‘The Grub Fest’ India’s Premier Entertainment and Food Fest Marks its Bengaluru Debut on February 22-23

After introducing eco-friendly and reusable cups at U2: The Joshua Tree Tour, an initiative that was applauded by consumers on-ground and across social media, BookMyShow, India’s leading entertainment destination, has taken yet another step towards making live entertainment experiences not just enjoyable but also environment-friendly and sustainable. At the recently concluded edition of The Grub Fest in Mumbai, BookMyShow partnered with event waste management agency ‘Skrap’ for reducing environmental impact through sustainable waste management.

BookMyShow along with Skrap collected over 300 kgs of excess edible food from over 60 food stalls across two days at The Grub Fest, Mumbai. With the help of donation partners Feeding India, the excess food was collected and packed hygienically and then distributed to on-site workers as also low-income communities across the suburbs of Mumbai. The initiative helped BookMyShow restrict food wastage as also enable its reach to needy & deserving communities in the city.

The Grub Fest also witnessed an end-to-end waste management system for all waste generated during the event including compostable plates, food scraps, plastic bottles, paper cups, cardboard boxes, etc through a two-bin waste segregation system that was set up. The system was installed at the festival’s Mumbai venue, where food stalls and the housekeeping team worked together to participate in this initiative. With consolidated efforts, around 1.5 tonnes of recyclable waste was segregated, sorted and forwarded to a collection & processing centre along with 1.3 tonnes of biodegradable waste that was sent for composting. Additionally, over 250 kgs of non-recyclable materials were sent to the processing centre as co-processing waste for cement factories.

All these measures collectively led to 90% of the waste generated at The Grub Fest getting diverted away from the landfills. Post a successful initiative to make The Grub Fest Mumbai a sustainable entertainment experience, BookMyShow will replicate this initiative at The Grub Fest – Bengaluru on February 22nd-23rd.

After satiating the appetite of over 45,000 patrons across Delhi and Mumbai, BookMyShow will introduce Namma Bengaluru to the first ever edition of ‘The Grub Fest’ this weekend. With delectable Indian and global cuisines, foot-tapping music, and unlimited entertainment, India’s premier entertainment and food festival will find a home at Bengaluru’s Jayamahal Palace Hotel.

The festival is poised to attract tens of thousands of visitors in Bengaluru over the weekend, bringing together the best of food and entertainment. Patrons in Bengaluru will get a chance to experience live performances headlined by artists including Juggy D, Lisa Mishra, Anand Bhaskar Collective, Best Kept Secret, When Chai Met Toast and Lagori, whilst indulging in gut-friendly finger foods, vegan choices and fusion dishes.

Bengaluru’s maiden edition of The Grub Fest will be followed by a much-awaited debut in Kolkata on March 7-8 at PC Chandra Grounds. Marking the culmination of the fest, this ultimate out-of-home entertainment and gourmet experience will make its way back to Delhi on April 3rd-4th at The JLN Stadium.

Ather Energy Confirms Entry into 4 More Cities - Ahmedabad, Kochi, Coimbatore, and Kolkata

Ather Energy recently launched the disruptive electric scooter Ather 450X in India. With this new offering, Ather had confirmed its entry into 4 new cities beyond Bangalore and Chennai at the time of launch. Now with high demand pouring in from other cities, Ather has further confirmed its entry into 4 new markets.

In January, the company had confirmed its launch in the following markets basis the demand received for the scooter- Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad. Since the national launch, Ather has received thousands of pre-orders from across the country, with key cities like Ahmedabad, Kochi, Coimbatore & Kolkata taking the lead.

The four new cities will see installation of fast charging infrastructure in the coming months, followed by the delivery of the scooters. Ather 450X can be pre-ordered via the company website for a fully refundable INR 2500. Ather has also been receiving dealership requests from these cities which will make it easier for the company to rapidly expand.

