Maruti Suzuki India Limited has formalised an agreement with Gujarat’s Directorate of Employment and Training to establish Advanced Manufacturing Labs within five Industrial Training Institutes located in Palanpur, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Godhra and Dahod. This partnership is structured under the company’s corporate social responsibility framework and directly supports the national Skill India mission.

These specialised labs are engineered to mirror actual shop-floor conditions, offering trainees practical exposure to critical automotive processes including assembly, welding, painting, machining, mechatronics and safety protocols. The overarching goal is to elevate the employability of ITI graduates and cultivate a workforce that is immediately adaptable to the demands of modern manufacturing.

This educational initiative coincides with a massive production scale-up in Gujarat. Maruti Suzuki is preparing to activate a fourth production line at its Hansalpur facility this year, which will boost annual capacity to one million units from the current 750,000. Concurrently, a new manufacturing plant with an additional one-million-unit capacity is under construction in Sanand, positioning the state to eventually host a total annual production volume of two million vehicles.

The company’s commitment to skill development is already extensive, supporting 31 ITIs nationwide in manufacturing trades. The addition of the five Gujarat labs will increase the total count of Advanced Manufacturing Labs to 23 across seven states and union territories. Furthermore, the automaker sustains four Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing in Gujarat and Haryana, a bilateral initiative designed to generate a robust talent pipeline for the industry.

Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Maruti Suzuki aligns with the Government of India’s flagship Skill India mission to impart the relevant skill training to create livelihood opportunities for the youth. Through Advanced Manufacturing Labs, we are equipping students with experiential learning and confidence in modern equipment, nurturing professionals who can seamlessly integrate into the evolving automotive ecosystem. We have a robust plan to expand manufacturing operations in the State. Each expansion brings with it a new industrial ecosystem, one that demands skilled and future-ready workforce. The Advanced Manufacturing Labs will play a pivotal role in meeting this latent need and ensuring that talent is ready to meet the industry demands.”

Stuti Charan, IAS, Director, DET, Government of Gujarat, said, “Maruti Suzuki, while being the market leader, has consistently demonstrated its commitment to skill development in India. By setting up Advanced Manufacturing Labs in Gujarat’s ITIs, Maruti Suzuki is bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements. This initiative will empower our youth and strengthen Gujarat’s position as a hub for the automotive sector, in line with Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat and Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel’s guidance toward Viksit Gujarat 2047. The momentum and support from Hon’ble Cabinet Minister Shri Kunwarjibhai Mohanbhai Bavaliya, Labour, Skill Development & Employment, Hon’ble State Minister Shri Kantibhai Amrutiya Labour, Skill Development and Hon'ble Secretary Shri Lochan Sahera, Labour, Skill Development are paving the way for future-ready learning skills that match the pace of global development.”

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Kia India has reported that its Carens Clavis EV has surpassed 1,100 units deployed within corporate fleets since its market introduction in July 2025. The automaker underscored this milestone as evidence of the model’s increasing significance in the nation’s transition toward sustainable business transport solutions. Concurrently, the company confirmed a fresh deployment of 100 units for Refex Mobility, with the initial vehicles formally handed over during a ceremony attended by senior Kia India officials.

The vehicle’s combination of interior space, technological features and electric efficiency aligns with current corporate mobility needs, according to the manufacturer. Beyond vehicle production, Kia India is focused on developing a comprehensive ecosystem that includes charging infrastructure and dedicated aftersales support. The strategic partnership with Refex Mobility merges Kia’s electric vehicle capabilities with Refex’s operational fleet expertise, facilitating the integration of EVs into standard organisational transport routines.

This expanding corporate footprint exemplifies the brand’s overarching philosophy of inspiring movement that benefits both communities and the environment. Kia India remains committed to advancing the country’s adoption of cleaner transportation by ensuring that electric mobility solutions remain accessible, practical and prepared for future demands.

Atul Sood, Senior Vice-President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, said, "Demonstrating how electric mobility can seamlessly integrate into everyday corporate transportation, our deployment with Refex Mobility is a meaningful step towards accelerating this change. The Carens Clavis EV is a capable and practical fit for fleet operations, offering a spacious cabin, comfortable seating for extended daily use, a range well suited to intensive fleet requirements and an advanced Battery Management System that supports efficiency and safety for fleet customers. Recognising this capability, we have expanded the Carens Clavis EV's reach from individual customers to fleet operations, and corporate fleets have an important role to play in this transition. At Kia India, we remain committed to expanding access to innovative electric mobility solutions and working with partners who share our vision of creating cleaner, smarter and more responsible mobility for India."

Anirudh Arun, CEO, Refex Mobility, Said, “At Refex Mobility, we are committed to building fleet solutions that are efficient, reliable and sustainable. Our collaboration with Kia India on this 100-unit Carens Clavis EV deployment brings together a strong EV product with the operational scale our customers need. The Carens Clavis EV's space, comfort and electric efficiency make it well suited to the demands of everyday fleet operations, allowing us to offer enterprises a dependable, zero-emission mobility solution without compromising on service quality. This is a meaningful step in our shared commitment to accelerating cleaner, more sustainable corporate mobility in India, and we look forward to building on this partnership with Kia India in the years ahead.”

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German material manufacturer Covestro has partnered with automotive major BMW, tier 1 supplier FORVIA HELLA, and academic research institutions to launch KOLLEKT, a project focused on developing recyclable automotive lighting and electronic components.

Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) with EUR 4.371 million under the CircularGlowUp framework, the three-year initiative runs from June 2026 to May 2029.

The consortium led by coordinator FORVIA HELLA, includes BMW, Covestro, Geba, SW Maschinenservice, Fraunhofer IEM, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, the University of Paderborn, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. The initiative addresses vehicle recyclability, resource consumption and end-of-life material recovery in light of the EU End-of-Life Vehicles regulation.

