The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved a landmark two-year scheme designed to curb air pollution and accelerate the transition to cleaner transit across the Delhi–National Capital Region (NCR).

Funded through the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), the program will be jointly executed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). The initiative will operate in direct collaboration with the participating governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

The scheme features a total financial outlay of INR 95.85 billion, which includes an INR 50.41 billion capital commitment from the Central Government and an estimated INR 16.01 billion allocated via tax concessions from the participating states.

The program targets the replacement of heavy commercial vehicles currently complying with BS-IV or earlier emission standards with newer BS-VI (or stricter) compliance models and electric vehicles (EVs). According to data cited from an August 2018 source apportionment study by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI):

• Sector Emissions: The transport sector drives 14 percent of PM2.5, 40 percent of Carbon Monoxide (CO), and 63 percent of Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emissions in Delhi-NCR.
• High-Impact Fleet: Within this sector, trucks and buses account for 36 percent of total PM2.5 emissions while making up just 3 percent of the active vehicle fleet.
• Technology Gap: A single Pre-BS heavy-duty vehicle emits as much particulate matter as 14 BS-VI vehicles, while an older BS-IV truck emits 2.7 times more than its BS-VI counterpart.

The fleet modernisation drive is expected to benefit approximately 207,000 vehicle owners across the NCR, encompassing 191,000 trucks and 16,329 buses. Government-owned fleets are explicitly excluded from the scheme.

The operational guidelines differ by vehicle generation and state jurisdictions:

• BS-III or Older Vehicles: Owners must format and scrap old assets at a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF).
• BS-IV Vehicles: May either be scrapped or sold outside the NCR boundary into non-NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) cities and towns.
• Replacement Registration: New replacement vehicles must be registered inside the NCR.
• Delhi-Specific Mandates: Within the National Capital Territory of Delhi, all Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) purchased under this framework must be purely electric, while new buses are restricted to either BS-VI CNG or electric drivetrains.

To offset transition costs for operators, the program bundles financial support from the central government, state bodies, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs):

The rollout will operate entirely via an integrated digital portal designed to handle real-time eligibility screening, automated processing for interest subventions, monthly credit distribution for fuel vouchers, and structural tracking of net pollution reduction metrics. While the enrollment window spans two years, the central government's financial benefits will remain active for 5 years from a vehicle's individual registration date to provide sustained operational relief.

Administrative monitoring will be directed by a high-level Empowered Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary. The body will include the CEO of NITI Aayog, Secretaries from MoHUA, MoRTH, MoPNG, and the Department of Financial Services (DFS), alongside the Chief Secretaries of the participating NCR states, with the Member Secretary of the NCRPB serving as the member convenor. Local execution and district-level compliance will be managed by respective District Magistrates and District Collectors.

Shailesh Chandra, President, SIAM, said, “This is a positive step towards accelerating the adoption of cleaner vehicles in Delhi NCR. A combination of 5 percent interest subvention by the Centre, road tax concessions by States, monthly fuel vouchers of up to INR 4,800 by OMCs, and discounts by OEMs allows participation from all stakeholders to provide an opportunity to owners of old Commercial Vehicles to leverage the programme, thereby contributing to reducing pollution load in NCR.”

Girish Wagh, MD & CEO, Tata Motors, said, “The approval of this scheme is a positive step towards accelerating fleet modernisation and cleaner mobility in the Delhi-NCR region. Aligned with our commitment to make cargo and passenger transportation greener and more efficient, we are well positioned to support this transition through our expansive portfolio of BS-VI and zero-emission commercial vehicles, and our nationwide network of Re.Wi.Re registered vehicle scrapping facilities. We look forward to studying the finer details of the notification to further align our efforts towards building a more sustainable and modern commercial vehicle ecosystem.”

B. Srinivas, MD & CEO, VECV, said, “We applaud the Government for approving the vehicle replacement scheme for Delhi-NCR. This is a significant step towards accelerating fleet modernisation while addressing one of the region’s most pressing environmental challenges. As India progresses towards its Net Zero 2070 ambitions, such initiatives demonstrate how policy, industry and technology can come together to drive sustainable mobility. At VECV we believe this will not only support cleaner transportation in Delhi-NCR but also serve as a model for fleet renewal and modernisation across the country during its Amrit Kaal. We are committed to supporting our customers through this transition with a wide range of Eicher and Volvo trucks and buses offering fuel options covering electrics, CNG, LNG and clean BSVI diesel.”

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Chennai-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major TVS Motor Company is optimistic about delivering above-industry growth in the coming quarters, supported by robust structural demand drivers, replacement needs, improving affordability, and accelerating electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

In a post-earnings call, K N Radhakrishnan, Director and Chief Executive Officer, TVS Motor Company, said, “Structural demand drivers, replacement demand, affordability, and continued EV adoption. All these are going to be supportive and I’m pretty confident that TVS will do much better than the industry growth.”

The company continues to see strong momentum in its electric vehicle segment. Following the milestone of crossing one million iQube sales, EV penetration exceeded 10.6 percent in June.

TVS Motor Co’s manufacturing capacity for electric two-wheelers is being scaled from 40,000 units towards more than 50,000 units, while three-wheeler EV capacity is expanding to approximately 30,000 units.

Radhakrishnan sees demand for internal combustion engine (ICE) two-wheelers to remain solid in the domestic market, with the company’s scooter portfolio — including the Jupiter, Ntorq and Scooty ranges — registering robust retail offtake. This has been supported by targeted product upgrades and disciplined inventory management, with dealer stock levels maintained below 30 days.

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On the international front, TVS Motor achieved record Q1 sales of 4.68 million units, a 33 percent YoY increase. Growth was driven by a recovery in Africa, expansion in Latin America and strong demand for the HLX series. The company is targeting an increase in total two-wheeler capacity to 8.3 million units.

