Formula 1 and the Dutch Grand Prix promoter have agreed a one-year contract extension that will keep Circuit Zandvoort on the Formula 1 calendar until the 2026 season. The promoter has decided not to continue on the schedule after 2026, following extensive thought and debate.

The resumption of the Dutch Grand Prix in 2021 coincided with an era of dominance for local star Max Verstappen, who has won the race three times and been named World Champion in each of the event's four editions. The event has become well known for its experience, with Dutch and foreign tourists alike converging to see the thrill of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, F1 Academy and other teams battle around the circuit's famed banked bends. It has also established itself as a premier sustainable sports event, pioneering technology that are now utilised throughout the Formula One season.

The 2025 edition of the event is scheduled to take place from 29 to 31 August. The date for the last race in 2026, which will feature a Sprint for the first time at the Dutch Grand Prix, will be confirmed next year. Tickets for the 2025 race are already being sold, and details on the 2026 final event will be released soon.

Stefano Domenicali, President and CEO, Formula 1, said, “I am incredibly grateful for the work that the team at the Dutch Grand Prix have done in recent years. They raised the bar for European Grands Prix in terms of event spectacle and entertainment, supported the development of young talent by hosting F2, F3 and our F1 Academy series and have also pioneered sustainable solutions that have inspired our events around the world as we drive towards being Net Zero by 2030. All parties positively collaborated to find a solution to extend the race, with many options, including alternation or annual events on the table, and we respect the decision from the promoter to finish its amazing run in 2026. I want to thank all the team at the Dutch Grand Prix and the Municipality of Zandvoort who have been fantastic partners to Formula 1.”

Robert van Overdijk, Director, Dutch Grand Prix, said, “The Dutch Grand Prix is the result of a unique collaboration between SportVibes, TIG Sports and Circuit Zandvoort, who shared the ambition of bringing the race back to the Netherlands. What we have achieved so far is undoubtedly a huge success. The appreciation from our visitors, drivers and teams has been unprecedented, and we are incredibly proud of that. While today’s announcement signals the end of a monumental era, we are confident there is plenty more for fans to look forward to at the Dutch Grand Prix in 2025 and 2026, including the Sprint in 2026. We are a privately owned and operated business, and we must balance the opportunities presented by continuing to host the event, against other risks and responsibilities. We have decided to go out on a high with two more incredible Dutch Grands Prix in 2025 and 2026. We wanted to take this step while our event is adored and supported by passionate fans, residents and the Formula 1 community. I want to thank Stefano Domenicali and all the team at Formula 1 for the hard work that has seen multiple contract extensions realised and the Dutch Grand Prix be such a success.”

JK Tyre & Industries Ltd (JK Tyre) has reported a PAT of INR 570 million in its unaudited results for the third quarter of FY2024-25. The company recorded revenues of INR 3.69 billion in the respective quarter and an EBITDA of INR 3.35 billion. The EBITDA margin was 9.1 percent and the PBT of INR 80 million. 
Commenting on the results, Dr Raghupati Singhania, Chairman and Managing Director, JK Tyre, stated, “JK Tyre witnessed a healthy growth in the Replacement market during the Quarter. Rising raw material cost, particularly in natural rubber impacted the margins, which was to an extent addressed by certain price revisions and cost optimization. Looking ahead, demand in the replacement market is promising, and the OEM sector is on a recovery path. Moreover, export markets offer new opportunities, given the Rupee/Dollar parity.”
Focusing on premiumization of its product range across segments, which will help profitability, JK Tyre is also digitally transforming itself. In this direction, the company recently established a Digital & Analytics Centre of Excellence (DnA COE), which should help strengthen data driven operational efficiencies and innovation.
JK Tyre’s subsidiaries, Cavendish Industries Ltd. (CIL) and JK Tornel, Mexico, continues to make healthy contributions to the overall revenues and profitability of the Company.
 

Leading autotech company CARS24 has teamed up with the Indian Road Safety Campaign (IRSC) to tackle road safety issues on a larger scale. This includes identifying and addressing accident-prone areas using data-driven insights, pushing for tougher enforcement of traffic laws to lower fatalities and interacting with legislators and urban planners to enhance road infrastructure for long-term effects. This is consistent with CARS24's mission statement, ‘Better Drives, Better Lives’, which emphasises that safety is a movement that calls for awareness, action and cooperation rather than merely a duty.

