New Delhi, (IANS): Maruti Suzuki on Thursday unveiled India’s first flex-fuel passenger car, the WagonR flex-fuel, marking a major step in the country’s shift towards alternative and cleaner fuels amid global crude oil volatility.
The new model is capable of running on ethanol-petrol blends ranging from E20 to E100, making it the first mass-market passenger vehicle in India engineered to operate on 100 per cent ethanol.
The company said the launch aligns with India’s broader push to reduce dependence on conventional petrol and expand the use of biofuels in the transport sector.
The unveiling event was attended by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to promote cleaner mobility solutions.
He also said that the government is planning to introduce diesel blended with 15 per cent isobutanol as part of its alternative fuel strategy.
Gadkari also urged automakers such as Maruti Suzuki India Limited and Hero MotoCorp to work on converting older vehicles into flex-fuel compatible models and align them with stricter emission standards, including Euro 6 norms.
He said such measures would help curb air pollution and support the vehicle scrappage programme aimed at removing older, more polluting vehicles from the roads.
Speaking at the launch, Gadkari described the automobile sector as a key growth driver for the Indian economy and noted that India now has the world’s third-largest automobile industry, contributing significantly to GDP.
The company’s Managing Director and CEO Hisashi Takeuchi also said that the company is investing in compressed biogas (CBG) projects and exploring other cleaner technologies such as hydrogen fuel.Maruti Suzuki officials also shared their broader clean mobility strategy. Partho Banerjee, Senior Executive Officer for Marketing and Sales at the company, said that nearly half of all green vehicles sold in the industry in the last financial year were contributed by Maruti Suzuki. Maruti unveils India’s 1st flex-fuel WagonR capable of running on 100 pc ethanol | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
In response, the Queensland government has conducted a parliamentary inquiry on e-mobility devices, including e-scooters and e-bikes.
The inquiry aimed to improve safety and address community concerns. It examined benefits, risks (crashes or battery fires), existing regulations compared to other jurisdictions, enforcement approaches, and importation laws.
The resulting report recommends banning all e-bikes for riders under 16, and requiring at least a learner driver’s licence to operate them.
If implemented, Queensland would become only the second jurisdiction in the world to mandate a driver’s licence for riding a standard e-bike, joining New Jersey, which passed similar legislation in January to much condemnation.
If Queeensland adopts this rule, it will quickly become the worst state for cycling in Australia – and set a dangerous precedent.
How risky are legal e-bikes?
Legal e-bikes (also known as pedelecs, short for “pedal electric cycles”) don’t pose greater risks than conventional bicycles. On average, e-bike crashes are equally as likely and severe as conventional bike crashes. And research from Denmark even shows e-bike riders are more likely to follow traffic laws and are more safety oriented than conventional cyclists.
A pedelec is defined under the European Union EN 15194 standard as a bicycle in which the motor provides assistance only when the rider pedals, power is limited to 250 watts, and the maximum assisted speed is 25km/h. This is the standard recognised in Australia.
To be clear, 250 watts is roughly the power an avid cyclist can generate with their body. Professional cyclists easily produce well over 400 watts.
About 7.5% of Queenslanders aged 16 and over – more than 340,000 people – don’t hold a driver’s licence. Across Australia, an estimated 1.5 million adults are without a licence.
These include:
people with certain types of disabilities (visual, neurological or cognitive)
children under 16 riding to school
migrant workers from countries with licences not recognised in Australia, or who are in the process of transferring overseas licences. Many delivery riders fall in this category
urban youth, who increasingly rely on alternative transport and delay obtaining a learner’s permit
older people who have given up driving for age-related reasons
low-income people for whom the costs associated with lessons, testing, and car ownership are prohibitive
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in regional and remote areas. These communities often face practical barriers to licensing, such as high cost, difficulties obtaining identity documents, and limited access to training
individuals who are car-free by choice for lifestyle or environmental reasons
people who have temporarily lost their driver’s licence, such as for speeding.
In short, legal e-bikes provide an important way to get around and maintain independence for many people. They can travel to work, education, or social activities without relying on a car.
For Queensland locals, even requiring a learner’s licence would impose a significant burden. Obtaining one costs about A$77 and requires passing an online test which typically takes four to six hours. Test questions focus on motor vehicle laws, not rules specific to cycling or e-mobility. The test is offered only in English and requires proof of identity and residency in Queensland.
Visitors from countries where driver’s licences are far less common than in Australia would be impacted too. For example, only about half of Chinese adults have a licence.
Queensland hosts more than 2 million international visitors annually, and Brisbane is expected to welcome more than 100,000 international visitors during the 2032 Olympic Games. Unless they hold a licence from their home country, these visitors would be forced to rely on ride-hailing services or risk penalties for using a legal e-bike.
What should be done instead?
A more effective approach would focus on clear vehicle classification, targeted regulation, safe cycling infrastructure, and education. This is the model used in the European Union.
Regulators should maintain a clear distinction between standard e-bikes and higher-powered devices.
EN 15194 compliant e-bikes should be legally treated as ordinary bicycles and integrated into everyday mobility. They shouldn’t require a driver’s licence, registration, or insurance. Riders should simply follow the same rules that apply to cyclists.
Only the more powerful models should require licensing and insurance. E-bikes that reach up to 45km/h should be classified as mopeds. In this way, regulation can reflect the actual risk level of the vehicle.
Enforcement is key. Authorities should focus on ensuring that devices sold in the market actually comply with power and speed limits. Regulators should keep targeting non-compliant imports and illegal modifications.
We all share the road
Beyond product standards, much more emphasis should be placed on infrastructure. Investments in protected bike lanes, traffic calming, and well-designed intersections are crucial to improving safety for all road users.
