Honda And HPCL Announce Partnership For Establishing Battery Swapping Stations At Retail Outlets Across Country

Honda Power Pack Energy India Private Limited, Honda Motor Co., Ltd.’s new subsidiary for battery sharing service, and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), a Maharatna Oil & Gas Public Sector undertaking, signed a memorandum of understanding and commercial agreement to collaborate in the field of E-mobility and provide battery sharing services in HPCL’s retail outlets in major cities across India. This marks the global debut of Honda’s battery sharing service and HPCL has been chosen as preferred partner.

In October 2021, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Japan has announced its plan to begin battery sharing service in India starting with electric 3 wheelers through its newly established subsidiary, Honda Power Pack Energy India. Honda’s battery sharing service will enable rickshaw drivers to stop by at the nearest battery swapping stations being setup across the selected cities and swap discharged batteries (Honda Mobile Power Pack e:) with fully charged ones. The use of this service will significantly reduce drivers’ initial cost to purchase EV as well as reducing concern about running out of batteries. This will reduce the risk of drivers losing business opportunities while waiting for batteries to be charged.

Honda plans to start its Battery as a Service (BaaS) business on commercial basis from Bengaluru city in the first half of 2022. Honda will set up strong network of battery swap stations at strategic locations like HPCL’s retail outlets. The service will be launched in Bengaluru city with the intention to expand to other major cities in a phased manner. Initially, the focus will be on the three-wheeler segment and would eventually expand to two-wheelers as well. For this purpose, Honda has been developing its ties with multiple OEMs in various applications.

Online signing off ceremony has been held on 7th February 2022, where both parties reaffirmed their commitment towards carbon neutrality and join hands to achieve a greener future of India and the world by way of expanding utilization of renewable energy and to actively pursue electrification of transportation sector which accounts for approximately 20% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Speaker Notes for dignitaries, who addressed the occasion:

President & CMD, Honda Power Pack Energy India, Kiyoshi Ito said that he is looking forward to a long lasting partnership and friendship between Honda and HPCL to bring the reliable & customer centric battery sharing service in India and to ensure a greener future. Referring to the association of Honda with HPCL, he added that for Honda, it was a case of meeting the right partner at the right time.

Executive Director, Corporate Strategy Planning & Business Development, HPCL, Rajnish Mehta told that HPCL is already committed to become a net zero company by 2040 and the partnerships with global players like Honda will be instrumental in achieving this target. He also asserted that a strong collaboration between HPCL and Honda would definitely pave the way for both companies in expediting the energy transition process.

TKM Clocks Sales Of 8745 Units In February 2022; Registers 19% Growth Over Wholesales In January 2022

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced that the company sold a total of 8745 units in February 2022, thereby registering a growth of 19% when compared to sales in January 2022. The company had sold a total of 14,075 units in domestic wholesales in February 2021 and 7328 units in January 2022.

Expressing his views on the performance for the month, Mr. Atul Sood, Associate Vice President, Sales and Strategic Marketing, TKM, said, “First of all, we would like to thank all our customers for the overwhelming response that the new Camry Hybrid has received, as we have very promising booking orders for the new Camry Hybrid. Similarly, the overall sentiment in the market continues to remain positive as we witness a steady surge in demand trends. This has also led to a consistent rise in order bookings, especially for the Innova Crysta as well as the Fortuner and as a next step, we are looking forward to cater to the pending orders on our side”, he concluded.

Lam Research India Signs MoU With IISc For Sponsored Fellowship Program For MTech Students

Lam Research India today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru to offer a sponsored fellowship program for second-year Master of Technology (MTech) students, starting in the 2022-2023 academic year.

Lam India has been a part of CeNSE’s Industry Affiliate Program (IAP) since 2014 and is continuously engaging with the centre to collaborate on multiple innovative projects to advance the state of semiconductor technologies. The MoU reaffirms Lam India’s commitment to developing deeper industry-academia collaboration while creating opportunities for CeNSE students to acquire specialized skills leading to career opportunities in the wafer fabrication equipment (WFE) industry.

