Category: launch

The ŠKODA SLAVIA: Second ŠKODA model in the INDIA 2.0 project makes its debut

Posted on by City Today News (City today.media)

› The all-new premium midsize sedan offers plenty of space, a host of safety features and an emotive design
› Efficient TSI engines, high levels of comfort and advanced infotainment systems
› Model name ‘SLAVIA’ pays homage to the brand’s heritage and ushers in a new era
› Reflects great global collaboration; Manufactured in Pune, India

Bangalore, 18 November 2021 – The introduction of the SLAVIA marks the start of ŠKODA AUTO’s next stage in the INDIA 2.0 project. Following the successful launch of the midsize SUV KUSHAQ, the brand-new sedan is the Czech carmaker’s second India-specific model. The SLAVIA’s manufacturing process has a localization level of up to 95%.. As the sedan is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform – an MQB variant specially adapted by ŠKODA AUTO for India – it offers a comprehensive range of safety features and advanced infotainment systems. The power output of the TSI engines available for the SLAVIA is 85 kW (115 PS)* and 110 kW (150 PS)* respectively, and just like other ŠKODAs, this model is characterised by an emotive design. Its name is both a tribute to the carmaker’s beginnings and a symbol of a new era in the Indian market.

Thomas Schäfer, CEO ŠKODA AUTO, said, “With the new SLAVIA, we are igniting the next stage of our INDIA 2.0 product campaign. Following the successful launch of the KUSHAQ, we are now entering another popular segment with our brand-new premium midsize sedan. The SLAVIA is perfectly tailored to the needs of our customers in India and is built with up to 95% localisation. We are confident that both the KUSHAQ and the SLAVIA will allow us to leverage the full potential in
this promising, growing market.”

Gurpratap Boparai, Managing Director of ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited, said, “The successful start of the INDIA 2.0 project with the KUSHAQ truly highlights what can be achieved with global collaboration here in India. In addition to the increasingly sought-after SUVs, the premium sedan segment offers tremendous potential, and it’s a territory that we have made our own. The sophisticated SLAVIA stands for prestige and style. It also represents a new growth area for ŠKODA AUTO. With its sophistication, capable engines and numerous Simply Clever features, the SLAVIA will appeal to discerning customers in India, and it will also be appreciated in markets around the world. We are confident that the ŠKODA SLAVIA will continue the benchmarks set by the OCTAVIA and SUPERB and will help us to further strengthen our dominance in the segment.”

Zac Hollis, Brand Director, ŠKODA AUTO India , said,

“With the launch of KUSHAQ, we have witnessed unprecedented growth for ŠKODA Auto India. While KUSHAQ saw us conquer new territory with a mid-size SUV that represents the aspirations of modern India, SLAVIA, gets us back to our roots, as the brand that brought the original premium sedan to India. Despite the headwinds faced by the industry, we have continued with our product campaigns, expanded our network reach to more than 100 cities, augmented the brand awareness, delivered on our promise of customer centricity, professionalized the dealer network, introduced

value added services and set new benchmarks in the after-sales business. SLAVIA is gorgeous inside out, and will be our second volume driver along with KUSHAQ, as we continue to
substantially grow our volumes in India.”

ŠKODA SLAVIA: GORGEOUS INSIDE OUT

Exhibiting elegant lines and ŠKODA’s well-established emotive design language, the SLAVIA creates a new highlight for sedans. Its width of 1,752 mm makes SLAVIA the widest offering in the segment, and enables generous amounts of space for up to five people. This is matched by a huge boot capacity of 521 litres. The front headlights and taillights are available with advanced LED
technology and characterise the ŠKODA-typical crystalline details. Chrome plated design features, two-tone alloy wheels and an exclusive ŠKODA badge all add to the SLAVIA’s high-quality feel.
The new metallic Crystal Blue and the Tornado Red paintwork are both ŠKODA exclusives for the Indian market.

