Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Achieves 2 Crore Sales Milestone In South India

Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI), a leading two-wheeler manufacturer in the country, has achieved a significant milestone in its journey. The company has recorded a cumulative 2 crore two-wheeler sales in South India, marking a new chapter in its presence across key markets.

Since commencing operations in India, HMSI has built a strong customer base across Southern India. The company reached its 1 crore sales milestone in this market in 17 years. Accelerating its growth, the next 1 crore sales were achieved in just 7 years, bringing the total to 2 crore mark.

As part of its celebration for the 2-crore milestone, HMSI has introduced a limited period offer exclusively for customers in South India. Throughout February 2025, buyers of Activa and Activa 125 can avail zero processing fees and zero documentation charges, making ownership more accessible.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Yogesh Mathur - Director, Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, said, “Crossing the 2-crore sales mark in Southern India reflects the deep trust and preference customers have for Honda two-wheelers. This achievement highlights the strong bond we share with our riders across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar. We remain committed to delivering high-quality, reliable, and innovative products that enhance the riding experience for millions of customers.”

Best-Selling Models and HMSI’s expansive lineup

HMSI has a strong presence in South India with an extensive network of more than 1773 touchpoints. The company’s success in the market has been driven by its popular two-wheelers, particularly the Activa and Activa 125 in the scooter segment and Shine 125, Unicorn and SP125 in the motorcycle segment.

Apart from the Activa in 110cc & 125cc avatars, the company’s scooter line-up includes Dio in 110cc & 125cc versions and in the motorcycle category, there are nine exciting models across 100-110cc (Shine 100, CD 110 Dream Deluxe & Livo), 125cc (Shine 125 & SP125), 160cc (Unicorn & SP160) and 180-200cc (Hornet 2.0 & CB200X) segments. HMSI also recently ventured into the EV segment with the ACTIVA e: and QC1 electric scooters.

HMSI’s premium motorcycle retail format is led by the BigWing Topline for entire premium motorcycle range (200cc - 1800cc) in top metros and BigWing - exclusively for mid-size motorcycle segment (200cc – 500cc). Its diverse range of motorcycles includes the all-new CB350, H’ness CB350, CB350RS, CB300F, CB300R, NX500, XL750 Transalp, and Gold Wing Tour. Moreover, the Hornet 2.0 and CB200X are now retailed via BigWing showrooms as well.  

With a commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction, HMSI looks forward to further strengthening its presence and reaching new milestones in South India.

H.E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of Bhutan, To Grace The SOUL Leadership Conclave As Guest Of Honour In New Delhi

The upcoming first edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave, which is being inaugurated by Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi, will also welcome H.E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bhutan as the Guest of Honour for its Inaugural Session on Friday, 21st February, at the Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. A strong advocate of Bhutan’s unique Gross National Happiness Index, he has spoken on leadership, conservation, climate change, poverty, democracy, and happiness at the United Nations, TED, and various international conferences. At his Keynote Address for the SOUL Leadership Conclave he will share leadership lessons from his life journey. Notably, he has been a key participant in Bhutan’s transition to a parliamentary democracy; having played a pivotal role in founding the People’s Democratic Party, the first registered political party in Bhutan for which he continues to serve as president.

The School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL) is an upcoming premier, privately funded leadership institution in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The maiden edition of the SOUL Leadership Conclave will bring together distinguished leaders from various sectors, including politics, sports, arts, media, business, public policy, and the social sector, to share their personal leadership journeys, engage in insightful conversations, and offer transformative leadership experiences to inspire the next generation of thinkers and doers.

SOUL Leadership Conclave is set to take place at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on February 21st and 22nd, 2025, marking a new chapter in leadership discourse. The event will be livestreamed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/2ckwax3wnjY

The event will feature candid conversations and insightful sessions, where the speakers will share key moments from their leadership journeys, both their successes and failures. The conclave aims to challenge conventional wisdom, ignite passion, and empower the next generation of leaders to think boldly and act with purpose for a brighter, more inclusive future. 

About School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL) School of Ultimate Leadership (SOUL) is an upcoming leadership institution in Gujarat, India and is a brainchild of Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to enable authentic leaders to advance public good. The aim is to broaden the landscape of political leadership in India through formal training and to include those who rise through merit, commitment, and passion for public service and not just from political lineage. SOUL brings in insights, skills and expertise necessary to navigate the complex challenges of leadership in today's world. It reimagines leadership by moving beyond the traditional heroic model, embracing a collaborative and values-driven paradigm inspired by India’s civilizational wisdom and global best practices. The institution offers a range of programs designed to cater to the evolving needs of leaders at various stages of their careers. These include short-term, medium-term and long-term education programmes aimed at shaping visionary leaders for the future. It is a privately funded leadership institution, established by a group of like-minded individuals and located on the periphery of GIFT City in Gandhinagar, in a sprawling 22-acre campus.

