Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka flags off JBM ECO-LIFE Electric Buses

 Karnataka’s first ever rollout of Electric Buses for public transportation
25 electric buses flagged off from Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru
JBM to supply 90 Electric Buses to BMTC for its first electric bus project

Bengaluru, 28^th December 2021: JBM ECO-LIFE 100% electric buses were flagged off today by Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka today from Vidhana Soudha. Hon’ble Transport Minister of Karnataka Shri B. Sriramulu, Chairman of BMTC Shri. N.S. Nandeesha Reddy and Principal Secretary of Transport Shri. Rajendra Kataria were also present at the e-buses launch ceremony amongst other senior officials from JBM Auto Ltd.

 

The JBM ECO-LIFE electric buses will be running under the metro feeder services in the Smart City initiative. Earlier this year, JBM Auto had received an order of 90 non-AC electric buses for the city of Bengaluru. 25 buses have been flagged off today out of the first batch of 40 electric buses already delivered by the company to BMTC. The remaining 50 e-buses will be delivered in the coming months. This e-bus service marks the first ever rollout of electric bus in the state of Karnataka. These buses shall be operated from the Kengeri, Yeshwantpur and KR Puram bus depots.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman, JBM Group said, "JBM aims to create a state-of-the-art e-mobility ecosystem across India. We are a step closer to our dream with the launch of electric buses in Bengaluru. Our electric buses are already plying in the states of Maharashtra, Andaman & Nicobar, Gujarat and Delhi-NCR. JBM Auto provides a complete e-mobility ecosystem right from electric vehicles, charging infra, power infra to maintenance and support, thereby, providing optimum value to our customers”,

 

The 9 mt non-AC buses have a seating capacity of 33 passengers and a driver. These buses have a floor height of 900mm making it very convenient for the public to board and deboard the bus. They are equipped with 6 Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) battery packs that make the buses compatible to cover a distance of 120 kms in a single charge with a maximum speed of 70 kmph. The e-buses have air suspensions in front and rear to provide a smooth riding experience to the passengers. These buses incorporate all modern features like Real Time Passenger Information System (PIS), Panic Buttons for emergency, Automatic Bus Vehicle Location System, CCTV cameras, Public address system, Stop request buttons to name a few.

Spinny raises USD 283 Mn in Series E round of funding by ADQ, Tiger Global, Avenir Growth and Arena Holdings

 Gurugram, Tuesday - 9th December 2021

Spinny, a used car retailing platform in India, announces the closure of a USD 283 Mn Series E funding round from new and existing investors. The round was led by Abu Dhabi based - ADQ, Tiger Global and Avenir Growth. In addition to these, the round saw participation from existing investors Feroz Dewan’s, Arena Holdings and Think Investments. The latest round includes a primary capital infusion of USD 250 Mn and a secondary sale of ~USD 33 Mn by select angels and a few seed stage investors. The additional funding takes the overall funds raised by Spinny till date to more than USD 530 Mn and with this round Spinny’s valuation stands at ∼ USD 1.8 Bn.

Over the last 12 months, Spinny has constantly added multiple industry-first initiatives such as Spinny360 - interactive inventory viewing, Assured Buyback program - tenure based flexible car ownership, online booking, and doorstep test drives & delivery. With SellRight by Spinny, the platform is bolstering the experience of selling a car in the country with the complete capability for the customer to sell a car from their home in a matter of minutes with complete trust and transparency. The newly raised capital will be deployed towards further stepping up the customer experience, strengthening technology and product capabilities and building teams across functions. 

Commenting on this development, Niraj Singh, Founder & CEO, Spinny said “We set afoot to build Spinny with a customer first approach - solving for lack of trust in car buying and selling experience, with a highly personalized and detail-oriented approach. Leveraging technology, our focus is to further strengthen our quality and experience control capabilities. We are delighted to have new partners on board our rocketship, in ADQ Investments, and are thankful to our existing investors Tiger Global, Avenir Growth, Arena Holdings, Accel Partners, Elevation Capital, General Catalyst, the Fundamentum Partnership, Blume Ventures and others for their belief in our vision and tremendous support in scaling the platform.”

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About Spinny: 

Founded in 2015, Spinny is a used car retailing platform that aims to bring about transparency and convenience in the car buying and selling process in India. Spinny operates across the entire value chain of pre-owned cars, embedding superior technology and processes to deliver a premium experience to customers. As a testimony of Spinny's commitment to transparency and quality, every car on the Spinny platform comes with a 200-point inspection checklist, 5-day no questions asked money-back guarantee, and 1-year after-sales warranty. Currently, Spinny has 23 car hubs that operate across 15 cities - Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Indore and Coimbatore. 

About the team:

Spinny is founded by Niraj Singh (IIT Delhi Alumni), Mohit Gupta (Ex-Director, Flipkart), and Ramanshu Mahaur (IIT Delhi Alumni, Ex-Adobe). Niraj has had 2 successful entrepreneurial exits before he started Spinny and he was also a seed/early-stage investor in start-ups like Tripoto, JustRide (Now Drivezy), Little Black Book, Rapido Bike Taxi, MyHQ, Fango (Now SellTM), ShaadiSaga. The core team consists of many ex-founders and IIT/IIM/INSEAD graduates with experience in Management Consulting, E-commerce, marketplaces, and supply chain industries.

