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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Rocklink India has officially inaugurated its first integrated recycling facility at the UPSIDC Industrial Area in Sikandrabad, Uttar Pradesh. This site marks a major step in establishing a domestic circular economy for critical minerals, specifically targeting the burgeoning electric mobility and renewable energy sectors in India.

The plant is designed to handle a wide variety of inputs, including 95 different types of pre- and post-consumer battery scrap, as well as complex permanent magnet alloys such as NdFeB, SmCo and AlNiCo.

The facility utilises Rocklink’s proprietary R2 technology, which focuses on high recovery efficiency while maintaining stringent environmental safety standards. It features an initial lithium-ion battery recycling capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year, capable of producing high-purity black mass.

Additionally, the site manages rare earth magnet dismantling and processing at a rate of 60 tonnes per month. To further enhance its capabilities, the company expects to complete its rare earth chloride processing line – which has a production capacity of 1,500 tonnes per year – in the first quarter of 2026, utilising a 22-meter direct-heated rotary kiln for the safe calcination of metal-bearing industrial waste.

Beyond material recovery, the facility aims to achieve over 98 percent recovery efficiency for key metals including aluminium, copper and iron.

Rocklink India also plans to integrate battery refurbishment operations, enabling the safe reuse of viable battery cells through international standards for testing and balancing to extend resource efficiency.

To support these operations, the company is expanding its Magcycle reverse logistics model and a ‘Know Your Material’ (KYM) approach to ensure structured collection and accurate material grading. Through collaborations with technology startups and research institutions, Rocklink aims to advance dismantling automation and strengthen India's domestic supply chains for critical raw materials.

Leonard Alexander Ansorge, Director, Rocklink India, said, “The establishment of this facility marks an important step in building advanced recycling infrastructure for critical materials in India. With capabilities to process lithium-ion batteries and rare earth magnets, we aim to support the development of a circular ecosystem for critical raw materials that are essential to electric mobility, renewable energy systems, and advanced manufacturing.”

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AUMOVIO (formerly Continental’s Automotive business) and trinamiX, a subsidiary of BASF, have co-developed a non-invasive blood alcohol measurement system for vehicle cockpits.

First showcased at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the technology uses miniaturised near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to detect ethanol molecules through the skin, providing precise results in under 10 seconds.

The system is designed to meet emerging global safety regulations for driver-monitoring systems (DMS) and alcohol interlocks. Unlike traditional breathalysers, which require the user to blow into a tube, this solution operates by simply touching a fingertip to a discreetly integrated sensor, which could be placed on the dashboard, steering wheel, or within the centre console.

The sensor works by emitting invisible near-infrared light pulses into the tissue beneath the skin.

The light interacts with ethanol molecules, creating a unique reflection pattern (a molecular fingerprint). Through AI-based algorithms process these reflections in real-time to derive a precise blood alcohol concentration (BAC). The technology’s performance has been scientifically validated through a clinical study registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS).

By integrating this health and safety feature directly into the vehicle's User Experience (UX), AUMOVIO and trinamiX aim to make sober-driving verification as seamless as a smartphone fingerprint scan. The solution is highly configurable, allowing manufacturers to set different threshold levels based on local legal requirements.

Pavel Prouza, Head of the User Experience (UX) business area at AUMOVIO, said, “By integrating a blood alcohol measurement solution directly into the vehicle cockpit, we are clearly demonstrating how health and safety features can be seamlessly and discreetly incorporated into the vehicle interior while enhancing the user experience. With our future-ready solution, we are increasing road safety while maintaining the usual level of convenience.”

Dr. Wilfried Hermes, Director of Consumer Electronics & Automotive, trinamiX, added, “Our NIR spectroscopy technology offers a reliable, user-friendly way to measure blood alcohol levels directly in the vehicle and sets new standards. By providing OEMs with an effective tool to comply with future regulations, we are laying the foundation for greater safety for all road users without compromising driving comfort.”

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Innoviz Technologies, a leading LiDAR tech supplier, has announced the launch of the InnovizTwo Ultra Long-Range (ULR) LiDAR. This new automotive-grade sensor is said to be engineered to provide high-fidelity, real-time spatial awareness at an infrastructure scale, specifically designed to meet the demands of emerging Physical AI systems.

The ULR variant extends the InnovizTwo product line and the SMART family, utilising the same production tools and processes as the standard InnovizTwo to ensure a smooth manufacturing ramp-up. First samples have already been delivered to select customers.

The InnovizTwo ULR is a Class 1 eye-safe sensor that significantly pushes the boundaries of long-range 3D sensing. It has a claimed upto 1 km range detection, up to 667 pts/deg² (High-resolution 3D point cloud), a 120 deg x 24 deg with ±5 deg digital panning field of view. It uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) for streamlined SMART deployments, connectivity and is resistant to dust, rain and extreme temperatures.

The sensor is designed to address critical gaps in industries where ultra-early detection and high-inertia movement require extensive reaction times.

• Autonomous Heavy Trucks: Kilometre-scale perception is essential for the long stopping distances and high inertia of heavy freight.
• Perimeter & Border Security: Enables early detection of humans, vehicles and animals over vast areas with lower false-alarm rates than traditional radar.
• Drone Detection: Fine angular resolution allows for the tracking of small, low-reflectivity aerial targets that typically evade cameras and radar.
• Infrastructure & Smart Cities: Supports city-scale digital twins and long-range traffic prediction to manage congestion and incidents upstream.
• Aviation & Port Safety: Single-sensor monitoring for foreign object debris (FOD) across entire runways and taxiways.

Omer Keilaf, CEO and Co-Founder, Innoviz Technologies, said, "With the InnovizTwo Ultra Long-Range LiDAR, we are extending the boundaries of what our LiDAR can do in the field. Physical AI systems require precise, real-time 3D understanding of the world, not probabilistic inference alone. The combination of kilometre-scale range, extremely high-resolution 3D sensing, and the durability of an automotive-grade LiDAR gives operators across a wide range of industries a tool that performs reliably in harsh conditions, day or night."

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L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has announced its financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, reporting a 14 percent increase in revenue to INR 109 billion.

The company also confirmed its sixth consecutive quarter of large-deal bookings valued at approximately USD 200 million, bringing its total TCV (Total Contract Value) for the year to over USD 850 million.

As part of a strategic realignment to focus on Engineering Intelligence (EI) and higher-margin core segments, LTTS has divested its SWC (Smart World and Communication) business. This pivot aligns with the company's ‘Lakshya 31’ 5-year plan, which targets a 13–15 percent CAGR through the integration of AI, digital and engineering technologies.

The company demonstrated resilience across key metrics, supported by stabilisation in the mobility sector and strong scaling in sustainability projects.

For Q4 FY2026, the revenue came at INR 28.57 billion, while net income came at INR 3.46 billion, an EBIT margin of 15.2 percent.

During the year, the company’s total patent count reached 1,706, with over 235 patents specifically in AI. The workforce strength stood at 23,830 employees at end of FY2026. L&T Technology Services also achieved ‘Partner-level Supplier’ status with John Deere for the 6^th time, Creative Partnership Award from the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE) and Engineering Innovation Award from Newmar Corporation.

Amit Chadha, CEO & Managing Director, L&T Technology Services, said, “We recalibrated our portfolio to focus on profitable growth business, driven by forward-looking technologies. We believe we will continue to grow faster than the industry supported by strong core capabilities and execution discipline. Our approach to Engineering Intelligence, where engineering converges with AI and digital technologies, is delivering higher-value solutions and differentiated outcomes for our clients.”

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