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Yokohama India backs Mountain Goat’s 10th Edition of Winter Spiti Marathon

Yokohama India has announced its successful partnership with India’s Biggest 4X4 Winter Carnival & 10th edition of the Winter Spiti Marathon by Mountain Goat Expedition for the fourth year in a row. Yokohama’s all-terrain SUV Geolandar tyres have been the tyres of choice of the event officials on this prestigious expedition. Around 80 4X4 vehicles and 4X4 official cars, including high-end cars like Range Rover, Defender, Fortuner, Endeavour and Mahindra Thar participated in this year’s expedition.

Harshwardhan Honmode, Director Marketing at Yokohama India, said, “Our association with the Mountain Goat Expedition has been going strong for the last four years. Partnerships with such rigorous expeditions are perfect to showcase the prowess of our tyres. Yokohama’s Geolandar tyres are known for their exceptional stability across different terrains and are well most suited for four-wheeler mountain expeditions. They have proven their mettle yet again.”

This year, Yokohama also ran a highly successful social media campaign with expedition participants and adventure influencers to promote its brand philosophy of ‘Celebrating Motoring Lifestyle’.

Mountain Goat Expedition is a travel and tour company that is recognised for offering exclusive and exciting experiences through its unique tracks, personalised service, and in-depth knowledge of the Himalayas. They are committed to educating people about culture, wildlife, and nature in addition to experiencing the mountains in the safest and most environmentally friendly way possible.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India launches 2023 H’ness CB350 & CB350RS –

Mumbai, March 11, 2023: Creating a stir in the mid-size segment, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India today launched the OBD2B compliant 2023 H’ness CB350 & CB350RS. The new motorcycles will be available at BigWing dealerships across India by the end of March. The 2023 H’ness CB350 is priced starting INR 209,857 and 2023 CB350RS is priced starting at INR 214,856 (ex-showroom Delhi). HMSI also launched a new customisation section for the CB350 customers – ‘My CB, My Way’. To be sold as Honda Genuine Accessories, the custom kits will be available across BigWing dealerships by the end of March 2023.

Launching the new 2023 CB350s, Mr. Atsushi Ogata, Managing Director, President & CEO, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said, “Ahead of the government’s deadline, HMSI has been aggressively working on upgrading the product line up with latest norms. Today, we launch the new OBD2B compliant 2023 H’ness CB350 and CB350RS which are future ready. Since inception, the CB350s have received tremendous response not only in India but globally. We are also very positive that the specially curated custom kits under the new customization section ‘My CB, My Way’ will further delight our new as well as existing CB350 customers.”

Commenting on this announcement, Mr. P. Rajagopi, Operating Officer, Premium Motorcycle Business, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India said, “With the introduction of new customization section, the customers can now choose their own style and highlight their unique personality through their motorcycles. My CB, My Way has been specially curated to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers starting with six distinctive custom kits for CB350. These kits will be available across BigWing dealerships by the end of March 2023. Today, we also launch the new OBD2B compliant 2023 CB350 H’ness and CB350RS motorcycles much ahead of the government deadline.”

The H’ness CB350 blends Honda’s originality with a timeless sense of design and substantial character. The style resonates with the new age motorcyclists’ sense of self-expression and uniqueness. On the other hand, CB350RS is the perfect example of amalgamation between contemporary style and superior stance.

ADVANCE

At the heart of CB350 is a big powerful 350cc, air cooled 4 stroke OHC single-cylinder OBD2B compliant engine equipped with PGM-FI technology. It delivers a max torque of 30 Nm@3000 rpm.

Main shaft coaxial balancer placed on the cylinder eliminates both primary & secondary vibrations, making it a perfect companion for longer rides, offering a highly attractive engine feel that transmits throbs from the long-stroke engine.

CB350 exhaust system carries a large tailpipe of 45mm to optimize balance for producing a bold low-pitched sound. A single one-chamber structure in the expansion chamber helps deliver a rich thumping exhaust note when you wind on the throttle.

The engine uses offset cylinder position that reduces the sliding friction and asymmetrical connecting rod ensures minimum energy loss while combustion. It uses closed crankcase with a wall between crankcase and transmission reducing energy loss due to internal friction.

The air-cooling system maintains highly dense air intake to improve efficiency and ensures favorable combustion in all rpm ranges by keeping the engine temperature within ideal range. The piston cooling jet improves engines thermal efficiency, leading to an improved fuel efficiency.

Honda Selectable Torque Control (HSTC) helps in maintaining rear wheel traction by detecting difference between front and rear wheel speeds, calculating the slip ratio and further controlling engine torque via the fuel injection. HSTC can be turned ON/OFF using a switch on the left side of meter. A ‘T’ indicator in the digital display flickers when the system is engaging.