Pothole reporting using the CARS24 app is one of the most recent projects within this partnership. In order to contribute to the development of a centralised database of road hazards, users may now report potholes in real time. While the remaining information will be shared with local authorities to advocate for more extensive road repairs, IRSC will take steps to repair specific potholes after verification. Furthermore, every pothole that is reported will be geotagged, enabling other drivers to drive safely and steer clear of dangerous locations. By bridging the gap between public reporting and government action, this programme seeks to expedite the remediation of dangerous road conditions.

In addition to updating its app with new features and improving drivers' access to important information, CARS24 is getting ready to train all of its Autonauts (staff) as first responders. All 150 staff, including the co-founders, have already received training in emergency response, first aid and CPR as part of the project. In order to ensure that more individuals are ready to intervene when it counts most, this programme will be extended to provide them with life-saving skills.

Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder, CARS24, said, "We’ve all seen it, a crash that changed a life forever. India has just one percent of the world’s vehicles but 11 percent of global road deaths. That’s not bad luck – it’s a failure of infrastructure, enforcement and awareness. Over 60 percent of these deaths are preventable, yet road accidents remain an everyday tragedy. It’s time to change that. CARS24 is stepping up not just to talk about road safety but to take action. Because no mother should have to fear every time her child steps out. No father should have to worry if their child will make it home. No family should receive a call that changes everything. Fixing potholes, improving accessibility and empowering people with knowledge and tool is our first step towards this mission. Having said that, road safety isn’t just one company’s effort; it’s something we all need to take responsibility for. Because a safe journey home shouldn’t be a privilege – it should be something we build together."

Vikram Chopra, CEO and Co-Founder, CARS24, said, "India loses three percent of its GDP annually due to road crashes. That’s more than what we spend on healthcare and education combined. Beyond the personal tragedy, road accidents impact the entire economy. If fixing roads, enforcing laws and driving responsibly can save lives and boost our nation’s progress, then we have no excuse not to act."

Amar Srivastava, Founder and President, Indian Road Safety Campaign, said, “We started IRSC more than a decade back due to loss of close seniors to a road-crash at IIT Delhi. However, India still loses more than 100,000-plus youth to road-crashes, and solving such a multi-sectoral problem would need the private, government and citizens to come together to solve this while using technology as the backbone for sustainable impact. With our collaboration with CARS24, we aim to save a million lives across the next decade by leveraging technological innovations to change behaviour and nudging citizens at scale to drive responsibly and help reduce crashes by active participation.”

Deepanshu Gupta, Co-Founder and Vice President, Indian Road Safety Campaign, said, “While a lot of people believe road-crashes are accidents, they are not. Each and every accident is preventable by systemic interventions, and with our collaboration with CARS24, we would work across the 4Es of road-safety [engineering, education, emergency care, enforcement] at 10x scale and speed. Road-crashes are today the leading cause of youth deaths. While this is a global menace, India leads the pack and am hopeful that if we all collaborate to act, we would also be the leaders in showing how to solve this sustainably. Time to act is now.”