The Ather Forum has been abuzz with requests for the company’s community engagement programs to begin in cities beyond the metroes. Consumers in the new cities can expect to see meet ups and test rides being conducted in their neighborhood in the coming months.Along with fast public chargers, Ather 450X owners will receive home chargers, Ather Dot so they can conveniently charge their scooters at home.

Tarun Mehta, CEO and Co-founder Ather Energy : There’s been an amazing response for the Ather 450X across the country. We have been receiving pre-orders from not just the major metros but also several Tier II & III cities. Similarly, there have been more than 2000 requests for retail partnerships. By the end of this year we will be present in ten cities and will continue to scale up to more than 30 cities by 2023. Our only focus now is scaling the experience of Ather 450X to all over the country.

About Ather 450X

The super scooter is a significant step-up from Ather 450 with improvements across multiple key parameters. Ather 450X is the outcome of award-winning design philosophy and is quicker, more intelligent than its predecessor and comes in three new colors; Grey, Green, and White. The scooter is powered with a 6kW PMSM motor, a new 2.9 kWh lithium-ion battery and comes with 4 riding modes. In addition to Eco, Ride, and Sport, Ather is introducing a new high-performance mode, 'Warp'. Ather 450X can go from 0 to 40 kmph in just 3.3 sec in the Warp mode, making it the quickest electric scooter in its category and the perfect choice to navigate through city traffic.

The revolutionary improvement in its battery has enabled a projected Indian Drive Cycle (IDC) range of 116 km and a real-life range of 85 km in city conditions. Ather 450X will also charge 50% faster than before at 1.5km per minute, making it the fastest charging rate in the electric two-wheeler category.

Ather 450X will have a 4G SIM card along with Bluetooth connectivity, allowing riders to manage phone calls and music on the touchscreen dashboard. The new 7” touchscreen dashboard, comes with a color depth of 16M and a Snapdragon Quad-Core processor. Ather 450X utilizes Android Open Source to offer map navigation, On-board diagnostics and other unique features like Over-the-air updates, Auto Indicator off and Guide-me-home lights.

The Ather mobile app will continue to offer personalized ride statistics, charging status, push navigation and more functionalities like theft & tow detection, live location & vehicle state tracking, voice assistant and welcome lights. Ather 450X will support connected accessories like smart helmets and tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).

Switch to Smart Brushing with Xiaomi's Mi Electric Toothbrush T300

Xiaomi, India’s number one smartphone and smart TV brand, today, introduced Mi Electric Toothbrush T300 to transform oral healthcare of consumers in India. Equipped with high-efficiency magnetic levitation sonic motor, the toothbrush features high-density, anti-corrosion, metal-free brush head with EquiClean auto-timer for a smart brushing experience. It is powered by a built-in 700mAh lithium battery, that provides an operating life of 25 days* on a single charge.

Mi Electric Toothbrush T300 is powered by a high-efficiency magnetic levitation sonic motor which generates high-frequency vibrations of over 31,000 times/minute and torque of over 230 gf.cm (gram force centimetres)*. It ensures efficient transfer of power to the brush head during the entire process of brushing. The design ensures that Mi Electric toothbrush T300 reaches all gaps and corners to remove plaque, thus providing deeper cleaning than a manual toothbrush.

Raghu Reddy, Chief Business Officer, Xiaomi India said, “At Xiaomi, we believe that technology should improve all aspects of human life. Brushing teeth is often considered a mundane task in our daily routine, but its health benefits cannot be ignored at any cost. Oral healthcare is just as important as overall healthcare. With the Mi Electric Toothbrush, we intend for users to choose a smarter way of brushing which will further improve their overall health and wellness”

The brush head uses anti-corrosion, metal-free high-density bristle technology. Hence, there is no danger of metal corrosion or dirt getting trapped between the grooves of metal plating, making this brush healthier and more durable. It uses high-quality soft Tynex® StaClean®antimicrobial bristles created by the American company DuPont™, which are 40% denser*. Each filament undergoes a polishing process to create bristles that are smooth and round to ensure they don't irritate gums or scratch the surface of the teeth.

