Arranged in one corner of Hall 6 of Pragati Maidan in the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 was an air-taxi called Shunya. Developed by Sarla Aviation, a Bengaluru-based startup, the air-taxi attracted a good deal of crowd, reflecting a new and future mode of transport or mobility.

The Shunya air-taxi prototype could facilitate a new mode of mobility much like a radio-taxi does to travel between Mumbai and Pune; between Mumbai and Kalyan; between Delhi and Jaipur or between Delhi and Meerut, for example.

Intending to launch the electric air-taxi in Bengaluru by 2028 to become the first to introduce urban air transport in India, Sarla Aviation (the company’s name is inspired by Sarla Thakral, India’s first female pilot) is steadfastly focusing on an indigenous design and manufacture since the beginning of the operations.

A testament to Sarla Aviation’s commitment to innovation and sustainability, the Shunya air-taxi proto has been designed to execute short trips of 20 to 30 kms with speeds of up to 250 kmph with up to six passengers onboard. As the first eVTOL of its kind in the country, it marks a pivotal moment in the history of Indian civil aviation, showcasing the nation’s growing prowess in cutting-edge aerospace technologies.

Capable of carrying a maximum load of 680 kg, according to a source aware of the development, the air-taxi offers a market-leading payload capacity such that every passenger can bring his or her luggage. The luggage is conveniently stored in the rear of Shunya with exterior access for ease.

Prioritising safety, purpose-driven performance and accessibility, Shunya – poised to redefine mass transportation – can take off from any flat surface, whether on top of a building or in a rural area, making it the most infrastructure-efficient mode of mass mobility ever, according to the company.

Working on a strategy that will see Shunya facilitate efficient commuting in megacities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Pune, Sarla Aviation is also looking at how its offering could facilitate social commitments in the form of an air ambulance that reaches where no vehicle or other means of mobility is able to reach. An air ambulance could also be used in urban and semi-urban areas to beat the road congestion.

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.

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M Ltd) has reported a strong operating performance across businesses in Q3 of FY25 with a consolidated PAT of INR 31.81 billion, up 20 percent. Auto and Farm Divisions continue to deliver growth and margins. Profits have been up 16 percent. The Financial services AUM grew at 19 percent and TechMahindra achieved good traction in deal wins, seeing its EBIT improve 480 bps.
Claiming to be Number one in SUVs with revenue market share at 23 percent, up 200 bps, Mahindra & Mahindra reported that SUV volumes in Q3 FY25 rose 20 percent. The company reported that it has retained its number one position in LCVs below 3.5 tonne GVW with a market share of 51.9 percent, up 230 bps. The company also reported that it has retained its number one position in tractors with the market share of 44.2 percent, up 240 bps. 
While the market share of the group in electric vehicles is at 41.8 percent, the market share of MMFSL AUM has increased by 19 percent. TechMahindra EBIT has rose 480 bps with continued focus on margin expansion. The consolidated revenue was reported at INR 414.7 billion, up 17 percent. Consolidated PAT was reported at INR 31.81 billion, up 20 percent. Year-To-Date FY25 RoE was reported at 18.4 percent and EPS at 86.0.
Speaking about the development, Dr Anish Shah, Managing Director and CEO, M&M Ltd. said, “Our businesses continue to demonstrate strength in execution. Auto and Farm delivered solid performance on market share and margins, on the back of focused execution. The transformation at TechMahindra is gathering momentum. MMFSL continues to balance asset quality and growth priorities, with GS under four percent on the back of strong AUM growth. Our Growth Gems are demonstrating steady progress towards their long-term objectives.”
Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director and CEO (Auto and Farm Sector), M&M Ltd, averred, “The launch of our flagship electric origin SUVs, the BE 6 and XEV 9e set a new benchmark in global innovation. Thar ROXX won the Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) as well as Autocar car of the year. In Q3 F25, we were Number one in SUV revenue market share with 200 bps YoY increase. LCV less than 3.5-tonne volume market share is at 51.9 percent, a gain of 230 bps. The Auto segment PBIT is up by 120 bps YoY. We achieved highest ever Q3 tractor market share at 44.2 percent, a gain of 240 bps YoY, and farm PBIT is up by 260 bps YoY.”
 
 

Under the auspices of the first edition of Bharat Construction Equipment Expo (BCEE) in Greater Noida on 21 January 2025, the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (ICEMA), an affiliated organisation of CII, partnered with the Ministry of Heavy Industries (MHI) to organise the 3rd Construction Equipment Manufacturing and Supply Chain Summit. As India works to realise its goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, the event offered a forum for ideas and debates on how to enable CE manufacturing to propel national prosperity and advancement.

In order to improve the manufacturing capabilities of the CE industry and facilitate its transformation into a global manufacturing powerhouse, the Summit, which was well-attended by representatives of various stakeholders such as government bodies, OEMs, component manufacturers, suppliers, research institutions and end users of construction equipment, featured discussions on important topics, namely ‘Driving Innovation & Indigenisation: Making Indian CE Industry Atmanirbhar & a Global Manufacturing Powerhouse’ and ‘Building Resilience & Competitiveness with the support of a Robust Supply Chain’.

Panellists from OEMs, component manufacturers, and technology solution providers to the CE industry discussed their personal experiences and expectations regarding localisation, technology adoption, innovation and building a resilient CE supply chain during the event's panel discussions. One of the main issues that emerged regarding the bolstering supply chains was the inconsistent quality of components made by small manufacturers.

As part of the BCEE, the ICEMA Manufacturing and Supply Chain Panel established a localisation zone to showcase CE components that the industry has recognised as being indigenised. This feature gave CE suppliers and manufacturers a chance to assess the potential for working with market leaders to produce essential components domestically, therefore bolstering the supply chain for the CE industry.

The esteemed attendees of the Summit's Inaugural Session unveiled the second edition of the Construction Equipment industry catalogue. In order to promote networking and cooperation amongst industry participants, the catalogue compiles data on the goods, services and technologies provided by all types of stakeholders, including OEMs, component manufacturers, suppliers, technology solution providers and financiers.