The Union Budget 2025-26 has been widely welcomed by industry leaders, particularly for its transformative impact on the electric mobility and start-up ecosystems. Key highlights include the exemption of basic customs duty (BCD) on 35 capital goods critical for EV battery manufacturing and tax exemptions on essential materials like lithium and cobalt, significantly lowering production costs and promoting local supply chains.
The budget also emphasised boosting the MSME sector through increased credit access and skill development, alongside measures supporting startups, gig workers and cleantech manufacturing. Investments in infrastructure, public-private partnerships and tax relief for the middle class are expected to stimulate consumer spending and economic growth.
Overall, the budget is seen as a strong step toward making India a global leader in sustainable mobility, innovation and self-reliant manufacturing.
Partner and Automotive Tax Leader at EY India Saurabh Agarwal noted, “The proposed income tax cuts could boost the middle class's spending power, potentially increasing demand for two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and small cars. Further, the government's commitment to fostering a sustainable automotive ecosystem is clearly demonstrated through its strategic initiatives, which are poised to deliver substantial benefits to the EV industry. The budget astutely emphasizes the complete exemption of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on cobalt powder and waste, scrap of lithium-ion battery, lead, zinc, zirconium, copper, etc. These pivotal measures are designed to ensure a reliable domestic supply of essential critical minerals for manufacturing and to stimulate job creation across India.”
The Central Government has significantly increased budgetary allocations with PME E-Drive receiving INR 40 billion, auto PLI being bolstered by INR 22.18 billion and advanced chemistry cell PLI benefiting from an infusion of INR 1.55 billion. 
Commenting on the newly introduced budget, Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director Santosh Iyer said, “India has long been regarded as a niche garden with high fences; however, this budget is expected not only to enrich the garden by stimulating consumption and strengthening MSME sector, but also lowering the fences through tariff rationalisation and adoption of international practices on transfer pricing, with a clear commitment to enhanced global trade integration. This will send a strong positive signal to the industry, reinforcing confidence in the ‘India Growth Story’, paving the way for sustained investment and future expansion. The announcement of setting up of National Manufacturing Mission’s for clean technology manufacturing and support to domestic EV battery manufacturing is a positive step towards strengthening EV ecosystem. We also welcome the setting up of a high-level committee to evaluate regulatory reforms which will enhance ease of doing business in long term.”
Volkswagen India Brand Director Ashish Gupta, averred, “The Union Budget presents a forward-thinking roadmap for strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem with a clear emphasis on clean technology, skill development and infrastructure growth. By prioritizing these areas, along with manufacturing, India is advancing toward a circular economy—where investments, innovation, and sustainable practices drive long-term growth. Infrastructure growth through public-private partnerships and capital expenditure incentives will pave the way for India to become a globally competitive manufacturing hub.” 
Commercial vehicle players have also lauded the budget. Ashok Leyland Executive Chairman Dheeraj Hinduja noted, “The finance minister has presented a clear, growth-driven budget that aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of fostering a competitive and resilient India with inclusive growth by investing in people, economy and innovation. Additionally, the government's strong commitment to green mobility is expected to create new avenues for innovation and growth across the country.”
Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Managing Director Satyakam Arya iterated, “The Union Budget 2025-26 will be a game changer for India and the mobility sector, helping us become a global leader in EV manufacturing and sustainable transportation. The emphasis on localising battery production will create technological advancements and generate more jobs. Also, with mining identified as one of the six domain areas for transformative reforms and the introduction of the State Mining Index, we see major growth potential for the sector in the coming years.”
EKA Mobility Chairman Sudhir Mehta said, “These different programmes demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainability, innovation and greater industrial competitiveness, setting the framework for transformative progress in a variety of critical sectors. The nation's energy revolution will be dependent on funding for small modular reactors and the government's target of 100 gigawatts of nuclear power by 2047. Long-term growth can be solidified by financial agreements that allow governments to expand their borrowing capacity, as well as indirect taxation initiatives targeted at increasing domestic value creation.” 
Two-wheeler industry
In a move to avoid protectionist signals, the government has reduced import duties on high-end motorcycles. This decision aligns with India's commitment to lowering trade barriers and could influence the premium motorcycle segment.
With electric mobility remaining the focus point of the automotive sector, the budget has made pivotal efforts for bolstering manufacturing. Drawing on that, companies operating in the EV two-wheeler space has welcomed the developments with open arms. 
Kolkata-based Motovolt Mobility Founder Tushar Choudhary said, “"The recent budget has delivered a promising outlook for India’s electric vehicle industry, especially with the reduction in BCD on capital goods related to EV manufacturing. This move will help lower production costs, making EVs more affordable for consumers and encouraging higher sales. Aligned with the National Manufacturing Mission, the budget’s focus on rationalising customs tariffs signals the government's intent to localize high-value production and reduce dependency on imports. Additionally, the exemption on critical minerals like lithium is a significant step toward easing the supply of vital components for EV batteries, further lowering costs and boosting domestic manufacturing. Efforts to localize EV components like batteries, motors and controllers will help reduce upfront costs which would further strengthen India’s EV Ecosystem giving the EV sector the ability to penetrate the Indian markets.”
Chennai-based high performance EV two-wheeler manufacturer Raptee HV’s Co-founder Dinesh Arjun said, “The Finance Minister’s focus on nurturing and investing in innovation is a commendable step toward accelerating new technologies that will shape our future. The allocation of a Deep Tech Fund will further strengthen India’s industrial ecosystem, fostering a globally competitive, tech-driven economy.”
Drawing on the same lines, Revamp Moto Chief Executive Officer Pritesh Mahajan said, “"The National Manufacturing Mission’s support for clean tech manufacturing is a game-changer for India's sustainable future. I firmly believe that this initiative will accelerate the growth of domestic EV battery and solar panel production, reducing our reliance on imports while strengthening India's position as a global leader in green technology. The additional INR 100 billion investment underscores the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, job creation and energy security.”
Welcoming the budget, Odysse Electric Founder Nemin Vora said, “We appreciate the Union Budget 2025, which underscores the government's commitment to fostering economic growth and empowering citizens. The adoption of progressive policies, particularly within the existing tax framework, is a key step in enhancing disposable income and driving consumer spending. This decision will significantly impact consumer-driven sectors, especially the two-wheeler industry. With more disposable income in the hands of consumers—particularly the middle class—purchasing power is set to rise. As a result, more individuals will be encouraged to invest in personal mobility solutions like two-wheelers.”
Associates talk
The boost towards electric mobility is also poised to impact the entire ecosystem. DriveX Founder Narain Karthikeyan noted, “The 2025 Budget is a strong step towards inclusive economic growth, bringing significant benefits across all sections of society. The increase in MSME turnover limits, along with enhanced credit access and intensive skill-development programmes will fuel entrepreneurship, business expansion and youth employment. We also welcome the government’s recognition of the gig economy, with steps to regularise support for gig workers and improve their access to credit facilities. With enhanced credit guarantee cover for MSMEs and startups, particularly in focus sectors crucial for Atmanirbhar Bharat, the budget lays a strong foundation for sustained growth and economic resilience.”
Commenting on the same lines, Taabi Mobility Limited Chief Executive Officer Pali Tripathi said, “The transformation of India Post into a large-scale logistics network, along with greater accessibility to PM Gati Shakti data for the private sector, will significantly enhance connectivity, particularly in hinterland regions. These initiatives will drive smarter freight management, optimise last-mile delivery, and make transportation more seamless and sustainable.”
On the aggregator front Rapido Chief Financial Officer Vivek Krishna said, “The Union Budget 2025-26 has proposed a review of both financial and non-financial sector regulations that are expected to help businesses perform better with lesser compliances. It reflects a bold vision for Viksit Bharat, one that empowers the gig economy, promotes sustainable mobility, and catalyses digital innovation. We welcome the social security scheme and healthcare support announced for gig workers. The e-shram portal registration and the PM Jan Arogya Yojana will be a game-changer in prioritising the well-being of gig workers, including our captains. It’s also encouraging to see the government’s effort in promoting green mobility by incentivising local EV component manufacturing.” 
Alluding to how the manufacturing push will bolster the electric mobility segment, Kinetic Engineering Managing Director Ajinkya Firodia said, “These steps noted in budget will significantly enhance India’s position as a global hub for electric mobility and clean energy technologies. In addition, the focus on expanding charging infrastructure, incentivising electric buses for public transport and ramping up domestic battery production marks a decisive move in India’s EV revolution. The continued subsidies under the FAME scheme will make EVs more affordable and accessible to consumers. This strong policy push not only paves the way for rapid adoption of EVs but will also create jobs, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and position India as a global leader in sustainable transportation.”
Drawing on the same lines, Tata Technologies Managing Director Warren Harris said, “The establishment of five National Centres of Excellence for Skilling is a pivotal move in building a future-ready workforce. This initiative resonates with our commitment to engineering a better future for India's youth through investment in in-demand training programs across Industry 4.0, IoT, and advanced manufacturing and collaborating with state governments to upgrade ITIs into technology hubs.”
TapFin Co-founder Aditya Singh said, “The budget’s emphasis on cleantech manufacturing, including incentives for electric vehicle batteries and the additional 10 GW support for grid-scale batteries, signals a significant shift for India’s electric mobility sector. Strengthening domestic production will foster innovation, reduce dependence on imports, and open new growth opportunities.”

