The automotive industry world over faces significant sustainability challenges, including high carbon and other particulate emissions, depleting resources, supply chain complexities and slower pace of transition to cleaner and greener mobility. Indian automotive industry over and above has additional challenges, where gaps in recycling infrastructure, hazardous waste disposal and end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) management further obstructs sustainability in the sector. The balance between cost and greener technologies is much trickier to handle.

To bring national attention to this burning topic, a Sustainable Mobility Conclave 2025, is planned at NATRAX, Indore, which isn’t just another conference but a movement to reimagine, redesign and reinvent how Indian automotive carve out its sustainable future path.

The mission: A circular, sustainable and low-emission future

With its core theme, ‘Recycling, Circularity and Sustainability in Mobility’, the conclave seeks to align the Indian automotive ecosystem with global best practices on environmental responsibility. The event aims to be a catalyst for change – putting focus on how vehicles and its associated components are designed, manufactured, consumed and, ultimately, responsibly retired.

In view of the End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Management Rules and a rising need for compliance under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the conclave arrives at a critical juncture.

Why this conclave?

India is poised to witness 80 million EVs on the road by 2030. But without parallel efforts in circular economy practices, recycling infrastructure and emission reduction, green mobility may not be truly green. The European Union already recovers 95 percent of vehicle materials from scrapped vehicles, a benchmark India must realistically chase.

Switching to recycled materials, embracing bio-based alternatives and integrating green energy into manufacturing are not just environmental mandates anymore – they are strategic business moves. Reduction in import dependency and a stable supply chain is the need of the hour.

What to expect?

This two-day summit is designed to bring together a powerful mix of automotive manufacturers, recyclers, government leaders, startups and academic minds. And the agenda? Packed with purpose.

Day 1 highlights:

• Session 1: Circular economy lessons – Tapping into waste as a resource, with a strong focus on e-waste, industrial scrap and auto components.
• Session 2: Nature’s waste into products – How bamboo, fruit pulp, seaweed and more are being transformed into auto-grade materials.
• Session 3: From policy to practice – Bridging gaps between regulation and action; featuring deep dives into ESG, green data centres and the Right to Repair.
• Session 4: Industry success stories – Real-world case studies from top OEMs on implementing sustainable systems.

Day 2 focus areas:

• Session 5: Beyond metals – Innovation in plastic, rubber and fibre reuse.
• Session 6: Sustainability education – Building a green-ready workforce.
• Session 7: Organisational sustainability – How automotive companies are embedding sustainability into their DNA.
• Session 8: Leadership reflections – A unique dialogue on the societal impact of green mobility transitions.

Join the movement

The Sustainable Mobility Conclave 2025 isn’t just about talks. It’s about transformation. Whether you’re an OEM, policymaker, recycling expert, student or sustainability advocate, this is where the narrative of Indian future mobility is getting actively debated and jointly co-created.

Because sustainability isn’t a choice anymore. It’s the only road ahead!

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Bengaluru-based electric vehicle maker Ola Electric has received a sanction order from the Ministry of Heavy Industries for incentives totalling INR 3.66 billion. The payment is granted under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Components for FY2024-25.

The incentive relates to the Determined Sales Value for the period and will be disbursed through IFCI, the financial institution appointed by the government for the scheme.

The PLI-Auto Scheme is an initiative by the Government of India designed to increase domestic manufacturing and the adoption of advanced automotive technologies. Ola Electric’s eligibility for the claim is based on its vertical integration and localisation of electric vehicle (EV) components.

“The sanction of INR 3.66 billion under the PLI-Auto Scheme is a strong endorsement of Ola Electric’s manufacturing capabilities and our commitment to building world-class EV technology in India. This incentive recognises our sustained efforts in scaling domestic production, deepening localisation, and driving innovation across the electric mobility value chain. We remain committed to supporting the Government of India’s vision of making India a global hub for advanced automotive manufacturing and clean mobility,” said the company in a statement.

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UK-based energy major bp has reached an agreement to sell its 65 percent shareholding in Castrol to investment firm Stonepeak at an enterprise value of USD 10.1 billion. The deal follows a strategic review of the lubricants business and is expected to result in net proceeds for bp of approximately USD 6 billion.

The transaction includes USD 0.8 billion as a pre-payment of future dividend income on bp’s retained 35 percent stake. The valuation represents an enterprise value to EBITDA ratio of approximately 8.6x. Following the sale, a new joint venture will be formed with Stonepeak holding the majority interest and bp retaining 35 percent.

The sale is a component of bp's USD 20 billion divestment programme. To date, the company has announced or completed divestments totalling USD 11 billion.

Proceeds from the Castrol transaction will be used to reduce bp’s net debt, which stood at USD 26.1 billion at the end of the third quarter of 2025. The company aims to reach a net debt target of USD 14–18 billion by the end of 2027. bp has a two-year lock-up period on its remaining 35 percent stake, after which it has the option to sell.

