Latest news with #Bluebird
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Medusa, Doctor Dolly and Esconido impress
Medusa, Doctor Dolly and Esconido impressed when the horses were exercised here on Saturday (July 19) morning. Inner sand: 600m: Neutralist (A. Gaikwad) 39. Moved freely. Gobby (Prasad) 39. Moved freely. 800m: Encino (Nirmal), Multiverse (Ranjane) 56, 600/41. Former ended four lengths in front. Viking (Ramswarup), Golden Kingdom (Nirmal) 56, 600/42. Former better. Betsy (Merchant), Oh Kay (Gore) 52, 600/39. Former was superior. Son Of A Gun (Mustakim) 53, 600/40. Moved fluently. Silver Strike (Zameer), Bravo Zulu (Merchant) 55, 600/40. Pair moved level freely. El Greco (Ajinkya) 57, 600/42. Easy. 1000m: Doctor Dolly (Merchant), Surfrider/Light (Zameer) 1-6, 800/51, 600/39. Former strode out well and finished four lengths ahead. Medusa (Merchant) 1-5, 800/51, 600/38. Responded well to the urgings. Dream Alliance (Nirmal) 1-9, 600/41. Moved freely. Royal Champ (Nirmal) 1-7, 800/52, 600/39. Worked well. Tyrannus (Mosin) 1-8, 800/52, 600/39. Urged. The Milenium Force (T.S. Jodha), The Athabasca (Ajinkya) 1-7, 800/52, 600/39. They moved neck and neck freely. Social Butterfly (Mosin) 1-6, 800/52, 600/38. Slightly urged. Kissed By The Sea (Kirtish) 1-8, 600/42. Moved freely. 1200m: Exciting (Kirtish), Brasilier (Siddharth) 1-26, 600/42. They were easy. Nostalgia (Hamir), Phantasmique (Mustakim) 1-22, 600/39. Former was well in hand while the latter who started three lengths behind was urged to end level. 1400m: Golden Dancer (Mosin) 1-37, 800/53, 600/39. Urged in the last part. Gate practice noted on the inner sand: 1000m: Lara (Mosin), Riptide (Mustakim) and Arlington Heights (A. Prakash) 1-8, 800/53, 600/41. Lara finished four lengths ahead of Riptide who further finished four lengths ahead of the last name. Esconido (Mosin) 1-6, 800/51, 600/38. Jumped out well and moved attractively. Surrealist (Kirtish) 1-7, 800/52, 600/39. Moved well. Mock race noted on July 18: Race track: 1200m: Celestial (Siddharth), Golden Sparsh (S. Amit), Quicker (Bharat), Magical Moments (C. Umesh), Fidato (Mustakim), Desert Charm (Gagandeep), Bluebird (Kirtish) and Dash (S.J. Sunil) 1-11, 600/36. Won by: 3, Short Neck and 3-1/4. Celestial, who was racing fourth till the bend, easily covered the leeway and won the race by three lengths. Bluebird shifted out soon after the start and refused to gallop, while Dash planted into the starting stalls. Second mock race: 1400m: Alexandros (Neeraj), Field Of Dreams (Gore), King Ke (A. Prakash), Allez Etoile (C. Umesh), Ardakan (Ajinkya), El Moran (Mustakim), Alpine Star (app), Enforcer (Yash), Caradoc (N. Bhosale) and Jade (Kirtish) 1-28, 600/37. 3/4, 1-1/2 and Neck. Alexandros and Field Of Dreams, who were racing in fourth and fifth positions respectively, made smooth progress and finished in that order.
