Caption: The virtual groundbreaking of the project was done by M K Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in the presence of Dr. T R B Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion & Commerce, Government of Tamil Nadu; Arun Roy (IAS), Industries Secretary; Vishnu (IAS), Guidance MD; Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer - Hyundai Motor India, and Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director - Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), senior officials from Guidance Tamil Nadu, and other senior state government officials.

Hyundai Motor India (HMIL), one of the leading passenger vehicle manufacturers in the country, held a groundbreaking ceremony for its hydrogen innovation centre at the Tamil Nadu Investors Conclave 2024, held in Chennai. 

In a strategic partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Guidance Tamil Nadu, and the support of the Tamil Nadu state government the facility will serve as a catalyst for innovation in the field of hydrogen technology.

This initiative aims to be an effective measure to reduce Tamil Nadu’s carbon footprint, and HMIL is upbeat on the potential partnership, which it believes will also play a crucial role in developing a skilled workforce for the emerging hydrogen economy.

• The state-of-the-art hydrogen innovation centre will feature the following facilities and focus areas.
• Electrolyser test rig - Electrolyser development for generation of green hydrogen
• Electrolyser / Fuel cell fabrication line - Localisation of manufacturing and supply chain
• fuel cell test station
• Operational and diagnostic digital twin for hydrogen infrastructure
• Pilot demonstrators using electrolysers and fuel cells
• Hydrogen refuelling station - for hydrogen mobility research
•  

Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMO), Hyundai Motor India said, “Hyundai Motor India remains committed to being a strategic partner in Tamil Nadu government’s vision of building a sustainable ecosystem for transition towards alternate fuels. We are hopeful the upcoming hydrogen innovation centre will accelerate hydrogen mobility adoption in Tamil Nadu. HMIL will be investing towards facility construction at the IIT Madras Thaiyur campus in Chennai. In line with our global vision of ‘Progress for Humanity’, this facility will serve as a key enabler to advance hydrogen as an eco-friendly, emission-less future source of propulsion for mass-mobility solutions.”

The hydrogen innovation centre will be spread across 65,000 square feet within the IIT Madras, Thaiyur campus, located on the outskirts of Chennai.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras said, “IIT Madras has continued to be the forerunner in India’s transformation into a technology and innovation superpower. Furthering this journey, the Institute is honoured to partner with Hyundai Motor India and Guidance Tamil Nadu, to develop a dedicated research facility which we envisage, will create break-through innovations in the field of hydrogen mobility. The hydrogen innovation centre will serve as a catalyst for hydrogen technology innovations, creating a robust ecosystem for start-ups and researchers.”

The hydrogen innovation centre is expected to be fully operational by 2026, and bears an innate potential to foster holistic development of hydrogen ecosystem in India.

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Maruti Suzuki India has received a 5-star safety rating in Adult Occupant Protection and Child Occupant Protection under the Bharat New Car Assessment Program for its upcoming Brezza SUV.

The SUV includes six airbags as standard across variants, Electronic Stability Program with Hill Hold Assist, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Front Parking Sensors and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. The certification marks Maruti Suzuki's fifth consecutive 5-star Bharat NCAP rating, joining the Dzire, Victoris, Invicto and e Vitara.

Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director & CEO, Maruti Suzuki India, said, “Brezza has been India’s highest selling Compact SUV since 2016 and a preferred choice for millions of customers. This 5-star Bharat NCAP rating reinforces the confidence customers place in the vehicle. The recognition for the new Brezza reflects our relentless focus on building safer vehicles for Indian roads. Safety is at the core of our vehicle design philosophy. By making 6 airbags as standard in 16 models and across 160 variants, we have democratized advanced safety, enabling more than 1.6 million new customers to benefit from advanced occupant safety in FY 2025-26, the highest in terms of industry volume. As customer expectations evolve, we remain committed to making advanced safety accessible across every segment, from entry-level models like Alto K10 and Celerio, to SUVs such as the new Brezza, Victoris, Jimny and Fronx.”

