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Indian two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp on Tuesday unveiled a micro electric four-wheeler under a new 'Novus' range from its emerging mobility business unit VIDA. The company also launched various sustainable and intelligent mobility solutions, including a portable, wearable micro mobility device, NEX 1, and an electric trike, NEX 2. The company also showcased a micro electric vehicle with four wheels, NEX 3, along with two concept electric motorcycles, VIDA Concept Ubex and VIDA Project VxZ, among others, here at the global two-wheeler exhibition EICMA 2025. "Novus symbolises renewal and reinvention...(it) reimagines how the world will move, shaping a future that's inspiring, intelligent and inclusive," Hero MotoCorp Executive Chairman Pawan Munjal told reporters here. The NEX 3 is an "all-weather personal EV that offers the safety and comfort of four wheels in an elegant and versatile form, for both urban and rural journeys, Munjal said. It is a tandem seating (front and back) ..
Negotiations for the proposed free tarde agreement between India and the EU are progressing well, but differences still need to be ironed out in certain areas such as steel, automobiles and non-tariff barriers, a senior official said on Monday. Senior officials from India and the 27-nation European Union (EU) last week concluded the 14th round of talks for the agreement in Brussels. The five-day talks began on October 6 to iron out differences on different issues related to goods and services for the early conclusion of the negotiations. "Talks are progressing well. There are issues which need resolution such as steel and automobiles. No major issue is pending in agri," the official said. The Indian negotiators were later joined by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal in the closing days of the round for providing a push to the negotiations. Agrawal held discussions with European Commission Director General for Trade Sabine Weyand during the visit. The official also said Commerce an
Skoda Auto India, part of the Volkswagen group, is evaluating the launch of electric car in the country with localised supplier base, an official said on Wednesday. The company plans to enter the fast-growing Indian electric car market by 2027-28, according to the official. Skoda has a global portfolio of electric cars positioned in the premium segment. "We are evaluating to launch the electric car in India during 2027-28 after setting up a localised supplier base. By this time, we will get the time to set up the supplier base, and the charging infrastructure would also develop", brand director of Skoda Auto India Ashis Gupta told reporters here. He said that the electric car industry comprises 10 per cent to 12 per cent of the total segment and is growing very fast. By 2027-28, the right policy framework for electric cars would also be in place, Gupta said. With four models in India, three sedans and one in the small SUV segment, Skoda Auto India has a market share of 1.7 per cent
The Andhra Pradesh cabinet, headed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, on Friday approved a government order to extend Rs 15,000 financial aid to eligible autorickshaw and cab drivers, I&PR Minister K Parthasarathy said. Under the schemeAuto Driver Sevaloover 2.9 lakh drivers are set to benefit, with Rs 436 crore allocated for the fiscal year 2025-26. The scheme will be launched by the chief minister on October 4. The cabinet approved the government order issued to extend Rs 15,000 financial aid to autorickshaw, motor cab and maxi cab drivers for fiscal 202526, Parthasarathy told reporters at a press conference at the Secretariat. The cabinet also approved a proposal to include a caravan tourism promotion initiative in the 202429 Andhra Pradesh Tourism Policy, aimed at establishing caravan parks and promoting caravan tourism, he said. Similarly, it approved a framework and initiatives to encourage homestays and bed-and-breakfast segments in the state under the 202429 Andhra ...
Maruti Suzuki India is gunning for leadership in the mid-size SUV segment in the domestic market, currently dominated by its South Korean rival Hyundai, a senior company official said on Monday. The company, which has launched its new mid-size SUV Victoris with introductory prices ranging from Rs 10.5 lakh to Rs 19.99 lakh (ex-showroom), is targeting a wider reach, specially GenZ customers by bringing it through its ARENA retail chain, Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales Partho Banerjee told reporters here in an interaction. "There are three segments (in SUVs). There is entry, mid and the premium. In the entry segment, we are the market leaders. In mid-SUV, we are not the market leaders. Our aspiration is to become the market leader there, and in premium SUV right now, we don't operate," he said when asked about the company's aspirations in the SUV segment. He said the mid-size SUV segment is "the only segment" where Maruti Suzuki India, the country's .