“We are delighted to continue our longstanding relationship with IISc to develop talent and drive the technological innovation in the semiconductor industry,” said Rangesh Raghavan, corporate vice president, and general manager at Lam Research India. “With access to a talent pool as strong as IISc’s, we expect to significantly enhance Lam Research India’s innovation contribution to the ecosystem. This MoU will facilitate the training and development of CeNSE MTech students as we continue to work on advanced semiconductor technologies at Lam India.”

As part of the sponsored fellowship program, second-year master’s students will be selected from the mechanical and electrical engineering streams of CeNSE. The selected students will receive an opportunity to conduct their MTech project on research topics related to Lam Research’s domains of thermal management, materials and coating, additive manufacturing, Equipment Intelligence®, and others, with CeNSE faculty advising on their dissertations.

“Industry-sponsored CeNSE MTech Fellowships are aimed at attracting talent from the traditional areas of engineering and science, and exposing them to new opportunities in the emerging electronics and semiconductor manufacturing industry,” said Prof. Srinivasan Raghavan, chairperson of CeNSE at IISc Bangalore. “Lam Research has been our Industry Affiliate for many years, and this collaboration is an extension of our commitment to solving industry challenges through academic research and technological innovations.”

The program will help the students to bridge the gap between the foundation they have acquired in their undergraduate courses in mechanical, electrical, materials, and chemical engineering or physical and chemical sciences and the job requirements of companies in this area. 

As part of the CeNSE MTech fellowship program, there will be various engagements planned between the students and Lam Research representatives to enhance knowledge exchange and foster stronger collaboration. The fellowship will encourage students to think of challenges faced by the industry, research solutions, and open up internship opportunities for students to join Lam Research. The students will get an opportunity to interact, learn, work, and get mentored by industry leaders from across the globe.

About Lam Research

Lam Research Corporation is a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. Lam’s equipment and services allow customers to build smaller and better-performing devices. In fact, today, nearly every advanced chip is built with Lam technology. We combine superior systems engineering, technology leadership, and a strong values-based culture, with an unwavering commitment to our customers. Lam Research (Nasdaq: LRCX) is a FORTUNE 500® company headquartered in Fremont, Calif., with operations around the globe. Learn more at www.lamresearch.com.

Simple Energy Breaks Range Limit In The Indian Electric Scooters

* Launches additional battery pack option for Simple One to offer top range of 300+ km

·* Simple Energy extends its range leadership in the electric two-wheeler market with an extra battery pack

India’s leading electric vehicle and clean energy start-up Simple Energy launched an additional battery pack option for its flagship electric scooter, Simple One, to offer customers an unparalleled 300+ km of range on a single charge.  Customers would be able to opt for the additional battery pack option during the final payment, with deliveries beginning in June.

The additional battery will address range anxiety amongst customers, as it will help them cover longer distance while traveling. With a capacity of 1.6 kWh, the battery pack will enable the Simple One to cross the 300 km mark – a big step up from the 235+ km from the scooter’s standard configuration, which was already best in class. Notably, this battery can be easily stowed in the boot of the scooter, greatly aiding the user experience.

Commenting on the new battery pack, Suhas Rajkumar, Founder and CEO, Simple Energy, said, “When we conceived the Simple One, we had the aim of offering an electric scooter that could offer enough range for users to not have to worry about range or charging. Offering an extra battery will allow power users to reach destinations that no other electric two-wheeler in India can. This additional battery can easily fit in the boot of the scooter offering a range of over 300 km. This is a big milestone – not just for Simple Energy, but for the EV industry. This move will also go a long way in bolstering the perception of electric scooters.”

The Simple One, along with the advanced additional battery, is priced at Rs 1,44,999 ex showroom. The original variant without the extra battery will continue to be available at Rs 1,09,999.

