Tropicool Launches 360deg Around View Monitoring System For Commercial Vehicles

Tropicool

Tropicool Autotronics has unveiled its 360deg Around View Monitoring (AVM) System for commercial vehicles at the Prawaas 5.0 exhibition in India. The system is designed to improve driver visibility and eliminate blind spots.

It provides a bird's-eye view using four HD cameras, offering dynamic guidelines for parking and reversing. The system features automatic camera switching based on vehicle movement and multi-channel recording. The architecture is built to support future safety applications and is designed for buses, trucks and commercial vehicles.

Khushboo Shinagare, CEO, Tropicool Autotronics, said, "Commercial vehicle safety is evolving rapidly, and visibility is one of the biggest challenges drivers face every day. Our 360deg AVM System empowers drivers with complete situational awareness, reducing blind spots and improving passenger and pedestrian safety. We are delighted to introduce this solution at Prawaas 5.0 and support India's vision for safer, smarter mobility."

This launch expands the company’s portfolio, which includes vehicle electronics, parking assistance and passenger systems.

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.

Tata Motors Inaugurates Vehicle Scrapping Facility In Patna

Tata Motors - Re.Wi.Re

Tata Motors, one of the leading automakers in the country, has opened a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) under its Re.Wi.Re (Recycle With Respect) brand in Patna, Bihar.

The facility is spread across 5.5 acres and is operated by Kalahanu Bothra Group. It has the capacity to dismantle up to 15,000 end-of-life vehicles annually across all brands and vehicle segments, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars and commercial vehicles.

Operations at the unit are digitised and paperless. The facility uses cell-type dismantling setups for commercial vehicles, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers and line-type dismantling systems for passenger vehicles. Dedicated stations process individual components, including tyres, batteries, fuel, oils, liquids and gases, to meet national vehicle scrappage standards.

Speaking at the inauguration, Damodar Rawat, Minister of Transport, Government of Bihar, said, "The launch of this Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility in Patna is a significant step towards safer roads and a cleaner transport ecosystem for the state. In line with the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy, the facility will help phase out old and unfit vehicles in a scientific and responsible manner, while encouraging owners to move to newer, safer and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Modernising our vehicle fleet is essential to reducing emissions and improving road safety across Bihar. I congratulate Tata Motors and the Kalahanu Group on this initiative and look forward to more such efforts that advance safe and sustainable mobility in the state."

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors, said, “The inauguration of our Patna facility marks another step in building a responsible, organised ecosystem for end-of-life vehicles across the country. The National Vehicle Scrappage Policy has created a structured framework to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles and, through well-designed incentives, encourages owners to transition to cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles. Guided by the principles of circular economy, we are equipped with the widest nationwide network of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities to responsibly dismantle close to 200,000 end-of-life vehicles annually. We deeply value the unwavering support and collaboration of our partners, state governments and local authorities in turning this vision into reality.”

The Patna site brings the total number of Tata Motors vehicle-scrapping locations to 12. The company also maintains operations in Jaipur, Bhubaneswar, Surat, Chandigarh, Delhi NCR, Pune, Guwahati, Raipur, Lucknow, Kolkata and Ahmedabad.