Website: https://soul-india.org/

Socomec Launches Superior Efficiency UPS - DELPHYS XM And Power Quality Meters DELPHYS XM

Socomec, a leading global specialist in LV power management solutions, proudly announces the launch of its latest solutions – the “DELPHYS XM”, an advanced Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system ranging from 300 to 800 kVA/kW, and the “DIRIS A-100/A-200”, the ultimate all-purpose panel-mounted power quality meters, specifically designed to meet the demands of modern Data Centres and other critical infrastructures. With the DELPHYS XM offering advanced power management capabilities and the DIRIS A-100/A-200 providing intuitive energy monitoring, these products are set to revolutionize how industries manage their power systems, ensuring efficiency and sustainability for the future.

The high-power density and superior efficiency UPS, DELPHYS XM, features exceptional power density, superior energy efficiency, and a modular architecture, conforming to standards EN/IEC 62040-1, EN/IEC 62040-2, and EN/IEC 62040-3. This comprehensive solution reduces the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) while ensuring maximum power availability.

The DIRIS A-100/A-200 are panel-mounted power quality meters, conforming to standards IEC 61557-12, IEC 62053-21-24, UL 61010-1 File E257746, ISO 14025 and EN50160. An apt solution for data centres, industry and buildings, these power quality meters are fully customizable and provides best-in-class accuracy. These innovative products will help customers achieve their sustainability goals.  

DELPHYS XM- Key Features:

Redefining Power density: The DELPHYS XM UPS offers industry-leading power density, delivering up to 800 kVA/kW in a footprint of just 0.8m², making it one of the most compact UPS systems available globally.

Elevating efficiency: Sustainability is central to the Delphys XM, which features Energy Saver Mode to maximise efficiency even under low-load conditions.Its energy-efficient design achieves up to 99% efficiency in Smart Conversion Mode and 97.1% in online double conversion, significantly reducing energy consumption, cooling requirements, and CO? emissions. Running the UPS in Smart Conversion Mode at 50% average load can result in annual savings of 42 tons of CO?.

Guaranteed uptime with superior resiliency: DELPHYS XM has been designed to eliminate any single point of failure – modular design based on 100 kW modules that minimises maintenance time and complexity and intrinsic redundancy (N or N+1) for increased uptime and reliability.

Best in class adaptability: Designed for flexibility, the DELPHYS XM supports both lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries and offers top or bottom cable entry to accommodate different site needs. Its IP-rated electronics and conformal coating protect against site environmental conditions, ensuring adaptability across multiple applications.

DIRIS A-100/A-200 - Key Features:

Best-in-class accuracy: PreciSense technology provides industry leading accuracy which exceeds standards for billing, ensuring reliable and repeatable measurements, with Class 0.1 for the meter alone, according to IEC 61557-12 standard.

Plug & Play: The unique RJ12 technology enables the quick, error-free and safe connection of current sensors. It has a simple and fast configuration through a step-by-step wizard, even for the most advanced features. The integrated virtual monitor technology enables the smart monitoring of protective devices with no auxiliary contacts and no wiring.

Easy data management: It has an embedded webview software that’s easy to configure and use. Real-time notification and photoview options are available. It has an advanced tariff management through complete and easy to configure calendar function for viewing consumption precisely according to utility contract.

Fully customizable: Splash screen and embedded webserver are easy to customise with own brand logo and pictures. Customisable stand-by screen will display the measurement datasets.

Speaking about the new products, Meenu Singhal, Regional Managing Director, Socomec Innovative Power Solutions, Greater India says, “The launch of DELPHYS XM and DIRIS A-100/A-200 marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide innovative, reliable, and cost-effective power solutions for critical infrastructures. As a leader in power management, we are committed to pioneering initiatives that align with the nation's broader sustainability goals, and each of our products reflects this dedication. We’re excited to introduce these solutions at Elecrama 2025 in Greater Noida, where attendees can discover their potential to reduce operational costs while enhancing reliability. With these advancements, Socomec is poised to play a key role in building a Viksit Bharat by 2047”. 

An Iconic Culinary Affair: Le Cirque Arrives At The Leela Hyderabad

Experience the epitome of haute cuisine as Le Cirque, the legendary Franco-Italian fine dining destination, brings its iconic culinary artistry to Raen – The Chef’s Studio at The Leela Hyderabad. This exclusive pop-up is a rare opportunity to indulge in the same world-class gastronomy that has defined luxury dining for decades.