Residents of 130 cities covered under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) could see their life expectancy increase by two years compared to 2017 if India achieves its revised target of a 40 per cent reduction in particulate pollution by 2026, a new report said on Thursday. Launched in 2019, NCAP aimed to cut 2017 particulate pollution levels in 130 highly polluted cities by 20-30 per cent by 2024. In 2022, the government revised the target to a 40 per cent reduction by 2026. In practice, only PM10 concentration is being considered for performance assessment. The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) said in its 2025 report that residents in these 130 cities would gain two years in life expectancy as compared to 2017 if the target is met. Government data shows 103 of the 130 cities recorded an improvement in PM10 levels in 2024-25 compared to 2017-18. Sixty-four of them reduced these levels by more than 20 per cent, while 25 achieved cuts of over 40 per ...
The government on Tuesday said as many as 806 applications have been approved under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes across 14 sectors as on date. The schemes for 14 key sectors including telecom, electronics, pharma, textiles and auto were announced with an outlay of Rs 1.97 lakh crore to enhance India's manufacturing capabilities and exports. It was announced in 2021. "As on date, 806 applications have been approved under PLI schemes across 14 sectors," Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. He said that actual investment of Rs 1.76 lakh crore has been realised till March 2025 across 14 sectors, which has resulted in incremental production/sales of over Rs 16.5 lakh crore and employment generation of over 12 lakh (direct and indirect jobs). The pharmaceuticals sector has witnessed cumulative sales of Rs 2.66 lakh crore, which includes exports of Rs 1.70 lakh crore achieved in the first three years of the ..
Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy has directed the Transport Commissioner to take strict action against app-based and other autorickshaws in Bengaluru that charge fares above the government-fixed rates, calling the practice a "daylight robbery". The minister said permits of such autos should be cancelled and cases registered against the violators. "If there is a complaint from passengers about overcharging, cancellation of the journey if the higher fare is not paid, immediate action should be taken and the permit of such autos should be cancelled and a case should be registered," Reddy said in his letter to the Transport Commissioner, on June 28. "For example: On June 18, 2025, Rapido Auto App charged Rs. 100.89 per km, while Auto O App charged Rs. 184.19 for a 4 km journey. This kind of daylight robbery from the public is unforgivable, strict action should be taken urgently." There have been complaints from commuters about rising auto fares. The meter fare is fixed at R
End-of-life vehicles detected at fuel stations or found parked at public places will be impounded and a penalty of Rs 10,000 imposed on four-wheeler owners and Rs 5,000 on two-wheeler owners starting July 1, officials said on Friday. EOL vehicles are diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Irrespective of the states they are registered in, they will not be given fuel in Delhi starting July 1, according to directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) earlier. Around 500 fuel stations in Delhi have installed Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to detect EOL vehicles. "When a vehicle enters a fuel station, a special (ANPR) camera will read its number plate. This number will be instantly checked with the central VAHAN database, which will show details like the vehicle's age, fuel type and registration. If the vehicle is found to be EOL, it will be flagged as an EOL vehicle. The system will alert the fuel station
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd on Monday said it has partnered with ESAF Small Finance Bank to offer retail financing solutions for new cars, used cars, and commercial vehicles. The two partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the purpose, which will focus on offering easy and flexible finance options tailored especially for first-time buyers, the company said in a statement. The partnership will leverage the combined network of Maruti Suzuki and ESAF Small Finance Bank across Tier II and Tier III cities to make vehicle ownership more accessible and convenient for a wider segment of customers, it added. "Through this (partnership), we aim to further enhance financing options and flexible repayment solutions...," Maruti Suzuki India Senior Executive Officer, Marketing & Sales, Partho Banerjee said. ESAF Small Finance Bank MD & CEO K Paul Thomas said, "This collaboration will help extend affordable and convenient mobility solutions to a wider customer base, particularly ..