Yomiuri Shimbun
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Nissan Plant ‘Closures': Break away from Negative Cycle and Step up Alliance Strategy
Nissan Motor Co., which has been restructuring its operations, has decided on large-scale closures of its domestic plants for the first time in a quarter of a century. The company should minimize the impact on the local economy around the plants and at the same time hasten a strategy to seek a new alliance partner. Nissan has announced that it will end compact car production at its Oppama plant in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, at the end of fiscal 2027. This will effectively be a plant closure. Production of commercial vehicles at a subsidiary's plant in Hiratsuka in the same prefecture will also end in fiscal 2026. Nissan posted a ¥670.8 billion net loss for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, due to sluggish global sales. In May, when it announced its financial results, Nissan said it would close seven of its 17 vehicle production plants worldwide. The closure of the Kanagawa Prefecture plants is a part of such efforts. The Oppama plant, which began operations in 1961, is a symbol of Nissan's history, having produced its models including the 'March' and 'Bluebird.' There are said to be about 2,000 companies that do business with Nissan in the prefecture, and the impact on the local community will be significant. It is hoped that Nissan, in close cooperation with local governments and other entities, will take detailed and meticulous measures to alleviate concerns over its restructuring plan, such as by helping employees find new jobs at its business-partner companies and helping small and midsize enterprises procure funds. As a result of this restructuring, Nissan's domestic vehicle production plants will be consolidated into a total of three locations, one in Tochigi Prefecture and the other two in Fukuoka Prefecture. The management team needs to work to rebuild its business so that further restructuring will never occur. In recent years, Nissan's management has fallen into a negative cycle of declining brand power and development capabilities, and sluggish sales. Under its 'Revival Plan,' the large-scale restructuring measures launched by former President Carlos Ghosn in 1999, Nissan achieved a V-shaped recovery in business performance. The company then formed an alliance with France's Renault SA and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. that leapt to become the world's second-largest automotive alliance in the 2010s. However, as a result of pursuing an increase in sales with an unreasonable expansion policy, Nissan's product quality and development capabilities declined. Its brand power also deteriorated through its low-margin, high-volume business approach. It is now said that Nissan has no 'well-selling models' to attract consumers. The company's leadership should reflect sincerely on the chaotic management of the past. Its business will not stabilize unless Nissan proceeds with strengthening its product development capabilities, as well as making thorough efforts to 'stop the bleeding.' The most important issue going forward will be to find a new alliance partner. As the capital relationship with Renault has been drastically reviewed, ties between Nissan and Renault have weakened. The development of electric vehicles and next-generation vehicles, among other products, which will be Nissan's main battleground in the future, will require massive investment. It will be difficult for Nissan to survive on its own. Automobile tariffs imposed by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump will also be a burden. The hope is that Nissan will look for a wide range of partners, including Honda Motor Co., with which negotiations for a business merger have broken down. (From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18, 2025)
BBC News
11-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Bluebird's return sees museum chief land Cumbria Tourism award
A museum director has won a top tourism prize for her work securing the return of Donald Campbell's record-breaking craft Bluebird to the Lake Hodgson, of Coniston's Ruskin Museum, was named Personality of the Year at the annual Cumbria Tourism Awards with judges praising her "remarkable dedication".Campbell's hydroplane has been on show at the museum since March last year following the resolution of a long-running ownership row with Tyneside engineer Bill Smith, who led its was recovered from Coniston Water in 2001 - 34 years after Campbell lost his life in a crash as he tried to break his own world water speed record. On display in a dedicated wing of the museum after being transported from Mr Smith's North Shields workshop, the site's annual visitor numbers rose from 10,000 to more than 60,000 in are aiming to return the craft to the lake at some point in 2026 where it will be piloted by Australian Dave Warby, son of the late-water speed world-record holder Ken Campbell's Bluebird: The battle back to Coniston Campbell's daughter, Gina, said Ms Hodgson had fought with "passion and ferocity" for Bluebird's return."Tracy has worked so hard. She had so much dedication and tenacity. "Without her, it possibly wouldn't have happened." Businessman Phil Johnston, who nominated Ms Hodgson for the award, said she had "galvanised" the efforts to get the craft back to its "spiritual home" at the accolade, Ms Hodgson thanked the volunteers who formed Mr Smith's Bluebird Project restoration team "because without their dedication over the years we wouldn't have a boat to display".The craft's future had previously been had taken to the water in Scotland in August 2018 with Mr Smith later vowing to "fight to the death" over what he said was his stake in it due to the repairs he had carried in February last year it was announced he had relinquished his part of the legal settlement, Mr Smith paid £25,000 towards the museum's legal costs and it was also agreed he would have no "further right, title or interest" in the craft. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'I lived the A-list celebrity life at the F1 – here's the Silverstone secrets'
