London Electric Vehicle Company Expands Service Network

INTEGRATED TYRE CURING SOLUTIONS

To grow its authorised service and maintenance network, LEVC (London Electric Vehicle Company) has established partnership with one of the UK’s largest end-to-end fleet management companies, Rivus Fleet Solutions. These additional 20 authorised service centres join LEVC’s existing 17 sites, increasing the British brand’s existing UK network to 37 locations by the end of October. Each authorised site will be able to carry out servicing, maintenance, general repairs and MoTs for LEVC TX taxi as well as its new electric van, VN5.

Joerg Hofmann, LEVC CEO, said, “As a key part of our business growth strategy, our global service network is also expanding rapidly. This new partnership with Rivus Fleet Solutions is a significant step forward, doubling LEVC’s service footprint in the UK. We are delivering on our commitment to ensure that our customers are never further than a 45-minute drive from an authorised site.”

Geoff Allison, Garage Services Director, Rivus Fleet Solutions, commented: “As we have a national footprint, a long experience in supporting manufacturer warranties and a team of multi-skilled technicians at every site, we can offer the flexibility and scale that meets the needs of a leading electric vehicle manufacturer. Our agreement with LEVC has created a real buzz around Rivus and this represents a key milestone for us as the industry moves towards a greener future.”

LEVC doubled its sales volume in 2019 with its electric TX taxi, appealing to both drivers and fleet owners alike with its successful combination of zero emissions capable eCity technology, unrivalled turning circle capability, renowned durability and unique, iconic design.

The company’s growth plans continue with the launch of a second product, VN5, later this year, as it sets sights on revolutionising the diesel-dominated commercial vehicle industry.

LEVC’s new VN5 electric van has a flexible zero emissions capable range of over 300 miles (484 km)* and offers the same reliable, hard-working construction and unrivalled turning circle agility as the company’s highly successful TX taxi.

With up to 5.5m3 capacity, VN5 easily accommodates two Euro sized pallets with a gross payload of 830kg. It has been built with a large side-loading door (enabling a pallet to be side-loaded) and a 60/40 split door at the rear to make loading and unloading easy for the driver. (MT)

Spinny Partners Nissan, JSW MG Motor And Tesla To Expand Services In India

Spinny

Spinny, a leading used car buying and selling platform, has announced partnerships with car manufacturers Nissan, JSW MG Motor India and Tesla to expand its services across buying, selling, exchange, evaluation, refurbishment and retail operations in India.

The agreements connect vehicle manufacturer operations with Spinny's platform to service internal combustion engine and electric vehicle transactions. At present, Spinny operates across 80 cities in India, maintaining 57 car hubs, 17 Spinny Parks and 15 integrated restoration centres.

Under the partnership with Nissan India, Spinny provides a 55-minute vehicle exchange program offering exchange benefits up to INR 75,000 for customers exchanging vehicles for new Nissan models. Nissan dealerships will accept Spinny-issued buying letters to complete the exchange process.

Saurabh Vatsa, Managing Director, Nissan Motor India, said, “At Nissan Motor India, we remain committed to creating greater value for both our customers and dealer partners through innovative and customer-centric solutions. Our collaboration with Spinny as a preferred exchange partner represents a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening our vehicle exchange ecosystem, enhancing the overall customer experience and contributing meaningfully to dealership growth.”

For Tesla, Spinny operates as an exchange partner under the Switch and Save program, facilitating the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles for buyers transitioning to Tesla models, including the Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive.

The partnership with JSW MG Motor India focuses on pre-owned electric vehicles across models including the MG Comet EV, MG Windsor EV and MG ZS EV. Spinny provides battery health assessments, certifications, refurbishment and warranty continuity across cities including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Coimbatore.

Vinay Raina, Chief Commercial Officer, JSW MG Motor India, said, “Our aim is to become a leading NEV brand in the country and as electric mobility continues to gain momentum in India, building a strong and trusted pre-owned ecosystem will be critical to accelerating adoption. Our partnership with Spinny enables us to extend confidence across the ownership lifecycle while making electric mobility more accessible, transparent and rewarding for customers.”

Niraj Singh, Founder and CEO, Spinny, said, “The future of automotive is not just about selling cars, but about building a more connected ownership ecosystem. At Spinny, we believe trust will be at the heart of that evolution. Our partnerships with Nissan, JSW MG Motor India and Tesla bring together OEM expertise and reach with our capabilities across buying, selling, evaluation and restoration, all with a sharp focus on customer experience and value. Alongside partners, we are bringing together different parts of the automotive journey to make it simpler, more transparent and more rewarding for customers, from discovering and buying a car to selling, exchanging, upgrading and owning it.”

