Mahindra Group has announced the appointment of Abanti Sankaranarayanan as Chief Group Public Affairs Officer effective 1 July, 2022. In this role, Abanti will lead Group Public Affairs (India & international), Group Sustainability and the Group Risk and Economist functions, the company said in a statement. Abanti will be a part of the Group Executive Board reporting to Dr. Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO, Mahindra Group. 

She will be taking over the Group Public Affairs portfolio from Manoj Chugh, President, Group Public Affairs, who will be retiring on 1 April 2023. 

Dr. Anish Shah said, “At the Mahindra Group, Public Policy and Sustainability are pivotal and we are committed to leading ESG globally. It is paramount that we engage with all our relevant stakeholders proactively and effectively. This is a diversified role, which needed a seasoned leader to manage multiple stakeholders. Abanti is an accomplished business leader with vast experience across corporate affairs, social impact, strategy and managing large businesses. I am confident that she will be able to build the functions and help us in achieving our goals. I would also like to thank Manoj Chugh for his exemplary services to the Mahindra Group. He has been an integral part of our growth journey, contributing significantly to the organisation in his various roles.” 

Prior to joining the Mahindra Group, Abanti was Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Officer & Member – Executive Committee at Diageo India where her responsibilities included Public Policy, Regulatory and Trade, Market Access, Corporate Communication, Corporate Social Impact, Strategy and Ventures. Abanti joined Diageo India as Marketing and Innovation leader in 2010 and was subsequently promoted to Managing Director, Diageo India Pvt Ltd, leading Diageo’s business mandate for international spirits in India. She assumed the role of Chief Strategy and Corporate Affairs Director for the region in 2015, setting up these new functions as core and strategic to the business and a strong and integrated business partner to the rest of the company.  

Prior to Diageo, Abanti served as a member of the Tata Administrative Service (TAS) cadre since 1992 in various General Management and Marketing roles, across Tata Global Beverages (India & UK), the Taj Group of Hotels (India & the US), Tata Housing and Tata Finance. 

Abanti has been recognised by Business Today (Most Powerful Women in Business and Economy - 2019, 2020), Fortune India (The Most Powerful Women in Business - 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016), IMPACT (50 Most Influential Women in Media, Marketing and Advertising - 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), India Today (India’s 25 Most Influential Women, 2013) and Fast Company, New York (100 Most Creative People in Business, 2012), the release added. (MT)

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Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles has commenced delivery of the Tata Prima E.55S battery electric prime-mover to Enviiiro Wheels Mobility, a provider of commercial transport solutions for the power, mining, cement and steel sectors.

The first batch of the fleet was handed over today in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. The heavy-duty, zero-emission trucks will transport minerals and ores.

The Prima E.55S features an integrated e-axle and regenerative braking for range. The vehicle offers a range of up to 350 km on a charge. It includes a 3-speed Auto Shift transmission with an e-axle for efficiency and performance and dual gun fast charging capability.

Safety features include a Driver Monitoring System, Lane Departure Warning, Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Cruise Control, along with an Electronic Braking System and ADAS features. The Prima cabin includes a pneumatically suspended seat and tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel to boost driver productivity.

Praveen Somani, Managing Director, Enviiiro Wheels Mobility and Director, Inland World Logistics, said, “As a young company committed to making logistics sustainable, the addition of Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles’ advanced electric prime movers to our fleet marks a defining step towards decarbonised operations. With zero emissions, superior performance, and advanced safety and comfort features, the Prima E.55S is an ideal choice to support our customers’ net zero goals. Backed by Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles’ proven after-sales ecosystem, we are confident of building a future-ready fleet that sets new benchmarks in clean and efficient mineral and ore transportation.”

Rajesh Kaul, Vice-President & Business Head – Trucks, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, "We are delighted to deliver the first batch of Prima E.55S electric prime movers to Enviiiro Wheels Mobility. As the market leader in the trucks segment, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles is proud to lead India’s transition to sustainable freight with advanced solutions. These robustly engineered vehicles align closely with Enviiiro Wheels’ sustainability goals, advancing greener operations while delivering long-term value.”

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Hindustan Zinc (HZL), the world's largest integrated zinc producer, has taken a major step towards sustainable operations by deploying a fleet of 40 Electric Vehicle (EV) Bulkers at its Zinc Smelter Debari facility in Udaipur.