The project focuses on product design optimised for repair, reuse, remanufacturing and recycling. Covestro contributes its expertise in polycarbonate materials, including its Makrolon, Bayblend and Apec product lines, to evaluate recycling pathways and material properties from the initial design phase.

Monique Buch, Chief Commercial Officer, Covestro, said, “KOLLEKT is a prime example of how we create value together with our customers and partners — going beyond material supply to co-designing solutions from the very beginning. By aligning early across the value chain with BMW, FORVIA HELLA and other partners, we can embed circularity directly into product development. That is what true co-creation looks like—and how we turn sustainability ambitions into tangible outcomes.”

Technological developments within the project include an artificial intelligence-driven robotic dismantling unit. Utilising digital product twins and real-time data processing, the unit aims to enable automated, material-pure disassembly at an industrial scale.

The initiative builds on the predecessor project NALYSES, which concluded in 2026. Project outcomes are intended to support compliance with EU ELV recycling targets through 2032 and assist vehicle manufacturers in meeting post-consumer recycled content quotas.

Guido Naberfeld, Head of Sales and Market Development Mobility, Covestro, stated, “KOLLEKT is a concrete step toward closing the loop on high-performance polycarbonate in automotive applications. By combining Design for Circularity with advanced recycling technologies and digital traceability, we are demonstrating that sustainability and material performance are not a trade-off. This is how Covestro contributes to meeting the EU's ELV targets and helps the entire automotive value chain transition to a truly circular model.”

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Mumbai-headquartered automotive major Mahindra Group has announced the appointment of Shveta Arya as its new Group Chief Strategy Officer, effective 15 September 2026. Arya will also join the senior management team of Mahindra & Mahindra and serve on the Group Executive Board.

In her new role, Arya will oversee the Group Strategy Office across the organisation's portfolio of businesses to determine growth opportunities and value creation. She will report directly to Dr. Anish Shah, Group CEO & MD of Mahindra Group.

Dr. Anish Shah said, “We are pleased to welcome Shveta Arya as Group Chief Strategy Officer. Shveta brings over two decades of leadership experience across business and strategy, as well as management consulting across diverse sectors. Her experience in driving growth, shaping strategy and leading through change will be valuable as we work with our portfolio of businesses to drive growth and create long-term value across our portfolio of businesses. Her passion for constructive change and holistic progress also resonates strongly with Mahindra’s purpose. I wish her the very best in this key leadership role.”

She comes with over 23 years of experience across publicly listed multinational organisations and management consulting. Her background spans the automotive, travel, financial services and telecom sectors.

Most recently, Arya served as Managing Director of Cummins India, where she managed operations, growth strategy, talent and workplace culture. She was also the program sponsor for Cummins' initiative focused on women and girls in India. Prior to Cummins, she led Strategy and M&A at Thomas Cook India and held roles at Kearney and Infosys.

Arya holds a Master of Business Administration from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Technology from Delhi University.

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Envalior India Pvt. Ltd. has launched a specialised training hub focused on electric vehicle technology at MM Polytechnic in Pune, marking a significant step in aligning vocational education with the demands of the burgeoning EV sector. The Envalior Centre of Excellence, a product of the company’s CSR initiatives in partnership with the BroadArks Foundation, is intended to serve as a practical workshop where students can transition from theoretical knowledge to applied technical competence.

The facility was formally inaugurated by Christopher Stillings, Vice President –R&D, in the presence of Krijn Dijkstra, Nileshkumar Kukalyekar, Uday Shetty, Susmita Mishra, Hema Rani, Sainath Vaidya and Aniket Nirwan of Envalior, MM Polytechnic leadership and other dignitaries. By embedding this centre within a technical campus, the programme seeks to immerse learners in the realities of EV maintenance and repair, covering not just mechanical functions but also the intricate electrical and software-driven systems that define modern vehicles.

With an annual capacity to reach roughly 250 learners, the centre will cater to students from ITI and polytechnic backgrounds across multiple engineering streams. The coursework is divided into two progressive phases, starting with a foundational module that introduces participants to basic EV architecture, battery safety and routine service procedures. An advanced tier follows, offering deeper instruction on battery management systems, thermal controls, high-voltage safety protocols, motor controllers and complex diagnostic methods.

Beyond traditional lectures, the training environment incorporates interactive lab sessions with real vehicle components, diagnostic tools and industry-relevant projects, ensuring that participants acquire both safety awareness and problem-solving agility. The overarching goal is to produce graduates who are not merely familiar with EV theory but are confident in executing hands-on repairs and system evaluations. Through this scalable framework, Envalior is actively working to narrow the skills gap in India’s automotive sector, creating a direct pipeline of capable talent for the evolving mobility landscape.

Nileshkumar Kukalyekar, Business Director – South Asia, Middle East & Africa, Envalior, said, “The transition to electric mobility is creating a fundamental shift in the skills expected from the automotive workforce. For us, this Centre of Excellence is about ensuring that technical education keeps pace with that change. By giving students the opportunity to work directly with EV systems, understand advanced diagnostics and build capabilities through structured, certified training, we are helping create a stronger bridge between what young technicians learn and what the industry will increasingly expect from them. We see this as an investment not only in individual careers but in the technical talent that will support India’s mobility transition in the years ahead.”

Christophe Stillings, Vice President – R&D, Envalior, said, "At Envalior, we believe the future of mobility depends on developing industry-ready talent today. Through the Centre of Excellence, students will gain hands-on exposure to EV technologies, helping bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry requirements. By bringing together academia and industry expertise, we aim to equip the next generation of engineers with the practical skills, confidence and innovation mindset needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving automotive landscape."

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