Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has appointed Martin Pohanka as its new Head of Design. He joined the brand in 2017 and has served as Head of Design Creation since 2023, overseeing interior, exterior, user interface, user experience and colour & trim development.

Pohanka studied industrial design at the Pforzheim University of Design and began his career as a freelance industrial designer in 1997. He joined Audi in 1998 before moving to Porsche in 2001 to work across interior and design functions, later serving as Chief Designer of Interior Creation at Jaguar Land Rover in the UK between 2015 and 2017.

His design portfolio includes the Porsche 911, Boxster, and Macan, the Land Rover Defender and Range Rover, as well as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles models including the Multivan, ID. Buzz, Transporter generation and Amarok.

Karsten Franz, Head of Technical Development, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said, “Martin Pohanka knows our brand, our products and above all the specific requirements of our customers extremely well. He has already played a major role in shaping the design of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in recent years. With his extensive international experience and his clear understanding of how to combine functionality with emotional design, he is the right person to consistently evolve our design language.”

Stefan Mecha, CEO, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, said, “Design is a crucial part of the identity of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Our vehicles have to work in everyday use and inspire at the same time. Martin Pohanka combines both. He knows the DNA of our brand and, together with his team, has already provided important impetus for our current products. I am delighted that he will take overall responsibility for design at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles going forward.”

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Bengaluru-based electric two-wheeler manufacturer Ultraviolette Automotive is strengthening its senior leadership with the appointment of Abhijit Singh Brar as Head of Marketing.

In this role, Brar will oversee brand positioning, product launch strategies and demand generation as the electric motorcycle manufacturer expands its product portfolio across India and export markets.

Brar brings more than two decades of experience across consumer and automotive sectors. He previously spent over eight years at Royal Enfield, where he established the domestic marketing function and subsequently led marketing operations across Europe, North America, Australia, Latin America and Southeast Asia, managing product introductions and market entries.

Prior to joining Ultraviolette, he held marketing and business strategy positions at Lodha, following earlier brand and commercial leadership roles at Bacardi and Diageo.

Narayan Subramaniam, CEO and Co-Founder, Ultraviolette Automotive, said, "We are excited to welcome Abhijit to Ultraviolette at a significant stage in our growth journey. His role in shaping Royal Enfield's brand journey and supporting its successful expansion across global markets will be particularly valuable as we broaden our product portfolio and reach new segments of riders. Alongside his extensive experience across consumer industries, he brings a deep understanding of consumer aspirations and a proven ability to build brands at scale. We look forward to leveraging his expertise to further strengthen Ultraviolette's position and accelerate our next phase of growth in India and international markets."

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Maruti Suzuki India has concluded the second edition of DesignXathon, an automotive design competition for students. The event drew participation from over 450 students across more than 70 design institutes in India and abroad, who were tasked with creating concepts for a vehicle that Generation Z and Generation Alpha consumers would aspire to own in 2036.

Following evaluation rounds and mentorship sessions led by Maruti Suzuki's Design Studio personnel, 10 finalist teams presented 1:8-scale prototypes during the finale at the company's India Design Studio in Gurugram.

Team IED Torino won the competition, while teams from the National Institute of Design in Gandhinagar secured the first and second runner-up positions.

The three winning teams received cash prizes and six-month internships at Maruti Suzuki's India Design Studio, with teams ranked fourth through tenth eligible for internship consideration pending evaluation.

Hisashi Takeuchi, MD and CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Customer aspirations, lifestyles and automotive technology are evolving. I believe young minds, with their fresh perspectives and unconventional thinking, will play an important role in shaping the future of mobility. As the world’s third-largest passenger vehicle market, India has immense young talent and creative potential to shape the future of mobility. At Maruti Suzuki, we are committed to connecting this talent with the industry. Through DesignXathon, we aim to foster open innovation and collaboration, nurture emerging designers, and lay the foundation for a strong design ecosystem in India. I congratulate the winning teams for their innovative concepts, bringing together technology and sustainability and commend all participants for their creativity and enthusiasm.”

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The upcoming 3^rd edition of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2027, scheduled from 4^th February to 9^th February, is set to become the second largest mobility expo in the world, said the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.

The minister made the statement at the curtain-raiser event for the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2027, which will be spread across 250,000 square metres of exhibition space at Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi in New Delhi, hosting over 1,750 exhibitors and 11 concurrent shows.

Piyush Goyal urged the mobility industry to focus on global markets and export-led growth to achieve economies of scale. Speaking on India's overall trade, he stated that the country is on track to hit its USD 1 trillion annual export target, supported by 22 percent growth in the engineering sector and USD 480 billion in total exports recorded in the first half of the financial year.

The upcoming expo will feature specialised segments including Auto Expo – The Motor Show 2027, the Components & Technology Show, the Bharat Construction Equipment Expo, the India International Tyre Show and dedicated pavilions for batteries, steel, cycle, agri-mobility, air mobility and urban mass transit.

He said that European manufacturers, which had traditionally focused on international markets, were increasingly recognising the challenges of competing globally given Europe's manufacturing costs and regulatory burden. Referring to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, he said that market access in India would initially allow European automobile manufacturers to test demand by introducing a limited number of models in the Indian market. Once they identify models with adequate demand, manufacturers could establish production in India, not only to serve the domestic market but also to export to the rest of the world.

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Italian two-wheeler manufacturer Vespa has introduced its fashion, collectables and archive design exhibition, titled 'The Empty Space', to India for the first time. The event takes place from 13 to 15 November 2026 at Jio World Garden, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai, held alongside AJIO LUXE WKEND.

The exhibition showcases a curated selection of Vespa's ready-to-wear apparel and design objects, including pieces from the Al Vento collection, Pilot Dogs, Miscela Nostalgia, In Sella and items from the 2026 Vespa Lover line.

The product designs incorporate visual elements from the scooter's pressed-steel bodywork, such as curved flap pockets on overshirts and denim garments. The concept follows the opening of Vespa's global flagship store on Via Broletto in Milan in September 2025.

Michele Colaninno, CEO, Piaggio Group, said, "Every day is a new journey. It brings to mind a ceaseless quest for new destinations and new worlds. This is my desire: give a future to the things we create. I like to hope we will continue to look one another in the eye and that we won’t isolate ourselves in total digital silence. It is important to kindle emotions. Joy, memories, delusions, and triumphs: these are enduring emotions that stay with us wherever we go. It’s difficult today, but not impossible. I am sure we will succeed because Vespa has always been the symbol of a new start. Vespa is more today than it was yesterday, always creating new ideas."

Diego Graffi, Chairman and Managing Director, Piaggio India, said, "India has a long memory of the Vespa. Ask around and someone will show you a family photograph with one in it. What India has not yet seen is how far the Vespa world now reaches: into what people wear, what they keep on a shelf, how they spend an afternoon. The Empty Space was created in Milan to hold that world, and we wanted India to see it as it was conceived, not in translation. For Vespa in India, this begins a different conversation. The people who choose a Vespa here have always chosen it for more than the ride, and we intend to meet them in every part of life where that choice shows. From 13 to 15 November, The Empty Space is open in Mumbai. Come and find your own way through it."

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