Bengaluru-based electric vehicle company Ultraviolette Automotive collaborated with the Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) of the Indian Army for a five-day rally across Tamil Nadu, by providing a fleet of F77 motorcycles.

The ride honoured the army Veterans and Veer Naris of Madras Regiment and the Armed Forces community in the region.

Under the aegis of the Dakshin Bharat Area, the rally covered six districts of Tamil Nadu - Tirupur, Karur, Dindigul, Madurai, Theni and Coimbatore. The team of army personnel engaged with approximately 3,000 veterans and veer naris during the journey: addressing various concerns, sharing crucial information on entitlements, and providing immediate assistance. The F77s covered a cumulative distance of over 6000 kilometres.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO & Co-Founder, Ultraviolette, said, " Collaborating again with the Indian Army for this remarkable outreach initiative is an honour that resonates deeply with Ultraviolette's ethos. Our vision to create world-class technology is inspired by the spirit of the India - undaunted, resilient, and driven by purpose. The F77 embodies the very principles that define our Armed Forces - precision, performance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. To witness Ultraviolette playing a key role in this rally, honouring veterans, and their families, is not just a privilege but a defining moment in our journey".

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Bajaj Auto-owned Austrian two-wheeler brand KTM do Brasil has inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Manaus, Amazonas, featuring an annual installed capacity of 20,000 units. The site currently employs 100 personnel across direct and indirect functions and is dedicated to producing KTM and Husqvarna models.

The plant represents an investment of approximately 20 million Brazilian Reais in infrastructure and assembly equipment. Operating on a Completely Knocked Down basis, the facility handles kit preparation, engine assembly, motorcycle assembly, quality testing, packaging and logistics dispatch.

The local production replaces the company's previous contract assembly arrangement with Dafra Motos, establishing a direct manufacturing presence in Brazil. Initial operational targets project assembly of 3,500 units by the end of 2026, ahead of volume scaling planned through 2027.

The Manaus facility will assemble 10 motorcycle models across the motocross, enduro and adventure segments. The motocross line includes the KTM 250 SX-F and KTM 450 SX-F, while the enduro range comprises the KTM 250 EXC-F, 350 EXC-F 6DAYS, 300 EXC and 300 EXC 6DAYS, alongside the Husqvarna FE 350 and TE 300 PRO.

Local assembly also encompasses the KTM 390 ADVENTURE R and KTM 390 ADVENTURE X, priced at 37,990 Reais and 33,990 Reais respectively. The production output will supply KTM's Brazilian retail network, which currently numbers 12 dealership locations with expansion plans targeting 30 outlets by 2027.

Rakesh Sharma, Joint MD, Bajaj Auto, said, "Brazil is an important market in the global portfolio of both Bajaj and KTM, and the inauguration of the KTM facility co located with the Bajaj Auto facility in Manaus is yet another signal of our commitment to Brazil. The Bajaj and KTM partnership is anchored on complementary strengths, and now we bring these strengths together to serve the passionate riding community of Brazil and build a strong business."

Fabian Steinbacher, Vice-President Operations, KTM AG, said, "Every motorcycle built in Manaus carries the KTM promise: performance, innovation, quality, and riding pleasure. The same processes, quality standards, and technical requirements apply here as in Austria. This achievement is the result of the outstanding commitment of our Brazilian team and the close partnership with our colleagues in Austria."

Petra Preining, Chief Financial Officer, Bajaj Mobility AG and KTM AG, said, "The successful start of production in Manaus demonstrates what is possible here, and we have ambitious plans for the future. The facility is designed to grow alongside the market, both in terms of capacity and product portfolio. At the same time, we are strengthening our competitiveness through local value creation, high cost efficiency and a flexible production structure. This creates the foundation for sustainable growth and sets the course for a strong and profitable future in Brazil."

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Hero MotoCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, has expanded its motorcycle portfolio with the launch of the updated Xtreme 160R 4V and the refreshed Xtreme 250R at prices starting INR 127,000 and INR 198,000 (ex-showroom Delhi), respectively.

The Xtreme 160R 4V features a redesign and a 163cc four-valve, oil-cooled engine developing 17.1 PS and 14.6 Nm of torque. Equipment additions include ride-by-wire throttle control, three ride modes, segment-first cruise control, a panic brake alert system, dual-channel anti-lock braking, upside-down front forks, and a Bluetooth-enabled TFT instrument cluster. The variant lineup is priced from INR 127,000 for the standard model, INR 137,000 for the Pro version and INR 141,000 for the Carbon Edition ex-showroom Delhi.