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Italian supercar maker Automobili Lamborghini has appointed Francesco Milicia as its new Marketing Director, effective 1 September 2026. He succeeds Christian Mastro, who has transitioned to the role of CEO of Automobili Lamborghini America.

Milicia brings experience from the automotive sector, having held roles at Ducati within the Volkswagen Group, including management positions in China, Managing Director of Ducati Motor Thailand, Purchasing Director and global responsibility for Sales & After Sales activities.

He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bologna and an MBA, with executive education from INSEAD, CEIBS and the London Business School.

Federico Foschini, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer of Automobili Lamborghini, said, "We welcome Francesco Milicia to Lamborghini as Marketing Director. His managerial experience, gained in an environment of excellence such as Ducati, combined with the international vision and strategic expertise he has developed throughout his career, will make a valuable contribution to the further strengthening of the brand's positioning and to supporting the development of our global marketing strategy."

Francesco Milicia, said, "Joining Automobili Lamborghini is an honour and a privilege. I have always admired the brand and I am thrilled to contribute to the journey of a company that inspires people around the world through innovation, audacity and uncompromising excellence. I look forward to working alongside the Lamborghini team, learning from their experience and contributing together to writing the next chapter of the brand's growth and success."

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German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz India has launched the Mercedes-AMG E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+ in India, available in Performance and Racing Editions priced at INR 14.5 million and INR 14.8 million, respectively (ex-showroom).

The luxury sedan combines a 3.0-litre in-line six-cylinder engine with an electric motor to deliver a system output of 430 kW (585 hp), which increases to 450 kW (612 hp) with the RACE START function, and 750 Nm of torque.

It has a claimed acceleration of zero to 100 kmph in 3.8 seconds and offers an electric-only range of more than 100 km (WLTP) via a 28.6 kWh battery.

Santosh Iyer, Managing Director & CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “The E-Class has been the longest running nameplates in the Indian automotive industry and the AMG E 53 HYBRID 4MATIC+ underlines performance, practical usability and electric efficiency, making the E-Class portfolio truly unmatched. This performance sedan combines genuine AMG performance with plug-in hybrid’s efficiency, balancing an AMG customers need of racetrack performance with practicality of daily usage, perfectly. The AMG E53 Hybrid furthers our ‘powertrain agnostic’ strategy for India, where customers decide the powertrain of their choice, suiting their requirement.”

In addition to the vehicle launch, Mercedes-Benz India has announced a multi-year title partnership with the Indian Padel Tour for the 2026–27 season. The tournament series will feature 19 events across 11 cities, including five Grand Slam events, beginning in Mumbai in August 2026 and concluding in Bengaluru in June 2027. Customers purchasing the AMG E 53 Hybrid will receive direct entry into the Indian Padel Tour Grand Slam.

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Tata Motors-owned British luxury marque Range Rover has announced a fifth addition to its vehicle line-up: the Range Rover GT. It is the first all-electric Range Rover built on the EMA platform, manufactured in Halewood, UK.

The Range Rover GT will be available initially as a battery electric vehicle, with a hybrid electric vehicle option planned for later in the lifecycle. Prototype vehicles are undergoing on-road testing with a camouflage wrap.

The interior features a single screen design paired with a driver display, a concealed air vent running across the width of the cabin and a woven textile wrapping the dashboard.

Martin Limpert, Managing Director, Range Rover, stated, "The Range Rover GT will redefine the grand-touring segment with the ability to deliver beautiful and engaging GT poise, proportions and long-distance refinement while offering capabilities no conventional GT can match. We have spent the last few years working obsessively on the fundamentals of the GT formula, reinterpreted in a sophisticated, uniquely Range Rover way. The result is the most car-like, yet unmistakably capable, Range Rover ever created, now possible on our electrified EMA architecture – complementing our existing powertrain portfolio to deliver a complete set of options for every customer need. Its blend of effortless EV performance, first-class long-haul refinement and all-terrain capability is pure Range Rover; while its calming interior previews our vision of a modern grand tourer."

Further details will be released later in the year.

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