Mobec Innovation (Mobec.io), India’s first full-range service provider for customisable B2B mobile EV charging solutions and energy storage systems, has launched its first lithium battery recycling plant in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

With an annual processing capacity of up to 6,000 tonnes, the plant will recover lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, copper and manganese from end-of-life batteries. Mobec's initiative lessens dependency on foreign supply chains by obtaining resources both domestically and from the Asia-Pacific area, supporting India's Atmanirbhar Bharat objective. Supported by in-house research and development resources, the plant guarantees efficient recovery procedures and compliance with stringent environmental regulations, including UP Pollution Control Board certifications.

With a 99 percent extraction rate, Mobec's battery recycling facility maximises material recovery efficiency by utilising sophisticated hydrometallurgical and mechanical extraction techniques. The facility has a multi-stage processing system that includes battery dismantling & separation for plastic, aluminium and copper recovery; first-stage black mass collection followed by advanced purification and hydrometallurgical extraction for lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese recovery. The recovered materials from Mobec’s recycling facility will cater to a diverse set of industries including electric vehicle (EV) & battery manufacturers, renewable energy sector, consumer electronics, aerospace & defence, energy grid solutions, industrial tools & healthcare and emerging battery technologies.

Harry Bajaj, CEO, Mobec Innovation, said, “As the nation marches toward Viksit Bharat 2047, Mobec remains committed to advancing a self-reliant, circular and green economy. Our investment in advanced recycling technologies represents a significant step toward an energy-secure and self-sufficient India. By reducing our dependency on imported lithium, other critical minerals and reclaiming valuable resources, we are reinforcing our commitment to green mobility, sustainability and environmental responsibility.”

FIM Europe organised the first edition of the Conference on Motorcycle Sport Communication in Europe on 22 February 2025 at Hotel Mediterraneo in Riccione with the aim to exchange and enhance experiences and methods of communication.

President Giovanni Copioli opened the day with the institutional presentations from the FIM, which were given by Damiano Zamana, FIM Deputy CEO and Operations Director; FIM Europe, which was presented by Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General and FMI. Communications Managers Francesco Dragonetti from FMI, Dalila Agrati from FIM Europe and Isabelle Larivière from FIM then took the stage. The workshop offered a genuine chance to start a conversation about the needs and potential of communication professionals through talks, questions, and conversations.

The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on motorsport communication was covered in the afternoon. Professional MXGP photographer Lorenzo Resta and Motosprint Director Federico Porrozzi conducted a photographic and journalistic examination of the prospects and threats. Experts in innovation and digital transformation, Manuel Tundis and Mattia Michelangeli, provided additional introductions and explanations of the AI issue. Attorney Alessio Santoriello, Head of the Italian Chapter of the Global LegalTech Hub, spoke on the increasing impact and use of AI in the workplace, along with its legal ramifications and issues.

Damiano Zamana, FIM Deputy CEO and Operations Director, said, "The initiative of FIM Europe to organise this first workshop goes in the direction of the FIM to be transparent and get closer to all the stakeholders within the motorcycling community. It has been a great opportunity to know better the FIM, FIM Europe and FMI on some topics that do not always reach the mainstream of communication but are fundamental for the organisation of the sport we love. Participation of important newspaper and digital communication managers shows the interest in a more transparent communication. Also, my thanks go to the representatives of the FMNs present to strengthen the communication community and the shared values of the FIM.”

Alessandro Sambuco, FIM Europe Secretary General, said, “The pressing push to deal with issues related to technological development (AI) that proceeds at an exponential speed has forced us to hold this first Conference on Motorcycling Communication in Europe. The need to deal with AI was certainly not the only need. Also, the topics of the positioning of the Motorcycling Institutions within the international sports system, the description of their governance, their characteristic activities and the communication of the various entities operating in the motorcycling world (FMNs, specialised press, teams, fairs, circuits etc.) needed to be presented and clarified. An audience of journalists and press officers representing printed, digital and social media from seven European countries marked the success of what will be just the first edition of an event that we hope will become annual.”

Giovanni Copioli, FMI President, said, “The conference was an excellent opportunity to share experiences and points of view with leading national and international players in communication. It was an appointment where FMI, FIM Europe and FIM showed their willingness to engage with journalists and press offices to contribute, all together, to the growth and development of motorcycling. I hope that in the years to come there will be other appointments of this kind because I believe they are fundamental in creating a network that helps to give visibility to our sport. I conclude by thanking the FIM and FIM Europe for organising this event in Italy and all the participants for providing excellent contributions."

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by Bharat Forge Ltd (BFL), a multinational aerospace and technology company based in India, and VEDA Aeronautics (P) Ltd (VEDA), an Indian aerospace and defence company that develops and supplies unmanned systems, to develop cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and other high-speed aerial weapon systems used in combat.

BFL will provide the micro jet engines utilised in these unmanned systems, while VEDA has been involved in developing the technology for these systems for the defence forces. In order to improve India's defence capabilities and promote national self-reliance, the MoU is anticipated to be crucial in using each other's strengths.