The refreshed Xtreme 250R incorporates a 250cc liquid-cooled DOHC engine generating 30 PS and 25.3 Nm of torque, achieving zero-to-sixty acceleration in 3.2 seconds. Technical features comprise four ride modes, traction control, a bi-directional quickshifter, cruise control, a tyre pressure monitoring system, gold-anodised upside-down front forks, and industry-first frequency-selective damping rear suspension. The model is priced at INR 198,000 ex-showroom Delhi across carbon red, carbon white, and carbon black colour options.

Anuj Dua, CBO of the Premium Segment, Hero MotoCorp, said, "Premiumisation remains one of the biggest growth opportunities ahead of us and we continue to strengthen our position in this segment through sharper product differentiation and enhanced riding experiences. The Xtreme family is a key pillar of this strategy. The all-new Xtreme 160R 4V brings the Xtreme DNA to a larger community of young riders as the fastest motorcycle in its segment, with a complete redesign and segment-first cruise control and Panic Brake Alert, while the newly launched Xtreme 250R raises the bar in its segment with Ride-by-wire, four ride modes, traction control, a quickshifter, segment-first cruise control, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System, and the industry's first Frequency selective damping suspension. Backed by our Hero Premia network of more than 130 stores, these launches reflect our commitment to creating world-class, aspirational products and further strengthening our premium portfolio."

Customer bookings open on 17 October 2026, with deliveries scheduled to commence on 1 November 2026.

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Aprilia Racing has secured its first top 4^th sweep in MotoGP history at the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit, with four RS-GP26 motorcycles occupying the leading positions at the finish line.

Marco Bezzecchi won the race from second on the grid, recording a lap time of 1:29.960. The victory marks Bezzecchi's 5^th win of the season and his 11th in the top class, while representing the 300th premier class victory by an Italian rider in Grand Prix history.

Raúl Fernández of the SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team finished 2nd, while Aprilia Racing's Jorge Martín completed the podium in 3^rd place. Ai Ogura took 4^th place to complete the sweep for the manufacturer. The result brings Aprilia Racing's season tally to 8 victories and 16 top-class wins overall, while moving Jorge Martín to the top of the riders' championship standings with 355 points.

"I’m happy with my race. I really wanted to leave Mandalika with a good result, and I’d been chasing this win since my injury at the Sachsenring. It felt really good. Clearly, with only five races left, the title is more lost than won. But that doesn’t change how I think or work, especially with my team. I’m not a rider who gives up. That’s who I am, and I’m happy to have met so many like-minded people along the way who I’m fortunate enough to work with," said Marco Bezzecchi.

"I’m happy with this podium because I achieved the best possible result. Marco and Raúl had something extra all weekend. I tried to close the gap, but they were faster. I’m still a little disappointed with yesterday’s result because I could have won, but I’m happy with today’s. As for the championship, the most important thing is to stay in the title fight and, above all, arrive in Valencia with a chance," said Jorge Martín.

Massimo Rivola, CEO, Aprilia Racing, said, "Once again, Aprilia means high drama, for better and for worse. Saturday started in the best possible way with pole position for Raúl Fernández, but the sprint was marred by a mistake at turn one and a serious error over Jorge’s front tyre pressure, for which we owe him an apology. At least Ai’s superb ride through the field salvaged something from it. Sunday, on the other hand, has been a day to remember, with four RS-GP bikes in the top four for the first time. We know it will be tough right to the end, but just as we don’t get disheartened when things go badly, we don’t get carried away when they go well. I want to congratulate everyone at Noale on their commitment and dedication, which are proving so valuable in this hard-fought season."

The result marks Aprilia's fourth podium lockout of the season, following previous finishes at Le Mans, Assen, and Silverstone, taking the Noale-based manufacturer to 310 total wins across all Grand Prix motorcycle classes.

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company has launched updated variants of its TVS Raider motorcycle, introducing active safety features to the 125cc segment.

The TVS Raider TFT DD and TVS Raider SXC DD models now feature a Traction Control System and Emergency Brake Warning functionality.

The Traction Control System manages rear-wheel power output during traction loss over wet surfaces, loose gravel or road hazards. The Emergency Brake Warning system flashes rear lighting signals during deceleration to alert trailing traffic.

Additional hardware updates include a wider rear tyre, a 27W USB Type-C device charger and established powertrain features including a 3-valve engine with iGO Assist boost functionality, Glide Through Technology for low-speed manoeuvring and a TFT display supporting connectivity software.

The TVS Raider SXC DD variant is priced at INR 100,330 ex-showroom Delhi, while the TVS Raider TFT DD variant is available at INR 103,170 across TVS Motor dealerships nationwide.

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