The new SLAVIA’s interior is based on the latest design concept of ŠKODA’s European models. A free-standing infotainment screen measuring up to 25.4 centimetres takes centre stage. The circular air vents are another striking feature. From the Ambition trim upwards, the touch-control Climatronic with air care comes as standard, while comfort features such as ventilated front seats upholstered in leather are available for the top-end specification Style variant. The line running underneath the infotainment screen is inspired by the silhouette of the ŠKODA grille and provides a hand rest for use when operating the display. A horizontal, colour contrasting decorative strip accentuates the width of the spacious interior and connects the circular side air vents.

The infotainment systems available across all variants of the new ŠKODA SLAVIA can be operated easily and intuitively, and entirely via the colour touchscreen. They feature SmartLink technology enabling the integration of smartphones. The Ambition and Style trim levels provide access to a plethora of MyŠKODA Connect mobile online services with ŠKODA Play apps, which can be used to download a navigation function for the top-end infotainment system.

The ŠKODA SLAVIA comes with excellent active and passive safety features. Occupants are protected by up to six airbags. To ensure children also have a safe journey, the sedan comes with ISOFIX anchors and Top Tether anchor points on the rear seats. ESC is another standard feature ensuring a high level of driving safety, while the Multi-Collision Brake will safely bring the vehicle to a standstill in the event of an accident. The SLAVIA also offers a host of practical comfort features such as Hill-Hold Control, rain and light sensors, and cruise control. A tyre pressure monitor is another convenient feature.

Strong India Focus
The India 2.0 campaign is headed by ŠKODA AUTO, which oversees all activities of the Volkswagen Group in India, and the campaign is backed by investments of one billion euros to strengthen the long-term presence of ŠKODA and Volkswagen on the Indian subcontinent. The aim is to reach a combined market share of 5% by 2025.

The MQB-A0-IN – a variant of Volkswagen Group’s modular transverse matrix – provides the
technical basis for the new ŠKODA models. ŠKODA AUTO has adapted this platform specifically for the Indian market and to meet the country’s new, stricter safety and emission requirements.

Most of the development work is carried out in India – in close collaboration with colleagues based in the Czech Republic – at the technology centre in Pune, which opened in early 2019. The on-site team’s wealth of expertise and understanding of local preferences mean that ŠKODA can respond to changing needs quickly and in a flexible manner. ŠKODA AUTO’s vehicle production in India has a localisation level up to 95%. The carmaker set up a new MQB production line at its Pune plant so this could be achieved. In the medium term, the models manufactured in India will also be exported to other countries.

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Through the ‘Second Life’ Initiative, Aster Hospitals in India has committed to offering free surgery to 100 poor children.

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Launched on occasion of Children’s Day in India, as a part of Aster Volunteers Global CSR programme, ‘Second Life – Because Little Lives Matter’ will help at least 100 underprivileged children below 12 years over a period of a year by providing free paediatric surgeries

Bangalore, 15th November 2021:  On occasion of Children’s Day, Aster Hospitals in India, as a part of Aster Volunteers Global CSR initiative has launched the ‘Second Life- Because Little Lives Matter’ initiative. The yearlong initiative is aimed at supporting the medical treatment of disadvantaged children, where the initial aim is to help treat at least 100 children below the age of 12 years by providing free paediatric surgeries. The initiative extends help to deserving children who are being treated across Aster Hospitals based in 5 States in India.

This includes common childhood surgeries such as appendicitis, intussusception, empyema and paediatric urology surgeries as well as complex clinical surgeries including bone marrow transplant, liver transplants, heart surgeries, etc. Dr. Nitish Shetty, Regional Director, Aster Hospitals, Karnataka and Maharashtra Cluster, Mr. Farhan Yasin, Regional Director, Aster Hospitals – Kerala & Oman Cluster and Mr. Devanand KT, Regional CEO, Aster Hospitals – Telangana & Andhra Pradesh Cluster were present at the launch of the campaign in Bangalore, today.

