
Oben Electric to launch next-gen Rorr EZ on August 5 with major upgrades
Oben Electric emphasises that the new Rorr EZ is not just an upgrade but a statement of the company's commitment to innovation in the fast-evolving EV segment. The model blends cutting-edge performance with practical usability, featuring swift acceleration, class-leading torque, and a design optimised for urban agility.Bookings for the next-gen Rorr EZ will open on the launch day (August 5), with deliveries beginning from August 15, 2025, across key cities in India.Subscribe to Auto Today Magazine- Ends

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hans India
7 minutes ago
- Hans India
VinFast opens largest showroom in Chennai; plans 35 outlets across India by year-end
Electric vehicle manufacturer VinFast Auto India, a subsidiary of Vietnam-based VinFast, inaugurated its largest retail outlet in Chennai—its second showroom in India—a company official said on Sunday. Located in Teynampet in the city, the 4,700 sq ft facility marks the automaker's first showroom in Tamil Nadu, following its debut outlet in Surat, Gujarat. VinFast plans to establish 35 showrooms across 27 cities in India by the end of the year. The Chennai dealership will showcase the company's premium electric SUVs, including the VF 6 and VF 7, according to a company statement. Speaking on the company's network expansion, VinFast Asia CEO Pham Sanh Chau said, "Chennai's legacy, thriving innovation ecosystem, skilled talent, and advanced infrastructure make it a natural choice for VinFast's first dealership in Tamil Nadu, which also happens to be our largest touchpoint in India." "With this dealership, we are proud to deepen our commitment to this dynamic city and bring our premium electric mobility solutions closer to discerning customers in Tamil Nadu. Chennai represents the spirit of progress, and through our partnership with Maansarovar Motors, we aim to redefine the EV ownership journey," he added. To build a nationwide ecosystem for charging and after-sales service, VinFast has partnered with RoadGrid, myTVS, and Global Assure. Customers can book their preferred VinFast premium electric SUV either at the showroom or through the website with a refundable booking amount of Rs 21,000, the statement said.


Economic Times
7 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Nippon India MF sets foot in Leh to deepen financial inclusion; eyes expansion in border regions
In a bid to deepen financial inclusion, Nippon Life India Asset Management Ltd has opened a branch in Leh and is looking to expand its presence in border areas, its CEO Sundeep Sikka said. With this, Nippon Life India Asset Management (NAM India) -- promoted by Japan's Nippon Life Insurance Company -- becomes the only asset management company in the country to establish a physical presence in such a high-altitude region. This marks NAM India's 167th branch and its presence in 266 pin codes across the the reason for opening the branch, Sikka said Ladakh, a Union Territory known for its breathtaking landscapes, has seen a surge in tourism and economic activity in recent years. However, the region's financial landscape remains relatively underdeveloped, with limited access to a diverse range of investment average assets under management (AAUM) in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh stood at Rs 10,844 crore as of June 2025, accounting for less than 0.14 per cent of India's total mutual fund assets. In contrast, India's overall mutual fund AAUM reached a staggering Rs 74.80 lakh crore during the same period. "With a presence in Leh, Ladakh, Nippon India Mutual Fund aims to bridge the financial literacy gap, develop a healthy mutual fund ecosystem and offer local residents the opportunity to participate in the Indian capital markets," Sikka company plans to open more branches in India's border regions that often face limited access to formal financial services, the chief executive he did not specify a timeline for the rollout of additional present, Nippon India Mutual Fund is present in all districts and 97 per cent of PIN codes across asked about the challenges of operating in such regions, Sikka pointed out that while many residents have a decent income, there is a clear lack of awareness about formal investment avenues."People here are earning well, but often end up putting their money into unregulated or informal products due to limited financial literacy," he the need for investor education as a top priority, he said the company's first objective is to build trust and understanding around mutual funds."We are also exploring the launch of simple, easy-to-understand products tailored to the needs of first-time investors in these areas," he the company's future expansion strategy, Sikka said Nippon India Mutual Fund is focused on strengthening its digital infrastructure, noting that nearly 70 per cent of new investors are now coming through online the same time, the company remains committed to expanding its physical presence, recognising that on-ground branches play a key role in building trust. Additionally, he revealed plans to launch a Specialised Investment Fund (SIF) aimed at offering more targeted investment solutions.


