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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Tata Technologies has announced the completion of the 3^rd edition of its innovation hackathon, InnoVent 2026, supported by Amazon Web Services (AWS). The initiative invited engineering students to develop solutions for mobility challenges in the automotive and manufacturing sectors. The programme received participation from 10,247 students across 404 colleges in India, resulting in 2,822 projects.

The competition focused on the theme of intelligence-driven mobility for the year 2030. Participants received over 650 hours of mentoring and training from subject matter experts to convert their concepts into prototypes. The top 10 teams presented their work at the company's Hinjewadi campus in Pune before a jury of industry leaders from Jaguar Land Rover, Air India and ES-Tec Group.

Team Drushti from CMR College of Engineering & Technology, Hyderabad, secured the first prize of INR 300,000 for a system that customises vehicle infotainment for visually impaired drivers. Second place went to Team The T-Factor from Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai, for an AI-based breakdown prevention system. Team SwarmSync from the International Institute of Information Technology (I²IT), Pune, took third place for an intelligent fleet management solution using V2X communication.

Tata Technologies offered career opportunities to all 42 finalists involved in the top projects. Furthermore, all participants were granted one-year access to the iGETIT learning platform to study emerging technologies. The finalist projects covered areas such as blockchain for vehicle security, wireless charging for electric vehicles, and AI-led battery monitoring.

The event featured a humanoid robot that performed roles such as coordinating panel discussions and interacting with attendees. A panel of industry experts discussed the global demand for engineering talent and the impact of technology on future mobility.

Warren Harris, MD & CEO, Tata Technologies, said, "InnoVent at Tata Technologies represents our conviction that the future is shaped by those who combine engineering excellence with human purpose to engineer a better world".

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Kia India has announced the re-launch of its Kia Inspiring Drive (K.I.D) Program, debuting alongside the New Kia Seltos. The initiative is a driving score system designed to monitor real-time behaviour and provide insights into habits. Accessed via the Kia Connect app, the programme will be rolled out across the company’s connected vehicle portfolio in phases.

The K.I.D score is calculated using a three-month rolling average based on parameters including rapid acceleration, rapid deceleration and sudden starts. To ensure data accuracy, the system applies a weighted value based on the specific vehicle. This methodology aims to reflect long-term driving patterns rather than isolated incidents.

The programme incorporates community-based leaderboards, allowing owners to compare scores and track their standing within the Kia community. By turning road safety into an interactive experience, the manufacturer intends to encourage responsible driving through recognition and competition.

The behaviour-based scoring system provides data to help users understand the impact of their habits on road safety. Kia is supporting the re-launch with a digital and press campaign to increase awareness among its customer base.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President – Marketing & Sales, Kia India, said, “Safety remains at the core of Kia’s philosophy, and with the re-launch of the Kia Inspiring Drive program alongside the New Seltos, we are taking another meaningful step towards encouraging responsible driving behaviour. By offering customers clear, data-driven insights into their driving patterns, the KID program empowers them to make safer choices on the road, while also enhancing their overall ownership experience.”

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HARMAN has partnered with Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (TMPVL) to provide the in-cabin technology for the all-new Tata Sierra. The collaboration introduces 5G-ready connectivity and a multi-speaker audio system to the SUV, marking an expansion of the 12-year relationship between the two companies.

The vehicle features HARMAN Ready Connect, a suite of telematics control units (TCUs) manufactured at HARMAN’s facility in Pune. The system utilises a modular network access device architecture, allowing for a transition from 4G to 5G technology. It supports safety functions such as emergency calling, stolen-vehicle tracking and roadside assistance, alongside productivity features like video conferencing and high-definition streaming.

The interior includes a Horizon View Display and a digital instrument cluster powered by HARMAN’s infotainment architecture. The system supports gaming with joystick compatibility and features a Ready Link Marketplace, which allows users to download third-party Android applications.

For driver assistance, the Sierra incorporates a Surround View System (SVS) and 4sight Blind-Spot Monitoring. Navigation is provided through a native mapping solution from MapmyIndia. The cabin experience also includes ‘Relax Mode’ for sensory visuals and 'Silent Mode' to mute non-regulatory alerts.

The SUV introduces a 12-speaker JBL audio system, which includes an enclosed subwoofer and a soundbar. This configuration supports Dolby Atmos and represents a first for an Indian manufacturer. The integration of these components is intended to provide a multi-dimensional sound profile tailored to the vehicle's cabin.

By localising the production of the telematics hardware in India, HARMAN aims to provide TMPVL with greater supply-chain agility and shorter development cycles. The ‘Make-in-India’ initiative for Ready Connect ensures the technology is adapted to local driving conditions and consumer requirements.

Suman Sehra, VP, Portfolio Management, Connectivity at HARMAN International, said, “HARMAN Ready Connect represents the shift toward software-defined, experience-led mobility, and the new Tata Sierra is a perfect expression of that evolution. By collaborating closely with TMPV’s R&D team, we focused on value co-creation and delivered a platform that brings high-performance connectivity, scalable architecture, and future-ready digital services to support the connected digital life.”

Mohan Savarkar, Chief Product Officer, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, added, “With the Sierra, our focus was to create a cabin experience that feels as advanced and intuitive as the world our customers live in. Connectivity, digital interfaces and audio are no longer add-ons—they define how people engage with their vehicle every day. Our collaboration with HARMAN enables us to deliver a future-ready architecture, immersive in-cabin experiences and premium audio.”

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Sterling Tools has entered into a partnership with MINIEYE, a Hong Kong-listed developer of intelligent driving and in-cabin solutions. The collaboration focuses on the deployment of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) tailored specifically for the Indian automotive market.

As per the agreement, Sterling Tools will lead application engineering and on-ground adaptation. This involves tuning perception algorithms to account for Indian road scenarios, traffic patterns, and environmental conditions. The project aims to ensure that safety technologies, such as Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane Departure Warning Systems (LDWS), function reliably in local settings rather than relying on global configurations.

The partnership is positioned to meet upcoming Indian safety mandates. Effective 1 January 2027, regulations will require the fitment of ADAS and Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning Systems (DDAWS) in new vehicle models. The scope of the collaboration covers both commercial and passenger vehicles, including technologies for Forward Collision Warning (FCW) and Blind Spot Monitoring.

MINIEYE provides technology that complies with EU General Safety Regulations and holds Automotive SPICE V4.0 CL3 certification. Sterling Tools is supporting this transition as part of a broader expansion into electronics and safety-critical components, which includes electric vehicle power electronics and motor solutions.

Anish Agarwal, Director, Sterling Tools, said, “Road safety and regulatory compliance are becoming increasingly important across both commercial and passenger vehicle segments in India. This collaboration allows us to work with a global technology partner to address the growing need for driver assistance and monitoring systems that are engineered for Indian operating conditions. At Sterling Tools, our focus remains on supporting OEMs with engineered, safety critical technologies aligned with upcoming regulatory requirements.”

Dr Liu Guoqing, Founder and Chairman, MINIEYE, added, “Partnering with Sterling Tools marks a vital step in bringing intelligent driving to India, leveraging Sterling Tools local expertise to translate technology into production-ready applications that enhance vehicle safety.”

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