Guru Biswal, CEO – Aerospace Division, Bharat Forge, said, "This MoU with VEDA is a testimony of our commitment to work for an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and to create niche technologies that shall support Indian and Global requirements in the evolving technological landscape of warfare. BFL will focus on indigenous development of jet engines up to 400 Kgf thrust to power the unmanned systems developed for Indian defence forces. The 40 & 45 Kgf engines developed by BFL are under serial production and will be used by VEDA for all defence projects.”

Dipesh Gupta, Managing Director, VEDA Aeronautics, said, "We are thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with BFL aerospace, which will supply small jet engines for all defence and other unmanned system projects of VEDA Aeronautics. This endeavour underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation, heralding a new era of technological advancement and strategic prowess in the aerospace domain specific to Long Range Combat UAV Systems, High Speed Aerial Targets and Multi Barrel Launched Jet Based UAV Systems.”

Honda India Foundation (HIF), the CSR arm of all Honda group of companies in India, and the Government of Uttar Pradesh have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) and marked the commencement of ‘Project Annadata – Sashakt Kisan, Samridh Rashtra’, which aims to support and strengthen Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in the state.

Prominent dignitaries such as Surya Pratap Shahi, the Uttar Pradesh Minister of Agriculture, and Vinay Dhingra and Katsuyuki Ozawa, trustees of the Honda India Foundation, attended the signing ceremony in New Delhi. Honda's cooperative approach to rural development was highlighted by representatives from Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), Honda India Power Products (HIPP) and Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL).

With an emphasis on systematic reviews, capacity-building efforts, business planning and operational advancements, HIF, through its implementation partner, will onboard and strengthen 10 FPOs in two clusters of five FPOs each as part of this initiative. In order to guarantee efficient FPO operations and the implementation of contemporary agricultural methods, this association seeks to offer technical assistance. In order to promote long-term sustainable practices and protect the resources for future generations, the initiative seeks to involve farmers, young people, environmental campaigners, educational institutions, legislators, non-profit organisations and other stakeholders. Over 100,000 people are anticipated to be reached during the project's initial phase, and over time, it may have an influence on one million persons involved in agriculture.

Vinay Dhingra, Trustee, Honda India Foundation, said, “At Honda India Foundation, we are dedicated to empowering rural communities and enhancing agricultural productivity, aligning seamlessly with the Government of India’s vision as also reflected in the 2025 Union Budget. Initiatives such as the Prime Minister Dhan-Dhanya Krishi Yojana, the mission for Atmanirbharta in Pulses and ensuring fair prices for farmers resonate with our objectives. Our efforts to strengthen FPOs through Project Annadata are in harmony with these priorities as we work towards improving resource access and create a resilient agricultural ecosystem that will benefit farmers at scale. This collaboration will enable us to create a meaningful impact at the grassroot. We will continue to contribute towards the development of a more resilient and prosperous agricultural ecosystem.”

The automotive retail sales in January 2025 grew by 6.63 percent YoY, a growth much better than previously anticipated by most industry observers. A total of 22,91,621 vehicles were sold across segments, which includes 15,21,862 two-wheelers (+4.15 percent YoY), 1,07,033 three-wheelers (+6.86 percent YoY), 4,65,920 passenger vehicles (+15.53 percent YoY), 93,381 tractors (+5.23% YoY) and 99,425 commercial vehicles (+8.22% YoY) according to the latest data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).

“The auto retail sector kicked off 2025 on a promising note, aligning with FADA’s earlier survey projections that expected January to range from flat to moderately positive. Indeed, overall retail sales posted a robust 6.6 percent YoY growth, reinforcing the industry’s optimistic start. Our observations indicate that each vehicle category – two-wheeler, three-wheeler, passenger vehicle, tractor and commercial vehicle – witnessed positive momentum, pointing toward sustained consumer confidence and steady market recovery,” said C S Vigneshwar, President, FADA.

In the two-wheeler segment, urban sales outpaced rural sales on the back of new model launches, marriage season demand and improved financing as key growth drivers. However, concerns about rising interest rates, rural liquidity challenges and market uncertainty still linger.

The passenger vehicle segment saw some spike on the back of ‘2025 model year’ sales, as the previous year models do see significant discounting.

“Commercial Vehicle sales increased by 8.22 percent YoY and surged 38.04 percent MoM, with urban markets climbing from 50.1 percent to 51.2 percent share and outpacing rural growth (9.51 percent vs 6.89 percent). While higher freight rates and passenger carrier demand provided a boost, many dealers cited low cash flow, strict financing policies and sluggish industries (like cement and coal) as major hurdles. Sentiments in rural regions remained notably subdued, compounded by limited new products. Overall, the sector shows cautious optimism but faces persistent headwinds,” added Vigneshwar.

Going forward, FADA maintains a cautious optimism for February, with dealers having a mixed sentiment ranging from an uptick, flat to even a drop in sales.

The tailwinds include continuing marriage season, fresh product launches and strategic promotional activities to sustain customer footfalls. This will be aided by improved inventory management, better financing options from select lenders and backlogged orders in certain segments (such as commercial vehicles) add to the sense of guarded confidence. With supportive policies and a post-budget lift in consumer sentiment, many believe February could see a stable or slightly elevated sales curve.

On the other hand, the headwinds expected include shorter working days, pockets of weak rural liquidity and inflationary pressures. Then there is the strict lending criteria, costlier vehicles and subdued demand in certain industrial sectors to further weigh on overall performance.