Finally, Australia should start investing heavily in education and communication campaigns. Cycling education should be provided through schools, local councils, and road safety programs. These should focus on responsible riding, interaction with pedestrians, and visibility in traffic.
Importantly, they should also encourage a mindset that moves away from an “us versus them” stance between drivers and cyclists. Children should learn early that, as adults, they may occupy both roles – sometimes driving, sometimes cycling.
In combination, these policy approaches would allow e-bikes to expand while remaining a safe, accessible and inclusive mobility option.
Maligaon, (MExN): The Bogibeel Rail-cum-Road Bridge over the Brahmaputra has emerged as a vital link transforming connectivity and daily life in Upper Assam and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.
Stretching 4.94 km, the bridge is among the longest river bridges in the country and connects Dibrugarh with Dhemaji, replacing decades of dependence on ferries and seasonal river crossings. The all-weather bridge supports both rail and road traffic, significantly reducing travel time and improving year-round access.
Dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the bridge marked a major milestone in modern infrastructure development in the Northeast, a region long challenged by difficult terrain and monsoon disruptions.
Residents north of the Brahmaputra now enjoy easier access to Dibrugarh, a key centre for healthcare, education and commerce. The improved connectivity has benefited students, patients, traders and workers, while small businesses and farmers have gained faster access to markets and essential services.
The bridge has also strengthened economic activity by supporting tourism, smoother supply chains and increased commercial and industrial movement across Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. Areas once considered remote have become better integrated into regional and national economic networks.
Strategically, the Bogibeel Bridge enhances mobility along the eastern frontier, contributing to national security preparedness and disaster response. Its dual-use rail and road design ensures reliable transport even during adverse weather conditions.More than an engineering achievement, the Bogibeel Bride stands as a symbol of the Northeast’s ongoing transformation, fostering regional integration and offering new opportunities for growth and development across Assam and beyond. Bogibeel Rail-Road Bridge transforms connectivity in Upper Assam, Arunachal | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
Seoul, (IANS): Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung said on Monday the artificial intelligence (AI)-driven industrial transition will create greater growth opportunities for the group, while calling for faster decision-making supported by clear and timely communication.
In a pre-recorded New Year's roundtable with senior executives, Chung said the group's extensive data on "moving physical assets" such as vehicles and robots, along with its manufacturing process data, constitutes a strong competitive edge in the AI era, reports Yonhap news agency.
"This is a powerful advantage that big tech companies cannot easily replicate," Chung said. "For Hyundai Motor Group, which possesses data, capital and manufacturing capabilities, AI is a game in which we have a strong chance of success."
He added that the group must broaden its business ecosystem through collaboration with a wide range of partners in the AI sector amid growing global uncertainties.
The South Korean automaker expects heightened uncertainty in the global business environment this year, driven by the restructuring of global supply chains, slowing economic growth and increasing geopolitical fragmentation.
Commenting on the year ahead, Chung said risks long anticipated by the group are likely to materialise.
To address these challenges, the chairman called for clearer situational awareness and more agile decision-making based on fast and transparent communication.
"Reports should include the reporting employee's own analysis and conclusions and be shared quickly with the right people at the right time," he said.
Chung also underscored the importance of organisational transformation rooted in deep reflection, as competition in the global automotive industry continues to intensify.
As for the group's future direction, Chung said significant growth opportunities lie ahead amid major shifts in artificial intelligence, software-defined vehicles (SDVs) and future mobility.
New Delhi, (IANS) Delhi Airport on Friday issued a fresh passenger advisory, announcing that all IndiGo domestic flights departing from the airport are cancelled until midnight.
Delhi Airport took to social media 'X' and said, "IndiGo domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport on 5th December 2025 are cancelled till midnight today (till 23:59 hours). Operations for all other carriers remain as scheduled."
It further added, "Our dedicated on-ground teams are working diligently with all partners to mitigate the disruption and ensure a comfortable passenger experience. For the latest flight status, please check our official website www.newdelhiairport.in."
Earlier in the day, Delhi Airport issued a passenger advisory urging travellers to verify their flight status with airlines before heading to the airport. The announcement comes as IndiGo faces one of its most severe operational disruptions in recent years, resulting in widespread cancellations and delays.
This comes as more than 500 flights were cancelled on Thursday, with several others delayed. In November alone, IndiGo recorded 1,232 cancellations across its network.
An earlier advisory shared on the social media platform X said, "Please be advised that operational challenges affecting certain domestic services are resulting in flight delays and cancellations."
"We strongly recommend passengers verify their flight status directly with their airline prior to departure for the airport. Our dedicated on-ground teams are working diligently with all partners to mitigate the disruption and ensure an comfortable passenger experience. We appreciate your patience and cooperation," Delhi Airport said.
Meanwhile, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) held an emergency review meeting with IndiGo’s top management to assess the ongoing situation. The Ministry said it is closely monitoring disruptions and has activated heightened oversight. The Minister also instructed the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to direct airport directors to provide full support to affected travellers. Additionally, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been asked to monitor airfares amid growing concerns of fare hikes due to reduced capacity.
The DGCA on Thursday also held a detailed meeting with IndiGo’s leadership seeking clarification on the sharp spike in cancellations. IndiGo attributed the situation to operational challenges linked to the implementation of Phase II of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms, crew scheduling hurdles and seasonal winter conditions.
The revised FDTL Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), enforced on July 1 and November 1 following court directives, aim to enhance safety and reduce pilot fatigue. During the meeting, IndiGo acknowledged underestimating crew requirements under the new system, resulting in planning gaps and staff shortages.