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By collaborating with Delhi Traffic Police to organise a comprehensive safety awareness week, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to enhancing road safety. The leading Indian tyre maker has contributed to the road safety initiative held as part of National Road Safety Month (January 1–31, 2025) and spearheaded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to foster responsible driving habits and reduce road accidents.
Held at the Delhi Police Traffic Training Park, BKS, the road safety initiative under the theme ‘Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha,’ features a series of engaging awareness activities conducted at high-traffic zones across the city. 
The company, in collaboration with the Delhi Traffic Police, has conducted over a period of six days, interactive sessions at key traffic intersections such as the ITO, Connaught Place, Punjabi Bagh and Dhaula Kuan. The emphasis of these session was to take crucial safety measures such as adhering to traffic rules, wearing helmets and seat belts, and not using mobile phones while driving.
Speaking about the initiative, Srinivasu Alahan, Director – Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre, said, “For over three decades, JK Tyre has been at the forefront of road safety awareness and education. We take immense pride in supporting this cause through our National Road Safety Month initiatives. Ensuring road safety remains a top priority for us, and our cutting-edge products, such as SMART Tyres and Puncture Guard Tyres, have significantly contributed to enhancing driver safety. These innovations empower drivers by providing real-time alerts on potential issues, enabling preventive action and reducing accident risks. Through our sustained efforts, we remain dedicated to creating safer roads for all.”