Additionally, Spinny had acquired its rival Truebil late last year and now operates it (www.truebil.com) as an independent brand that focuses on providing affordable pre-owned vehicle options in lower-budget categories. 

Tummoc partners with Rapido to provide first and last mile connectivity

 

Bangalore, 3rd December 2021: Bengaluru-based intra-city commute solution provider Tummoc has announced its collaboration with India’s largest and fastest-growing bike taxi startup, Rapido, to provide the first and last mile connectivity from the companys’ multi-modal transit mobile application. Tummoc’s data-driven transit platform is now expanding the range of ride options on its app intending to offer its users efficient commute options for end-to-end connectivity in the cities it operates in. Tummoc’s collaboration with Rapido is thus in-sync with the company’s ultimate vision, which also resonates with Rapido’s goal of making last-mile connectivity affordable through its disruptive service model. 

Tummoc has established its operations in key metro cities of Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, where users can access Tummoc’s mobile application to understand public transport routes and transport options between two points within a city at the click of a button. And choose the most optimum combination that saves on time and cost of travel. Tummoc’s “Plan My Trip” feature helps users discover multiple ways to reach their destination, including Rapido’s bike and auto network in the aforementioned cities along with other public and private transport options, to find the best route suiting their requirements.

 

Commenting on this recent collaboration, Hiranmay Mallick, Founder-Tummoc quipped, “Tummoc’s mission of ushering in an era of smart and cashless urban commuting has got a significant boost with this collaboration with Rapido while staying true to our goal of Integrating all MaaS (Mobility as a Service) providers to offer our customers a wide range of first and last-mile transport options. We believe that both companies share the common thread of transforming how India commutes and that has brought us together to pioneer a new transit ecosystem for the scores of daily commuters in our country. Our association will be applicable for all the cities Tummoc operates in and will allow our customers to access Rapido’s network of trained bike and auto riders to plan and embark on their trips within each city. We hope to leverage on our strengths, grow together and provide an even greater end-user experience in the times ahead.”

 

On its part, Rapido has been redefining the concept of intra-city travel by offering customers quick and affordable bike taxi services through its vast network of 1million+ bike ‘captains’ spread across 100+ Indian cities. With convenience features like doorstep pick-up with assured ride safety and economically priced rides even in rush hour or traffic situations. Rapido has amassed a customer base of more than 10million and will leverage its collaboration with Tummoc to expand further in the cities it operates in. Speaking on the growth prospects, Aravind Sanka, Founder-Rapido added, “We are happy to collaborate with Tummoc to provide its customers with one-touch access to our fleet of bike taxis that are redefining standards of comfort & convenience. As a brand and a service, it is our constant endeavor to redefine ourselves and we believe this partnership will help both companies to synergize efforts to facilitate an exemplary end-user experience through first and last-mile rides provided through the platform. It is heartening to see how both companies share a similar vision for door-step accessibility in India and are confident of transforming the urban commute space further through this collaboration.”

 

With personal transportation costs escalating on the back of rising fuel prices, Tummoc facilitates commuters in discovering the fastest route employing commonly available transport while Rapido is working on the ground to deliver a safe commuting experience at reasonable costs. Additionally, both companies are helping reduce the overall carbon footprint for each of their customers and are contributing to India’s goal of reducing its total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes before 2030.

Boom Motors launches production with promise to transition India to clean mobility

 

• Boom Motors from Coimbatore enters Indian EV space with laser-focused strategy to transition India to clean mobility

• Their first product – the Boom Corbett is the most durable bike in India with best-in-class warranty of 7-years on chassis and 5-years on battery

• The bike is fully designed and developed in India for Indian driving conditions 

• First EV company to introduce swappable smart batteries with portable chargers to remove India’s dependence on charging infrastructure

• First EV company to offer 5-year EMI on vehicle purchase to reduce EMI rates as low as Rs. 1,699 per month

• First EV company to have service touchpoints across the country

• Bike packed with intelligent features like petrol savings tracking, CO2 offset tracking, accident/theft detection, and parental mode

Bengaluru, 11th November 2021: With India pushing towards the target of 100% Electric Vehicle Nation by 2030, Boom Motors, the new high-tech Indian EV brand from the state of Tamil Nadu, is born to accelerate the country’s transition to clean mobility through indigenous high-performance electric vehicles that suits the Indian conditions.

“I believe that climate change is the biggest threat in front of us and have made it our mission to eliminate the largest sources of pollution in India – vehicular pollution” said Anirudh Ravi Narayanan, CEO of Boom Motors.

The company today unveiled the Boom Corbett – India’s most durable and long-lasting bike. The bike features a 2.3 kWh– which can optionally be doubled to 4.6 kWh – giving the vehicle a best-in-class range of up to 200 kms. The batteries are swappable and they come with a portable charger that can plug into any household socket thereby removing the requirement for charging infrastructure. The vehicle can hit a top-speed of 75 kmph with the two-battery option, can support 200 kgs loading, and can climb the steepest gradients in our cities. 