Despite commodity price volatility and supply chain challenges in April, TVS Motor delivered a healthy operating EBITDA margin of 12.8 percent through strategic price adjustments of approximately 1.5 percent in Q1, ongoing cost optimisation and benefits from scale.

With the festive season approaching in October and November, the company expects sustained momentum across both domestic and international markets, supported by new product introductions and an expanding global footprint.

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European auto major Stellantis has announced leadership changes for the Ram and Jeep brands. Matt VanDyke has been appointed CEO of the Ram brand, effective 20 July, succeeding Tim Kuniskis. Branden Cote has been named CEO of the Jeep brand, effective 3 August, succeeding Bob Broderdorf, who is taking medical leave and will assume a new role upon his return. Both executives will report to Tim Kuniskis, Head of American Brands, North America Marketing and Retail strategy, Stellantis North America.

VanDyke joins Ram following roles as President of Shift Digital, CEO of FordDirect and leadership positions at Ford Motor Company. Cote joins Jeep with industry experience across OEM and dealer retail operations, including roles with AutoNation, Aston Martin Lagonda, Canoo and Mercedes-Benz USA.

Tim Kuniskis, said, “Matt and Branden are proven leaders who will build on our successes and take these iconic American brands to the next level. Their skills and deep industry experience align with our simple – but very important – customer-centric objective: to provide people with the brands and products they love and trust. I also want to thank Bob Broderdorf for his exceptional leadership of Jeep. Bob is a dedicated and valued colleague, and a friend to many across the Company. I look forward to continuing our work together when he takes on his new role.”

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GMC has introduced the HUMMER EV ICON | 25, a limited-run edition marking 25 years of the HUMMER nameplate. The vehicle will be available in 2X and 3X trims for both Pickup and SUV models.

The limited edition features an exterior colour named ‘ICON,’ which draws inspiration from the yellow paint used on the HUMMER H2. The EV includes a black interior, a front approach shield, serialised badging and infotainment graphics. Each unit will come with a keepsake.

The HUMMER EV ICON | 25 made its debut at the 2026 ESPYS in New York City, where GMC served as a sponsor.

Michael MacPhee, Global Vice-President, Buick and GMC, said, “Twenty-five years ago, HUMMER first captured attention and established itself as an immediate icon. Today, HUMMER remains instantly recognisable as an all-electric supertruck that continues to turn heads. The GMC HUMMER EV | ICON 25 is our way of recognising that legacy and its debut at the 2026 ESPYs places it among athletes, celebrities and icons whose influence has also stood the test of time.”

For MY2027, the HUMMER EV lineup will feature the North American Charging Standard (NACS) inlet and provide vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging.

GMC is introducing five exterior colour options – ICON, Dark Ridge, Azurite Blue, Dark Ember, and Deep Void Matte – alongside two 22-inch wheel options.

The EV continues to offer features including 4-Wheel Steer with CrabWalk and King Crab, Air Ride Adaptive suspension and Extract Mode. Technology features include Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance, the Infinity Roof, and camera views.

The 3X Pickup model comes with 1,160 horsepower and 13,000 lb.-ft of torque and a claimed zero to 60 mph (96 kmph) time of 2.8 seconds when equipped with the 24-module battery.

Production of the 2027 GMC HUMMER EV and the ICON | 25 edition will commence later this year at the Factory ZERO Assembly Center in Detroit and Hamtramck, Michigan. It will be available in the U.S. and Canada, with pricing to be announced closer to the start of production.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Shaurya Vijay Yatra 2026 at the National War Memorial in New Delhi, marking the commencement of nationwide observances for Kargil Vijay Diwas. The 13-day expedition, organised by Jawa Yezdi Motorcycles, features 28 riders traversing a 1,900-kilometre route to the Kargil War Memorial in Dras, Ladakh. The group comprises serving and retired defence personnel alongside their families, united under the rallying cry of ‘One Ride, One Nation, One Salute’ to honour the bravery and ultimate sacrifices of the 1999 Kargil War heroes.

The motorcycle contingent is scheduled to pass through significant military landmarks including Chandimandir, Rezang La and the Leh War Memorials before its scheduled arrival on 26 July. A central element of the journey involves transporting an urn filled with sacred soil from the National War Memorial to Kargil, symbolising the enduring valour of India's warriors across generations. The riders will also pay personal tributes to Veer Naris, acknowledging the resilience of the war widows.

Senior military leadership, including Chief of Defence Staff General N S Raja Subramani and Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth, joined the Defence Minister at the ceremonial start, alongside veterans and senior officials. The presence of the National Cadet Corps underscored the event's focus on inspiring youth to remember the nation's gallant soldiers and embrace the core principles of duty and selfless service.

During his address, the Defence Minister commemorated the soldiers whose courage upheld the nation's honour, framing the Kargil victory as a testament to India's steadfast sovereignty. He specifically recalled the contributions of Param Vir Chakra recipients Captain Vikram Batra, Lieutenant Manoj Kumar Pandey and Subedar Majors Yogendra Singh Yadav and Sanjay Kumar. Initiated in 2021, this tribute ride has evolved into a cherished tradition, with each kilometre travelled serving as a poignant reminder that the nation's freedom is preserved by those who place their country above all else.

Anupam Thareja, Co-Founder, Classic Legends, said, "Shaurya Vijay Yatra is our way of remembering the heroes of Kargil and their families. We started this tribute with the belief that remembering their sacrifices and being grateful is a shared responsibility. Through this journey, we remain committed to keeping their memories alive for future generations. Alongside the Indian Army, we are honoured to undertake this tribute and pay homage to our bravehearts."

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