Mirror audience editor Harry Rutter enjoyed a lavish, star-studded VIP experience at the British Grand Prix as Lando Norris scooped his first Silverstone win for McLaren, watching Glastonbury-like performances from Sam Fender and Raye Lando Norris won his first British Grand Prix in front of thousands of soaked fans at Silverstone on Sunday – but the F1 isn't all about the racing this year. Behind-the-scenes there's a lot more going on, and that's exactly what Mirror man Harry Rutter found out during a days-long, celebrity-packed VIP experience at the famous racetrack nestled near its tiny Northamptonshire village. With performances from Seventeen Going Under hitmaker Sam Fender, rockers Blossoms, Little Mix sensation Jade Thirlwall and recent Glastonbury sensation Raye, there's clearly something for everyone over the Formula 1 weekend. Our jam-packed schedule started on the Thursday, with a warm welcome at the official backstage provider for this year's grand prix, Bluebird. With instant behind-the-scenes privileges came an exciting moment for our group as Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc casually cycled past as he prepared for Friday's round of free practice events. Leclerc, who was runner-up in the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2022, acknowledged us and was shortly followed by Red Bull's Liam Lawson, who now races for the Christian Horner-fronted team's second unit, the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls. Also dropping by Bluebird was F1 commentator and Sky Sports star David Croft, known to TV viewers as Crofty. Speaking to the Mirror he explained how nice it was to relax before being thrown into work over the weekend. He too was gearing up for a night of music before needing to jump on the microphone ahead of Sunday's big race. "It's lights out... and away we Land-ooo," he says in a personal video filmed for me, pre-emptively hinting at a big year for Norris, or maybe even predicting his win. Love Island's season five-star Michael Griffiths was also spotted enjoying Bluebird's amenities, getting an oiled hand massage from one of the staff before hitting the free bar. All-inclusive offerings included pricey bottles of Moey and Chandon champagne, giving the exclusive guests the full Formula 1 experience. Unlimited free Red Bull was also on the cards, with Heineken beers available as well across the extensive menu. Shuttle buses and black London taxis took us across the mammoth Silverstone site, taking us to Escapade for dinner. The lavish location boasts homes costing over £2million for the uberwealthy to enjoy the calendar of races from a private balcony. With a £150 special F1 menu on offer from their main guest 'club house', we were treated to the ultimate meal that the stars tuck into before watching the cars go by. We were transported to the paddock next where we experienced everything the rich and famous can, right behind the pit wall. But it wasn't just celebrities walking around, it was the drivers too – shockingly. We bumped right into Lewis Hamilton, sporting his Ferrari race suit following his transition from Mercedes. Moments later we saw Lando Norris doing some press interviews through the glass at McLaren's hospitality. Sky Sports were live on-air as we watched TV crews scramble to keep the programme running, along with dozens of international outlets reporting from the garages. Normal folk like me would never normally see this kind of behind-the-scenes action, without shelling out thousands on paddock passes of course. Blossoms kicked off Thursday night's entertainment with guitar-driven melodic hits, including Charlemagne, Your Girlfriend, and recent fan-favourite Gary. Sam Fender took to the stage and cranked things up a notch for the roaring crowd, performing a set of classic hits such as Seventeen Going Under, People Watching and Hypersonic Missiles to close out night one at Silverstone in style. It was the next day's tour of the paddock where we bumped into more famous faces, including Williams driver Carlos Sainz, followed by RB's Liam Lawson – again. Also wondering around was Maura Higgins, as well as Gordon Ramsay. Joined by his wife and daughter, the TV chef was hosting his own VIP restaurant for paddock passers. Friday night saw Raye take to the stage as the Mirror saw Hamilton once again appear – but this time he was side of stage, cheering on the singer amid swirling romance rumours. He watched her entire set, clapping from the sidelines and soaking up the atmosphere following the hitmaker's impressive set at Glastonbury Festival. She closed the show with an unforgettable performance, playing a catalogue of hits such as Prada and Escapism – finishing off two days of wild entertainment even before the racing had begun in a festival-like extravaganza for ticker holders. Commenting on the action away from the track Silverstone's chief commercial officer Nick Read told the Mirror: "This year, Silverstone is proud to showcase the best of British talent, bringing together iconic artists as we celebrate Formula 1's 75th anniversary as we continue to up our game. "Our all-British music lineup reflects our commitment to delivering world-class entertainment that resonates with fans both on and off the track. We are delighted to welcome JADE, Mabel, Blossoms Idris, Mike Skinner, Sub Focus, Eats Everything and DJ Luck & MC Neat to this year's lineup. "It's a testament to the rich heritage of British motorsport and music that Silverstone has developed since hosting its first Formula 1 British Grand Prix 75 years ago, and we're super excited to honour this milestone with an unforgettable festival experience."