The treatment will be funded by Aster DM Foundation or with the support of philanthropists / NGOs. A criterion has been established by the foundation to identify the eligibility of cases for the program; these will be assessed based on the socio- economic status and BPL category as well as the medical outcome of the child prior to commencement of selection and subsequent treatment. Furthermore, a 24X7 multi- lingual helpline number has been set up at Calicut to manage enquiries, the helpline can be accessed by dialing +91 9633620660.

Speaking on the initiative Dr. Azad Moopen,  Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare said, “In India, where a significant segment of the population still remains below the poverty line, many families with an ailing child struggle to afford the advanced surgery needed to save the lives of their little ones. In most cases, paediatric organ transplants, bone-marrow transplant, cardiac surgeries or even common surgeries can not only give young children a second shot at a better life but also save an entire family from falling into the depths of despair. While our Aster Hospitals in India, based in the 5 States, have emerged as Centres of Excellence in advanced paediatric care and surgeries and our doctors have been known to set global benchmarks in advanced surgical interventions, we sincerely hope that with this effort, we are able to provide a second chance to young children to live their lives to the fullest and achieve their dreams.”

Dr. Nitish Shetty,  Regional Director, Aster Hospitals, Karnataka and Maharashtra Cluster added, “The launch of the Second Life Initiative is to structure a change that will eventually have a positive impact on the lives of disadvantaged children from a long-term perspective. We aim to leverage inherent and individual strengths of several of our hospitals to fulfil and deliver on these clinical interventions. At Aster, it is our motto to bring great healthcare within the reach of all individuals, our highly experienced experts at Aster Hospital’s will be dedicating a minimum 10% of their man hours to help these children and give them a well-deserved second chance at life”.

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The world’s first nutraceuticals academy, Nutrify Today, has opened its doors.

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The academy will focus on elevating skill sets in the nutraceuticals category to keep pace with industry growth.

Bangalore, Nov. 11, 2021– Nutrify Today has announced it has launched the Nutrify Today Academy (https://academy.nutrifytoday.com/), the world’s first Nutraceuticals Academy, aimed at elevating skill sets for working executives in the nutraceuticals category to stay in sync with the industry’s growth. The Nutrify Today Academy, with dual bases in Mumbai and Bangalore, India, will initially focus on India and Asia before expanding to other key global nutraceutical markets through an online curriculum.  Several universities including GITAM, Centurion University, AIC-CCMB, National Research and Development Corporation of India, Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, and others, will have strong academic affiliations with the Nutrify Today Academy.

According to Amit Srivastava, chief catalyst for Nutrify Today, the Nutrify Today Academy will also provide access to university students studying pharma, food technology, biochemistry, and chemical engineering who want to pursue a career in nutraceutical ingredient formulation. The Nutrify Today Academy expects to train a minimum of 5,000 professionals by 2024. Explaining the rationale behind the launch of the academy, Srivastava said, “India is currently a USD$8 billion market, however, we expect exports to grow significantly. Stakeholders in the sector predict that by 2025, the industry will be valued USD$40 billion, and by 2030, it will be worth as much as USD$100 billion.”

The Academy’s faculty will consist of senior industry professionals and senior academicians, thus providing an inside view of the industry. “The Nutrify Today Academy is an industry educational platform that will help nutraceutical professionals expand their business acumen. The industry is eagerly seeking people who are knowledgeable about product formulations, scientific and overall business development,” said Srivastava.

Initial Nutrify Today Academy industry leaders will include Dr. Balkumar Marthi, the former R&D head of Unilever, Brijesh Kapil, former Procter & Gamble India board member, Naaznin Hussein, former president of the Indian Dietetics Association and key opinion leader, Sheldon Baker, Baker Dillon Group chief executive officer and nutraceutical brand marketing leader from the U.S., as well as other industry professionals who will play a key role in Academy development. The Academy will also have major companies from India and the U.S. advising on course direction.

“The Academy will provide corporate executives with a greater understanding about idea-to-commercialization view of the industry and provide university students a look at the professional and corporate side of the industry,” said Baker. “From my brand marketing and PR experience, much of the current global market is not keenly aware of the need to develop ongoing company and product marketing strategies. I will try to enlighten course participants of such a need, the cost involved and which directions they might want to consider.”

