MAM
FlixBus India & Eto Motors go green for intercity travel
MUMBAI: It’s made an electrifying start in India. In its first year of operations FlixBus India, in partnership with Eto Motors, has introduced an EV bus for travel between Hyderabad and Vijayawada. The collab between the two marks a bold stride towards sustainable long-distance mobility, reinforcing India’s vision for a cleaner, greener transport future.
The inaugural electric bus was flagged off at ITC Kakatiya, Hyderabad, by Telangana minister of transport and BC welfare Ponnam Prabhakar. Also present at the event were German Embassy in New Delhi counsellor for digital and transport Alexander Reck; Thunder Plus CEO & Eto Group chief marketing officer Rajeev YSR; & FlixBus India managing director Surya Khurana.
Ponnam Prabhakar lauded the initiative, stating, “FlixBus and Eto Motors will address the long-distance sustainable mobility needs of Telangana and the southern region through a technology-driven approach. We hope this collaboration accelerates the adoption of electric buses nationwide.”
The pilot project is set to launch on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada route with four electric buses. A two-week trial period will take place before the official rollout in late February, followed by a 12-week assessment of key factors such as battery efficiency and passenger demand. Supported by Thunder Plus, the charging infrastructure will feature depot-based and opportunity charging stations equipped with 240 KW fast chargers to maintain seamless operations.
Eto Motors group CMO Rajeev YSR highlighted the significance of the initiative, stating, “Our partnership with FlixBus India revolutionises intercity travel with sustainable mobility solutions. This completes our green mobility offering—covering first-mile, last-mile, and now middle-mile travel. We have also established dedicated charging hubs along the route with amenities for passenger convenience.”
FlixBus India MD Surya Khurana emphasised the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating, “FlixBus India has rapidly expanded in its debut year, connecting over 200 cities with efficient and affordable bus services. With the introduction of electric buses, we are furthering our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and exploring alternative fuels in line with India’s sustainability goals.”
The advanced EV fleet will feature safety enhancements such as dashcams, GPS, and ADAS to ensure a seamless travel experience.
Digital
India leads global adoption of ChatGPT Images 2.0 in first week
From anime avatars to fantasy covers, users turn AI visuals into culture
NEW DELHI: India has emerged as the largest user base for ChatGPT Images 2.0, just a week after its launch by OpenAI, underlining the country’s growing influence on global internet trends.
While the tool was introduced as an advanced image-generation upgrade within ChatGPT, Indian users are quickly reshaping its purpose. Instead of sticking to productivity-led use cases, many are embracing it as a creative playground for self-expression, storytelling and online identity.
From anime-style portraits and cinematic headshots to tarot-inspired visuals and fictional newspaper front pages, the model is being used to create highly stylised, shareable content. Features such as accurate text rendering, multilingual prompts and the ability to generate detailed visuals with minimal input have helped drive rapid adoption.
What sets the latest model apart is its ability to “think” through prompts, generating multiple outputs and adapting to context, including real-time web inputs. But the bigger story lies in how users are engaging with it.
In India, trends are already taking shape. Popular formats include dramatic studio-style lighting edits, LinkedIn-ready headshots, manga-inspired avatars, soft pastel “spring” aesthetics, AI-led fashion moodboards, paparazzi-style visuals and fantasy newspaper covers. Users are also restoring old photographs, creating tarot-style imagery and experimenting with futuristic design concepts.
Local flavour is adding another layer. Prompts such as cinematic portrait collages and Y2K-inspired romantic edits are gaining traction, blending global aesthetics with distinctly Indian internet culture.
The surge reflects a broader shift in how AI tools are being used in the country, moving beyond utility to creativity. As younger users, creators and social media enthusiasts experiment with new visual formats, AI-generated imagery is increasingly becoming part of everyday digital expression.
If early trends hold, ChatGPT Images 2.0 may not just be a tech upgrade but a cultural moment, giving millions a new visual language to play with online.
