Billionaire industrialist Yohan Poonawalla was recently awarded the coveted Vintage & Classic car Vanguard of India Legacy Excellence Award at the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India (VCCCI) Annual Vintage Car Fiesta, held at the World Trade Centre in collaboration with the Directorate of Maharashtra Tourism and the Western India Automobile Association (WIAA). With this honour, Poonawalla keeps bringing India's automotive heritage to the attention of the world and encourages future generations of collectors and enthusiasts to honour and conserve the automobile's past.

At the 2023 VCCCI Annual Vintage Car Fiesta, Poonawalla was named India's Motoring Ambassador to the World. This honour recognises his outstanding efforts to establish India on the world driving map as well as his unmatched commitment to the vintage car movement. Poonawalla's impressive collection of luxury, sports and antique cars includes some of the most recognisable automobiles in history. The centrepiece of his collection is his most recent purchase, the Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII Extended Wheelbase (EWB) and final Privacy Suite Phantom, which is the priciest automobile in India and among the most beautiful Rolls-Royces in the world. In addition, his collection includes vintage American muscle vehicles, Bentleys and Jaguars that have all been painstakingly restored to keep their historical significance.

In his capacity as India's Motoring Ambassador to the World, Poonawalla has continuously raised the stature of the nation's illustrious automotive heritage abroad. He has received many honours and made India proud, thanks to his participation in prestigious international events like Salon Privé, Concours of Elegance Hampton Court, Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, RREC Annual Rally & Concours d’Elegance, Sandringham Pageant of Motoring, Valletta Concours, Icons Mallorca, Geneva International Motor Show Qatar and the storied Mille Miglia in the United Arab Emirates. Along with representing India's automotive legacy at these esteemed events, Poonawalla has won several vehicle races and rallies and taken first place in the world's premier auto exhibitions in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and other regions.

Poonawalla said, "It is a privilege to be recognised as India’s Motoring Ambassador to the World and to receive this ‘Vintage & Classic car Vanguard of India Legacy Excellence Award’. Cars are more than just machines – they are pieces of history and art that deserve to be cherished and preserved. I am committed to showcasing India’s rich automotive legacy on the global stage and am deeply grateful to VCCCI and its partners for organising such a spectacular event."

By collaborating with Delhi Traffic Police to organise a comprehensive safety awareness week, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to enhancing road safety. The leading Indian tyre maker has contributed to the road safety initiative held as part of National Road Safety Month (January 1–31, 2025) and spearheaded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to foster responsible driving habits and reduce road accidents.
Held at the Delhi Police Traffic Training Park, BKS, the road safety initiative under the theme ‘Sadak Suraksha Jeevan Raksha,’ features a series of engaging awareness activities conducted at high-traffic zones across the city. 
The company, in collaboration with the Delhi Traffic Police, has conducted over a period of six days, interactive sessions at key traffic intersections such as the ITO, Connaught Place, Punjabi Bagh and Dhaula Kuan. The emphasis of these session was to take crucial safety measures such as adhering to traffic rules, wearing helmets and seat belts, and not using mobile phones while driving.
Speaking about the initiative, Srinivasu Alahan, Director – Sales & Marketing, JK Tyre, said, “For over three decades, JK Tyre has been at the forefront of road safety awareness and education. We take immense pride in supporting this cause through our National Road Safety Month initiatives. Ensuring road safety remains a top priority for us, and our cutting-edge products, such as SMART Tyres and Puncture Guard Tyres, have significantly contributed to enhancing driver safety. These innovations empower drivers by providing real-time alerts on potential issues, enabling preventive action and reducing accident risks. Through our sustained efforts, we remain dedicated to creating safer roads for all.”
 

ESG performance or compliance are fast becoming a priority for most corporates. Looking beyond their ambitious targets about achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 while the country may have set a carbon neutrality for a later date, ESG is driving carbon footprint reduction and a quest for sustainable future. As early followers of ESG processes rake in carbon credits, it is companies like Tesla that made billions of dollars from selling carbon credits than electric autonomous cars. 
Carbon credits are a key part of financial performance and has helped it to achieve carbon credits, It is the same with BYD of China. Raking in carbon credits as a manufacturer of electric vehicles, BYD, aided by the Chinese Government’s ‘Made in China 2025’ initiative, is finding itself in a position of advantage as it eyes the European market for expansion. 
BYD could soon sell more than 300,000 vehicles in Europe alone with its factory in Hungary scheduled to begin operation in 2026. The capacity at the plant would be gradually expanded to 300,000 vehicles per year against the background of the company selling 16,000 vehicles across Europe in 2022. 
But that is not all: With a clear edge in electric vehicles as compared to Europe, US or the rest of Asia, which has been sold in developing electric vehicle technology, Chinese automakers like BYD have begun to eye plants of European manufacturers like Volkswagen as they falter and cut the flab. 
As Volkswagen is forced to sell its facilities in Dresden and Osnabrück, work that has been lost is going the way of Chinese car companies. Scrambling to meet the EU’s strict 2025 emissions targets, European manufacturers are buying carbon credits from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers like BYD, which have accumulated a lot of them. 
With Europe planning to fine Volkswagen Eur 1.5 billion for falling short of emissions compliance, it is a not time away that Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers look poised to not only dominate the European market but also build their vehicles in the heart of Europe in big numbers rather than export them from their home country.
Having developed the habit of keeping technology and innovation to themselves and in their home country, the Chinese automotive players are playing smart with their electric vehicle card. They are triumphing on the basis that they are too good at making electric vehicles much like they are not so good at making ICE vehicles. They lack the knowledge of metallurgy that is needed to build internal combustion engines, mentioned an electro-mechanical engineer in Germany. It feels like a punch to the gut, added another engineer from Europe as he explained how the US and European flocked to China to save costs and are being bought over almost by the same companies that they once collaborated with in search of a new, large market.
 

