MAM
Sandeep Sharma returns to Times of India as branch vertical head
Gurugram: Sandeep Sharma is back where it all began. The media sales veteran has rejoined Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd., publisher of The Times of India, as branch vertical head – automobile, marking a return to his first organisation after nearly four years away.
Based in Gurugram, Sharma’s comeback follows a stint at Acko Drive, where he led revenue strategy, sponsorships and branded content for the automotive digital platform, including its flagship automobile awards and industry IPs.
With more than 17 years in the media business, Sharma has built deep expertise across the automobile, consumer durables and telecom verticals, three of the most competitive and revenue-heavy categories in Indian media. Before Acko Drive, he spent two years at Dainik Bhaskar Group as assistant general manager, heading enterprise revenue for marquee accounts such as Maruti, Hyundai, Kia, Samsung and Apple across multiple markets.
Sharma is no stranger to Times Group. He spent over 14 years at Bennett Coleman earlier in his career, rising from senior manager to deputy chief manager. In that phase, he handled key consumer durables and telecom accounts, generated annual revenues of about Rs 80 crore, and stitched together large integrated deals across print, digital, television and out-of-home.
At Times of India, Sharma is expected to sharpen the automobile vertical’s growth strategy, deepen OEM and agency relationships, and push customised branded content and partnerships in a market where competition for ad budgets is intensifying.
Sometimes, going back is not a retreat but a reset. For Sharma, the return to Times Group is less about nostalgia and more about unfinished business—this time with sharper tools and a longer rear-view mirror.
Brands
Hyundai launches updated Ioniq 5 with 84 kWh battery, 690 km range
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh, adds design, tech and safety upgrades.
MUMBAI: Charge it up, stretch it out, Hyundai’s latest electric upgrade is going the distance, quite literally. Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has introduced an updated version of its Ioniq 5, packing in a larger 84.0 kWh battery that delivers a claimed range of up to 690 km (ARAI-certified), marking a significant leap in everyday usability for its flagship electric SUV.
Built on Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), the refreshed IONIQ 5 aims to balance performance with practicality, reducing range anxiety while making long-distance electric travel more viable. The upgrade builds on a model that has already secured global recognition, including the World Car of the Year title.
The changes aren’t just under the skin. On the outside, the SUV gets a sharper, more futuristic look with redesigned front and rear bumpers, new skid plates, sporty alloy wheels, a revised rear spoiler and updated V-garnish lighting, all while retaining its signature Parametric Pixel design.
Inside, Hyundai has focused on making the experience more intuitive. The cabin now features a redesigned three-spoke steering wheel with illuminated pixel elements, dual 12.3-inch displays, and a reworked wireless charging pad integrated with physical controls for seat functions small tweaks that aim to improve day-to-day usability.
On the tech front, the IONIQ 5 gets Hyundai’s Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC), Controller Over-the-Air (C-OTA) updates, and now supports wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. New additions such as Active Sound Design and in-car payment integration for EV charging reflect a push towards a more seamless, connected ownership experience. Remote immobilisation via Bluelink has also been introduced as an added security layer.
Safety sees incremental upgrades too, with features like Parking Collision-Avoidance Assist (Rear) and side parking distance warnings enhancing manoeuvrability in tight urban spaces.
The updated IONIQ 5 is available in four colour options Gravity Gold Matte, Midnight Black Pearl, Titan Grey and Optic White with an Obsidian Black interior theme.
Priced at Rs 55.7 lakh (ex-showroom), the new IONIQ 5 positions itself as a more rounded offering, less about futuristic promise, and more about making electric mobility fit seamlessly into everyday life.
