Gemma Benbow, People & Organisation Director at Kia UK, has been named the overall winner of the 2026 ‘Inspiring Automotive Woman of the Year’ award. The accolade was presented at the 2026 Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) Awards, held in partnership with the Automotive 30% Club. Julia Muir, founder of the Automotive 30% Club, presented the award to Benbow.

The award celebrates women who drive meaningful change in the automotive sector, particularly in inclusion, talent development and workplace culture. Benbow was initially recognised as one of 24 winners of the ‘Inspiring Automotive Women Award’ during a private reception prior to the main IMI Awards dinner. She was then selected from this group as the overall recipient.

Judges commended her transformative leadership and strategic approach to diversity and inclusion, which have significantly reshaped internal practices at Kia UK. Benbow has embedded inclusive principles into recruitment, leadership development and overall workplace culture. Her influence also extends to external partners, where she has promoted cross-industry collaboration and helped strengthen inclusion efforts within Kia’s dealer network.

Through her advocacy for gender equity, Benbow has become a key role model, encouraging others to lead with empathy and bold thinking. Her work has bolstered Kia UK’s reputation as a leader in diversity and inclusion, and the company continues to celebrate her lasting impact in building a more representative automotive industry.

Julia Muir, Founder of the Automotive 30% Club and CEO of Gaia Innovation Ltd, said, “Gemma has made an incredible impact at Kia UK, where, as the first and only female director, she is not only driving change but also being the change. She is a transformative leader whose strategic vision and unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion has reshaped the culture of the organisation. She exemplifies the spirit of this award and is a truly inspiring Automotive Woman.”

Nick Connor, CEO, IMI, said, “Gemma is a truly deserving recipient of this award. Her leadership, strategic vision and unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion are helping to reshape the culture of the automotive industry and open the door for the next generation of talent. She is a powerful role model whose passion, empathy and determination to drive positive change perfectly reflect the spirit of this recognition.”

Benbow said, “I am incredibly honoured to receive the 2026 ‘Inspiring Automotive Woman of the Year’ award, and I’m truly grateful to both the Automotive 30% Club and the IMI for this recognition. It means a great deal to be acknowledged by such respected organisations within our sector.

“This award reflects the hard work Kia’s senior management and P&O teams have done to transform the culture of Kia UK, building an environment where inclusion, equity and a genuine sense of belonging are embedded into every part of the employee experience. I’m immensely proud of the progress we’ve made together and of the positive impact it has had both for our people and for the success of the business.

“I am proud to work for Kia, and I believe wholeheartedly that the company’s achievements are driven first and foremost by the talented, dedicated people behind it. This recognition is as much theirs as it is mine.”

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VinFast India, one of the youngest electric vehicle manufacturers in the country and part of the Vietnamese conglomerate VinFast Group, has appointed Amit Arora as its new Director – O2O (online-to-offline) Sales.

In his new role, he will be responsible for building VinFast India’s retail presence, focussing on converting digital leads into actual sales.

Arora has more than two decades of experience in the automotive industry across marketing and sales functions. Till recently, he was the Head of Marketing for V-Green, part of VinFast Group, focusing on building the company’s brand presence, customer acquisition and support business growth in the EV charging ecosystem.

He also oversaw brand positioning, campaigns, partnerships and demand generation across segments.

Prior to that Arora, spent close to 11-years at Maruti Suzuki India as Senior Manager for International Markets, focussing on the Latin America and Oceania region. He also spent around 6 years of his career at Hyundai Motor India and rose to the ranks of Head of Sales Marketing Strategy.

Arora is a Commerce Graduate from Shaheed Bhagat Singh College and also holds a Postgraduate Degree in International Business from Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH).

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Aprilia Racing and Monster Energy have announced a multi-year partnership during the Grand Prix of Italy. The agreement initiates a collaboration between the two brands starting from the 2026 season, with Monster Energy scheduled to elevate its involvement to become the team's title sponsor for the 2027 championship.

Under the agreement, Monster Energy’s three-claw logo will be displayed on the factory Aprilia RS-GP bikes, rider leathers and official team assets. The arrangement marks the first time Aprilia Racing has signed a title sponsor for its premier class campaign.

The partnership coincides with a period of competitive growth for the Noale-based manufacturer. In 2025, Aprilia established itself as the European manufacturer with the most wins in FIM Grand Prix history, securing third place in the riders’ championship with Marco Bezzecchi and second place in the manufacturers' standings. During the 2026 season, the factory team has recorded victories in the opening three rounds, podium finishes across the first five races, a podium lockout at the French Grand Prix, and currently leads the rider, manufacturer and team standings.

Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, said, “We are extremely happy to announce this partnership with a global company like Monster Energy, who will be alongside us in 2026 as main sponsor and who will take on the role of title sponsor in 2027. This agreement represents a milestone for Aprilia Racing and the crowning moment of our path of success. For this reason, we are particularly proud of this collaboration which will contribute to further reinforcing the ambition of our project. I would like to thank Monster Energy for the trust they have placed in us, and we will do everything we can to ensure that it pays off as we begin this new chapter together.”

Mitch Covington, Senior Vice-President of Sports Marketing, Monster Energy, added, “Partnering with Aprilia Racing marks an exciting step forward for Monster Energy in MotoGP. The team has established itself as one of the most competitive and progressive forces in the championship, and we are looking forward to being part of that journey as it continues to evolve. MotoGP represents the pinnacle of two‑wheel racing, and it remains a key platform for Monster Energy to connect with fans globally. Together with Aprilia Racing, we are committed to elevating that connection and contributing to the continued growth and momentum of the sport.”

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Italian luxury carmaker Maserati hosted an official stamp cancellation ceremony at its historic Viale Ciro Menotti plant in Modena to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its iconic Trident logo and its first competitive motorsport victory at the 1926 Targa Florio.

The event follows an initial official unveiling of the commemorative philatelic asset held on 9 April 2026 at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy in Rome. The Modena ceremony brought together internal engineers, master artisans, and key regional stakeholders from Italy's ‘Motor Valley’ industrial ecosystem.

The Viale Ciro Menotti facility serves as the historical engineering hub where all Maserati production vehicle platforms have originated. Today, the specialised factory floor manages the high-end assembly lines for the brand's current performance and luxury lineup, including the GranTurismo, GranCabrio, MCPURA and the GT2 Stradale.

The centenary marks a defining milestone in Italian automotive history. On April 25, 1926, the Maserati Tipo 26 made its competitive track debut at the gruelling Targa Florio endurance race. Driven by co-founder Alfieri Maserati, the car secured a class victory while displaying the Trident logo on its front bonnet for the first time.

The emblem was originally sketched by Mario Maserati, an artist and the only brother not deeply involved in mechanical engineering, who drew inspiration from the Fountain of Neptune in Bologna, where the company was first founded in 1914.

The newly issued stamp is part of the Italian government's ‘Excellence of the production and economic system’ commemorative series.

The graphic profile was sketched by the Maserati Centro Stile design house and finalised by the Philately Centre of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato. The foreground highlights the clean, contemporary geometry of the modern Trident. The background displays an interconnected pattern of the original 1926 logo layout cast over a classic blue canvas.

Printed by the Officina Carte Valori, the stamp is being distributed by the Italian Post Office (Poste Italiane) for regular postal use alongside a limited-edition collector's philatelic folder.

The cancellation ceremony was attended by prominent regional political and automotive figures, including Vincenzo Colla, Vice-President of the Emilia Romagna Region, Paolo Zanca, Councillor for Economic Activities at the Municipality of Modena, Andrea Pontremoli, President of the Motor Valley Association & CEO of Dallara Group, Sen. Stefano Corti, Board Member of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Barbara Negroni, Head of Regional Branches, Italian Post Office, Santo Ficili, COO, Maserati and CEO, Alfa Romeo.

Santo Ficili, said, “Today, we welcome this special stamp to our home in Modena, to celebrate not only the Trident's centenary but also the beginning of an extraordinary all-Italian story. I would therefore like to thank the women and men of Maserati, our dealer network, our customers and all the stakeholders who contribute every day to the brand's growth in over 70 international markets."

"With its long-standing vocation for motorsport, this local area formed the roots of our extraordinary Brand, the longest-standing in the entire Italian Motor Valley, with the ability to bring to the world a unique vision of performance and driving pleasure. A strong, unbreakable bond that continues to guide our commitment to this community and to generate new opportunities for growth for the local area and its inhabitants,” he added.

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Hyundai Motor India, one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has appointed Gaurav Mathur as its new Vice-President and Head of Corporate Planning.

He joins the company after spending over two decades at Maruti Suzuki India, rising from the ranks of Assistant Manager in June 2004 to Vice-President EV Development in April 2024.

Mathur was instrumental in leading Maruti Suzuki India’s electrification plans, including the introduction of the e-Vitara.

In his new role, he will be responsible for driving strategic growth across corporate planning, business transformation, export expansion from India, future mobility business and innovation initiatives. He will also work closely on innovation and startup ecosystem partnerships, future mobility business initiatives, including AI and connected technologies.

“With India emerging as a key global hub for innovation and manufacturing, the focus will be on building future-ready capabilities that support sustainable growth and meaningful progress for humanity,” said Mathur.

Mathur is a Mechanical Engineer from Delhi College of Engineering and holds a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) – Marketing & Strategy from Management Development Institute, Gurgaon.

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