McLaren Automotive has appointed Kemal Curic as Chief Design Officer, effective from April 2026. Curic joins the company's Executive Leadership Team and assumes responsibility for the design vision and creative direction of the brand's vehicle portfolio. He will oversee all design functions, including interiors, exteriors, colour, materials, and finish (CMF), and digital design.

Curic moves to the British supercar manufacturer from Ford Motor Company, where he most recently held the position of Global Design Director for Performance Vehicles. His career spans over two decades in the global automotive industry, with a focus on luxury and high-performance vehicle design. In his new role, he will collaborate with the engineering and product strategy departments to maintain the company’s focus on lightweight and high-performance vehicle standards.

The appointment comes as McLaren continues to evolve its product line-up, integrating traditional racing heritage with new design innovations. Curic's previous work has been noted for its ability to update established vehicle series while maintaining brand authenticity.

Kemal Curic, Chief Design Officer, McLaren Automotive, said, “McLaren is one of the most respected and aspirational brands in the world. I’m excited to be part of their journey to help shape the design vision of a company so deeply rooted in engineering excellence and racing heritage. I look forward to working with the talented teams at McLaren to create the next generation of breathtaking, purpose‑driven cars.”

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Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has completed its 37th iCARE (I, Community Action to Reach Everyone) initiative. The project took place at the Government High School in Doddaghollarahatti, Karnataka, to mark National Reading Day 2026.

The event saw 250 volunteers, including TKM employees and their family members, participating in the event. The group refurbished the school library by cataloguing books, assembling furniture and installing signage. Volunteers also contributed books to the library collection.

The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, which emphasises the role of libraries as learning spaces.

Vikram Gulati, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Governance, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, "At Toyota, we believe that every child deserves access to spaces that inspire learning and curiosity. A library is often the first place where students discover new ideas, perspectives and opportunities beyond the classroom. Through the 37th iCARE initiative, we have worked to create a more welcoming and engaging environment that encourages students to read, explore and learn. By strengthening access to books and learning resources, we hope to support students in building knowledge, confidence and aspirations that can help shape their future."

Launched in 2017, the iCARE program has involved over 4,500 volunteers across 37 programs, impacting more than 68,800 people. Toyota Kirloskar Motor conducts these activities under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) pillars: education, health and hygiene, environment, skill development, road safety and disaster management.

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Maruti Suzuki India, the country’s largest carmaker, has onboarded five startups – MiniMines, Easework AI, Sarvam AI, Siftly and CodeMate AI, to develop solutions for business operations and customer experience.

The startups were chosen as winners of the fifth cohort of the Maruti Suzuki Incubation Program (MSIP), which is run in partnership with the NSRCEL incubation hub at IIM Bangalore.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “At Maruti Suzuki, we have been actively working with startups to co-create innovative and practical solutions to address real business challenges. We are delighted to collaborate with five more startups. One of these startups, MiniMines, will support us in safely recycling end-of-life batteries, while the other four startups will help improve customer engagement and drive efficiency across our business operations.”

Maruti Suzuki has developed programs to support startups in solving business problems. Over seven years, the company has screened 7,400 startups, engaged with 250 and partnered with 38. These programs include the Maruti Suzuki Accelerator, the Maruti Suzuki Incubation Program, the Mobility Challenge, Nurture and FundRays.

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Vietnamese electric vehicle company VinFast, part of Vingroup, is further accelerating its India business plans by strengthening its leadership team.

In fact, VinFast India, which is set to expand its product offerings in the country by introducing electric two-wheelers later this year, has appointed Vineet Srivastava as the Deputy CEO for its e-scooter business.

Srivastava, a sales strategy veteran, joins the Vietnamese company from Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, where he led enterprise-wide verticals, including Sales Strategy & Planning, Institutional Sales and Retail Finance.

In his over 15-years of relationship with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, he was instrumental in onboarding 894 Authorised Secondary Networks and mobilised over INR 2.7 billion in funding for the company.  

Prior to that, he has worked with Kotak Mahindra Old Life Insurance Company, SBI Life Insurance Company and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Company.

He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce. In his new role, Srivastava will be tasked with developing VinFast India’s e-scooter network, business development, sales operations, promotion and market planning.

While VinFast India currently sells electric passenger vehicles, it is set to introduce electric scooters like its globally popular offerings the Evo, Feliz and Viper.

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Uber has appointed Arpit Tyagi as the Head of Advertising for its Indian operations to further scale its advertising business and expand partnerships with brands, agencies and marketers within the region.

Tyagi will lead the commercial strategy and operations for Uber Advertising in India. He will oversee a dedicated India-based team tasked with developing solutions that allow brands to engage consumers during ‘high-intent, real-world moments’ on the Uber platform.

He brings over 15 years of experience in advertising, media and marketing technology to the role. The executive has extensive experience in retail media, data-driven marketing, and customer-centric innovation at Amazon Ads and he most recently served as Director of Enterprise Sales at The Trade Desk, where he managed strategic partnerships with major Indian advertisers and agencies.

Michael Levine, Head of APAC Sales, Uber Advertising, said, “India is one of the most dynamic and exciting advertising markets in the world, and Uber is uniquely positioned to help brands connect with consumers at moments that matter. Arpit brings a strong understanding of the evolving advertising ecosystem and a proven track record of building high-performing businesses.”

Uber Advertising operates in over 35 markets globally. In India, the business has seen growth across sectors such as CPG, media and entertainment, technology, e-commerce, and retail. To date, the platform has partnered with over 200 brands and agencies in the region.

Tyagi said, “Uber sits at the intersection of people's everyday movements and decisions, creating unique opportunities for brands to engage audiences in highly contextual and measurable ways. I'm excited to join Uber at such a pivotal moment and look forward to working with our partners to help them achieve their business objectives through innovative advertising solutions.”

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