MAM
P&G ups ad spend in FY12 despite fall in profit
MUMBAI: FMCG major Procter & Gamble (P&G) increased its ad spend by 25.95 per cent in its financial year ended 30 June 2012. The company spent Rs 2.33 billion in FY12 as compared to Rs 1.85 billion a year earlier on advertising and promotions.
The ratio of advertising and promotions spend to total sales of P&G was, however, marginally lower at 17.96 per cent against 18.44 per cent a year earlier.
P&G recorded annual revenue of Rs 12.97 billion, which is 29.31 per cent more than Rs 10.03 billion a year earlier. Its net profit rose 19.87 per cent from Rs 1.51 billion in FY11 to Rs 1.81 billion FY12.
For the quarter ended 30 June 2012, the FMCG giant spent Rs 482.8 million on ads and promotions; a 6.55 per cent increase from Q4 FY12‘s Rs 453.1 million. The revenue for this period was reported as Rs 3.13 billion having scaled up by 27.76 per cent from the corresponding quarter in 2011 at Rs 2.45 billion.
The company‘s net profit for the quarter ended 30 June 2012 was 1 per cent less at Rs 352.7 million compared with Rs. 356.3 million a year earlier. The decrease in profit is mainly attributed to increased expenses under change in inventories of finished goods, work-in-progress and stock-in trade. In the last quarter of FY 11, the company actually earned Rs 34.1 million under this category while this year it spent Rs 62.1 million on the same.
The FMCG giant was one of the sponsors at this year‘s Olympics Games held in London and earned quite a few pats on the back for its global ‘Thank You Mom‘ campaign. In India too, P&G carried out activities and initiatives as part of this campaign. Apart from sponsoring Indian boxer Mary Kom (who went on to win a bronze in the Flyweight (51kg) category), the company also carried out the ‘Fulfill her Wish‘ initiative.
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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.