Bundle inclusions:

• · Wheel Stripe
• · Knucle Guard
• · Engine Upper Pipe
• · Engine Lower Pipe
• · Meter Visor
• · Support Pipe A

Maximum Retail Price INR 7,100

Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS) allows riders to remain in touch with the world while enjoying the exciting riding experience. To deepen the connect with ride, both H’ness CB350 & ^NEWCB350RS (DLX Pro variants) now come equipped with the world’s first-ever Honda Smartphone Voice Control system (HSVCS) developed in-house. Rider can connect his smartphone with the motorcycle via Bluetooth through HSVCS application. Once connected, rider can operate the system with controls on the left side of the handlebar to use distinct features such as phone calls, navigation, music playback and incoming messages. To facilitate complete concentration on riding, the information accessed will be communicated from the helmet headset speaker*.

Assist and Slipper Clutch makes the gear shifts smoother while reducing clutch lever operation load ensuring less fatigue and more comfort during rides that involve frequent shifting.

The Advanced Digital-Analogue Meter integrates details like torque control, ABS, Side stand indicator with engine inhibitor, gear position indicator and battery voltage. The ride experience is further enriched with fuel efficiency details displayed in three modes – real time mileage, average mileage, and distance to empty.

The 2023 CB350s now come with ^NEW Emergency Stop Signal (ESS) that quickly communicates sudden breaking to the vehicles behind. When the ABS modulator detects sudden breaking, the turn signals flash at high speed to warn the vehicles behind of quick deceleration. Full LED Setup allows rider to banish the darkness and light up the darkest of paths also adding a vibe to the style quotient.

COMFORT & CONVENIENCE

Dual channel ABS prevents wheels from locking when brakes are applied in emergency or when operated on slippery roads ensuring a greater sense of confidence. Anchoring the motorcycle is a large 310mm disc brake on front and 240mm rear disc providing adequate braking performance in any situation.

The half – duplex cradle frame in steel pipe is used for a soft steering feel. Load allocated to the front is optimized by mounting the engine at low position to lower the center of gravity, which affects the overall riding feel and maneuverability of the motorcycle.

Large section front suspension not only enhances the massive imposing image but also provides immense comfort on rough roads. Pressurized nitrogen charged rear suspension provides highly responsive rear damping performance.

Engine Start/Stop Switch gives the convenience of turning-off the engine on brief stops with flick of a switch. Ensuring safety of riders in low visibility conditions is the Hazard Switch feature.

The ‘tuck and roll’ design (CB350RS) of the seat gives superior cushioning providing relaxed ride for daily commuting as well as during leisure rides.

The 2023 H’ness CB350 now comes with ^NEW Split Seat as standard. It offers superior cushioning which provides for an immensely comfortable ride. It also comes with a dedicated rear grip which is slanted towards the back for a comfortable pillion ride.

Go on a smarter ride with the Eco Indicator that uses sensors to measure the riding speed and injected fuel volume to determine the economical riding. A 15-litre fuel tank and top-class mileage ensure an unstoppable longer ride.

VARIANTS, COLORS & PRICE

T-Hub Hosts Successful Scale-Up Summit, Announces Cohort 10 of Lab32 Program

11th March, India – T-Hub, India’s leading innovation ecosystem today hosted a successful Scale-Up Summit on 10th March, bringing together startup founders, investors, corporates, government and ecosystem enablers for a day of insightful discussions and networking opportunities. The event featured a keynote address by T-Hub’s leadership, highlighting the innovation ecosystem in the state and the country and the support provided by T-Hub to startups in their early growth stages.

T-Hub also announced the launch of Cohort 10 of its Lab32 program, which has already witnessed the successful acceleration of 249 startups, raising USD 403 million funding, and engaging 58 mentors. This cohort, which received over 800 applications from startups, will have 20 startups selected based on founder attributes, D2C/B2C business model, and market validation through initial traction.

The summit was attended by eminent dignitaries, including Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of I&C and IT, Telangana government, Taran Chhabra and Amar Preet Singh, Founders of Neeman’s, Chaitanya Chitta, founder of Slay Coffee and CEO of T-Hub, among others. Two prominent unicorn representatives, Kavikrut, Chief Growth Officer of OYO, and Rohit Chennamaneni, Founder of Darwin Box, shared their success stories and insights into scaling up businesses. Attendees had the opportunity to participate in networking, workshops and masterclasses on fundraising, scaling, and marketing.

Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of I&C and IT, Government of Telangana, “The Telangana government is committed to nurturing and supporting the startup ecosystem in the state, and T-Hub has been a crucial partner in achieving this goal. The Scale-Up Summit was an excellent platform for startups to connect with investors and other ecosystem enablers, and we are delighted with the success of the event. We are excited about the future of the startup ecosystem in Telangana, and we will continue to work closely with all stakeholders to build an ecosystem that enables startups to thrive.”

Mahankali Srinivas Rao (MSR), CEO of T-Hub, said, “We are thrilled with the success of the Scale-Up Summit, which brought together some of the brightest minds in the startup ecosystem. This event was an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem enablers to network and share insights on how to scale up businesses successfully. We are also excited to launch the tenth cohort of Lab32, which has been instrumental in supporting startups in refining their business models and achieving market readiness. We look forward to supporting more startups in their growth journey and contributing to the vibrant startup ecosystem in India.”

The Lab32 program provides startups with customized business support, failure rate reduction, and access to T-Hub’s vast network of mentors, corporates and investors. The program also includes masterclasses from successful D2C unicorn founders during a 100-day market readiness program focused on GTM strategy development. The top 20 percent of startups from the cohort will receive exclusive access to markets, mentors, media, methodologies, and possible entry into T-Hub’s angel investment program upon graduation.

In addition to the successful Scale-Up Summit and the launch of Cohort 10 of Lab32, T-Hub and Redberri have come together to establish an innovation center, which will serve as T-Hub’s global outpost in North America. This partnership will provide Indian startups with a significant advantage in the US market and enable them to connect with larger international players to augment their growth journey. Furthermore, these startups will have access to strategic workshops and interventions to gain entry into both markets and explore new business opportunities. The partnership will also facilitate cross-border innovation and technology transfer, accelerate the development of the ecosystem, and promote investments in academic institutions through strategic collaborations. Additionally, during the summit, T-Hub and Redberri unveiled their joint website.

T-Hub’s strong ecosystem of partners has successfully impacted over 1800 startups through various programs and initiatives, connecting them with over 600 global and national corporate partners and providing 2000 mentor connects to help them scale.

Kamino joins Marinade Open Doors Program to boost Solana DeFi

TORTOLA,  MARCH 11, 2023, Marinade Finance, Solana’s top decentralized finance (DeFi) project by total value locked (TVL), has teamed up with Kamino Finance to increase the use of liquid staking tokens on Solana.

As part of Marinade’s Open Doors Project, Kamino Finance has launched two new vaults featuring mSOL: Marinade’s liquid staking token, in less than a week. Kamino now joins a host of Solana’s leading DeFi projects that have also joined the Open Doors Program, including Orca, Raydium, Francium, Tulip, Port, Rain.fi and more.1

Around 16% of Marinade’s total supply of MNDE, the protocol’s governance token, has been allocated to the Open Doors Program. The project awards MNDE to DeFi protocols that promote use cases for mSOL. Launched in 2021, around 6.4 million SOL are staked with Marinade for mSOL at the time of writing, and Marinade has delegated its stake to over 450 validators.

While around 70% of SOL supply is currently staked, less than 3% is liquid. Increasing this threshold will boost the TVL in DeFi protocols on Solana, providing deeper liquidity for all users to access. Marinade says that, were 40 million locked SOL converted into mSOL, this could make close to $1 billion in liquid TVL available to Solana DeFi.

Commenting on the launch of Kamino’s mSOL vaults, Brandon Tucker, growth lead at Marinade Finance, says: “We are excited to welcome Kamino to the Open Doors Program with the launch of these new mSOL vaults. This project has the power to inject new life into Solana DeFi by mobilizing the incredible 67% of SOL that is currently sitting staked and illiquid. The more of this we can move into liquid staking, the faster we can get Solana DeFi back to where it deserves to be.”

Mark Hull, a Kamino core contributor, adds: “The Open Doors Project is an innovative way to incentivize projects and users to participate in liquid staking with mSOL. Staking is necessary to secure transactions on Solana, but this also takes a massive portion of SOL out of the DeFi arena. Marinade is really doing a huge service for the DeFi community on Solana by decentralizing the network with mSOL and pushing development with Open Doors.”

At the time of writing, mSOL vaults on Kamino represent around $500k of the protocol’s TVL. Kamino’s vaults automatically manage concentrated liquidity positions on Solana’s top DEXs by TVL, Orca and Raydium, reducing the barrier to entry for users to provide liquidity on these DEXs for tokens like mSOL.