The airline stated that disruptions are likely to continue for the next two to three days as stabilisation efforts continue. From December 8, IndiGo will temporarily reduce flight frequency to minimise inconvenience. The carrier has also requested temporary relaxation of certain FDTL regulations for A320 aircraft until February 10, 2026, and assured DGCA that normal operations will be fully restored by then. IndiGo cancels all domestic flights departing from Delhi Airport till midnight today amid disruptions | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
New Delhi, (IANS) India, which is one of Airbus' largest A320 aircraft markets, is set to witness flight disruptions amid software updates to address a potential safety risk linked to intense solar radiation affecting flight-control data in the aircraft.
IndiGo and the Air India together use more than 350 aircraft in this category.
The aircraft in India will need to be grounded briefly to install the software fix, a process that is expected to cause operational disruptions.
The Airbus software update will take two to three days, and airlines expect flights to resume normal schedules by Monday or Tuesday, according to sources.
Airbus said an analysis of a recent event involving an A320 aircraft showed that “intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls,” prompting a global alert for precautionary action.
“Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls. Airbus has worked proactively with the aviation authorities to request immediate precautionary action from operators. and ensure the fleet is safe to fly,” Airbus said in its statement.
Airbus said it has identified a “significant number of A320 family aircraft currently in-service which may be impacted.”
Newer aircraft can receive the update within approximately half an hour through a loading facility. Older A320s need additional hardware changes, which will increase turnaround time.
Airbus said it “acknowledges these recommendations will lead to operational disruptions to passengers and customers” and apologised “for the inconvenience caused.”The manufacturer has worked with global aviation regulators to initiate immediate precautionary steps through an Alert Operators Transmission (AOT), instructing airlines to implement available software and/or hardware protection. “This AOT will be reflected in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA),” Airbus said. Airbus A320 software fix: India braces for short-term operational disruptions | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com:
After five years of testing, an autonomous electric bus has been deployed to a park in Madrid for one final, real-world experiment in driverless vehicles for public transit.
If it succeeds, the cute little caterpillar-shaped bus may become a mainstay in the Spanish capital, ferrying passengers around Casa de Campo park and beyond.
Developed through a partnership with the Madrid transit authority (EMT) and Automotive Technology Center of Galicia (CTAG), in northern Spain, the driverless bus has been in action between the 15th of September and 24th of October.
It drove in a circuit around Casa de Campo, picking up passengers at 6 stops, and operating for five of the city’s peak hours.
The vehicle is 100% electric, and though many of its body components were manufactured abroad, the brain, eyes, ears, and other software were made at CTAG.
The aim of EMT and CTAG is not replacing drivers, but providing a suitable and safe alternative for predictable, shorter routes that can help cities address a current shortage of professional bus drivers.
Though fully autonomous, and capable of detecting pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, scooters, animals, crosswalks, stop signs, traffic lights, and roundabouts, and making decisions over when to brake, accelerate, turn, and open/close the doors, a safety officer is always on board just in case.
“The vehicle detects any object, from a bicycle to an animal, and reacts accordingly to avoid collisions,” Chacón said. “It is a fully autonomous line, but we never leave anything to chance.”A cute little thing, it joins a growing number of miniature, electric, European automotive options that fit better into crowds of cyclists, narrow streets, and cramped parking spaces. Driverless Electric Bus Eases Driver Shortages and Congestion In Madrid During Maiden Service
New Delhi: Hyundai Motor unveils the Creta Electric at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025 in New Delhi on Friday, January 17, 2025. (Photo: IANS/Wasim Sarvar)
New Delhi, (IANS) Hyundai Motor India on Sunday announced that it will pass on the full benefit of the recent GST reforms to its customers, offering significant price cuts across its passenger vehicle range.
The new prices will come into effect from September 22, just ahead of the festive season.
With the revised pricing, Hyundai cars and SUVs will become cheaper by up to Rs 2.4 lakh.
The biggest reduction will be on the Hyundai Tucson, which will see a price cut of Rs 2,40,303.
Other popular models such as the Grand i10 Nios, Aura, Exter, i20, Venue, Verna, Creta, and Alcazar will also see substantial reductions ranging from around Rs 60,000 to over Rs 1.2 lakh.
Unsoo Kim, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor India Limited, said the company welcomes the government’s move to reduce GST on passenger vehicles.
“We sincerely appreciate the progressive and far-sighted move by the Government of India to reduce GST on passenger vehicles,” Kim added.
He described the reform as a boost for the auto industry and a step that makes personal mobility more affordable and accessible for millions of Indians.
He added that Hyundai is committed to supporting India’s growth journey by offering cars and SUVs that deliver value, innovation, and the joy of driving.
As part of the GST changes announced during the 56th GST Council meeting, small cars -- defined as vehicles under four metres in length with petrol engines up to 1,200cc or diesel engines up to 1,500cc -- will now attract 18 per cent GST, down from 28 per cent earlier.
Larger cars with bigger engines will face a higher GST of 40 per cent but without the additional cess that existed earlier.
In 2025, 1 in 4 new automotive vehicle sales globally are expected to be an electric vehicle – either fully electric or a plug-in hybrid.
That is a significant rise from just five years ago, when EV sales amounted to fewer than 1 in 20 new car sales, according to the International Energy Agency, an intergovernmental organization examining energy use around the world.
The International Energy Agency has reported that two-thirds of fully electric cars in China are now cheaper to buy than their gasoline equivalents. With operating and maintenance costs already cheaper than gasoline models, EVs are attractive purchases.