Recently, Simple Energy announced that the scooter will come with an upgraded 8.5 kW motor, capable of producing 72nm of torque. The Simple One electric scooter has a real-world range of 203 km (up to 236 km in ideal conditions), fast charging support, a huge 30-litre boot and a host of smart features such as on-board navigation, riding modes, phone app, call and music control and much more.

Simple One can be booked on www.simpleenergy.in for a price of Rs 1,947 and will be delivered starting June, this year. There are additional upgrades in the pipeline, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Simple Energy aims to be at the forefront of the ongoing global transition to clean transport. Its flagship product, Simple One, will be produced at phase 1 of the company’s manufacturing unit located at Hosur, Tamil Nadu. The state-of-the-art manufacturing plant has an annual production capacity of up to 1 million units. The factory is currently getting ready for mass manufacturing and will be operational in the coming weeks. The company has also commissioned a second plant in Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, which will spread across 600 acres and have a capacity of 12.5 million units annually — making Simple Energy the largest electric two-wheeler manufacturer in the world.

42% View PM Narendra Modi As The Best Suited To Handle India’s Internal & External Security, As Per Axis My India CSI Survey

* PM Narendra Modi Was Followed By Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Yogi Adityanath, Mamata Banerjee Whose Strength Is In Single Digits

·        Over 10,151 people surveyed 70% is from rural India while 30% is from urban India

·        85% consider start-ups to be the backbone of the New India in the coming years

·        A combined 68% believes that digital currency will result in more safe and secure mode of online transaction/ transfer of funds

Axis My India, a leading consumer data intelligence company, released its latest findings of the India Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), a monthly analysis of consumer perception on a wide range of issues. The month of February reveals that 50% agrees that the results of the upcoming 5 state elections will have a visible impact on the 2024 National elections. 41% believe that PM Narendra Modi is best suited to handle India’s internal & external security. Majority respondents are also certain that ‘start ups’ will be the backbone of New India in the coming 10 years. The survey also reflects consumer’s positive outlook towards RBI’s proposed digital currency.

The March net CSI score, calculated by percentage increase minus percentage decrease in sentiment, was up to +9, from +7 last month and reflecting an increase in the net score post the February drop because of the Omicron scare.

The surveys were carried out via Computer Aided Telephonic Interviews with a sample size of 10,151 people of which 70% belonged from Rural India while 30% belonged from urban counterparts. In addition 63% of the respondents were male while 37% of the respondents were female

Commenting on the CSI report, Pradeep Gupta, CMD, Axis My India, said, “With greater relaxation from the government in terms of mobility and increased encouragement from corporates to return to physical setting, we can witness the country’s effort to go back to the ‘old normal’. PM Narendra Modi being voted as the leader best suited to guide India’s internal & external security in the wake of the current Russia-Ukraine crisis is also not a surprise. Attracting consumers’ interest is also the five state elections, as they are expected to have an overall impact on the country’s economy. In addition, positive outlook towards RBI’s proposed digital currency also reflect the nations wider acceptance towards this change.”

Key findings:

·        Finally, 41% of respondents believe that PM Narendra Modi is best suited to handle India’s internal & external security, a factor which gains prominence considering the current Russia-Ukraine crisis.

·        The CSI – Survey furthermore captured consumer’s views on upcoming five state elections of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. A huge majority of 50% strongly believe that the results of these 5 state elections will have a considerable impact on the 2024 National Elections. These are the views of people residing across the nation & not just the election states.

·        In an attempt to understand consumers view on a series of Budget announcement, Axis My India discovered that 68% believe that RBI’s proposed Digital currency/Digital Rupee will encourage safer and secure mode of online transaction/ transfer of funds. This positive outlook could mean a wider acceptance of the proposed digital currency upon its introduction. A minority of 13% and 6% believes that the digital rupee will ensure reduced dependency on cash/physical notes; and stimulate increased global as well as rural transaction respectively. 

·        Exploring consumer’s views on the start-up ecosystem, the survey discovered that 85% believes that start-ups are going to be the backbone of ‘New India’.