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1 Confirmed participants of the Marinade Open Doors Program: Raydium, Orca, Francium, Tulip, Port, Hubble and Kamino, PoolParty, Jet, SunriseStake, Lifinity, Meteora, Mrgn.fi, Hawksight, Cypher

Samsung India to Unveil Two New Galaxy A Series Smartphones on March 16

Gurugram, India – March 11, 2023: Samsung is set to launch two awesome Galaxy A series smartphones in India on March 16, 2023, at 12 noon. Designed with industry-leading features, the upcoming Galaxy A series smartphones will be made in India.

The new Galaxy A series smartphones will feature a seamless design with minimal bezel and a new premium glass finish with a clean camera layout, and energizing colors. In addition, the all-new Galaxy A smartphones will offer blur-free and low-light photos with Nightography along with No Shake Cam to amp your awesome. With its fantastic camera, smooth scrolling display, water resistance and long-lasting battery, the upcoming Galaxy A series will offer consumers the ability to communicate and express themselves.

The new Galaxy A series devices will come with showstopper features to cater to the evolving needs of millennials and Gen Z consumers for uninterrupted, on-the-go entertainment.

IndianOil, Kotak Launch Co-Branded Fuel Credit Card

Bengaluru,11th March 2023: Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited (“KMBL”/Kotak) and IndianOil today launched a highly rewarding, co-branded fuel credit card. The IndianOil Kotak Credit Card is available on the RuPay network.

IndianOil is the largest oil marketing company, with a network of over 34,000 fuel stations in the country. IndianOil Kotak Credit Card customers can earn reward points on refueling at any of the IndianOil fuel stations in the country. These reward points can be redeemed to get free fuel at Indian Oil fuel stations.

At an event organized in the city, the card was launched by Mr. Ambuj Chandna, President – of Consumer Assets, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd; Mr. Frederick Dsouza, Business Head – Of Credit Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd; Mr. Vigyan Kumar, Executive Director (Retail Sales- North & East), IndianOil and Ms. Praveena Rai, Chief Operating Officer, National Payments Corporation of India.

Key features of IndianOil Kotak Credit Card:

• Earn 4% back as reward points on refueling at IndianOil fuel stations – up to Rs 300 per month
• Earn 2% back as rewards points on dining, grocery and other payments – up to Rs 200 per month
• Earn 1% fuel surcharge waiver – up to Rs 100 per month
• Interest–free credit period up to 48 days
• Smart-EMI
• Zero lost card liability
• Contactless card – Tap and pay

To apply for the card, please click here.

“We are very excited to have a fuel proposition in our product offering. The product has been designed to encourage customers to put all their purchases on this card. The strong brand and distribution network of IndianOil is a great strength of this partnership. The Rupay platform will help us extend innovative payment solutions to customers and drive wider adoption of digital payments,” says Mr Frederick Dsouza, Business Head – Credit Cards, Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd.

Speaking about the collaboration, Mr. Vigyan Kumar, Executive Director (Retail Sales- North & East), IndianOil, said, “IndianOil is committed to a Digital India, as envisioned by our Hon’ble Prime Minister and with this partnership, IndianOil is taking yet another concrete step towards ensuring digital interactions at all our fuel stations. Bettering our customer value propositions and experiences has always been a priority for us at IndianOil, and I am confident that this collaboration with Kotak Mahindra is a perfect addition to our bouquet of seamless and enhanced offerings to our customers. I am also happy to share that the IndianOil Kotak Credit Card will be exclusively launched on the RuPay platform, strengthening the AatmaNirbhar Bharat vision of the Government of India.”

“NPCI is always committed to delivering customer-first experiences. For us, innovation and technology are the key instruments to drive towards a better and greater consumer experience and we are constantly working towards bringing in simplified and best-in-class offerings for our customers. The IndianOil Kotak RuPay Credit Card will give the cardholders a host of privileges on fuel, grocery, and dining spending, creating a seamless payment experience with RuPay Contactless technology,” says Mr. Rajeeth Pillai, Chief – Relationship Management and Marketing, National Payments Corporation of India.

Everlite by Senco Gold & Diamonds rolls out #HearMeOut campaign

Everlite, the light-weight gold and diamond brand from Senco Gold & Diamonds, a pan-India jewelry retail player has rolled out a Women’s Day campaign called #HearMeOut. The premise of the campaign is while the struggles and successes of a regular woman often go unheard amid the rush of our daily lives, and while they wish they could say #HearMeOut to the world around them, Everlite says that the brand is listening and promises to lend an ear to each woman.