Most EVs purchased in China are made there as well, by a range of different companies. NIO, Xpeng, Xiaomi, Zeekr, Geely, Chery, Great Wall Motor, Leapmotor and especially BYD are household names in China. As someone who has followed and published on the topic of EVs for over 15 years, I expect they will soon become as widely known in the rest of the world.
What kinds of EVs is China producing?
China’s automakers are producing a full range of electric vehicles, from the subcompact, like the BYD Seagull, to full-size SUVs, like the Xpeng G9, and luxury cars, like the Zeekr 009.
There are several factors behind Chinese companies’ success in producing and selling EVs. To be sure, relatively low labor costs are part of the explanation. So are generous government subsidies, as EVs were one of several advanced technologies selected by the Chinese government to propel the nation’s global technological profile.
But Chinese EV makers are also making other advances. They make significant use of industrial robotics, even to the point of building so-called “dark factories” that can operate with minimal human intervention. For passengers, they have reimagined vehicles’ interiors, with large touchscreens for information and entertainment, and even added a refrigerator, bed or karaoke system.
Competition among Chinese EV makers is fierce, which drives additional innovation. BYD is the largest seller of EVs, both domestically and globally. Yet the company says it employs over 100,000 scientists and engineers seeking continual improvement.
From initial concept models to actual rollout of factory-made cars, BYD takes 18 months – half as long as U.S. and other global automakers take for their product development processes, Reuters reported.
The real test of how well Chinese vehicles appeal to consumers will come from export sales. Chinese EV manufacturers are eager to sell abroad because their factories can produce far more than the 25 million vehicles they can sell within China each year – perhaps twice as much.
The largest market where Chinese vehicles, whether gasoline or electric, are not being sold is North America. Both the U.S. and Canadian governments have created what some have called a “tariff fortress” protecting their domestic automakers, by imposing tariffs of 100% on the import of Chinese EVs – literally doubling their cost to consumers.
Customers’ budgets matter too. The average price of a new electric vehicle in the U.S. is approximately $55,000. Less expensive vehicles make up part of this average, but without tax credits, which the Trump administration is eliminating after September 2025, nothing gets close to $25,000. By contrast, Chinese companies produce several sub-$25,000 EVs, including the Xpeng M03, the BYD Dolphin and the MG4 without tax credits. If sold in America, however, the 100% tariffs would remove the price advantage.
Tesla, Ford and General Motors all claim they are working on inexpensive EVs. More expensive vehicles, however, generate higher profits, and with the protection of the “tariff fortress,” their incentive to develop cheaper EVs is not as high as it might be.
In the 1970s and 1980s, there was considerable U.S. opposition to importing Japanese vehicles. But ultimately, a combination of consumer sentiment and the willingness of Japanese companies to open factories in the U.S. overcame that opposition, and Japanese brands like Toyota, Honda and Nissan are common on North American roads. The same process may play out for Chinese automakers, though it’s not clear how long that might take.
The 100-strong fleet of autonomous electric mining trucks are set to improve both safety and efficiency at the Yimin open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia
This month marked a significant step in the development of intelligent mining, with Chinese energy giant Huaneng Group deploying the world’s largest fleet of unmanned electric mining trucks.
The 100 cabinless vehicles have begun operations at the Yimin open-pit coal mine in Inner Mongolia, China, each capable of loading and hauling up to 90 tonnes of material across the site.
Powered by electric batteries, this new fleet is carbon neutral and can operate continuously for 24 hours a day without human intervention.
Perhaps most importantly, these autonomous vehicles remove the need to expose human workers to the mine’s inhospitable environment, where temperatures can reach as low as -48.5°C and hazardous road conditions making driving dangerous.
According to Li Shuxue, Chairman of Huaneng Inner Mongolia Eastern Energy, the truck fleet has already demonstrated operational benefits over its human-operated predecessors, increasing their overall transport efficiency by 20%.
The deployment comes as part of a joint innovation project between China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. (China Huaneng), Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group, Huawei, and State Grid Smart Internet of Vehicles. The partners intend to further expand the truck fleet in the coming years, aiming for 300 of the vehicles to be operational over the next three years.
5G Advanced to underpin more efficient mining operations
This rollout of the autonomous vehicle fleet would not have been possible without the deployment of a 5G Advanced network, providing uplink speeds of up to 500 Mbps and latency of just 20 milliseconds, both of which are crucial for enabling autonomous vehicles to make driving decisions in real-time.
5G Advanced, sometimes known as 5.5G, boasts significant improvements in performance compared to 5G, including better efficiency, faster uplink speeds, and greater capacity.
The benefits of 5G Advanced networks for industrial operations are becoming increasingly well known. Huaneng Group itself said it first identified the need for a 5G network in 2022 and quickly began working with China Mobile Inner Mongolia to explore its deployment. By April 2023, initial autonomous vehicle tests were underway, with the first vehicles working commercial shifts in March this year.
In addition to the 5G Advanced network itself, Huaneng Ruichi’s truck fleet is also supported by a range of cloud infrastructure solutions, including Huawei’s Commercial Vehicle Autonomous Driving Cloud Service (CVADCS). This solution combines data from each vehicle and across the mining site to provide precise, real-time location information to the fleet, enabling route optimisation and increased efficiency, even in low-visibility conditions that would pose a challenge to human drivers.
Modernising China’s coal industry
The launch of this electric fleet – the world’s largest at an open pit mine – marks a significant step in China’s drive towards building a greener energy base for the nation.
Despite a surge in renewable energy projects in recent years, coal undeniably remains the backbone of China’s industrial strategy. In 2023, China announced that work was underway to build new coal power plants with a combined capacity of 70.2 GW – more than 19-times that of the rest of the world combined. As a result, in 2024 China produced 476,896 million metric tons of coal, accounting for 52.6% of the world’s total.