The brush comes with dual pro brushing modes - Standard mode and Gentle mode. The EquiClean auto-timer in the brush reminds users to change brushing sides by pausing every 30 seconds.

Mi Electric Toothbrush T300 uses Type C charging port and uses an LED indicator to notify the battery and charging status. The use of a multiple injection molding process on the brush ensures that every part of its body is joined with a "sealed" connection. This creates a seamless exterior with an IPX7 water resistance rating*. The body has a matte white surface with added texture and friction. This creates a simple and clean exterior, combining convenience and elegance. The bottom part of the toothbrush features interchangeable colored ring design to ensure that multiple toothbrushes don’t get mixed up.

Zendesk Releases Annual Global State of Messaging 2020 Report

Zendesk, Inc. has released State of Messaging 2020, the third annual report featuring expert commentary and in-depth analysis of the biggest trends in conversational business and the rapidly evolving messaging industry. The report combines interviews with more than two dozen customer experience product, sales, and marketing leaders from companies like Google, Twitter, Hootsuite, Birchbox, and more, with original Zendesk research and third-party data to provide insights into how messaging is changing the face of business.

Over the past decade, messaging has fundamentally changed the way people interact with friends, family, colleagues, and companies. According to Business Insider, messaging apps have surpassed social media in global monthly active users. Since 2018, nearly every major messaging channel, including WhatsApp, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, Google’s RCS, and Apple’s iMessage, has extended beyond the consumer to businesses. At the same time, businesses of all sizes in every industry have embedded modern messaging experiences into their own apps and websites.

“This year will be the year of connecting conversations in the enterprise,” says Warren Levitan, vice president of conversational business at Zendesk.  “We are seeing businesses embrace messaging as a shared platform for customer engagement, allowing them to truly unify sales, marketing and service interactions for the first time. This is a massive step toward putting customers at the center of our businesses.”

State of Messaging 2020 examines key aspects of evolving and emerging conversational business trends and tracks the top stories to watch in 2020, including:

* The companies dominating the messaging landscape and the vast differences between countries and continents when it comes to who is winning the messaging race
* How smart speakers, voice assistants, and messaging converge
* How chatbots became part of the fabric of digital commerce
* Will in-chat payments be the key to unlocking conversational commerce at scale?
* Why the "chatbot vs. human" debate is a false dichotomy
* How data from conversations can optimize the customer experience and help different business departments better communicate
* Helping brands navigate their new role as gatekeepers and community builders

Affordable Housing, Logistics to Get Boost from Sovereign Wealth Funds in Indian Market

The measures announced recently in the Union Budget granting 100% tax exemption on interest, dividend and capital gains income to Sovereign Wealth Funds  (SWFs) investing in infrastructure, will further help boost investments in affordable housing and logistics, says JLL Research. India seems to have gained a major impetus following some positive policy backing and the ecosystem in general thus helping boost the image of the country as a favorite with SWFs.

Sovereign Wealth Funds are state-owned investment funds commonly established with revenues generated from trade surpluses, central bank reserves, currency operations, privatisations and transfer payments.  Between 2008 -18, global Assets Under Management (AUM) of SWFs grew at a CAGR of 10% with Asia garnering the highest share (42%).

“Sovereign wealth funds have been playing a pivotal role in investments globally with estimated AUM of 8.1 trillion as of 2019. Investments by SWFs in India improved sharply as a result of various policy measures introduced to attract foreign investments. The Union Budget for 2020 has further incentivized SWFs to invest in infrastructure including affordable housing and warehousing by providing tax exemptions. The rise in potential returns is expected to drive more SWF investments in India. SWFs would be more inclined to use the direct investment route as compared to investment platforms,” said Ramesh Nair, CEO and Country Head, JLL India.

India emerging as the favourite destination for SWFs

Investments by SWFs improved sharply as various policy measures were introduced to attract foreign investments. In India, SWFs hold USD 29 billion of Assets Under Custody (AUC) as of December 2019. Of these, real estate and warehousing account for 22% of the AUC, amounting to USD 6.6 billion.