Speaking about Boom Motors’ launch Anirudh said, “In order to fuel the transition to EVs, Boom Motors believes that vehicles should offer value, convenience and peace-of-mind to the customer – only then they will swich en masse. To demonstrate our best-in-class value, Boom Motors is the first EV company to offer customers to purchase our vehicles for 5-year EMI. Rates will start at Rs. 1,699 per month – which is less than what many people spend on petrol. For convenience, we are offering swappable battery with a portable charger that will allow the bike to be charged anywhere. Today many people struggle with charging in apartments, offices, malls, etc. – we are freeing people of this problem. For peace-of-mind, we are offering service touchpoints across the country, roadside assistance and of course an unbeatably durable bike that will have minimal downtime to begin with.”

Speaking about Boom Motor’s journey so far he added, “Climate change is globally a very important issue and I believe we have no time to waste. My co-founder Vinoth and I, and the entire team at Boom Motors have worked non-stop and tirelessly over the past two years to bring this product to market in record time. We have built a factory in Coimbatore capable of manufacturing 100k bikes per year – unlike many other EV startups, our production has already started, and we are in the process of ramping up. We have localized supply chain not just to India, but inside Tamil Nadu for a significant portion of our parts, and have created hundreds of jobs in the process. 

We have built perhaps the best EV R&D team in the whole country. I’m very proud of our teams’ accomplishments – we have created many patents on key technologies that are going to give India a technological advantage on EVs. For example, we have developed perhaps the best battery tech in India – the battery is completely fire-proof and very long-lasting - we are able to provide 5-year warranty on it vs. 3-years that is typical. Also the battery itself is super intelligent – running its own operating system inside. 

We have done all this in a bootstrapped manner – without any external VC/PE investment – the first company in India to do so. However, our journey is just beginning – this is only our first product and our first factory – you are going to see a lot more unique and innovative products coming out from us in the near future. After all, India is a country of a billion people – we can’t hope to satisfy the tastes of our people with a single vehicle.”

On the Boom Corbett: “Boom Corbett is unlike any other bike in the world. It’s beauty, beast, and brains combined. It’s an absolute stunner – you’ll see people everywhere turning their heads as you drive by on this bike. It’s also arguably the strongest, toughest, most durable bike – not just in India – but the whole world. We’ve built the bike to last with an exo-skeletal double cradle chassis made of high-tensile steel. This is a bike that can take the rider anywhere they want to go – it’s not another flimsy scooter EV made for urban driving. It’s also packed with intelligent features like petrol savings calculation, accident and theft detection, and parental model. We’re able to offer all of this at an unbelievable pricing of Rs. 89,999, or even lower with state subsidies.”

Boom Motors is opening up bookings for its bike from tomorrow Nov 12th, 2021. The online booking requires a Rs. 499 deposit in order to confirm the introductory discount of Rs. 3k, and to hold a position in queue for deliveries. The company will commence retail deliveries from Jan 2022.

Omega Seiki Mobility partners with Exicom for its lithium-ion batteries to provide environment friendly and long cycle life battery solutions

New Delhi, October 08, 2021: Omega Seiki Mobility Pvt. Ltd. (OSM), part of Anglian Omega Group of companies, today announced their partnership with Exicom Tele-systems for Lithium-ion batteries for OSM’s wide range of electric L5 cargo vehicles. Exicom Tele-systems is a 27 years old Indian Company, which is aligned with the thought of ‘Make-in-India’ with Omega Seiki Mobility.

 

Omega Seiki Mobility – a company strongly committed to an all-electric future; is a leading last mile solution provider to many fleet & individual owners and is co-developing solutions with technology partners to make EV’s more affordable and reliable. Under this partnership, Exicom will be supplying its recently launched 10.8 kW fixed batteries that will give a range of 120km on full charge and added features of real time battery analytics, long cycle life, high environment protection and very rugged design.

 

This partnership also marks commercial introduction of Exicom Tele-systems flagship BMS namely Exicom “MEXX” which has industry leading features of safety, accuracy, SoX prediction algorithms and many more which give users the desired performance and safety.

 

Speaking on the partnership with Exicom Tele- Systems Mr. Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility, said “OSM believes that the way to develop faster EV Vehicle Technology is through creating alliances. We are elated to partner with Exicom Tele systems as they share same values as of OSM, by creating Made-In-India and Made-for-India products.  This partnership is giving new hopes for the future of the EV Ecosystem in India. The benefit of this technology is that Exicom Tele system Li-ion batteries are for all types of vehicles with technology that is global, cost which is affordable, quality that is world class”.

 

Mr. Anant Nahata, Managing Director, Exicom Group said “We are delighted to have this partnership with Omega Seiki and contribute to their electrification journey and sustainable last mile operations. Exicom is the industry leader in providing battery and charging solutions for light electric vehicles and has integrated its latest 10.8 kW battery in range of OSM’s delivery 3Ws. It will benefit all Indian customers by offering reliability and consistency of performance they are looking for.”