This rise in coal production, however, coincides with a government drive to modernise the industry, aiming to make mining more intelligent, safer, more efficient, and more sustainable. To this end, last year China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) provided guidelines for the intelligent transformation of coal mines, promoting the use of AI and the latest wireless technologies. Looking ahead, the NEA is aiming to create a series of standards for the design, well construction, production, management, O&M, and evaluation of intelligent coal mines by 2030.
These efforts are already beginning to bear fruit. According to data from the 2025 National Energy Work Conference, intelligent production capacity now accounts for over half of China’s total coal production capacity, with nearly 1,000 mines having begun their ‘intelligent construction’ transformation.
A more intelligent futureThe launch of China’s largest fleet of autonomous electric mining trucks, powered by 5G Advanced, is a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards smarter, safer, and greener coal mining. As intelligent mining becomes the norm, this initiative sets a powerful example of how traditional energy sectors can evolve for a more sustainable future. 5G Advanced powers world’s largest fleet of driverless coal mining trucks in China
New Delhi, (IANS): The government on Monday notified guidelines for its forward-looking scheme to enable fresh investments from global manufacturers in the electric cars segment and promote India as a global manufacturing hub for e-vehicles.
To encourage global manufacturers such as US tech giant Tesla to invest under the scheme, the approved applicants will be allowed to import completely built-in units (CBUs) of electric four-wheelers with a minimum CIF (cost insurance and freight value) of $35,000 at reduced customs duty of 15 per cent for a period of 5 years from the date that the application is approved. .
Approved applicants would be required to make a minimum investment of Rs 4,150 crore in line with the provisions of the scheme.
The maximum number of e-4Ws allowed to be imported at the reduced duty rate will be capped at 8,000 units per year. The carryover of unutilised annual import limits would be permitted.
According to the notification, the maximum number of EVs to be imported under this scheme will be such that the maximum duty foregone per applicant will be limited to Rs 6,484 crore, or the committed investment of the applicant of a minimum of Rs 4,150 crore, whichever is lower.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme for Automobile and Auto Component (PLI Auto Scheme) would be followed to assess the DVA of the eligible product as required under the scheme.
Certification of DVA of an eligible product manufactured in India by the approved applicant would be done by testing agencies approved by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.
Investment should be made for the domestic manufacturing of the eligible product. In case the investment under the scheme is made on a brownfield project, a clear physical demarcation with the existing manufacturing facilities should be made, the notification states.
Expenditure incurred on new plant, machinery, equipment and associated utilities, and engineering research and development (ER&D) would be eligible.
The expenditure incurred on land will not be considered. However, buildings of the main plant and utilities will be considered as part of the investment provided it does not exceed 10 per cent of the committed investment, the notification further states.
Expenditure incurred on charging infrastructure would be considered up to a maximum of 5 per cent of the committed investment, it explains.
The applicant’s commitment to set up manufacturing facilities, achievement of DVA, and compliance with conditions stipulated under the scheme shall be backed by a bank guarantee from a scheduled commercial bank in India equivalent to the total duty to be forgone, or Rs 4,150 crore, whichever is higher, during the scheme period. The bank guarantee should be valid at all times during the tenure of the scheme, the notification added.
The scheme shall help to attract investments from global EV manufacturers and promote India as a manufacturing destination for e-vehicles. The scheme will also help put India on the global map for manufacturing of EVs, generate employment and achieve the goal of 'Make in India', according to the official statement.This landmark initiative is aligned with India’s national goals of achieving net zero by 2070, fostering sustainable mobility, driving economic growth, and reducing environmental impact. It is designed to firmly establish India as a premier global destination for automotive manufacturing and innovation, the statement added. Centre launches new scheme to make India global hub for making electric cars | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
New Delhi : The above-average monsoon is driving rural demand for the Indian automobile sector, and tractor demand maintains momentum following the good rabi harvest, a report showed on Tuesday.
Channel partner commentary signals the higher number of auspicious days for marriage and a good rabi harvest sustained two-wheeler (2W) growth momentum in May, reports HSBC Global Research in a note.
Electric four-wheeler (e4W) penetration increased to 3.4 per cent in May. Tata's market share remained at 35 per cent, with MG at 31 per cent and M&M at 20 per cent. Hyundai with its 'e Creta’ model was at 5 per cent.
“Meanwhile, e2W sales penetration increased to 6.1 per cent with 100,000 units in retail sales. TVS's retail in May totalled 25,000 units, while Bajaj's sales were at 22,000 units. Ola is in the third spot,” according to the note.
Passenger vehicle (PV) demand was largely muted and there are no signs of recovery any time soon. Positively, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) maintained inventory discipline.
“We expect the PV discount to stay elevated around the current level amid a weak demand outlook,” said the report.
In four-wheelers, Maruti’s volumes were up 3 per cent on-yar in May, as a 6 per cent decline in domestic sales was offset by 80 per cent growth in exports.
“M&M's SUV wholesale was 52.4k units, up 21 per cent YoY. Tata's PV volumes were down 11 per cent YoY, with EVs up 2 per cent. Hyundai domestic sales were down 11 per cent, mainly from routine plant shutdowns,” the note mentioned.
In the 2W segment, Bajaj's domestic 2W volume was up 2 per cent, while exports were up 20 per cent. TVS's 2W volumes were up 16 per cent YoY, with domestic growing 14 per cent and exports at 21 per cent.
In the tractor segment, M&M's domestic volume grew by 10 per cent, while Escorts' declined by 2 per cent. M&M's exports declined by 8 per cent, while Escorts' grew by 71 per cent.