“SWF Investments quadrupled to USD 5.3 billion during 2014-19 from USD 1.3 billion recorded between 2005 and 2013, due to various reforms introduced in the Real estate sector. Going forward we expect more traction from this type of patient capital,’ said Dr Samantak Das, Chief Economist and ED, JLL India.

The Union Budget for 2020 further incentivizes SWFs to invest in infrastructure by providing them a 100% tax exemption on interest, dividend and capital gains income in respect of investment made in infrastructure and other notified sectors before 31st March, 2024 with a minimum lock-in period of 3 years.

The resultant increase in potential returns is expected to boost investments by SWFs in affordable housing and logistics & warehousing which have been accorded infrastructure status.

Hero Motocorp Announces Investment of Rs 10,000 Crore Over the Next 5-7 Years at the Hero World 2020

“Sustainability and responsible growth remain at the core of Hero MotoCorp's technology, innovation and global expansion plans. With Hero World 2020, we have curated a novel and unique approach to showcase our future technologies, products and services.

“Over the next 5-7 years, we are aiming to create the next generation of mobility solutions that are relevant to customers across the world. To this end, we have earmarked an investment of Rs. 10,000 Crore along with our ecosystem, which will be utilized towards research and development of alternative mobility solutions, modern, state-of-the-art, sustainable manufacturing facilities, network expansion, and brand building across the globe.

“We are an ever-evolving, youth-centric, innovation led brand, that has remained the market-leader for nearly two-decades now, and yet we are not resting on our laurels. As we enter a new decade, we are aiming at ushering in the next wave of mass mobility that is accessible, convenient and environment-friendly, which is aligned with our rejuvenated Vision of ‘Be The Future of Mobility’.

The Hero World 2020 - a first-of-its-kind three-day event attended by Global Media, Investors, Dealers from India, Supply Chain partners and Global Distributors from around the world - got off to an action-packed start here today at the state-of-the-art R&D hub of Hero MotoCorp, the Centre of Innovation and Technology (CIT) in the northern Indian city of Jaipur, India.

The Hero World 2020 began with the Company reiterating its commitment to remain at the forefront of mass mobility, by showcasing to the global media three new products, a world-class product accessory, and a display of the entire global product portfolio of Hero MotoCorp - the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters.

This was followed by the showcasing of several product concepts and business initiatives that showcase the seeds of its vision for the future of mass mobility, and provided a glimpse into the universe of Hero MotoCorp including the R&D labs, test-tracks, and technology.

The showstopper among the new products unveiled today was the new Hero Xtreme 160R, which further strengthens the Company’s fast-growing presence in the premium motorcycle segment. The Xtreme 160R – that marks Hero MotoCorp’s entry into the popular 160cc motorcycle category - is an attractive product for youth across the globe, with its Xtreme performance, head turning aesthetics and agile handling.

Giving a complete makeover to the iconic Passion brand, the company also launched the new modern and vibrant Hero Passion Pro. Packed with a 110cc BS-VI engine, the Passion Pro is attractively priced at Rs. 64,990 (Self-drum Alloy) and Rs. 67,190 (Self-disc Alloy).

*Ex-showroom Delhi

The third product to be launched was the versatile and stylish Hero Glamour 125cc, marking the generational upgrade of the motorcycle.  The new Hero Glamour now comes equipped with a more efficient and sturdier BS-VI engine and will be available at Rs. 68,900 (Self-drum Alloy) and Rs. 72,400 (Self-disc Alloy).

*Ex-showroom Delhi

Providing even more excitement for enthusiast and building on the cult of XPulse 200, Hero MotoCorp also launched the Hero XPulse 200 Rally Kit.  Available as a complete kit for aspiring racers at Rs 38,000, the Rally Kit will be retailed at selected dealership from March onward. The Rally Kit adds to the XPulse 200’s supreme off-road capability and makes it the ideal motorcycle for amateurs and enthusiast to take-up off-roading.