 

Exicom is supported by an in-house team of amazing R&D engineers for all our core markets who continuously strive to build state of the art solutions for its customers and thus help accelerate faster transition to a greener environment. The development efforts focus both on leading technologies, & incremental improvements of existing designs and always with an overall aim of increasing performance while reducing costs. Almost all of Exicom’s revenues are derived from in-house developed products. Exicom Group has a skill set in areas of power electronic design, firmware, mechanical & thermal design, systems engineering, customized solutions, battery design and product validation

 

Omega Seiki Mobility believes in creating sustainable mobility solutions with an integrated approach of connecting Automobiles and the Society. The brand’s focus is to eventually create a clean ecosystem with eco-friendly, safe and congestion free mobility. OSM is one of India’s leading clean energy incubators and has become synonymous with India’s sustainability success. The electric vehicle manufacturing company aims to fast-track future mobility, with green energy at its core, by implementing data-driven, smart engineering.

Omega Seiki Mobility, which has its EV manufacturing plant in Faridabad, launched its first electric three-wheeler in the country in early 2020 and the company aims to become a complete mobility solutions provider in the EV market.

Omega Seiki Mobility unveils India’s First Electric Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) M1KA

 Bookings of the vehicle to commence on Quarter 4 of 2021

September 22, 2021, New Delhi: Omega Seiki Mobility Pvt. Ltd. (OSM), part of the Anglian Omega Group unveiled India’s first Electric Small Commercial Vehicle (SCV) ‘M1KA’ today. OSM ‘M1KA’ is designed to live up to the expectation of ‘AAPKI AAMDANI KA SAATHI’. With this product, the brand continues to offer best-in-class performance, dependability, and a value proposition with lower TCO. Omega Seiki Mobility will start accepting bookings of the vehicle from Quarter 4 of 2021.


M1KA is equipped with a light weight, NMC based battery of 90 kWh providing the longest driving range of 250kms in a single charge. The battery takes 4 hours to charge fully at the DC Fast Charging Stations. Payload capacity of 2 tonnes makes it the most proficient vehicle in its class. It is further supported by 6 leaf springs suspension in the front and 7 in the rear making M1KA an ideal SCV for highway drives that too on any terrain. The all new M1KA sports the chassis of superior tensile strength. On the inside, the vehicle comes with a large 10 feet loading area which is highly suitable for heavy as well as voluminous load.


Omega Seiki Mobility (OSM) always believes in keeping #IndiaFirst and providing green and sustainable mobility solutions with the introduction of its electric vehicles since its inception in 2020. OSM today offers an unmatched array of green vehicles. OSM with the unveiling of M1KA is targeting customer segment that is a combination of owners-cum-drivers and fleet owners, who are go-getters and seek reverence and individuality in their occupation along with cost-effectiveness. The M1KA is a green and practical offering which can be used for multiple applications including Courier, Goods distribution, E-Commerce and FMCG amongst others.


Speaking at the event Mr. Uday Narang, Founder and Chairman, Omega Seiki Mobility said “EV market is growing specially in the Commercial Vehicle space on the back of cost effectiveness, sustainable solution and the increasing support from the central and the state Government. The current SOPs and favourable environment motivate us to expand our EV offerings for our customers.”


Mr. Narang further added “We are thrilled to unveil this revolutionary product M1KA. Omega Seiki Mobility is coming up with next-generation electric commercial vehicle to further solidify its mission to develop net-zero carbon mobility.”


Dr. Deb Mukherji, MD, Omega Seiki Mobility said “With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, Omega Seiki Mobility provides market-leading vehicles are built on adaptable platforms and use our own proprietary technology, providing customers with tailored e-mobility solutions at the lowest Total Cost of Ownership.”


While unveiling M1KA, Mr. Mukherji added “At Omega Seiki Mobility, we are committed to provide reliable mobility solutions to our customers. Introducing First Electric SCV will further bolster our commitment towards a cleaner environment. We are confident to sustain a strong foothold in the segment with M1KA and would like to thank our customers for their constant support.”


Omega Seiki Mobility believes in creating sustainable mobility solutions with integrated approach of connecting Automobiles and the Society. The brand’s focus is to eventually create a clean ecosystem with eco-friendly, safe and congestion free mobility. OSM is one of India’s leading clean energy incubators and has become synonymous with India’s sustainability success. The electric vehicle manufacturing company aims to fast-track future mobility, with green energy at its core, by implementing data-driven, smart engineering.

Omega Seiki Mobility, which has its EV manufacturing plant in Faridabad, launched its first electric three-wheeler in the country in early 2020 and the company aims to become a complete mobility solutions provider in the EV market.

Motorsport Came Alive with High Octane Launch of Formula Regional Indian Championship in Hyderabad

 The racing season commences in February 2022 across 4 cities in India

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

'Formula Regional Indian Championship and Formula 4 Indian Championship' Launched at Madhapur in Hyderabad. The world-class FIA Grade Street circuit which is to be held in Hyderabad, New Delhi, Chennai, Coimbatore in February 2022 across four cities. As part of the curtain-raiser, the F3 street circuit race was started from the city's iconic cable bridge and concluded at the venue. Witnessed burning tyres and screaming engines, motorsport came alive today with the high octane launch of Formula Regional Indian Championship and Formula 4 Indian Championship. On the occasion Megha Engineering & Infrastructures Ltd. Chairman P.P. Reddy and M.D Krishna Reddy launched the F3 Car.