TUZLA - The world's longest wind-powered cargo ship was launched in Turkey, offering a promising way to slash carbon emissions from merchandise trade.
The 136-metre Neoliner Origin was floated at the Turkish port of Tuzla, and will now undergo six months of fitting-out.
Designed by French company Neoline and built by Turkish shipyard RMK Marine, the ship can carry 5,300 tonnes of freight over long distances thanks to its two masts and 3,000 square metres of sails.
"Thanks to the wind, and by reducing speed from 15 knots (about 30 kilometres or 18 miles an hour) to 11 knots, we can cut fuel consumption and therefore emissions by a factor of five compared with a conventional ship," Jean Zanuttini, president of Nantes-based Neoline, told AFP.
With about 90 percent of world trade going by sea, the maritime transport sector is responsible for about three percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization.
The ship will leave Turkey during the summer of 2025 for the French Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire, then will begin its first rotation toward North America, serving the French island of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, the US port of Baltimore and Halifax in Canada.
The project received support from France's public investment bank (BPI) and the French shipping company CMA-CGM. Zanuttini said the shipyard would soon begin work on a second similar ship. World's longest cargo sail ship launched in Turkey
WASHINGTON - US aviation giant Boeing announced that it has implemented over a dozen new quality control checks as it looks to rebuild trust following several recent high-profile incidents.
The company has been under pressure from US regulators following several safety scares, including a mid-flight Alaska Airlines panel blowout that required an emergency landing in January 2024.
Boeing's new "Safety & Quality Plan" includes enhanced training for quality control inspectors and mechanics, and a new random quality audit when aircraft parts are removed and returned, it said in a statement posted on its website.
The company said it has also worked to "significantly" reduce defects in the 737 fuselage assembly at Spirit AeroSystems, which manufactured the faulty panel, "by increasing inspection points at build locations and implementing customer quality approval process."
Boeing's plan follows an audit by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) early last year, which gave the company 90 days to devise a plan to significantly upgrade its quality control processes.
"We're actively monitoring the results and keeping a close eye on work at key Boeing facilities," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker wrote in a blog post.
"But this is not a one-year project," added Whitaker, who is due to step down later this month.
"What's needed is a fundamental cultural shift at Boeing that's oriented around safety and quality above profits," he said. "That will require sustained effort and commitment from Boeing, and unwavering scrutiny on our part."
2024 was a tough year for Boeing, which also had to contend with a seven-week strike by some 33,000 workers that paralysed production at two crucial plants and slowed down the production of its aircraft.In October, Boeing unveiled plans to reduce its global workforce by 10 percent, and shortly afterwards posted its biggest quarterly net loss in four years. Boeing adds new manufacturing quality control checks
New Delhi, (IANS) Tata group-owned Air India becomes the first airline to offer inflight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity services on domestic flights, according to the airline's press release on Wednesday.
According to Air India, passengers can avail of Wi-Fi Internet connectivity service on domestic routes in Airbus A350, Boeing 787-9 and select Airbus A321neo aircraft.
"This makes Air India the first to offer in-flight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity on flights within India, enabling travellers – flying for leisure or business – to stay connected to the Internet during their flights, and to enjoy browsing, accessing social media, catching up on work, or texting friends and family," the airline said.
Rajesh Dogra, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Air India, “Connectivity is now an integral part of modern travel. For some, it is about the convenience and comfort of real-time sharing, while for others, it is about greater productivity and efficiency."
"Whatever be one’s purpose, we are confident that our guests will appreciate having the option of connecting to the web and enjoy the new Air India experience on board these aircraft,” he added.
Air India said passengers can use Wi-Fi via laptops, tablets, and smartphones with iOS or Android operating systems, the in-flight Wi-Fi will also allow guests to connect multiple devices simultaneously when above 10,000 feet.
The deployment of Wi-Fi on domestic routes follows an ongoing pilot programme on international services operated by the Airbus A350, select Airbus A321 neo and Boeing B787-9 aircraft serving international destinations; including New York, London, Paris and Singapore.
An Englishman who was told he “wasn’t clever enough” to become a pilot has built an incredible $25,000 flight simulator in his home using spare parts—and now he and his daughter can ‘fly’ every day.
Craig Cullingworth spent two years building his accurate model of a Boeing 737-800NG cockpit with mostly second-hand parts he sourced online.
Now, using a computer program, he takes to the skies with his “obsessed” daughter, Sophie, from the comfort of their home in Leeds, West Yorkshire.
The 40-year-old’s plan to create the replica came after his wife gifted him a simulator experience at a local flight center as a Christmas present.
He then bought a cockpit shell – with all the dials and levers found on the real twin-engine aircraft, and painstakingly turned it into a fully working model (seen in the video below).
He took his maiden voyage about three months ago, saying, “I always wanted to be a pilot, but at school I was told I wasn’t clever enough.”
“My wife got me a Boeing 737 experience because she knew how much I wanted to do it. It was the best experience of my life—and on my way home, I was searching how to build one.
“I found bits and bobs all over the country and started building it in my spare room after work, in a bid that one day I could get it flying.SWNS
“About three months ago, we did our first flight which I shared a video of on social media and gained lots of positive feedback.”
“My eight-year-old daughter is now obsessed. She takes it in very quickly.”
Craig said his flight simulator teacher, who is also a first officer at Ryanair, thought he was a “natural” after their first lesson together in 2021. And Craig later earned his wings on the lifelike computer model, which professional pilots from carriers like Virgin and Jet2 often use to improve their skills.
