Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturer, has announced that it is reaffirming its commitment to bridging the skills gap in India through a wide range of initiatives. The OEM already supports a number of initiatives to empower economically underprivileged youth across Karnataka and India.

One of the key pillars of Toyota Kirloskar Motor's focus has been the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), which was established in 2007. The institute provides free education to youth from economically underprivileged sections, specialising in automobile manufacturing. It offers a rigorous three-year residential training program, which it says develops technical skills and provides holistic development of students. The curriculum includes hands-on training, a deep understanding of global manufacturing practices, and an active engagement in physical and community-building activities.

Furthermore, to meet the growing demand for skilled technicians and support women’s empowerment, the automaker recently doubled TTTI’s capacity to 1,200 students, with special facilities for up to 600 female students. The expansion includes upgraded residential facilities, advanced classrooms, and the latest equipment, ensuring a comprehensive learning environment for all students.

The car maker also runs the Toyota Kaushalya Program, a two-year course under the ‘Learn and Earn’ model; Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP), a collaboration with industrial training institutes across India and also participates in the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP), which allows selected employees to gain international experience through on-the-job training in Japan for periods ranging from six months to five years.

G. Shankara, Executive Vice-President, Finance and Administration, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “As we observe National Education Day 2024, at TKM, our commitment extends beyond just business; we are dedicated to nurturing lifelong learning and fostering an inclusive environment that values diversity, equity, and opportunity for all. By prioritising quality education and comprehensive skill development, we aim to transform youth into empowered, productive members of society. Our initiatives not only support individual growth but also contribute significantly to building stronger communities. Aligned with the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme announced in the Union Budget 2024-25, we are strengthening our commitment by offering practical training opportunities that effectively bridge the gap between education and industry needs. Through these focused efforts, we aspire to play an integral role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat—a developed and progressive nation where every citizen thrives.”

Toyota Kirloskar Motor has also forged a partnership with the Government Tool Room & Training Centre (GTTC) as an Industrial Training Provider (ITP). The company had signed an MoU in 2021, and till date has supported the establishment of 16 GTTC institutes across Karnataka, with plans to expand to 36 institutes by 2026.

Tata Motors, one of India’s leading automobile manufacturers, has joined forces with Tata Power Renewable Energy (TPREL), a subsidiary of Tata Power, for a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to co-develop a 131 MW wind-solar hybrid renewable energy project.

The initiative is expected to generate around 300 million units of clean electricity annually and offset over 2 lakh tons of CO2 emissions each year. The strategic move is set to provide a reliable supply of green, cost-effective energy exclusively to Tata Motors’ six manufacturing facilities in Maharashtra and Gujarat, supporting production of both commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles.  

The move is part of Tata Motors’ clean energy transition for achieving its RE-100 commitment ahead of the 2030 target.

Vishal Badshah, Vice President – Operations, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, said, "As a key driver of India’s mobility and logistics ecosystem, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles is proud to lead by example in sustainable manufacturing. This project reinforces our commitment to integrate renewable energy into our operations and reducing our carbon footprint while meeting our RE-100 goals. It also reflects our broader purpose of delivering mobility solutions that are sustainable at every stage –from production to performance."

Pramod Choudhary, Vice President – Operations, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles, added, “We are committed to transition to clean energy for building a future ready automotive business. With this PPA our plants in Maharashtra and Gujarat will take a significant leap in our journey towards Green Manufacturing, complementing India’s green transition. It’s a defining step towards making our Passenger Vehicle Operations greener, smarter and more resilient on sustainable basis.”

German luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz India has attained a new production milestone of rolling out its 200,000^th made-in-India car the EQS SUV, from its Chakan facility in Pune, Maharashtra.

The event was attended by Dr Joerg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG responsible for Production, Quality & Supply Chain Management, rolled out the 200,000th Mercedes-Benz in India in the presence of Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India and Vyankatesh Kulkarni, Executive Director & Head of Operations, Mercedes-Benz India.

It is important to note that Mercedes-Benz India was among the first luxury car brands to set-up production and assembly in India way back in 1994. The company clocked 50,000 units production milestone in 2014 taking a total of 19 years; the next 150,000 units came in a decade (2015-2025).

Interestingly, in the last two years, Mercedes-Benz India produced 50,000 cars, which the OEM stated demonstrates the rapid evolution of India's luxury car market and the increasing aspiration for the Mercedes-Benz brand among Indian customers.