Speaking about the Racing Promotions current endeavors Akhilesh Reddy, Chairman, Racing Promotions said, “Monaco being a sovereign city-state has produced F1 drivers, and we as a country of a billion-plus now have the platform to give aspiring racing drivers the opportunity to compete with the best in the world and potentially a stepping stone to the apex of motorsports which is F1.” Adding that he said, "We committed to investing in the long-term development of motorsports and creating a platform for aspiring racing drivers in India, the first season of racing would kick off on Feb-March 22 in New Delhi, Chennai, Coimbatore and Hyderabad, and attract global racing talents as well."

Navjeet Gadoke, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, RPPL added, “Our investment will revolutionize Indian motorsports, and the objective is to build a world-class, holistic ecosystem for motorsports which will become a force to reckon with, not just for this sport, but Indian sports in general.” The new innings of Racing Promotions herald the new era of long-term racing culture in India with races planned across the country. In the coming months, Racing Promotions Pvt. Ltd. would host the Formula Regional Indian Championship and Formula 4 Indian Championship, certified by the FIA. RPPL is also looking forward to relaunching the city-based league as the "Indian Racing League" in Q1 2022. Also on the schedule is India’s First-Ever FIA Graded Street Circuit in Hyderabad!

Present on the launch, Joint MD, RPPL, Armaan Ebrahim reflected “It is great to finally have world-class equipment and race cars on our home soil. We welcome Akhilesh and Navjeet to our company, and look forward to building a series of championships that enable Indian drivers to compete at the highest level globally and will make Indians a force to reckon with in the motorsport world.”

Sudarshan Venu Led TVS Motor Company to Invest INR 1,000 Crore in Electric Vehicles, to Launch Over Half a Dozen EV Vehicles Across Segments by Mid-2023

 

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

India's third-largest two-wheeler maker, TVS Motor Company, has plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore to manufacture electric vehicles. Sudarshan Venu, the company’s joint Managing Director, said that the proposed EVs will fall under an independent vertical.

MrVenu, a TVS Group prodigy, paves the way for the next generation of leaders. As the company’s New Strategy leader, this new line of Electric Vehicles is his vision. Ralf Speth—recently appointed as chairman of TVS Motor and former CEO of Jaguar Land Rover—and Kuok Meng Xiong—a leading global eCommerce investor for ByteDance, Palantir and Airbnb—are mentors to the young scion.

It is no secret that an increasing number of startups are focusing on the EV segment, but this does not worry Sudarshan Venu. In his interview with Economic Times, he says, “We’ve quietly worked on EVs for the last one decade. It is a huge focus area for us as we advance. We are embracing this future; we are investing in it and are excited.” “We want to scale up the TVS electric experience pan India, and it is a space where we would like to play a leading role,” he continues.

Despite new-age EV entrants, mainstream two-wheeler makers are also being measured with them. Chetak from Bajaj Auto seems to be on its reincarnation journey, while TVS Motor seems to be as aggressive as ever. Additionally, Hero MotoCorp is steadily investing in Ather Energy and its in-house EV projects.

TVS Motor is working diligently on its 5-25kW two- and three-wheelers portfolio, launching all of them within 24 months. It aims to have electric vehicles across segments like delivery, commuter premium, high-performance sports, and electric three-wheelers.

The company’s new EV vertical has 500-600 engineers are already working on multiple concepts for the new market needs. Designed and developed in India with global R&D, this range of EVs aims to launch in foreign markets.

With a dedicated, scalable facility for electric vehicles, TVS Motor is also developing integrated vehicle architecture with battery and other critical parts manufactured in-house. MrVenu predicts that with falling battery cost, sustained policy support and product launch investments, customer acceptance will accelerate by 2025. “The bull case of the industry is what we will plan for, and we will invest behind it, and be ready for it,” he beamed during his interview with ET.

The infrastructure for charging is critical for faster EV adoption and TVS Motor is planning strategic partnerships to create an ecosystem of fast-charging vehicles.

TVS Motor’s first EV, the iQube, will go from Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi and Pune to over 1,000 dealerships in major Indian towns and cities by FY22 end. Around then, it will also launch its Creon-concept end, foreseen to be the most advanced electric two-wheeler in India.

The company joint MD claims that TVS Motor has a “clear path” for iQube’s positive gross margin. It is all set to transform into a digital-age company with a connected, cool and electric brand, and his commitment of INR 1,000 crore is an investment in that direction.

"We are improving the profitability of our core business and cutting any Capex on non-core areas to keep the focus on electrification and digital future," Sudarshan Venu said to ET. When asked about sales and finance numbers, he said, “We should see very rapid growth from here on. While the total cost of ownership parity is still some time away, in the three to five years, you will see significant growth in the industry; that is why we are investing.”

Believing that EV development has to be "ground-up", he acknowledged that India can play a huge role in the sector, much like conventional two-wheelers. Applauding both states and the central government for the SoPs extended, he said any future policy support should drive “development of technology”, especially through battery technology, cell chemistry, etc.