Now he likes to fly on his simulator through the skies over Britain so he can have fun navigating tricky regional runways. He’ll take off from Leeds-Bradford and land at Manchester, then go over to the East Midlands airport, and down to Heathrow, needing about three hours to fly to a local airport, land, and then prepare for taking off again to go to the next airport.
“I usually do Leeds-Bradford for the fact that it’s one of the top ten worst airports to land in, and it’s usually quite tricky. It is usually a two-man crew effort, and you share the duties between each other.”
The cost of buying a new Boeing 737 flight simulator is around $70,000 (£55,000), but Craig spent less than half that on his model by using second-hand parts.
Flight simulator experiences cost well over $100 for 30 to 90 minutes of time ‘in the air’, so Craig is thinking about creating a business that offers the unique experience to more aspiring pilots.
“I’ve met people all over the country who have built their own flight sims but you tend to find they are retired pilots, and not people my age. The experience is so hands-on that you won’t know if you’re any good at it until you actually give it a go.” (Watch them in action below…)Craig, who paints cars for a living, said he may now offer other interested flyers the chance to use his simulator—or others that he builds in the future—as part of a business venture.
“My body shop is expanding so we will have more space for me to set up two or three simulators for people to use, (especially) targeting pilots because they can do their training on these simulators.”
Toyota Motor President Koji Sato showcased new electric vehicle concepts at the Japan Mobility Show, but the country is well behind its rivals in the fast-growing market
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TOKYO - Tokyo's rebranded auto show returns this weekend just as China looks set to overtake Japan as the world's biggest car exporter after Toyota, Nissan and others got stuck in the electric vehicle slow lane.
Since the last edition in 2019, the EV market in Japan has been sluggish and the country's automakers have been late to tap a growing appetite elsewhere.
Just 1.7 percent of cars sold in Japan were electric in 2022, compared with around 15 percent in western Europe, 5.3 percent in the United States and nearly one in five in China.
Japanese firms fared badly in a recent Greenpeace ranking on phasing out internal combustion engines, with Suzuki last and Toyota -- the world's biggest carmaker by revenue -- third from bottom.
Fewer than one in 400 Toyotas sold are EVs, the environmental group said.
Japanese manufacturers have long bet instead on hybrids that combine battery power and internal combustion engines, an area they pioneered with the likes of the Toyota Prius.
Foreign EVs "feel like products from the previous generation", Chinese car industry employee Gao Yulu, 32, told AFP at a recent auto show in Beijing.
"For Japanese brands, there are very few products to begin with. And their product strength isn't strong in terms of price and performance," she said.
For Mitsubishi Motors, the debacle in China is such that this week it announced it was halting production there.
Like in Europe and North America, Chinese EV makers are now even trying to gain a foothold in Toyota and Nissan's backyard.
- Teaming up with 'Godzilla' -
One of the only three foreign auto firms exhibiting in Tokyo will be BYD, which is vying with Elon Musk's Tesla to become the world's top-selling EV maker.
Although export figures are skewed by Japanese companies having major factories abroad, becoming number-two to China this year, as expected, will still hurt for an industry that itself was once the disruptor, experts said.
"It's kind of reminiscent of what happened to Japan in the 1980s, when they started exporting a lot of automotives," said Christopher Richter, an auto analyst at CLSA.
Japanese automakers have vowed to up their game, with Toyota aiming to sell 1.5 million EVs annually by 2026 and 3.5 million by 2030. It has invested heavily in battery technology.
On show in Tokyo will be a number of new Japanese EVs, although they will mostly be concepts such as a car and motorbike from Honda made of recyclable acrylic resin.
The show has also been reborn as the Japan Mobility Show to expand its scope beyond cars to include areas such as robots, software and batteries.
This has more than doubled the number of exhibitors in the show, which opens to the public on Saturday, to 475 including an armada of start-ups.
The trade show will also feature a special "Emergency and Mobility" zone devoted to transport solutions after natural disasters, with displays of robots, drones and self-propelling stretchers.
To hammer home the point, organisers have teamed up with the new "Godzilla" movie.
"In Japan, we have... many natural disasters in Japan, and people's lives and towns have been destroyed," said Jun Nagata from the organising committee.
"Because of global warming this year, it's like Godzilla coming to cities," he said.
New Delhi, (IANS): The domestic automotive industry has crossed Rs 20 lakh crore mark in FY24 and has the potential to be worth $1.6 trillion (about Rs 134 lakh crore) by 2047, driven by electric vehicles (EVs), according to industry leaders.
The automotive industry in the country is poised to be one of the key growth engines in towards achieving a $32-trillion GDP by 2047, according to Pawan Goenka, Chairman of IN-SPACe at the Department of Space.
Addressing the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association (ACMA) event in the national capital, he said that the automotive industry has the potential to contribute $1.6 trillion by 2047.
The auto sector also contributes significantly to the direct and indirect employment generation in the country, Goenka further said, adding that the auto industry will contribute more and more to the GDP of the country from the current level of around 6.8 per cent. Over the last two decades or so, the industry has grown by 17 per cent CAGR.
The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) President Vinod Aggarwal said that the domestic auto industry has identified 50 critical components for local production in order to reduce import dependence.
As most of these items are electrical or electronics, there is a need to develop capabilities and capacities in India for such high tech items, he added.
Aggarwal told the gathering that the Indian automotive industry has crossed a landmark figure of Rs 20 lakh crore in FY24 and is contributing almost 14-15 per cent of the total GST collected in the country.
SIAM, along with ACMA, has voluntarily set targets for increasing localisation. The industry bodies are committed to reduce import content by 60 per cent to 20 per cent by 2025 from the base 2019-20 levels, thereby targeting the reduced reports to the tune of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 crore in five years.