The Chakan facility also boasts several notable distinctions, including being the first market to produce a Mercedes-Maybach (S500) outside Germany in 2015, production of the EQS 580 Sedan in 2022, localisation of a second BEV – EQS 580 SUV. Since 2022, the Chakan facility uses 100 percent green energy for production.

What’s more, Mercedes-Benz has invested over INR 30 billion in India till date with INR 2 billion in 2024 alone.

Dr Joerg Burzer, said, “Mercedes-Benz’s remarkable milestone of 200,000 'Made in India' Mercedes-Benz cars, underlines India’s potential as a key manufacturing hub in the long run. The Indian plant has achieved high level of production agility, manufacturing world-class ICE and EVs under one-roof, underscoring the technical prowess of the team and high level of flexible manufacturing, capable of responding fast to market and customer requirements. The Indian production hub's contribution to our global sustainable manufacturing strategy, through 100 percent renewable energy use, exemplifies our commitment to sustainable manufacturing.”

Santosh Iyer, added, "Mercedes-Benz production facility is the backbone of our Indian operations and has played a critical role in our market success, manufacturing world-class ICE and BEV products for the discerning Indian customers. Mercedes-Benz continues to set new standards in production quality, remaining invested in the market with highest investment by any luxury OEM in India. We will stay invested in our state-of-art manufacturing facility, catering to growing market demand for Mercedes-Benz products in the Indian market."

French tier 1 supplier Valeo is upping its bet on India’s electrification story and has inaugurated its newest facility in Pune, which will focus on the production of the highly integrated 3-in-1 Combo unit (On Board Charger, DC-DC Converter and Power Distribution Unit) for electric vehicles.

The 3-in-1 Combo combines three essential components:

• On-Board Charger, which converts AC power from the grid to charge the high-voltage battery (ranging from 7kW to 22kW).
• DC-DC Converter, which converts high-voltage power to 12V for auxiliary systems and low-voltage battery charging.
• Power Distribution Unit that efficiently distributes power to critical electric vehicle components, including traction and auxiliary loads.

This modular design enhances efficiency by optimizing component sharing between the battery, OBC, and DC-DC units, reducing space, weight and costs while improving overall performance.

The new facility was inaugurated by Xavier Dupont, Valeo Power Division CEO and Group Executive Vice President and Jayakumar G, Group President & Managing Director, Valeo India.

Xavier Dupont, said, “At Valeo, we are committed to supporting xEV growth in India. We offer our clients the latest technologies for safer and more sustainable mobility and by investing in new production capabilities, we are proud to contribute to Make in India. My congratulations and best wishes to the Valeo Power teams for their dedication to drive electrified mobility forward.”

Jayakumar G, stated, "This achievement reflects the strong collaboration between Valeo’s global and India teams in establishing these advanced manufacturing lines. I am pleased that our teams are trained in these new technologies and prepared for the production ramp-up. We sincerely thank our customers for their steadfast support. As India accelerates its xEV transformation, Valeo remains committed to delivering innovative solutions for a sustainable future."

The tier 1 stated that by localising key power electronic components, it will reduce import dependency, optimise supply chain and deliver cost-competitive solutions for OEMs for their EV programmes in India.

The tier 1 supplier has been present in India since 1997 and operates 8 production sites and R&D Centre, employing over 7,000 people across its facilities.

Pune-headquartered two-wheeler and three-wheeler major Bajaj Auto has announced its wholesales for March 2025 and FY2025.

For March, the company witnessed flat growth, selling a total of 369,823 vehicles, which was 1 percent higher YoY, compared to 365,904 units for the same period last year.

In contrast to two-wheeler sales, which were flat at 315,732 units (0.59 percent), the three-wheeler sales grew by 3.98 percent, primarily driven by an 11 percent increase in exports.

On the other hand, for FY2025, the company reported a robust growth of 6.9 percent, selling a total of 4.65 million vehicles, as compared to 4.35 million units last year.

The two-wheeler sales came to 3.98 million, up 6.82 percent YoY. This includes 2.30 million two-wheelers sold in the domestic market, up 2.5 percent YoY and 1.47 million units exported, up 13.3 percent YoY.

The three-wheeler sales came to 668,657 units, which was 7.3 percent higher as compared to 623,010 units sold last year. The domestic sales grew by 3.3 percent YoY, while exports grew at 19 percent YoY, respectively.