The film shot by Digitale aims to make women feel heard, recognized and appreciated and showcases that it is important to also listen to stories of women who exist around us every day apart from celebrating those journeys that carry a milestone or historic events. The film which was shot entirely on iPhone and shot within a span of 10 hours is written by non-binary female lesbian screenwriter Priyadarshini Chitrangada and features transgender activist Anurag Maitreyee playing the role of a transfeminine doctor.

Ms. Joita Sen, Director, of Senco Gold & Diamonds, said, “Through this campaign, we wanted to highlight a simple truth – while women create their own stories with their lived experiences, they often feel unheard about their daily struggles. We never have the time to stop by and hear each other out about our stories. Unless we listen to each other, we will never be able to understand, empathize and create a world that is based on the principles of equity and collective strength. We wish everyone a Happy Women’s Day and promise that your stories will not be left unheard”

Campaign video link – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8RKBgPwTOg

Everlite is crafted for the modern Indian women and the inspiration for the lightweight collection comes from the various aspects of life that working women espouse. The Everlite products are offered with various collections named Denim, Venus, Nature, Tribe, Magnificence and Floral with the objective to promote daily usage of jewellery inspired from nature or geometrical shapes. The light-weight gold and diamond collection starts from approximately ₹ 5,000 and goes up to ₹ 60,000.

Arnab Samanta, Creative Director, Digitale (a division of Lookad India) “We are delighted to collaborate with Everlite by Senco Gold & Diamonds for International Women’s Day. We wanted to bring forward the unheard stories that exist all around us. In today’s day and age, we no longer believe in any identity being misrepresented and therefore, the portrayal of the transgender doctor’s character being carried out by eminent transgender rights activist Anurag Maitreyee holds an increased significance for us.”

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India celebrates International Women’s Day

New Delhi, 11 March 2023: Aimed at educating and raising awareness on road safety among women so they can enjoy the freedom of mobility on roads, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) conducted exclusive female-oriented Road Safety Awareness campaign across India which marked the occasion of International Women’s Day.

The 2-day long campaign with the theme of #HelmetOnLifeOn empowered more than 1300 women with safe road practices and riding/driving skills to ensure their safety and well-being while on road. The celebrations outspread to more than 16 cities across HMSI 10 Traffic Training Parks and 6 Safety Driving Education Centers in India.

Speaking on HMSI’s Women’s Day Road Safety Initiative, Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Officer – Brand & Communication, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India said, “HMSI dedicated this International Women’s Day towards building confident and safe female riders on road. With our special #HelmetOnLifeOn campaign, we wanted to celebrate the spirit of womanhood by creating road safety awareness and further empowering them to enjoy the freedom of mobility on roads confidently and independently. We are honored to celebrate this special day with women from different stratum of society and thank them for celebrating this occasion with us.”

Key activities of HMSI’s International Women’s Day celebrations

1. Road Safety Awareness Theory Session – To encourage effective road safety engagement, HMSI’s trained road safety instructors used Road Safety Learning Programs that focused on essential aspects of road safety (road safety rules, road sharing manners, correct driving/riding posture, importance of riding gears and vehicle maintenance tips).

2. Kiken Yochi (danger prediction) Training (KYT) – The participants were sensitized on different aspects of hidden threats while using the road as pedestrian or motor vehicle user to enhance their sensitivity to danger and ensure safe driving behavior on roads.

3. Static Check – Under this activity, women learnt general methods of vehicle check that are necessary for embarking their journey.

4. Slow Riding Skill Contest – All women then implemented the knowledge gained through a special slow riding skill contest. The top 3 performers were rewarded with Honda branded helmets.

5. Fun Activities- To make it a memorable experience for participants, a Fun Zone was also setup. Women enjoyed various games and won Honda merchandize and helmets.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s CSR commitment towards Road Safety:

For Honda globally, road safety comes first. As announced in April 2021, “Honda will strive for zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050”. Fulfilling its corporate social responsibility (CSR), HMSI has been promoting road safety in India since its start in 2001. Working towards the realization of Honda’s global safety vision, today HMSI’s road safety awareness initiative has already spread to more than 50 lac Indians. Its team of skilled safety instructors conduct daily programs at its 10 adopted traffic parks across India and 6 Safety Driving Education Centers (SDEC).

Not only this, all HMSI’s 1000+ dealerships across India spread road safety awareness. HMSI’s proprietary virtual riding simulator increases the risk-prediction ability of riders; while new customers too are given predelivery safety advise (PDSA) before they start riding at every dealership across India.

Additionally, ensuring that learning doesn’t stop in the new normal, HMSI started the digital road safety education initiative – Honda Road Safety E-Gurukul. Since its start in May’20, this initiative has sensitized more than 8 Lac Indians on importance of being aware & responsible road users.

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