The country has become the third largest passenger vehicle market, the largest two and three wheeler market and third largest commercial vehicle market.As the adoption of EVs increase in the country, the cost of EVs will almost match petrol and diesel vehicles within the next two years, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, earlier said at the event. EVs can drive Indian automotive industry reach Rs 134 lakh crore by 2047 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the interiors of the Air India Airbus A350 aeroplane, displayed at Wings India 2024 aviation event at Begumpet airport, Hyderabad, India, January 18, 2024. REUTERS/Almaas Masood/File Photo
Air India, owned by the Tata Group, said on Tuesday that it would spend $400 million to refurbish the interiors of 67 planes, or more than half its fleet, as part of a multi-million dollar transformation of the former state-run carrier.
Since taking control of the carrier in 2022, Tata has spent millions of dollars on ordering hundreds of new jets and changing the carrier’s logo, branding and plane livery, among other upgrades to the carrier’s operations.
Now it is refitting the interiors of older planes — 27 narrowbody Airbus A320neo and 40 widebody Boeing 787s and 777s — in partnership with companies including Astronics, Thales and RTX’s Collins Aerospace, it said.
FILE PHOTO: Branding for Air India is seen on an Airbus A350-900 at the Farnborough International Airshow, in Farnborough, Britain, July 24, 2024. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo
Air India did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request to clarify these companies’ involvement in the program and for a breakdown of its $400-million outlay.
The first narrowbody was sent for an upgrade on Monday and Air India plans to upgrade three and four planes per month, it said.
Its total fleet currently stands at 128 aircraft, per its website. The Air India group has ordered 470 jets from Airbus and Boeing.The group includes low-cost carriers Air India Express and Air Asia India. From November, Air India will also operate planes of Vistara, a joint venture between Singapore Airlines and Tata Group. Air India to spend $400 million to revamp interiors of over half its fleet
When I get out of the car, of course I’m thinking as well, ‘is this something that we should do, travel the world, wasting resources?‘
In the pursuit of speed and sustainability, F1 teams committed in 2019 to achieving a net zero emissions goal by 2030.
As part of this goal, every team has expressed their intention to use 100% renewable fuel by 2026. F1 has also just announced it will mandate hybrid engines with a 50-50 split between electric and combustion power.
However, it is crucial to consider whether these promises to go greener are achievable or if this commitment is just an attempt to greenwash the sport.
Formula One is trying to make the sport more environmentally responsible.
Just how big is F1’s environmental footprint?
According to a report from F1, the sport releases around 256,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every season.
While cars are often the focus, in reality, the behind-the-scenes activities have a larger environmental impact, as a Grand Prix event involves much more than just the cars on the track.
This includes everything from the transportation of teams and equipment to various international venues, to the energy used in setting up and operating the event and waste management.
A Grand Prix event features ten teams, each operating two cars, which results in a total of 20 cars in each race.
The foremost priorities of hybrid engines in Formula One are efficiency and environmental sustainability.
They integrate an internal combustion engine, batteries and an energy recovery system.
Compared to conventional internal combustion engines, the inclusion of batteries allows F1 cars to deliver rapid power more efficiently. The instantaneous torque provided by electric power significantly enhances acceleration out of corners, contributing to overall performance improvements.
Hybrid engines also reduce fuel consumption compared to traditional engines.
The hybrid system includes the Motor Generator Unit-Kinetic (MGU-K) and the Motor Generator Unit-Heat (MGU-H). The MGU-K converts kinetic energy from braking into electrical energy and stored in the battery, which boosts acceleration and speed. The MGU-H uses heat energy from exhaust gases to increase engine power.
This configuration not only conserves fuel but also maximises energy use, thereby reducing carbon emissions and enhancing environmental sustainability.
Will these changes reduce the sport’s environmental impact?
To reduce the environmental impact of F1 cars, fuel plays a major role. F1 started with 10% sustainable fuel (“E10”) – a blend of 10% renewable ethanol and 90% fossil fuel.
From 2026, they are determined to shift from 10% to 100% renewable fuel, which is synthesised by municipal waste or non-food biomass.
However, renewable fuels still produce carbon emissions – burning renewable fuel does release carbon dioxide but the emissions are offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed from the atmosphere during the fuel’s production, rendering it carbon neutral overall.
While the hybrid system will remain in place in 2026, given the complexities and cap on engine-specific costs, modern F1 cars will scrap the MGU-H and solely rely on the MGU-K.
Moreover, F1 is committed to increasing the energy efficiency of MGU-K to harvest more braking energy. Consequently, it aims to increase power output of MGU-K from 120kW to 350kW by 2026, nearly tripling it.
As for its broader carbon footprint, F1 has also pledged to incorporate re-purposing and recycling options for race weekend materials, batteries, and MGU-K. This will help minimise waste and the sport’s carbon footprint.
Because the carbon footprint of F1 cars is relatively small, the sport should focus its efforts on reducing emissions in transportation, logistics and fan activities.
Likewise, hosting Grand Prix races in various countries across different continents requires extensive logistical arrangements and travel. For instance, the F1 racing series in 2023 visited 20 countries across five continents, resulting in significant carbon emissions.
Consequently, F1 should consider hosting races within a single country or at least within a single continent.
Can F1 cars go fully electric?
For the sustainability of the sport, a transition to 100% electric cars is likely in the future. This transition can benefit from the experiences gained with Formula E, which employs fully electric vehicles.
However, several factors must be considered before fully electrifying F1 cars, including regulation changes, battery weight, battery safety and charging infrastructure.
SWNS