Carol Howle, interim CEO, bp, said, “Today’s announcement is a very good outcome for all stakeholders. We concluded a thorough strategic review of Castrol, that generated extensive interest and resulted in the sale of a majority interest to Stonepeak. The transaction allows us to realise value for our shareholders, generating significant proceeds while continuing to benefit from Castrol’s strong growth momentum. And with this, we have now completed or announced over half of our targeted USD 20bn divestment programme, with proceeds to significantly strengthen bp’s balance sheet. The sale marks an important milestone in the ongoing delivery of our reset strategy. We are reducing complexity, focusing the downstream on our leading integrated businesses, and accelerating delivery of our plan. And we are doing so with increasing intensity – with a continued focus on growing cash flow and returns and delivering value for our shareholders.”

Anthony Borreca, Senior Managing Director, Stonepeak, said, “Lubricants are a mission-critical product, which are essential to the safe and efficient functioning of virtually every vehicle, machine, and industrial process in the world. Castrol’s 126-year heritage has created a leading market position, an iconic brand, and a portfolio of differentiated products that deliver meaningful value to its customers. We are excited to work alongside Castrol’s talented employees, coupled with bp’s continued guidance as a minority interest holder, as we support the business’s continued growth.”

The transaction is expected to complete by the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. bp stated that the move allows the company to simplify its portfolio and focus its downstream operations on integrated businesses.

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The Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), in collaboration with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), concluded the National Automobile Olympiad (NAO) 2025. The event took place from 17–19 December at Toyota’s manufacturing facility in Bidadi.

The initiative, aligned with the Skill India Mission, is designed to introduce school students to careers in the automotive and mobility sectors. The Olympiad saw participation from 175 students in Classes VI to XII. These participants were selected from an initial pool of over 136,000 students from schools across India and the UAE.

The three-day event included:

• Industry Masterclasses: Sessions led by experts on automotive fundamentals and emerging technologies.
• Technical Challenges: Competitions covering robotics, welding precision and technical problem-solving.
• Future Mobility Modules: Exposure to hybrid vehicles, data science and AR/VR tools.
• Industry Immersion: Visits to the Toyota manufacturing plant, the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) and test-track experiences.

The Olympiad concluded with the announcement of winners across three categories:

Dr Biswajeet Saha, Director, Training & Skill Education, CBSE, said, “We are delighted to see Toyota Kirloskar Motor hosting National Automobile Olympiad, which perfectly aligns with CBSE’s vision of experiential and skill-based learning. Events like this provide students with invaluable exposure to real-world automotive excellence and industry best practices. They also bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, inspiring young minds.”

Vinkesh Gulati, Chairperson, ASDC, said, “National Automobile Olympiad is a powerful platform to spark curiosity and channel young talent toward the automotive sector. ASDC is committed to building a future-ready workforce, and collaborations such as this with Toyota Kirloskar Motor provide students early exposure to real-world industry practices. The enthusiasm and technical aptitude displayed by participants reaffirm our belief in India’s next generation of mobility professionals.”

G Shankara, Executive Vice-President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, stated, “We are proud to collaborate with ASDC in nurturing young minds through NAO 2025. By offering experiential learning and access to world-class skilling infrastructure, we aim to inspire students to innovate and contribute meaningfully to the future of mobility while supporting the Skill India vision.”

The programme concludes a cycle of assessments and training intended to bridge the gap between academic learning and industrial application in the automotive sector.

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The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) has launched the National Road Accident Reduction Challenge 2026 under its ‘Safe Journey’ initiative. The competition invites undergraduate students across India to develop solutions aimed at improving road safety and reducing fatalities.

The challenge targets undergraduate students in teams of two to four. Participants are required to submit field-tested or ready-to-implement ideas across several themes:

• User-centric interventions
• Technology-driven safety
• Infrastructure improvement
• Evaluation and enforcement

Submissions must include a 15–20 slide concept deck backed by data validation, fieldwork, or prototypes. The deadline for nominations is 15 January 2026, with final projects due by 1 March 2026.

Shortlisted teams will present their projects to a jury consisting of representatives from SIAM, vehicle manufacturers (OEMs), transport authorities and NGOs. The winning team will be awarded a cash prize of INR 250,000 at the SIAM SAFE Annual Convention 2026.

Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, “In India, around 485 people lose their life daily due to road accidents. India’s young minds have the power to drive real change on our roads. The National Road Accident Reduction Challenge 2026 is designed to channel their creativity, problem-solving skills, and sense of responsibility into practical interventions that can be implemented on the ground. By engaging students as partners in road safety, SIAM aims to foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and safer mobility for the nation.”

Devashish Handa, Executive Officer, Suzuki Motorcycle India (SMIPL), said, “Road safety is a key focus area of Suzuki Motorcycle India’s CSR efforts. We believe that student-led innovation can contribute meaningfully to safer mobility in India. Through SIAM’s National Road Accident Reduction Challenge 2026, we aim to strengthen road safety ethics among the young generation and encourage practical, on-ground interventions to help bring down road fatalities.”

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