Brands
Hyundai shifts gears with Prime Taxis a new ride For India’s fleet
MUMBAI: When the fare meter starts ticking, uptime matters more than flair. Hyundai Motor India Limited is steering into that reality with a decisive move, officially entering the commercial mobility lane with the launch of its dedicated taxi range Prime HB and Prime SD aimed squarely at fleet operators and taxi entrepreneurs across India.
The new Prime line marks Hyundai’s first structured foray into commercial mobility, blending its passenger-car credentials of reliability and comfort with the hard economics of the taxi business. Both models are powered by the proven 1.2-litre Kappa four-cylinder engine, offered in petrol and CNG variants, a combination designed to keep running costs low while maximising earnings per kilometre.
Pricing is pitched competitively to lure first-time buyers and expanding fleets alike. The Prime HB hatchback starts at Rs 5,99,900, while the Prime SD sedan is priced from Rs 6,89,900. Bookings are now open nationwide with a token amount of Rs 5,000 at Hyundai dealerships.
Hyundai says the Prime range has been engineered with predictable maintenance and high utilisation in mind. Extended warranty options cover the fourth and fifth year or up to 1,80,000 km, translating to a claimed running cost of around 47 paise per kilometre. Flexible finance options of up to 72 months further sweeten the proposition for operators watching cash flow as closely as fuel bills.
Fuel efficiency remains a strong talking point. In CNG mode, Prime SD delivers a claimed 28.40 km per kg, while Prime HB offers 27.32 km per kg figures likely to appeal in a segment where margins are thin and volumes matter.
On the inside, Hyundai has resisted stripping the cars bare. Six airbags, rear AC vents, power windows, steering-mounted controls, rear parking sensors and a speed limiter capped at 80 kmph come as standard, underscoring the brand’s attempt to balance safety, comfort and compliance. Optional extras include a 9-inch touchscreen with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, along with vehicle tracking devices equipped with panic buttons.
Speaking on the launch, Hyundai Motor India Limited said the Prime range reflects its intent to extend hassle-free ownership into the commercial space. Hyundai Motor India Limited Managing director and CEO-designate Tarun Garg noted that fleet operators prioritise uptime, low operating costs and predictable maintenance parameters the Prime HB and Prime SD have been built around.
Available in Atlas White, Typhoon Silver and Abyss Black, the Prime taxis will be supported by Hyundai’s nationwide sales and service network, including trained fleet care advisors at dealerships.
With this move, Hyundai isn’t just adding another model line. It is signalling that the battle for India’s commercial mobility market, long dominated by utilitarian choices, is shifting gears towards comfort, safety and long-term value.
Brands
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step down after 18 years in role
Board begins CEO search as Narayen prepares to move to chair role
SAN JOSE: After nearly two decades at the helm, Adobe’s long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen is preparing to pass the baton.
The company announced that Narayen will transition from his role as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending an 18-year run that reshaped Adobe from a boxed software seller into a global cloud and AI powerhouse. He will remain chair of the board following the leadership transition.
Adobe’s board has formed a special committee to oversee the succession process, led by lead independent director Frank Calderoni. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates.
“Shantanu’s leadership has been instrumental in Adobe’s transformation and in positioning the company for the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement. “As we begin the next phase of succession planning, our focus is on identifying the right leader for the company’s next chapter while ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a note to employees, Narayen described the moment not as a farewell but as a pause for reflection after a long journey with the company.
“I love Adobe and the privilege of leading it has been the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to work closely with the board over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership change.
Tributes from the technology industry quickly followed the announcement. Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on what he described as a “legendary run” at Adobe.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote on LinkedIn.
“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry.”
Narayen’s career at Adobe spans nearly three decades. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming chief executive officer in December 2007.
During that time, he orchestrated one of the most significant reinventions in the software industry. In 2013, Adobe made the bold decision to abandon traditional boxed software sales and move its flagship creative tools such as Photoshop to a subscription-based Creative Cloud model. The shift initially rattled investors but ultimately transformed Adobe into a predictable recurring revenue business and a case study in digital reinvention.
Narayen also pushed Adobe beyond creative tools into the world of marketing technology and data-driven customer experience, spearheading acquisitions such as Omniture and Marketo. Those moves helped build Adobe’s digital experience division and broaden its reach far beyond designers and photographers.
The numbers tell the story of that transformation. When Narayen took over in 2007, Adobe generated roughly $3 billion in annual revenue. Today the company reports more than $25 billion. Over the same period, its workforce expanded from around 3,000 employees to more than 30,000.
In recent years, Narayen has steered Adobe into the generative AI era with the launch of Adobe Firefly, aiming to keep the company ahead in a rapidly evolving creative technology landscape.
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, Narayen studied electronics and communication engineering at Osmania University before moving to the United States for a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Widely regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s most steady and effective leaders, Narayen has earned multiple honours during his career, including India’s Padma Shri in 2019.
For Adobe, the upcoming leadership change marks the end of a defining chapter. For Narayen, however, the story is far from finished. As he told employees, the company’s next era of creativity, powered by AI and new digital workflows, is only just beginning.