TVS Motor is involved in the startup ecosystem with a special focus on telematics and connectivity platforms. Having greatly contributed to the company’s core business so far, they are sure their new focus will enhance the EV buying experience. TVS agility will be critical in the future of a connected and digital world.

One in a Billion: The BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition Launched

Gurugram, Haryana, India

•  Exclusivity of highest order: Limited units available on BMW Online Shop.

•  Master craftsmanship: BMW Individual paintwork, exclusive wooden trims, BMW Individual badging and personalized embroidery.

•  Exclusive M Sport package with Design Pure Excellence luxury interiors.

•  New driver assistance systems and smooth automated driving functions.

BMW India has launched the BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition today. BMW’s flagship model is presented in a new avatar with exclusive personalization, iconic M performance, and handcrafted precision. Locally-produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, limited units of the Individual Edition can now be booked at shop.bmw.in.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “BMW Individual is now being locally produced in India at Plant Chennai for the first time. It represents bespoke personalization and gives a new dimension to the BMW 7 Series, an epitome of exclusivity and performance. This winning combination takes the story of contemporary luxury forward into the future by allowing customers to express their personality. The new BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition is an exclusive limited edition that achieves a peerless symbiosis of performance and individualization.”

Limited units of the BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition are available at INR 1,42,90,000.

Price prevailing at the time of invoicing will be applicable. Ex-showroom prices inclusive of GST (incl. compensation cess) as applicable but exclude Road Tax, Tax Collected at Source (TCS), RTO statutory taxes/fees, other local tax cess levies, and insurance. Price/options are subject to change without prior notice. For further information, log on to www.bmw.in.

The BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition is available in two exciting BMW Individual metallic colours – Tanzanite Blue and Dravit Grey with exclusive leather ‘Nappa’ with extended contents/stitching - Mocha and Black combination upholstery.

The Design Pure Excellence interior package sets brilliant accents that underline the contemporary, luxurious and aesthetic character with unique craftsmanship. M Sport exterior and powerful engine produce an adrenalin-rich combination to set the hearts of motorsport fans pounding.

Customers of the BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition will gain membership to the exclusive BMW Excellence Club. A member’s only collective, BMW Excellence Club caters to the discerning taste of BMW customers by curating unmatched luxury experiences from around the world. The program features four main pillars: Bespoke Travel, The High Life, Grandstand and BMW Privileges.

BMW India Financial Services offer customized and flexible financial solutions as per individual requirements. BMW 360˚ offers exclusive financial packages with great value and absolute peace of mind. Customers will enjoy a hassle-free ownership experience with low monthly payments and flexible end-of-term options. Service Inclusive and Service Inclusive Plus further reduce cost of ownership. Customers can choose from a variety of service plans according to duration and mileage. The packages cover Condition Based Service (CBS) and maintenance work with plans starting at INR 51,700 for 3 years/40,000 kms.

The BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition.
The design of the BMW 7 Series is clearer, more modern and more emotional. Visually, the 7 makes a clear statement with an imposing presence, created by the distinctive front and rear design. The most striking feature is the BMW Individual special paint metallic finish in Tanzanite Blue and Dravit Grey. Adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight technology enhance the commanding look. Dynamic character is emphasized by aerodynamically optimized bodywork elements of the M Sport package as standard. BMW Laserlight makes a striking impression and distributes light perfectly. An exclusive optional feature is the BMW Individual 20 light alloy wheels V-spoke style 628, painted in bicolour and 20 M light alloy wheels Star-spoke style 817 M.

Interior of the BMW Individual 740Li M Sport Edition offers unique and bespoke personalisation. Customizable embroidery on specially crafted BMW Individual Alcantara headrest and backrest cushions offer customers the chance to express their personality integrating harmoniously with the sophisticated polish of BMW Individual interior trim badging on the dashboard and centre console. The ‘BMW Individual’ emblem on the interior trims is a perfect fit with the design, signalling its special roots. The BMW Individual Alcantara headliner in Ivory White and Canberra Beige highlights the special quality that can be seen and felt. Interior trim offers a refined premium option with exclusive Nappa leather upholstery with extended contents and stitching. The new fine-wood trim with wooden inlays adds a touch to luxury to the roof handles clasp, rear seats belt clasp and rear-centre armrest cup holder and provides premium experience of the highest order. Generous levels of space, ambient lighting, ambient air package, Panoramic glass roof Sky Lounge with LED light graphics are few among the long list of features that create the perfect ambience. The Executive Lounge appointments maximize comfort with four-zone automatic climate control, electrically adjustable comfort seats, massage function and active seat ventilation. In addition to the above, the BMW Individual design composition includes the comfort access system, front and rear active seat ventilation, the front and rear seat heating, climate comfort laminated glass and windscreen, soft close function and welcome light carpet features as standard.

Thanks to the unrivalled BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, the petrol engine meld maximum power with exemplary efficiency and offer spontaneous responsiveness even at low engine speeds. The three-litre six-cylinder produces an output of 340 hp and a maximum torque of 450 Nm at 1,500 – 5,200 rpm. The car accelerates from 0 – 100 km/hr. in just 5.6 seconds.