Hindustan Times
7 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Building a self-sufficient critical minerals ecosystem
India's transition to a sustainable, high-tech economy is inextricably tied to the availability of critical minerals, materials indispensable for renewable energy, electric mobility, semiconductors, and national defense. The global supply chains for these minerals are increasingly strained by geopolitical tensions, environmental concerns, and surging demand. FILE - Refined tellurium is displayed at the Rio Tinto Kennecott refinery, May 11, 2022, in Magna, Utah. The world has enough rare earth minerals and other critical raw materials to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy to produce electricity and limit global warming, according to a new study that counters concerns about the supply of such minerals. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)(AP) India's dependency on imports for critical minerals and their processing equipment is a systemic vulnerability. Strategic sectors such as semiconductors, green hydrogen, electric mobility, and defence highly depend on secure and sustainable access to these resources. The National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM) recognises this need and identifies key challenges in India's current capabilities: Lack of indigenous capital equipment for extractive metallurgy Limited domestic recycling infrastructure for high-value end-of-life products Insufficient integration between research, process development, and commercialisation Addressing these bottlenecks requires a coordinated national effort, with academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and policymakers working in tandem. India has a strong foundation in materials science and process development, supported by decades of work from national laboratories and research groups. These efforts have laid the groundwork for deeper innovation in critical mineral extraction and processing. The NCMM aims to make a self-reliant production ecosystem that spans the entire value chain, from raw ores to refined materials, delivered at industrial scale. But achieving this vision remains an ongoing challenge. These critical materials are foundational to strategic sectors such as semiconductors, green hydrogen, green mobility, and renewable energy, all of which require a robust and indigenous technology ecosystem to ensure national resilience and sustainability. However, a significant challenge facing many Indian technology initiatives is the commercialisation gap, particularly in the domain of capital equipment and high-end machinery required to scale up lab-level technologies. India remains heavily dependent on imports for extractive metallurgy equipment, smelters, and advanced mineral processing systems. This dependence severely limits the ability to commercialize and scale domestic technologies. A similar scenario is observed in the lithium-ion battery manufacturing ecosystem, where most cell fabrication and recycling equipment are still imported. While the Government of India is now investing in indigenising such equipment, these capabilities cannot be built overnight. Equipment development must go hand-in-hand with early-stage R&D investments in battery materials. India continues to rely on imported equipment for key mineral processing operations, electrostatic separators, magnetic separators, analytical tools, and extractive metallurgical units. In several cases, import restrictions on sensitive or large-scale systems further limit access, thereby hindering domestic technology translation and industrial deployment. To bridge this gap, certain institutions have been recognized by central ministries as focal points for capital equipment development, driven by their longstanding work in materials science, process chemistry, and modular engineering design. The lack of indigenous equipment capability has also contributed to the export of valuable intermediate resources like black mass from used batteries, highlighting the urgent need for in-country refining and recovery solutions. Beyond equipment, the ecosystem must also include domestic capabilities in specialty process chemicals used throughout the mineral processing chain. There is a growing focus on building this extensive ecosystem, one that spans chemical inputs, machinery, modular plant designs, and supply chain integration. Tapping into the expertise of small and specialised industries will be key to commercialising many of the materials listed under NCMM and ensuring consistent domestic supply. Industrial collaborations are already beginning to emerge in support of this ecosystem-building effort. A proposal is underway to establish a TRL 7/8 pilot-scale facility that can serve as a national technology hub for the design, development, and integration of capital equipment. Such a facility could provide standardized blueprints for plant setup, process flow, and materials integration, which are critical components for building a self-reliant critical minerals value chain by 2047. This kind of platform can also act as a collaborative node, bringing together other academic institutions, research bodies, and private players. Strengthening such alliances is essential to accelerate innovation, bridge the research-to-commercialisation gap, and ensure strategic readiness in sectors dependent on critical minerals. India is currently making major R&D investments across strategic sectors. However, many of these initiatives continue to face limited industrial adoption due to weak linkages between academia and industry. Developing indigenous process technologies and engineering capabilities has now turned into a national priority. A modular, collaborative approach can help India build a resilient critical minerals ecosystem for the future, grounded in early-stage innovation and supported by strong public-private partnerships. This article is authored by Omprakash Subbarao, chief executive, CORE Labs, FSID.