Business Times
06-07-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Bluebird's answer to Grab and Gojek? Not discounts
[JAKARTA] Bluebird, one of Indonesia's oldest taxi companies, has been around for 53 years. Today, it faces competition from tech giants like Grab and Gojek as well as emerging players like Vietnam's Xanh SM, an electric vehicle startup that operates as Green SM in Indonesia. But rather than racing to match these newer competitors on price or scale, Bluebird is sticking to delivering consistent and reliable service. 'We're not targeting every segment and we're not [entirely] premium either,' says Andre Djokosoetono, CEO of Bluebird Group, in an interview with Tech in Asia during the Asia Economic Summit in Jakarta. 'We serve the non-price-sensitive market.' Judging by Bluebird's financials, the strategy works. The company has consistently been profitable since its November 2014 IPO, aside from Covid-era blips. In 2024, it earned 592.7 billion rupiah (S$46.6 million) in net profit out of 5 trillion rupiah in net revenue. Against price wars Bluebird sees its segment as more focused on customers who prioritise consistency and service over cost. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 8.30 am Asean Business Business insights centering on South-east Asia's fast-growing economies. Sign Up Sign Up As players like Xanh SM enter the market with fully electric fleets and aggressive promotions, Bluebird is deliberately steering clear of competing on price. Djokosoetono says the company has 'never been tempted to do price wars.' 'You can't lower your prices and deliver a consistent quality,' he points out. Amid competition from Gojek and Grab, Xanh SM has made aggressive moves. In December 2024, the Vietnamese company revealed its plan to operate 10,000 vehicles in Indonesia by the end of 2025. In comparison, Bluebird had a fleet of 24,500 taxis as of April this year. 'We are delivering the service with certain standards of quality that require a lot of infrastructure,' says Djokosoetono, adding that the company also has to train its drivers to meet those standards. To be clear, Grab and Gojek are much bigger companies in terms of size. Grab, for instance, earned US$643 million in Indonesia revenue in FY 2024 – more than twice Bluebird's, though that amount also includes other verticals like food delivery and financial services. But matching Grab and Gojek's scale may mean compromising quality, and in turn, hurt the Bluebird brand. Plus, despite the competition, Bluebird has chosen to partner its VC-backed rivals. Its fleet is available on both Gojek and Grab – the former even acquired a 4.33 per cent stake in Bluebird back in 2020. That doesn't mean Bluebird has not had to evolve to stay competitive with Grab and Gojek. In 2015, the company rolled out the MyBluebird app, which saw more than 40 per cent year-on-year growth in usage in the first quarter of 2025. Djokosoetono reveals that the app has already been downloaded more than 1.5 million times this year. Andre Djokosoetono, CEO of Bluebird Group PHOTO: Andre's LinkedIn That digital growth is mirrored in its financials. In 2024, Bluebird reported a 14 per cent increase in revenue and a 28 per cent growth in net profit, with a margin of around 12 per cent. It aims to exceed those figures this year and is on track to do so, with Q1 revenue up 16 per cent year on year, the CEO says. Bluebird's offline services – like street-hailing – also offer it some measure of differentiation with Grab and Gojek. Customers can still book a ride through the company's call centre, with Djokosoetono pointing out that even new users avail of this option. The company says it's 'agnostic' about how rides are booked or paid for. From EVs to AI Bluebird started experimenting with EVs as early as 2019, long before most of the industry paid attention. Today, it has about 500 electric vehicles on the road. That number could grow to 1,000 by year-end, depending on whether vehicle supply and pricing align with its service standards. Bluebird is also quietly working on an autonomous driving project, though it acknowledges that Indonesia is still far from ready for mass adoption. Notably, the company believes that road conditions, not regulation, are the bigger barrier to autonomous vehicles in the country. In the meantime, Bluebird is investing in AI to improve how its fleet operates. The company uses AI to predict demand and move vehicles to passenger hotspots in advance, sometimes 15 to 30 minutes ahead. It's also using algorithms to detect and address inconsistent driving behaviour. This is important because poor driver attitude is now easily amplified online and poses greater reputational risk in the long term. In addition, Bluebird has experienced a shift in customer transactions. More than half of payments are now made through cashless methods, whether through the app, QR code scanning, or partner platforms. But the company isn't dropping cash payments anytime soon, with Djokosoetono pointing out that 'some customers still want to pay in cash.' Bluebird is open to mergers and acquisitions. It acquired intercity shuttle bus operator Cititrans in 2019, which has expanded to 10 cities in Java. Djokosoetono says another deal is in the works, though he declined to share details. 'Organic and inorganic growth are always options for us,' says the CEO. 'If we can accelerate with inorganic options, we will do it as well.' TECH IN ASIA