About Axis My India:

Axis My India is India’s foremost consumer data intelligence consultancy that has revolutionized the field of election polling in the country, with an accuracy rate of ~92% spread across 28 states and 8 union territories and 2 national elections. The company has a presence in over 737 districts and has touched 85 million Indian households. It counts some of India’s largest corporations, state governments as well as Union Government in its clientele and offers a repertoire of research related services, including consumer insights, product validation, market segmentation, on-ground brand activation, personalized media solutions and micro marketing. The company publishes an annual Consumer Trust Index – spread across 45 consumer and product categories, and 1 million respondents.

For more information: https://www.axismyindia.org/

CAMLA Barcelona Prêt-à-Porter Introduces Fresh Fashion Collection Designed For Young India

CAMLA Barcelona, a well-known fashion apparel and clothing brand by the Jain Amar Group, showcased its stylish collection for both men and women at the Pret-a-Porter roadshow on Thursday. The roadshow was preceded by an elaborate Fashion Show    in Delhi, presenting the brand’s latest styles from the season’s new collection. The show displayed the vibrant and unique range of fashion clothing by the brand designed keeping in mind the needs of Indian youth committed to leave an impression through their style.

Renowned buyers – Myntra, Tata Cliq &, and the brand’s other key distributors attended the much-anticipated fashion show and roadshow to get a glimpse of the collection on display. This year, the show brought forward brand’s exclusive collection of women’s clothing in various fabrics like twill, knit, jacquard, fur, velvets, and lurex. The collection showcased includes colours like nude pinks, browns, pear green, maroon, beige, and teal hues.

For men, the latest collection comprises of colour hues like military green, black, light grey, olive, wine, and navy using fabric like pique, tie & dye, taffeta, and scuba. The brand had recently launched its latest Spring/Summer 2022 collection which caters to the latest fashion trends popular among the youth.

“The Pret-a-Porter was a successful event attended by the biggest buyers and has received appreciation from fashion enthusiasts. We are extremely delighted because of the response we have received, and the excitement shown by our customers for CAMLA Barcelona’s latest collection,” said Ashish Jain, Director, CAMLA Barcelona.

Brand’s Spring/Summer’22 collection is available in shop-in-shop stores across the country and on e-commerce platforms like Myntra and TATA Cliq and its own stores and the online store – Glamly.com.

Bizongo To Participate In Fabrics And Accessories Trade Show, Bengaluru From March 4-6, 2022

* Full stack B2B trade enablement platform Bizongo will participate in the 24th edition of Fabrics & Accessories Show to be held on March 4, 5, 6 at Trade Centre, KTPO, Whitefield.

Textile hubs of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are witnessing a rapid shift in MSMEs embracing technology platforms to fast track their business. Bizongo, which offers Digital Vendor Management, Supply Chain Automation & Supply Chain Financing, has seen its annual revenue run rate grow 20 times to INR 600 crore in the last 11 months from these regions. At the F&A Show, Bizongo will be showcasing some of its key digital services like production planning, order delivery timelines, payment reconciliation to help businesses do away with manual tasks.

The F&A Show draws Indian and Overseas businesses in the textile value chain to converge, network and get access to the latest developments in Apparel Fabrics, Trims, Embellishments and related Services.

About Bizongo

Bizongo was founded in 2015 by three IIT graduates Aniket Deb, Sachin Agrawal, and Ankit Tomar, to digitally transform the fragmented and unorganized yet unique and ubiquitous B2B segment of customized goods. Today, the company focuses upon packaging, textiles, apparel & other contract manufacturing goods as its product portfolio and has a network of over 3,000 partner factories. Through its proprietary digital platforms, such as Procure Live, Partner Hub, and Artwork Flow, Bizongo offers Digital Vendor Management, Supply Chain Automation & Supply Chain Financing as key services to its enterprise customers. The B2B e-commerce platform services 300+ enterprise customers in fashion & lifestyle, pharmaceuticals, consumer discretionary, consumer staples, home & personal care, and e-commerce.