MAM
Volkswagen unleashes the powerful Polo GT TSI on Indian roads
MUMBAI: Volkswagen which believes in ‘Maximum power, minimum consumption‘ has launched its new TVC.
The TV commercial has been created by DDB Mudra
Volkswagen Group India has launched Polo GT TSI ‘lives up to every bit of it‘ on 29 April. The car has 7-speed DSG (Direct Shift Gearbox) transmission, a first for small cars in India. With a 1.2 liter engine, the GT‘s power output boasts a surprising 77 kW @ 5000rpm and a maximum torque of 175 Nm @ 1500-4100 rpm.
Talking on the launch, Volkswagen Passenger Cars MD Arvind Saxena said, “The new Polo GT TSI is the perfect answer to a lot of customer demands as it combines maximum power with minimum consumption. The whole campaign works on this idea and translates it in a creative and innovative way.”
The TVC opens with a young boy mesmerised by his ‘Super Dad‘ who can do anything. He observes his father performing tasks everyday around the house. The TV commercial ends when the father‘s car is showcased, which is the ‘powerful‘ new Polo GT TSI and then it reveals why the son thinks his father is a superhero.
Commenting on the film, Chairman & DDB Mudra Group CCO Sonal Dabral said, “It‘s always rewarding to create work for Volkswagen. An iconic brand with its own distinct voice of telling insightful human stories with wit and intelligence. This latest piece of work for the powerful Polo GT is one such story. We‘re very proud of this new TVC and I‘m sure not just Super dads, but everyone will fall in love with it.‘
DDB Mudra Group executive creative director Louella Rebello added, “This one‘s been a joy to make. It‘s an endearing and fun way to say power and how that is interpreted through the eyes of a child.”
Brands
UpGrad to acquire Unacademy in share-swap deal, founders confirm
Proposed share-swap could unite two edtech rivals as sector eyes consolidation
MUMBAI: The Indian edtech sector may be inching toward another wave of consolidation, with online learning platform upGrad signing a term sheet to acquire rival Unacademy in an all stock transaction.
If completed, the deal would bring together two of the country’s most prominent education technology companies at a time when the sector is adjusting to slower demand and a sharper focus on profitability after the pandemic driven boom.
UpGrad founder and chairperson Ronnie Screwvala confirmed the development in a post on X, stating that Unacademy co-founder and chief executive Gaurav Munjal would continue to lead the company following the acquisition.
“We at upGrad have signed a term sheet to acquire Unacademy in an all stock deal, with founder and ceo Gaurav Munjal staying on to build Unacademy and focus on what it does best, creating online education products that learners love,” Screwvala wrote.
He added that the agreement includes a break fee provision if the transaction fails to close. Screwvala also said the combined entity could strengthen upGrad’s integrated learning model spanning K12 education, professional training and lifelong learning.
Unacademy confirmed that the proposed transaction will be executed through a 100 per cent share swap, with the valuation to be disclosed only after the deal closes and regulatory filings are completed.
Announcing the development on X, Munjal described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter for both companies and the wider edtech ecosystem.
He noted that Unacademy had spent the past year reshaping its operations to focus more sharply on online education products. Among the steps taken were consolidating company operated offline centres with franchise partners and launching a Rs 50 crore employee stock ownership plan buyback, in which around 40 per cent of former employees have already participated.
Munjal also highlighted the traction gained by Airlearn, the company’s language learning product, which he said is expanding in markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada.
“Our cash reserves as of today are more than $100 million,” he said.
The proposed deal also marks a turnaround from earlier talks between the two companies that had stalled over disagreements on valuation and structure. Previous discussions had placed Unacademy’s valuation in the range of $300 million to $400 million, according to media reports.
If the transaction goes through, Munjal will continue as co-founder and chief executive of Unacademy, focusing on building online learning products for students in India and global markets.
For upGrad, the acquisition would broaden its footprint across the education spectrum, from school level learning to professional upskilling and lifelong education.
The move comes as India’s edtech sector enters a more sober phase after years of rapid expansion. Companies across the industry have been trimming costs, restructuring operations and seeking scale to build more sustainable businesses.
Against that backdrop, the potential combination of upGrad and Unacademy could signal that the next phase of edtech growth may be driven less by blitzscaling and more by strategic partnerships and consolidation.