BMW EfficientDynamics includes features such as 8-speed Steptronic Automatic Transmission, Auto Start-Stop, ECO PRO mode, Brake-Energy Regeneration, Electronic Power Steering, 50:50 Weight Distribution, Driving Experience Control switch. Dynamic Damper Control improves ride quality and suspension by stabilizing all irregularities of the surface. The Adaptive 2-Axle Air Suspension enables raising and lowering of vehicle at the touch of button and automatically adjusts the height of the car to suit any given driving situation.

Rear-seat Entertainment Professional allows users to access the entertainment and navigation functions from the rear seats. It now comprises two 10.2 inch full-HD touch displays with a Blu-ray player. BMW Touch Command, the innovative system, offers a fully integrated control option for entertainment and comfort functions for the rear. The 7-inch tablet with touch function, which is integrated into the centre armrest and connected to the vehicle systems, can also be used outside the vehicle. Modern cockpit concept BMW Live Cockpit Professional with BMW Operating System 7.0 includes 3D Navigation. BMW Gesture Control that recognizes six pre-defined hand movements for control of several functions. The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, Wireless Charging for mobile phones. Wireless Apple CarPlay® / Android Auto ensures seamless smartphone connection with the car to access several functions. Harman Kardon Surround Sound System conjures an engrossing treat for the ears. High-end 16 speaker system with woofers generates an impressive audio experience in all seats that is unique worldwide in the automotive sector.

New driver assistance systems and extended functions smooth the way to automated driving. The Lane Departure Warning component of the newly introduced BMW Driving Assistant now also has the lane return function. Range of state-of-the-art driver assistance systems includes Driving Assistant with Lane Change Warning, Rear Collision Warning, and Crossing Traffic Warning. Parking Assistant Plus with Surround View Camera makes parking in tight spots easier by taking over acceleration, braking, and steering. The Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of parking or through narrow driveways. It keeps a record of the last 50 metres driven and assists by taking over the steering. With the Remote-Control Parking function, a driver can manoeuvre the vehicle into a narrow parking space from outside using the BMW Display Key.

BMW safety technologies include six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensor, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.

Sonalika Records Highest Domestic Growth in Industry at 41.6%; Surpasses Industry Growth (est. 26.7%) in FY'21

 

After consistently achieving records of excellence month after month in FY’21, Sonalika Tractors has added yet another feather of superlative achievement to the hat of its glorious journey. Sonalika has recorded its highest ever annual sales of 1,39,526 tractors in FY’21 and among the leading market share gainers in the industry. The company has registered a phenomenal domestic growth rate of 41.6% over FY’20 volumes, which is highest in industry and beaten industry growth (est.26.7%) by a significant margin. Alongside, Sonalika has recorded its highest ever annual rotavator sales of 50,000 units in FY’21, recording double the volumes registered in FY’20. Overall, Sonalika Tractors has sold 13,093 tractors in March’21, registering a whopping 135% growth over March’20. 

Commenting on the superior performance in export markets, Dr. Deepak Mittal, Managing Director, Sonalika Group, said, “I am very pleased to see the extraordinary outcome this year. Our strong foundation has served as a unique platform for the company to continue recording extraordinary results even in the most challenging year and we have become the first Indian tractor company to cross 22,000 tractors exports in a single year. This success is credited to the committed team along with our distributors, dealers, financiers and loyal customers who stayed connected and performed in the markets under the adverse conditions without much travel or physical connect. We are proud of our market leadership in 6 countries and close second in another 5." 

Upbeat about the company’s performance, Mr. Raman Mittal, Executive Director, Sonalika Group, said, “Achieving a significant landmark of phenomenal domestic growth of 41.6% in FY’21, which is highest in industry and surpassing industry growth (est. 26.7%) by a significant margin amidst the most challenging year is a testimony that we have laid a strong foundation to remain closely knitted with our farmers and the society at large, which has only strengthened with time."

"Our plans were not deterred by the external unforeseen situations as we have always remained consistent with our approach to grow and serve our customers. Our innate ability to re-engineer our approach across all business functions powered us to come out as a clear winner month after month, throughout the year.” 

He added, “Our pace of transformation during the year has been faster than ever before across various verticals."

Manufacturing - We were among the first one to start production within all the prescribed safety protocols and attained full capacity operations within 2 months.

Sales - We have widened our channel network at a pace faster than ever before (145+ new channel partners added), thereby strengthening our national presence.

R&D and Product Innovation - Introduced the highest number of products during the year (6 new models), including the much talked out Tiger Electric model, and our regional technology introductions Mahabali and Chhatrapati, while constantly upgrading products with latest technology features like 4 wheel drive technology, multi speed transmission and precision 5G hydraulics.

Customer Care - Rolled out the 3X2 service to reach consumers closer to their farms and extended warranty of all tractors during the COVID-19 period.

Marketing - Pivoted our farmer-centric marketing programs on digital as well as other media platforms with high responsiveness.

