystem. The UAE is at the forefront of adopting future-ready mobility solutions. With Seed Group’s regional leadership and our technology, we are confident in transforming the fuelling experience, empowering operators with smarter tools, reducing congestion for consumers, and setting new benchmarks for operational excellence and sustainable mobility across the region and beyond.”

Hisham Al Gurg, CEO of Seed Group, said, “Nawgati brings a digital solution that modernises fuel retail operations, a sector vital to mobility and economic growth. With steady growth expected in the UAE’s fuel retail sector by 2030, the company’s expertise is a timely addition to our portfolio. We are confident this will empower regional businesses to streamline processes and deliver smarter customer experiences.”

Nawgati, which already works with major Indian companies like Indraprastha Gas and Mahanagar Gas, will now bring its solutions to the UAE, marking its first step into international markets. The partnership is expected to strengthen Nawgati’s position as a homegrown company with global relevance.

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JSW MG Motor India is expanding its flagship ‘JSW MG Nurture’ initiative, a program designed to equip technical educators with the skills needed for the country's fast-growing electric vehicle (EV) industry.

Now in its third year, the program aims to bridge the gap between academic theory and industry demands by training faculty members from engineering, diploma and ITI institutions.

The initiative, launched in 2023, has already trained more than 80 faculty members across over 50 institutions. The program provides hands-on workshops covering critical topics like EVs, autonomous driving, connected mobility and artificial intelligence. By focusing on educators, JSW MG Motor India aims to indirectly impact thousands of students nationwide.

Yeshwinder Patial, Senior Director of Human Resources, JSW MG Motor India, “JSW MG Nurture reflects our long-term commitment to skill development and industry-academia collaboration. By investing in faculty development, we are strengthening the roots of technical education and preparing students for the future of mobility.”

The JSW MG Nurture initiative also aligns with the government's NEP 2020 vision for industry-academia collaboration and the EV 2030 roadmap, which anticipates a need for over 10 million skilled professionals in the EV sector.

In partnership with education company Skill-Lync, the program has co-designed modules and delivered tailored training. Looking ahead, JSW MG Motor India plans to scale the initiative to hundreds of institutions, with new modules on advanced battery systems, robotics and AI-powered solutions.

Krishna Bandaru, Co-Founder, Skill-Lync, said, “It gives us great pride to partner with JSW MG Motor India on this inspiring initiative. By nurturing educators, the JSW MG Nurture program is shaping the future of students and classrooms alike. This thoughtful and progressive effort is already making a meaningful difference and stands as a shining example of how industry can drive social impact.”

File photo for representational purpose only.

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