The company is deploying the EV bulkers in collaboration with Enviiiro Wheels Mobility under an extensive eight-year contract. These vehicles will be used to transport calcine (a by-product of the roasting process) from the Debari smelter to the company's integrated zinc-lead smelter in Chittorgarh. The first batch of 10 bulkers is already operational, with the remaining units scheduled for rollout in the coming months.

This initiative is a significant step in HZL's commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 or sooner. The transition to EVs complements the company's existing use of LNG and battery-powered trucks and its wider strategy of integrating renewable energy and advanced energy-efficiency measures.

Arun Misra, CEO, Hindustan Zinc, said, “We are embedding sustainability into the core of our logistics strategy to build an ecosystem that is clean, connected, and future ready. These electric mobility solutions are not just reducing our carbon footprint, but also unlocking operational efficiency, workforce safety, and long-term value - all aligned with our broader vision of decarbonising operations and enabling India’s green industrial growth.”

In a related move, HZL also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Enviiiro Wheels Mobility to introduce electric buses for employee transportation at the Zinc Smelter Debari. This shift will further reduce the company's Scope 3 emissions and ensure a cleaner commute for its workforce.

Praveen Somani, CEO, Enviiiro Wheels Mobility, said, “Hindustan Zinc’s groundbreaking endeavour marks a pivotal moment in India’s manufacturing landscape. We stand committed to Hindustan Zinc’s vision of decarbonisation and believe that our green logistics solutions are instrumental to advancing India’s sustainability objectives. As part of our ongoing commitment with Hindustan Zinc, we’re proud to deploy 40 additional electric bulkers for Vedanta. We firmly believe that clean and eco-friendly mobility solutions will play a pivotal role in aiding industries to attain their sustainability goals”.

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Pune-headquartered automotive major Force Motors has launched its comprehensive Roadside Assistance (RSA) program, now offered complimentary for three years across all its product lines – Traveller, Trax, Monobus, Urbania and Gurkha.

The company shared that this first-of-its-kind initiative in India’s commercial vehicle segment is part of its continued efforts to enhance ownership experience and ensure round-the-clock customer support across India.

The RSA program covers a wide range of services, from breakdown support and accident assistance to towing and on-site repairs, aimed at minimising downtime and delivering peace of mind to every customer.

Prasan Firodia, MD, Force Motors, said, “Our customers place their trust in Force vehicles every day, and it is our responsibility to stand firmly by that trust. With the three-year complimentary Roadside Assistance program, we aim to provide total support throughout their journey- reaffirming our commitment to reliability, responsiveness, and care. This initiative marks another milestone in our continued investment in enhancing the ownership experience and building long-term trust through dependable service”.

Key features of Force Motors Roadside Assistance also includes free towing up to 100 km to the nearest authorised Force workshop, on-site repair support for minor mechanical or electrical issues, accident assistance including vehicle recovery and coordination with workshops, tyre change, battery jump-start and key-related assistance. It also includes, emergency coordination services and add-on convenience benefits including legal and medical referrals among others.

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Billion Electric Mobility (BillionE), an electric mobility-as-a-service (eMaaS) platform, has partnered with Hindalco Industries’ Birla Copper Division to launch Gujarat’s first heavy-duty electric freight corridor.

As part of the understanding, BillioE will deploy 15 Ashok Leyland e-trucks with 55-tonne capacity in phases between Dahej and Asoj, a 160km route. The electric trucks will see BillionE leverage ChargeZone’s charging network with stations at Karjan, Bharuch, and a strategic point along the route. Upon successful induction, additional electric trucks will be deployed for secondary transport across Vapi, Daman and Silvassa, further expanding Gujarat’s zero-emission freight network.

Sanjeev Kulkarni, CEO, BillionE Mobility, said "Launching this heavy-duty electric freight corridor is more than just a milestone. It represents a transformation in how India moves goods at scale. Heavy logistics have long depended on fossil fuels, contributing to emissions and energy vulnerability. By deploying electric trucks, we are showing that industrial transport can be both efficient and sustainable. Our partnership with Hindalco is an important step toward creating a nationwide network of zero-emission freight corridors, helping businesses decarbonize operations while improving efficiency and reducing long-term costs."

Bishnu Agarwal, Functional Head, F&C Copper business of Hindalco Industries, said,“As logistics is the backbone of our business, it is our responsibility to drive change toward cleaner and smarter solutions. By transitioning to EVs, we are reducing our carbon footprint while improving efficiency with quieter, low-maintenance, and future-ready vehicles. This is sustainability as a business advantage, not just a regulatory requirement.” 

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