Nutraceuticals is still considered a relatively new field of study in the India healthcare industry. It recognizes the importance of healthy lifestyle habits and creating a sustainable and a healthy world. Nutraceuticals have sparked much attention in recent years because of its potential nutritional, safety, and medicinal advantages, and as an industry, has the potential for growing to USD$100 billion market by 2030. 

The post-pandemic expansion of nutraceuticals in India has attracted global attention creating an Indian nutraceuticals demand in the U.S. and international nutraceuticals entering India. Nutrify Today is the world’s first platform that has taken an idea from conception to commercialization in half the time it takes to traditionally execute it development. This platform currently has over 10,000 executives from nutraceuticals, government, investors, and regulatory bodies from India and other global markets. For Academy enrollment information visit https://academy.nutrifytoday.com/.

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

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

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

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

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

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

·        First EV company to have service touchpoints across the country

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

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

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

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

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Artists Rishikesh and Manasa Kalyan’s interpretation of the modern world – Kaliyug 2.0

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Aims to demystify the message of nurturing nature and protecting environs through art

Inaugurated by youth leader Tejaswi Surya and superstar Dr. Shiva Rajkumar

Bengaluru, 27th October, 2021: Kaliyug, a series of acrylic paintings by talented siblings – Rishikesh Kalyan and Manasa Kalyan, has announced the launch of its second edition in Bengaluru. The specially curated artwork by these young and aspiring artists has been unveiled and displayed at Chitrakala Parishad in Seshadripuram. The 3-day exhibition was inaugurated by notable dignitaries such as Member of Parliament from Bengaluru South – Mr. Tejasvi Surya, Kannada Superstar and environment enthusiast Dr. Shiva Rajkumar, and Dr. Chenraj Jain, Chancellor of Jain University.

The one-of-its-kind art exhibition reflects upon the ecological perils and visualizes the destruction that has been unleashed upon the environment by successive generations, culminating in a pandemic that reminds us of the mythical Kaliyug itself. Through the 2.0 version of this unique series, the artists aim to convey a riveting message around energy conservation as well as inspire the masses to fulfil their individual responsibility towards nature by maintaining the integrity of the environment.

Talking about the Kaliyug series, Master Rishikesh Kalyan said, “Today, mankind is facing a number of global challenges and the climate change crisis has emerged as an immediate threat causing destruction of life and property around the globe. As climate change worsens, the long-term shifts in weather patterns is expected to have an impact, not only on the flora and fauna but also communities and livelihoods. We strongly believe that to fight or reverse climate change, a collective effort is required of working towards finding solutions.”

Agreeing to elder brother Rishikesh’s perspective, Ms. Manasa Kalyan added, “Through our paintings, we aim to showcase the perils of this Kaliyug that we are in, and hope that it inspires the viewers to take small steps towards creating a positive change in our immediate communities and societies.”

Kaliyug 2.0 aims to drive conversation around preserving the canvas of nature for generations to come through a surreal experience. The proceeds from the art exhibition-cum-sale will be fully donated to Akshaya Patra Foundation.

Talking about the association with Kaliyug 2.0, Sundeep Talwar, Chief Marketing Officer, The Akshaya Patra Foundation said, “It’s always an inspiration to see youth come forward to create social change in our communities. The thoughtfulness and generosity that Manasa and Rishikesh Kalyan have shown in so graciously harnessing their talent to support underprivileged students in government schools is exceptional. On behalf of all our beneficiaries who will benefit from this partnership, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to both Manasa and Rishikesh. Their compassion will help empower and nourish children in need.”

Trained for the past eight years, under artist Shine Karunakaran, this is the second public display of Rishikesh and Manasa Kalyan’s art work. After the successful first edition of the series which was held in Thrissur, Kerala, the artists have revamped their work, majority of which was produced during the past year.

 

The exhibition closes on Oct 29th, 2021.

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