Finance - We re-strategized our financial discipline to control unnecessary cost escalations arising due to unforeseen situations.

HR - We ensured 100% wages to the labour and also rolled out employee welfare initiatives as a support to households whose families were impacted by the pandemic.

CSR - A host of new initiatives were rolled out viz. dedicated 2 isolation centers (Delhi and hoshiarpur), Corona mobile testing van, PPE kits, sanitisation drives across states, developed ventilator system and many more.

Every single parameter of our business functions worked cohesively towards setting up new benchmarks of performance. We remain committed to bring technologically advanced products for our farmers & lead them to farm prosperity. ” 

 

About Sonalika Tractors

Sonalika Tractors, one of India’s leading tractor manufacturers and the No. 1 Exports brand from India, has established its robust presence in the domestic as well as in over 130 countries with 11 lakh+ customers. Sonalika manufactures the widest heavy duty tractor range in 20-120 HP and 70+ implements at its Hoshiarpur facility in Punjab that caters to the varied needs of customers across the globe. Being a farmer-centric brand, the Govt. of India has chosen Sonalika as the only tractor brand to contribute to the Niti-Aayog for its inspirational project of doubling the farmer’s income in the country.

No. 1 Heavy Duty Customised Crop Solutions

Sonalika tractor portfolio is customised as per the needs is equipped with efficient engines which give higher power output and remain affordable with low maintenance for better total cost of ownership and experience. Sonalika is the leading brand in more than 50 HP tractor segment and is strengthening its presence in more than 40HP segment to achieve the leadership position.

As the farm mechanisation expert, SonalikaAgro Solutions offers a wide range of implements to address various stages of crop cycle ranging from land preparation to post harvesting operations including residue management. Sonalika has also forayed into Custom Hiring Centres, a platform that offers small and marginal farmers an access to advanced agri machinery on rent, thereby aims to increase farm output in a cost effective way. The company has introduced ‘Agro Solutions’ app for easy access of requisite machinery to farmers, thereby promoting farm mechanization in the country.  

No. 1 Exports Brand from India

Sonalika is the No. 1 Exports brand from India and is proudly associated with 1.25 lakh customers in markets outside India, a true sign of acceptability of an Indian company across 130 countries. Having a 100% presence across all European countries, our tractors are successfully operated by more than 20,000 satisfied customers in diversified European conditions. Sonalika has also set up a spare parts centre in Germany that caters to the regional requirements with an aim to provide better service and customer satisfaction. 

About the World No. 1 plant

The Hoshiarpur plant of Sonalika is the World’s No. 1 vertically integrated tractor manufacturing plant that is designed to manufacture customised farm machinery as per the farmer’s crop-specific applications. The facility is fully equipped to manufacture almost every element in-house which goes in the making of a tractor and is powered by robotic as well as automation. 

AN Bureau

TVS Motor Company Launches the 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V – The 'Most Powerful' Motorcycle in its Class

 

Key features include class-leading 17.63 PS power, increased torque and reduction in motorcycle’s weight at current prices

TVS Motor Company, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers in the world, introduced the 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle today. The motorcycle continues to stay true to its racing pedigree by offering increased power and torque in line with its customers' evolving needs, thereby ensuring the best performance and power of 17.63 PS – making it the ‘Most Powerful’ motorcycle in its class. 

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Meghashyam Dighole, Head - (Marketing) Premium Motorcycles, TVS Motor Company, said, “Backed by 38 years of racing pedigree, the new 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V offers best-in-class performance with enhanced power to weight ratio and increased torque, offering our customers better-riding experiences along with advanced technologies. TVS Apache has always been committed to scaling higher benchmarks for customer satisfaction. We are confident that these enhancements will further strengthen the success story of our TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle.” 

TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle gets an advanced engine 159.7 cc, single-cylinder, 4-valve, oil-cooled engine, that now churns out 17.63 PS at 9250 RPM and 14.73 Nm torque at 7250 RPM. The engine is mated to a 5-speed super-slick gearbox that offers a precise and powerful riding experience. The motorcycle comes with an all-new dual tone seat with carbon fibre pattern and LED headlamp with claw-styled position lamps adding to its overall premium appeal. Additionally, the motorcycle has become lighter with a two kg weight reduction, with the disc variant weighing 147 kg and the drum variant weighing 145 kg.

The new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle will be available in three colors: Racing Red, Knight Black, and Metallic Blue. It will be available in two variants at the current price; Disc priced at Rs. 110,320 (ex-showroom Delhi) and the Drum priced at Rs. 107,270 (ex-showroom Delhi). 

Watch the official TVC here - youtu.be/yyX3ND_iv1s.

About TVS Motor Company

TVS Motor Company is a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer and is the flagship company of the USD 8.5 billion TVS Group. We believe in Championing Progress through Mobility. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of Trust, Value, and Passion for Customers and Exactness, we take pride in making internationally aspirational products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. We endeavor to deliver the most superior customer experience at all our touch points across 60 countries. We are the only two-wheeler company to have received the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the J.D. Power IQS and APEAL surveys for five years. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the J.D. Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for consecutive four years.

For more information, please visit www.tvsmotor.com. 

AN Bureau