Brands
Hyundai revs up Aura lineup with wallet-friendly S AMT variant
MUMBAI: Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) is shifting gears on accessibility, adding a fresh variant to its popular sedan range — the Hyundai Aura S AMT. With this move, the brand brings its advanced automated manual transmission (AMT) to a broader swathe of young Indian buyers hungry for style, convenience, and comfort, without breaking the bank.
Commenting on the introduction of the new variant, Hyundai Motor India Ltd whole-time director and chief operating officer, Tarun Garg said, “At HMIL, we are committed to making smart mobility accessible to a wider set of customers. The introduction of advanced AMT transmission in Hyundai Aura S AMT reflects our continuous efforts to democratize technology and enhance convenience for customers. With this introduction, we aim to redefine the value proposition in the entry segment by offering superior comfort, safety, performance and convenience at an affordable price.”
Powered by the punchy 1.2-litre Kappa petrol engine, the new S AMT variant is tailor-made for urban drivers seeking a smoother commute without the price tag of a full-blown automatic.
The S AMT packs a solid safety and feature punch, including:
● Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
● Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
● Six airbags
● LED daytime running lamps (DRLs)
● Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (Highline)
● Electrically folding ORVMs with integrated turn indicators
With its slick combo of practicality and premium touches, Hyundai’s latest launch is a clear play to seduce value-driven sedan buyers looking to swap gear-grinding for easy cruising.
The Aura S AMT joins a line-up that continues to grow on Indian roads, now with a little more automation and a lot more allure.
Brands
Hardik Jhaveri named senior director marketing at Colgate-Palmolive Asean hub
Former Hill’s Pet Nutrition general manager returns to the company to steer marketing for South Asean from Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR: Hardik Jhaveri has been appointed senior director marketing for the South Asean hub at Colgate-Palmolive, marking a return to the consumer goods major after a three year stint with Hill’s Pet Nutrition. He will be based in Kuala Lumpur and will lead marketing strategy for the region.
Jhaveri joins the role after serving as general manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition in Taipei, where he led a cross functional team and oversaw the business with full profit and loss responsibility. The role placed him at the helm of operations in Taiwan, managing growth in what he described as a start-up style environment within a global multinational.
Before that, Jhaveri spent over a decade with Colgate-Palmolive across several marketing and innovation roles in Asia. As associate director innovation for Apac excluding China, based in Hong Kong, he led new product development and launches across multiple markets.
His portfolio ranged from developing specialised oral care products such as a diabetes focused toothpaste for the Indian market to launching premium oral care experiences under the Colgate Total brand in Australia. Alongside innovation, he also worked on launch planning, brand strategy and communications for the company’s oral care portfolio.
Earlier in his Colgate-Palmolive journey, Jhaveri held roles including marketing manager innovation, senior brand manager and brand manager. His work spanned urban and rural markets in Mumbai and customer development responsibilities in the Greater Kolkata Area.
Prior to his long association with Colgate-Palmolive, Jhaveri worked as brand officer home care at Unilever, where he helped drive marketing initiatives for the Rin detergent brand, including nationwide relaunch and on ground activation campaigns.
He began his career in advertising with Bates David Enterprise, working on brands such as IDBI Bank, The Leela Hotels and The Times of India.
Jhaveri holds a post graduate programme in management from the Indian School of Business and has also completed a level 4 diploma in wine from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Announcing the move, Jhaveri said he is excited to begin his new chapter at Colgate-Palmolive’s South Asean hub and thanked colleagues and mentors who supported his journey at Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
