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
UK’s OnlyFans seeks US investor at $3bn valuation after owner’s death
The adult video platform is seeking stability after the death of its billionaire owner
LONDON: OnlyFans is looking for a new partner. The London-based adult video platform is in advanced talks to sell a minority stake of less than 20 per cent to Architect Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, in a deal that would value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).
The move is driven by an urgent need for stability. Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned OnlyFans, died of cancer last month at the age of 43, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most profitable privately held businesses suddenly uncertain.
The choice of Architect Capital is not arbitrary. The firm has deep expertise in financial services, which aligns neatly with OnlyFans’ ambitions to offer banking products to its creators, many of whom have long struggled to access basic financial services because of the nature of their work.
The numbers behind OnlyFans are, by any measure, staggering. The platform posted revenues of $1.4bn in the year to 30th November 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684m, up four per cent on the prior year. Payments to creators totalled $7.2bn over the same period, a rise of nearly ten per cent. Radvinsky personally collected $701m in dividends from the business in 2024 alone, on top of more than $1bn in such payments he had already received. The platform, run through its parent company Felix International, hosts 4.6m creator accounts, with performers keeping 80 per cent of subscription proceeds and the platform pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. It has 377m fan accounts in total.
The current minority stake talks represent a notable scaling back of ambitions. In January, OnlyFans was reported to be in discussions with Architect about selling a majority stake of 60 per cent. Before that, the company had explored a sale to a consortium led by Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Neither deal materialised.
OnlyFans has built an enormously lucrative business on content that mainstream finance has long refused to touch. Now, with its owner gone and a $3bn valuation on the table, it is looking for the kind of respectable institutional backing that might finally persuade the banks to take its calls.