Le Cirque’s legacy began in 1974 in New York City, founded by the esteemed Sirio Maccioni. Over the years, it has become synonymous with elegance, hosting dignitaries, celebrities, and gourmands alike. Its Indian presence at The Leela Palace New Delhi has been a hallmark of sophistication, redefining fine dining in the country. Now, this celebrated experience is exclusively in Hyderabad, offering an unparalleled gastronomic journey for limited time.

At Raen – The Chef’s Studio, guests can savor Le Cirque’s signature dishes, meticulously crafted to reflect the finest French and Italian culinary traditions. This experience is elevated with a carefully curated selection of fine wines, handpicked to complement each dish, allowing guests to explore an exquisite symphony of flavors.

Set within the sophisticated ambiance of Raen – The Chef’s Studio, every detail, from the setting to the presentation, is designed to offer an extraordinary culinary escape.

This exclusive Le Cirque pop-up is a limited engagement from the 19th Feb – 01st Mar, make your reservations to partake in this exceptional dining affair, by contacting +91 40 4887 1234/ +91 95158 59329

Indulge in the timeless luxury of Le Cirque, now at The Leela Hyderabad, and embark on a culinary experience unlike any other.

Convin Introduces AI Phone Calls To Automate Customer Interactions, Delivering 60% Cost Reduction

Convin, a Bengaluru-based AI-powered conversation intelligence platform, announces the launch of AI Phone Calls, a groundbreaking AI solution designed to automate customer calls, reduce costs, and accelerate business growth with reduced manpower.

Powered by Convin’s in-house advanced Large Language Models (LLM) and Natural Language Processing (NLP), AI Phone Calls enable businesses to automate both inbound and outbound calls with multilingual, human-like conversations.

AI Phone Calls leverage AI voice agents to handle customer interactions, offering personalized, real-time responses without human intervention. The platform resolves customer queries, schedules appointments, sends reminders, initiates customer follow-ups, and delivers context-aware conversations in the customer’s preferred language, improving operational efficiency and enhancing the customer experience.

AI Voicebots are revolutionizing industries such as BFSI, automotive, healthcare, e-commerce, real estate, home services, and more in generating faster response rates, reducing wait times, boosting satisfaction, accelerating conversions, and minimizing errors and human bias for significant business gains.

AI Phone Calls supports multiple Indian languages for seamless global communication, and LLM-powered NLP for delivering personalized, natural conversations. The platform also ensures a seamless handoff to live agents for smooth transitions and personalized follow-ups. AI Phone Calls effectively manage interruptions, ensuring that disruptions like background noise or sudden queries do not impact the accuracy of responses.

AI Phone Calls also offers valuable post-call actions such as automated CRM updates, follow-ups, and outbound campaigns via WhatsApp, SMS, and email. It includes lead identification, CSAT tracking, and AI-powered call summaries for actionable insights.

The platform integrates seamlessly with existing CRM systems and adheres to strict security regulations, including GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, TRAI, and ISO 27001 compliance, ensuring secure handling of customer data. AI Phone Calls can be deployed on private cloud as well as on-premise, addressing customer security concerns.

Convin’s AI Phone Call is a comprehensive tool, self-analyzing conversations for continuous improvement leveraging the unique integration with Post Call Analytics that automates performance tracking, identifying areas for enhancement and automatically incorporating feedback.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ashish Santhalia, Co-Founder of Convin said,“We’re excited to launch AI Phone Calls, a game-changing solution that empowers businesses to automate and scale their customer interactions effortlessly, By combining advanced AI with personalized customer engagement, we’re helping companies improve efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver faster, more meaningful experiences.”

Convin has launched a self-serve trial AI agent on their website, allowing customers to experience and test AI phone calls for their unique use cases.

About Convin:

Convin is an AI-powered conversation intelligence platform that turns customer interactions into actionable insights, enhancing business outcomes. Founded in 2021 by four IIT-Delhi alumni Ashish Santhalia (CEO), Bharat Patidar (COO), Atul Shree (CTO), and Durgesh Choudary (CPO), Convin aims to help B2C brands 10X their business growth through smarter customer conversations. In 2024, the company raised $6.5M in Series A funding.  Convin leverages its in-house LLM and Generative AI to empower customer-facing teams, helping enterprises improve agent performance, boost customer satisfaction, and drive growth. Designed for sales, support, and collections call centers, it provides AI-backed tools for real-time and post-call analysis, conversation insights, and customer experience management.