Namma Yatri and EnAble India have joined hands with True Assistive Technology to enhance Purple Rides by introducing the TurnPlus swivel seat feature, which makes it easier for individuals with mobility challenges to enter and exit vehicles. The aim of this partnership is to make urban travel more inclusive.

TurnPlus is an award-winning, simple-to-install seat mechanism that was introduced in 2017 and makes getting in and out of automobiles easier for persons with impairments or medical issues. It has undergone extensive testing and certification, guaranteeing comfort and safety. By March 2025, 300 cars will have TurnPlus seats installed in Bengaluru as part of a test effort to launch this function. With ambitions to shortly extend to additional locations, the business hopes to add 1,000 accessible vehicles over the course of the next six months.

In order to make travel safe, comfortable and accessible for those with mobility impairments, visual impairments and deaf people, Namma Yatri established Purple Rides in October 2023 in partnership with EnAble India, a knowledge partner. Sensitised drivers who have received training to help passengers with impairments are offered by Purple Rides. Additionally, with features like ride preferences and driver assistance, the Purple Rides app is intended to be user-friendly for those with a variety of requirements.

The ongoing Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 continued to witness impressive participation from auto enthusiasts, students and the general public on its fifth day. Adding glamour to the fifth day were some of the Indian cricketers and Bollywood stars, who graced the various shows and elevated the excitement.

SIAM hosted the 3rd International Symposium for Thriving Eco-Energy in Mobility (ISTEM) at New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam. Bringing together a number of distinguished speakers and dignitaries, the discussion's focus was ‘Future-Ready Solutions: Road to Carbon Neutralisation’ and its goal was to promote sustainable transportation. In order to achieve carbon neutrality in the transportation sector, the conference provided a forum for the discussion of creative approaches, concepts and solutions.

Industry executives from the automotive, technology and mobility sectors, as well as heads of international engineering research and development and academia, came together at the Nasscom Mobility Tech Pavilion at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. With a focus on important topics like sustainable mobility and strong cybersecurity for connected cars, the pavilion established India as a leader in influencing the direction of mobility in the future.

At the Auto Expo – The Motor Show 2025, prominent Indian cricketer Shubhman Gill and up-and-coming Bollywood star Vedang Raina were hosted by the Mercedes Benz India pavilion. The G580, an all-electric variant of the Mercedes G-Class that attracted notice with its G-Turn manoeuvre, was on display at the Mercedes outdoor pavilion. Bollywood actor Kartik Aaryan contributed to the glitz and excitement of the Auto Expo – The Motor Show 2025 by making a surprise visit at the Maruti Suzuki India Limited pavilion today. This was a part of the announcement made by Maruti Suzuki India Limited that Kartik Aaryan will be the Brezza's brand ambassador, kicking off the company's exciting new campaign, ‘More Power to Your Play’.

Brands like Michelin, JK Tyre and MRF drew attention at the Tyre Expo 2025 with their imaginative installations. With their Play Zone, where guests could compete against one another on a computer console, Michelin enthralled guests. MRF ZLX set up a photo booth where guests could sit in a chair shaped like a tyre and snap photos with a digital image of Virat Kohli, who is MRF's brand ambassador. However, the JK Tyre stall's Formula 4 vehicle was the star of the show and capturing the interest of race fans of all ages. Along with other startups and mobility service providers, this cutting-edge display showcased innovative solutions that are influencing the direction of transportation. Contributors included Bosch, HCLTech, Tata Elxsi, KPIT, QuestGlobal and Capgemini.

Today's successful conclusion of ‘The Components Show’ at Yashobhoomi in New Delhi highlighted India's developing automotive ecosystem and advancements made towards Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Highlights of recent days include the introduction and display of cutting-edge products and solutions, such as Novus Hi-Tech's DGMS-compliant safety technologies, ALP Group's revolutionary Paint Protection Films, BorgWarner's advanced EV solutions and ParaSafe's ground-breaking Jacket and Jeans, which represent a revolutionary leap in personal safety and mobility and are specifically made for motorcycle riders, delivery workers and high-risk users. ArcellorMittal Nippon Steel India displayed their goods and inventions at the steel pavilion, including the Battery Pack Solution, Double Door Ring and H Frame, among many others.

Both industry participants and tourists demonstrated impressive engagement on the third day of the Bharat Construction Equipment Expo and the Urban Mobility Infrastructure Show. Today, Expo Mart in Greater Noida hosted a number of thought-provoking talks about the future of urban air mobility (UAM) in India and the CE sector that is propelling advancement and expansion. The 3rd CE Manufacturing & Supply Chain Summit was organised by iCEMA in collaboration with the Ministry of Heavy Industries, and the International Conference on Air Mobility, with the theme ‘Aerial Evolution: Shaping Tomorrow's Urban Air Mobility’, brought together policymakers, business executives and international industry experts.