MAM
Draftfcb Ulka names Naresh Kumar as vice president, planning – Delhi
MUMBAI: Naresh Kumar has joined Draftfcb Ulka as vice president, planning for its Delhi operations. In a career spanning 16 years, Kumar has been associated with agencies like Momentum Strategy (Bengaluru), Avalon Consulting (Delhi) and Law & Kenneth (Delhi) as well as in the capacity of an independent consultant.
Kumar has experience across fields of consulting, market research and planning, and has worked with brands like Bharat Petroleum (Pure for Sure), MTR Foods re-positioning, Lakme, Tata Steel, Big Bazaar, GMR Infrastructure, ITC and Onida.
Draftfcb Ulka Delhi COO Sanjay Tandon said, “As a key player in the Delhi team, Naresh will help us sustain and strengthen our strategic credentials that are the building blocks of creating brandwealth for our clients.”
Kumar said “Draftfcb Ulka has an amazing reputation as a strategic brand-building partner to clients. The quality and testimony of their client relationships, and their senior management personnel is ample proof of that. Joining Draftfcb Ulka is like coming home, and I look forward to a long and fulfilling innings here.”
Brands
Hyundai and TVS Motor partner to develop electric three wheelers
Joint development pact targets last mile mobility with localisation push
MUMBAI: Three wheels, one big ambition and a charge towards the future. Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company have signed a joint development agreement to co-create electric three-wheelers (E3Ws), aiming to crack India’s complex last-mile mobility puzzle. The collaboration moves beyond concept talk into execution mode, building on the E3W prototype first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The goal now is clear, design, develop and commercialise a purpose-built vehicle tailored to Indian roads, riders and realities.
Under the agreement, Hyundai will lead design and co-development, bringing its global R&D muscle and human-centric engineering approach to the table. TVS Motor, meanwhile, will anchor the product on its electric platform, leveraging deep three-wheeler expertise and local market insight. It will also handle manufacturing and sales in India, with an eye on exports down the line.
The timing is strategic. India remains the world’s largest three-wheeler market, where affordability, durability and adaptability often outweigh sheer innovation. The upcoming E3W aims to strike that balance combining advanced technology with practical features such as adaptive ground clearance for monsoon-hit roads, improved thermal management for tropical climates, and flexible interiors suited for passengers, cargo or emergency use.
A key pillar of the partnership is localisation. Major components will be sourced and manufactured within India, a move expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, lower costs and improve after-sales support.
The shift from prototype to production will involve rigorous testing, certification and refinement to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Dedicated cross-functional teams from both companies are already in place to accelerate timelines.
At a broader level, the tie-up reflects a growing trend in mobility, global players partnering with local specialists to navigate emerging markets. For Hyundai and TVS, the bet is that combining scale with street-level insight could unlock a new chapter in sustainable urban transport, one that runs not just on electricity, but on relevance.