Mr. Malo Le Masson, Head - Global Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp, said, “Constant innovation and cutting-edge technologies remain the hallmark of Hero MotoCorp. The new products and technologies showcased today display our pursuit to offer the most exciting, innovative and efficient products and technologies to our customers in markets across the world. The journey doesn’t stop, here we plan to strengthen our portfolio further and expect more exciting surprises in the future.”

PRODUCTS

Hero XTREME 160R

Setting the bar for sportiness and real-world performance, the new Xtreme 160R comes with a powerful 160cc air-cooled BS-VI Compliant engine with Electronic Fuel Injection. The Engine delivers an impressive power output of 15 BHP @ 8500 RPM. Combined with a low kerb weight of 138.5 Kg, the bike delivers class leading 0 to 60 Km/hr acceleration in 4.7 seconds.

* The new Xtreme 160R enjoys a commanding riding position and an ergonomically optimized set-up; courtesy the tubular rigid diamond frame with 5 speed Constant Mesh
* Gearbox and a Multi Plate Wet Clutch.

The 37mm Telescopic front forks and a 7-step adjustable rear mono-shock suspension work well in tandem to provide precise handling and smooth ride. The 130/70-17” radial rear tyre provides superior grip in all riding conditions. Braking duties are carried out by 276mm Front & 220mm Rear petal disc brakes. The 170mm ground clearance ensures extreme agility and precise handling.

* The new Xtreme 160R is paired with a first in segment LED package, from Front full LED
headlamp, to rear H signature LED tail lamp, all the way including LED Turn indicators with

* Hazard light switch. The inverted Digital display, together with the first in segment side stand engine cut off will ensure the ride is both exhilarating and safe.

This new head turner from Hero is available in two variants - Front Disc with Single Channel ABS and Double Disc (Front and Rear) with Single Channel ABS and three vibrant color combinations of White with Grey, Blue with Grey and Sports Red with Grey.

Hero Glamour BS-VI

A seamless blend of style and performance – the New Glamour BS-VI runs on the new 125cc engine with XSens Programmed Fuel Injection.  The new engine produces 19% more power with a power output of 10.73 BHP @ 7500 RPM and torque of 10.6 Nm @ 6000 RPM. Featuring Hero’s revolutionary i3S (idle start-stop system), together with Auto Sail Technology, the new Glamour BS-VI delivers on its brand promise.

Built on an all new rigid diamond Frame, with 20% more Ground Clearance, 14% more front suspension travel and 10% more rear suspension travel helps the rider glide over any obstacles all day.

The front 240mm disk brakes and ground clearance of 180mm provide the assertive reliability and all-day comfort with real road presence, thereby, staying true to the brand promise of performance and comfort.

With the two variants- Self Drum Alloy and Self Disc Alloy, and dual tone body graphics of Sports Red, Techno Blue, Tornado Grey and Candy Red, the new Glamour BS-VI ups the style quotient for the aspirational youth.

Hero Passion Pro BS-VI

The new Passion Pro comes with new 110cc XSens Programmed Fuel Injection BS-VI

Engine, delivering high fuel economy and a power output of 9.02 BHP @ 7500 RPM (9% more) and torque of 9.79 Nm @ 5000 RPM (22%). Featuring Hero’s revolutionary i3S (idle start-stop system), the new Passion Pro BS-VI delivers on the brand promise of performance with style.

Built on new diamond frame, the Front suspension travel has been increased by 14%, while the Rear suspension travel has been increased by 10%. The ground clearance has also been increased by 9% to provide unmatched riding comfort and responsiveness on all road surfaces.

The all new body with trend setting imagery - new sleek headlamp, signature tail lamp and triple tone graphics gives the bike a youthful and a trendy vibe.

All new Auto Sail Technology and the Digi-analogue cluster with Real-Time mileage indicator, ups the promise of technology, performance and style.

The new Passion Pro is available in two variants- Self Drum alloy and Self Disc drum, in four youthful color combinations of Sports Red, Techno Blue, Moon Yellow and Glaze Black.

Hero XPulse 200 Rally Kit

Hero MotoCorp’s experience at the world’s top rally races, including the Dakar Rally has been used to develop the XPulse 200 Rally Kit.

