Technology company Continental’s ‘Women for Manufacturing’ programme, launched as a 150th anniversary initiative, was aimed at women empowerment through targeted campaigns and programmes. 

The company said in a statement that the project was rolled out in Bengaluru and Gurugram in June 2021. The programme focuses on three target groups – high school girls, ITI and engineering students, and unemployed women from underprivileged sections of society. The programme is planned to be extended to other industry hubs in a phased manner, including associations with various governmental and non-governmental organizations and industry bodies as necessary, the press release said. 

Prashanth Doreswamy, President and CEO, Continental India, said, “Statistics show that in India, women’s workforce participation rate is low, and the manufacturing industry has a lower rate compared to many other industries. COVID had an additional impact, resulting in further decline in female employment. Our Women for Manufacturing initiative hopes to bridge the gender gap in the manufacturing industry. We need more women in the manufacturing sector, and organisations should support the ecosystem to enable this.” 

Studies show that women comprise about 12 per cent of India’s manufacturing sector. Socio-economic and cultural conditions are some of the many reasons why such disparity exists, but also lack of awareness, relevant education, and wrong perceptions about the manufacturing industry. 

Manufacturing industry is often wrongly perceived as unsuitable for women. Continental’s Women for Manufacturing programme focuses on building awareness, visits to plants for first-hand experience of work conditions, safety, inclusive practices, advancements in automation and smart technologies, creation and increasing opportunities and career options through training, internship, and placements, and mentoring and counselling for participants and their key family members to address societal stereotypes. 

The major component of the programme is a certification programme for employable age women, which includes 320 hours of training, including hands-on machinery operations, factory exposure sessions and plant tours. At the end of the certification program, which comes under the Capital Goods Skill Council and course level NSQF level 3, the candidates are provided with mentoring, interview preparation support, and placement support. Several manufacturing companies in and around Bangalore and Gurgaon have already hired the women who underwent the certification program, taking the placement to 100 per cent for the completed batches. Additional batches for the certification are currently underway. 

Continental also recently launched a programme Launch-pad to hire and develop women who were on a career break as part of a long-standing effort to promote gender diversity and equal opportunities. (MT)

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has crossed the milestone of 100,000-unit sales of its Urban Cruiser Hyryder in India, underscoring the B-SUV’s strong acceptance in the Indian market and the growing acceptance of hybrid technology among Indian customers.

The SUV was launched in July 2022 and is available in three powertrains: self-charging Strong Hybrid Electric [SHEV], Neo Drive and CNG. Powered by a 1.5-litre engine with THS (Toyota Hybrid System) & e-drive transmission, the SUV delivers combined power output of 85 kW. Featuring a hybrid system that eliminates the need for external charging, the SUV offers a seamless and silent drive with instant power delivery. The Urban Cruiser Hyryder offers a claimed mileage of up to 27.97 km/l in the Self Charging Hybrid Electric Vehicle variant, 21.12 km/l in the NeoDrive (MT) and 26.6 km/kg in CNG mode.

Sabari Manohar, Vice President – Sales-Service-Used Car Business, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “The positive response to the Urban Cruiser Hyryder reflects our commitment to delivering innovative mobility solutions tailored to the evolving preferences of Indian customers. This milestone is not just a number; it signifies the beginning of a new era in SUV technology that prioritises sustainability, performance and customer satisfaction. The Urban Cruiser Hyryder continues to uphold Toyota’s legacy of driving change through innovation and environmental consciousness, and we are deeply grateful for the trust our customers have placed in us. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our customers who have been instrumental in achieving this milestone.”

Kia India, a leading premium carmaker has surpassed a new milestone of exporting 100,000 units of CKD vehicles since it began shipment in June 2020 from its Anantapur manufacturing facility.

Interestingly, Kia India is one of the key export hubs for Kia Corporation accounting for 50 percent of the company’s global CKD exports. For CY2024, 38,000 CKD units are expected to be shipped from India to markets such as Uzbekistan, Ecuador, and Vietnam. The company currently exports the Seltos, Sonet and Carens SUVs from India.

Joonsu Cho, Chief Sales Officer, Kia India, said: “India is a key market for Kia Corporation, serving not only as a strong sales driver but also as an emerging export hub. This milestone highlights Kia India’s commitment to manufacturing excellence, innovation, and delivering value to global customers. We are proud to see models like the Seltos, Sonet, and Carens perform strongly in international markets. We are also grateful for the government’s export-friendly policies, which have played a crucial role in strengthening India’s position within the global automotive value chain. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our CKD footprint to the Middle East and Africa, to double our export volume by 2030.”

Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL), one of India’s leading passenger vehicle manufacturers, has surpassed 3 million cumulative exports milestone.

It was in 1986, the company had commenced exports from India, and in September 1987 it shipped 500 vehicles one of the largest shipments in that period to Hungary. In FY2012-13 it crossed 1 million vehicle exports milestone, followed by 2 million in FY2020-21. The 3 millionth landmark vehicle was part of a shipment of 1,053 units that sailed from Gujarat’s Pipavav port yesterday comprising models like Celerio, Fronx, Jimny, Baleno, Ciaz, Dzire and S-Presso.

Hisashi Takeuchi, MD & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “The 3 million cumulative exports milestone reflects India’s automobile manufacturing excellence and is a shining example of Brand India on the global stage. We thank the government of India for instituting encouraging policies and enabling trade agreements with some markets augmenting export growth. Aligned with government of India’s flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative, Maruti Suzuki is committed to deep localisation and multiplying exports. Today, 40 percent of passenger vehicles exported from India are from Maruti Suzuki making us the number 1 vehicle exporter in the country. Our success in international markets is the outcome of high acceptance of Maruti Suzuki’s global standard vehicles for quality, safety, design, and technology. We thank our global customers and esteemed distributors for their trust in us.”

“Our exports from India have grown by 3 times from 4 years ago. Inspired by this global demand, Maruti Suzuki is determined to diversify and ramp-up vehicle exports to 750,000 units by 2030-31,” added Takeuchi.

For FY2025 (April-October) the company exported 181,444 units, which was 17.4 percent higher YoY. At present, Maruti Suzuki India exports 17 models to around 100 countries, which includes the likes of Latin America, Africa, Middle-East and countries in Asia too. The top export models include the Fronx, Jimny, Baleno, Dzire and S-Presso.

State Bank of India (SBI) has entered into a strategic partnership with Uber to offer low-cost, tailored financing solutions as well as hassle-free loan disbursement to Uber’s fleet partners.

Both new and current Uber fleet partners will benefit from the partnership, which will enable them to easily grow their businesses and support the continued expansion of the ride-hailing sector in India. Easy loan disbursement will be made possible by the integration, assisting fleets in maintaining peak performance. The partnership guarantees that fleet partners can effectively manage their money and grow their businesses more quickly by utilising SBI's vast financial services network and Uber's technologies.

Vinay M Tonse, MD (Retail Business & Operations), SBI, said, “At SBI, we are committed to offering innovative financial products that support businesses across India. Our partnership with Uber highlights our focus on providing tailored solutions to a diverse set of customers. By offering affordable financing solutions to Uber fleet partners, we are helping to fuel the growth of the ridesharing sector while also ensuring that fleet owners have access to the capital they need to succeed.”

Prabhjeet Singh, President, Uber India & South Asia, said, “This partnership reinforces Uber’s commitment to its fleet partners and aligns with our vision of fostering growth in India’s ride sharing ecosystem. By providing affordable loans through SBI’s customised offerings, we aim to create an enabling environment that provides fleet partners with the tools they need to scale effectively and contribute to the overall development of the industry.”