For more information: https://convin.ai/

Carlsberg India Announces An Investment Of Rs. 350 Crores In Mysuru, Karnataka

*  MoU signed with the Government of Karnataka reinforcing commitment to the state’s future

Carlsberg India, a subsidiary of the globally renowned Danish brewer with a 178-year heritage, has reaffirmed its commitment to Karnataka through a significant investment. On the inaugural day of Invest Karnataka 2025, Carlsberg India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka, marking a new phase of growth and development in the state.

The investment of Rs. 350 crores will facilitate the expansion of Carlsberg India’s existing brewery in Mysuru, enhancing production capabilities through the addition of a new can line, glass line, and keg line. This expansion is set to boost capacity and better meet consumer demand, reinforcing Carlsberg India’s role as a key player in the Indian beer industry. The cumulative investment in Karnataka, following this latest initiative, will total Rs. 600 crores.

Carlsberg India’s Mysuru brewery, located in Nanjangud taluk and spread across 28 acres, currently has an annual production capacity 80 million liters and manufactures Carlsberg and Tuborg products. Sustainability is integral to Carlsberg’s operations, with over 85% of electricity at the brewery sourced from renewable energy, and the facility being fully LED-lit to enhance energy efficiency.

Nilesh Patel, Managing Director, Carlsberg India, emphasized the significance of the investment, stating, “Karnataka is a key market for Carlsberg India, and this expansion underscores our long-term commitment to the state. Our investment will not only support economic growth but also generate additional employment opportunities in the coming years.”

With a steadfast commitment to sustainability, responsible consumption, and community engagement, Carlsberg India continues to build on its legacy of brewing excellence. The company remains dedicated to delivering premium-quality brews while contributing to the growth of the Indian beer industry and the communities it serves.

About Carlsberg India

Carlsberg India is a part of the globally renowned Carlsberg Group from Denmark, bringing 178 years of brewing heritage to Indian consumers. With a commitment to quality and innovation, Carlsberg India offers a diverse portfolio of brews in India, including Carlsberg Smooth, Carlsberg Elephant, Tuborg Green, Tuborg Strong, Tuborg Ice Draft, Tuborg Classic, and 1664 Blanc.

PhonePe Unveils Device Tokenization Solution For Secure Card Transactions

*     PhonePe PG merchants will also have access to this solution

PhonePe has announced the launch of a device tokenization solution for Credit and Debit cards. With this launch, users will be able to tokenize their cards on the PhonePe App, and use the card tokens seamlessly across all use cases on PhonePe such as Bill Payments, Recharges, booking travel tickets, making insurance purchases, making payments on Pincode, as well as at Online Merchants where the PhonePe Payment Gateway services are integrated.

For consumers, tokenizing their cards has several benefits. They will no longer need to save their card details on merchant platforms or enter a CVV for every transaction, leading to higher success rates and fewer drop-offs at checkout. With tokenized cards securely linked to devices, fraud risks from stolen or leaked card details are also significantly reduced, giving consumers an extra layer of security and boosting consumers’ confidence in online payments. To begin with, consumers will be able to tokenize their Visa Credit and Debit Cards.

For merchants, the advantage goes beyond security - it means tapping into a constantly expanding network of tokenized cards, ensuring faster transactions and higher conversions. As more consumers adopt this seamless payment method, businesses will naturally benefit from higher success rates, improved customer retention, and a frictionless checkout experience that fuels growth. PhonePe PG merchants will also have access to this solution.

Commenting on the launch, Rahul Chari, Co-founder & CTO, PhonePe, said, “This launch will be a step forward in making digital payments more secure and seamless. We plan to expand this offering by integrating with more card payment networks and enabling access to the device tokenised cards to all PhonePe PG merchants. At PhonePe, we have always focused on building innovative solutions that enhance customer trust and convenience. As digital payments evolve, we remain committed to delivering offerings that make transactions safer, faster, and frictionless for both businesses and consumers.”

About PhonePe Group:

PhonePe Group is India’s leading fintech company. Its flagship product, the PhonePe digital payments app, was launched in Aug 2016. Since then, the PhonePe app has become India’s leading consumer payments app. As of Jan 25, PhonePe has over 59 Crore lifetime registered users and a digital payments acceptance network spread across over 4 Crore merchants. PhonePe also processes over 31 Crore transactions daily with an Annualized Total Payment Value (TPV) of over INR 145 lakh crore.

On the back of its leadership in digital payments, PhonePe Group has expanded into financial services (Insurance, Lending, Wealth) as well as new consumer tech businesses (Pincode - hyperlocal e-commerce and Indus App Store - India's first localized App Store). PhonePe Group is an India headquartered technology company with a portfolio of businesses aligned with the company's vision to offer every Indian an equal opportunity to accelerate their progress by unlocking the flow of money and access to services.