The Rally Kit transforms the XPulse 200 into an accessible and competitive purpose-built machine, enabling enthusiasts to improve their off-roading skills and test their limits. It also encourages young riders to build a career in motorsports.

The Rally Kit comprises of Front fully-adjustable telescopic fork with 250mm stroke and fully adjustable 10 step rear Mono shock with 220 mm stroke. Upping the comfort quotient and riding stance are a host of features -- the Flat ‘bench’ seat, handle bar risers, increased ground clearance of 275mm, rally tyres by Maxxis, longer side stand and an extended gear lever to accommodate off-road style boots.

Jaguar Land Rover Unveils Bold New Concept of Urban Mobility Vehicle

Highlights

* Bold new concept vehicle as part of Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero mission
* Project Vector ‘autonomy-ready’ platform offers solution to today’s urban mobility challenges with unparalleled interior space and flexibility in vehicle configuration
* Jaguar Land Rover’s vision integrates Project Vector concept platform into future smart city infrastructures, delivering services for private and shared mobility needs
* On-road pilot programme in Coventry planned from 2021

National Automotive Innovation Centre, Coventry 18th February 2020: Jaguar Land Rover has today unveiled the bold new concept vehicle, Project Vector, as part of the company’s Destination Zero journey, offering its vision of an autonomous, electric, connected future for urban mobility.

Jaguar Land Rover’s Destination Zero mission is an ambition to make societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner. Delivered through relentless innovation, the company’s focus is on achieving a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion – through its products, services and across its facilities.

As the next stage of that journey, the Project Vector concept showcases an advanced, flexible, multi-use electric vehicle that is ‘autonomy-ready’.

At the reveal, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Officer, Prof Sir Ralf Speth, commented: “Jaguar Land Rover understands the trends shaping modern societies.  Project Vector shows Jaguar Land Rover as a leader in innovation to make our societies safer and healthier, and the environment cleaner.  Through this project, we are collaborating with the brightest minds in academia, supply chain and digital services, to create connected, integrated mobility systems – the fundamental building blocks for Destination Zero.”

“Project Vector is precisely the brave and innovative leap forward needed to deliver on our mission.”

The compact, flexible vehicle concept measures just four metres in length and is designed for the city, packaging all its battery and drivetrain components into a flat floor, to allow a variety of uses. The revolutionary interior cabin space allows seating configurations for private, or shared use and even the opportunity for commercial applications, such as last mile deliveries.

PROJECT VECTOR – Developing Tomorrow’s Mobility. Today.

Project Vector concept has been created with the mission to raise the quality of future urban living.

It has been developed at the National Automotive Innovation Centre to gain the advantages of working with agility and close collaboration with academic and external partners.

It will also address the wider landscape of mobility, from how customers connect with mobility services, to the infrastructure required to enable fully integrated, autonomous vehicles in our cities.

Dr. Tim Leverton, Project Director said: “The megatrends of urbanisation and digitalisation make connected urban mobility systems necessary and inevitable. Shared and private vehicles will share spaces with and be connected to public transit networks, so you can travel on demand and autonomously. That is a complex task, best achieved by working together with partners across the spectrum of vehicles, infrastructure and the digital world.

“With the technology and engineering power of Jaguar Land Rover, we can provide a unique opportunity for innovators to develop highly-functional urban mobility services, seamlessly integrated into everyday life.

“Future urban travel will be a composite of owned and shared vehicles, access to ride hailing and on-demand services as well as public transport. Our vision shows the vehicle as a flexible part of the urban mobility network that can be adapted for different purposes.”

The intention is to collaborate with Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority to plan a mobility service from late 2021, as a living laboratory for future mobility on the streets of Coventry.

Professor Dr Gero Kempf, Chief Engineer said: “It’s also a unique opportunity – a concept platform designed and engineered around urban centric use cases by a major car maker as a blank canvas, for developing tailored services and apps in the ecosystem of a smart city.”