MAM
Lachlan Murdoch, Sorrell head record seminar schedule at Cannes Lions
MUMBAI: This year’s International Advertising Festival, Cannes Lions 2005, which kicked off on 19 June has lined up an unprecedented 36 seminar and presentations. Some of the most influential creatives, clients and media owners will take part in the programmes. The festival will conclude on 25 June.
One of the most awaited seminars is the Cannes Debate, to be held in the Debussy theatre on Friday, 24 June on the topic Building A Better Mousetrap, states an official release.
Lachlan Murdoch, Media Person Of The Year and deputy chief operating officer of News Corporation, Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, Howard Draft, chairman and CEO of Draft and Chuck Porter, chairman of Crispin, Porter + Bogusky will tackle the issue of how to get messages across in a multi-platform, consumer-controlled world.
Murdoch will draw on his success in New York’s tough newspaper market. He told Lions Daily: “Attracting new advertisers like American Express to the New York Post proves that the environment and demographic reach are right.”
Sir Martin will explain his theory of a two-speed advertising world: “You’ve got relatively low rates of growth in the US and western Europe, and very high rates of growth in places like Latin America, Asia, the Middle East and eastern Europe.”
The speaking schedule began on 19 June with a session from FEDMA and resumed on 20 June morning with Remember Me, hosted by MPG, examining the impact of digital media on a crowded landscape, a theme followed up by OgilvyOne’s Verge, a showcase of digital solutions.
The afternoon saw an examination of Orange’s use of cinema advertising, Bob Greenberg, chairman, CEO and chief creative officer of R/GA (New York) on new models for agencies, and Grey Global on the ticklish issue of tobacco marketing. Pre-viewing his contribution, Greenberg told Lions Daily: Bob Greenberg: “The digital domain is more accountable and that is making agencies nervous.”
21 June kicks off with Proximity’s session on mobile marketing, followed by a ZenithOptimedia analysis of China, while the afternoon includes Cliff Francis and Bernard Glock on the Saatch & Saatchi/Procter & Gamble partnership.
The 22 June highlights: Keith Reinhard, chairman, DDB Worldwide, Andy Berlin, chairman and CEO, Red cell and June Blocklin, vice-chairman, Young & Rubicam Brands run a slide rule over the financial dimensions of creativity and a highlight is the high-powered panel assembled by MSN looking at the new rules governing clients and agencies, the official release adds.
Reflecting the new Lions awards, the Radio Advertising Bureau hosts a session on The Hidden Power Of the Human Voice on 23 June and in the afternoon Creativity looks at design case histories.
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.