SMK Typhoon

SMK Helmets has received a four-star safety rating for its Typhoon full-face helmet from the Safety Helmet Assessment and Rating Programme, the UK Department for Transport's testing body. The result makes SMK the first Indian helmet manufacturer to obtain a 4-star rating under the scheme.

Established in 2007, the UK programme conducts independent evaluations of helmets purchased directly from retail outlets. The evaluation protocol subjects seven samples across size ranges to 32 impact tests. These tests involve striking five areas of the helmet at impact velocities of 6.0, 7.5 and 8.5 metres per second to measure energy transmission to the head, before assigning a final rating out of five stars.

The Typhoon full-face model is constructed with an Energy-Impact-Resistant Thermoplastic shell and weighs 1.6 kilogrammes. It features a drop-down sun visor, Pinlock 30 lens, anti-scratch coatings, multi-point ventilation channels and a quick-release buckle system. Certified to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe ECE 22.06 standard, the helmet is produced in seven sizes ranging from XS to XXXL and sells in India from INR 5,200.

Sidhartha Bhushan Khurana, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, SMK, said, “SMK has engineered helmets around top protection for years – The SHARP rating is simply independent, public validation of that approach. The Typhoon's score reflects a standard we've held ourselves to well before any external test came along to measure it: materials, construction and design built to perform, not just to pass. Indian riders deserve helmets tested to the same yardstick as the world's best-known brands, and this is a step toward making that the norm rather than the exception.”

The certification coincides with SMK's appointment as technical helmet sponsor for the Moto4 Latin Cup. SMK currently distributes its product range in more than 40 international markets.

Zoomcar And Uber Partner To Integrate Intercity Travel Options

Uber - Zoomcar

Zoomcar, a leading peer-to-peer car-sharing platform and ride-hailing company Uber have formed a partnership to integrate outstation travel options within the Zoomcar application.

As per the understanding, users searching for self-drive vehicles on the Zoomcar platform can access and book Uber Intercity chauffeur-driven rides. The integration allows travellers to compare self-drive rentals alongside chauffeur-driven options on single-trip and round-trip routes within a single interface.

The service has launched across Bengaluru, Delhi NCR and Mumbai, with plans to extend the integration to additional cities over time.

The collaboration aligns with shifting consumer preferences in India toward shared mobility access and flexible transport options over vehicle ownership across urban and intercity travel routes.

Deepankar Tiwari, CEO, Zoomcar Holdings, said, “Zoomcar is where India’s most intentional travelers come to plan how they move. Some of them want the freedom of a self-drive car. Others, on other days or other trips, want the comfort of being driven. Both needs are valid, and both deserve a world-class experience. By partnering with Uber, we’re making sure that when a Zoomcar user faces that choice, they don’t have to leave our platform to find the answer. That’s what serving the traveler fully looks like.”

Rishant Ghosh, Director of Consumer & Growth at Uber India & South Asia, said, "Uber Intercity has increasingly become the preferred choice for travel across cities, with demand growing across Tier-2 and metro markets alike. We're also seeing more Indians choose road trips for weekend getaways, family visits and holidays. Through this partnership with Zoomcar, we're making Uber Intercity accessible to even more travelers, giving them another convenient way to book reliable, comfortable outstation rides."

Steelbird Launches Fairy Helmet For Women Riders At Prices Starting INR 1,299 In India

Steelbird Helmet

New Delhi-headquartered helmet manufacturer Steelbird has introduced the Fairy Helmet at prices starting at INR 1,299. The helmet is especially targeted for women riders in India, with the launch coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival.

The Fairy helmet construction utilises an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene shell paired with high-density expanded polystyrene padding. The design holds Bureau of Indian Standards certification and features a polycarbonate anti-scratch visor, a top ventilation port and a micrometric buckle system.

Rajeev Kapur, Managing Director, Steelbird, said, “Raksha Bandhan is a celebration of care, protection and the beautiful bonds we share. With the Fairy Helmet, we wanted to bring that thought into something women can use every day. It is designed specially for women and combines safety with colours, comfort and a sense of personal style. We want every woman who wears it to feel confident, comfortable and completely herself on the road.”

The model range includes decal patterns and finishes across three size options: Small (560mm), Medium (570mm) and Large (580mm). The series is available across Steelbird retail outlets and online distribution channels.