India has become an essential player in the global electronics market, especially when it comes to manufacturing televisions. Few companies have their own manufacturing unit, but Thomson stands out for its remarkable progress. Under Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO of Super Plastronics Private Limited(SPPL), had an exclusive brand licensee of Thomson in India. The company’s success is attributed to its focus on innovation, quality, and scalability while producing a wide range of televisions that cater to diverse consumer preferences, including LED and QLED TVs. I recently visited the Thomson Factory, where I gained insight into TV manufacturing in India, showcasing the journey from raw materials to finished products.
Upon entering the factory premises, the first impression was the organized chaos, with machinery humming, workers bustling about, and raw materials stacked neatly in designated areas. The tour began with an overview of the manufacturing process, starting from the assembly line where the various components of the TVs come together.
The assembly line is a carefully orchestrated dance of human and machine, with each worker assigned a specific task, such as placing components, attaching screens, and quality control checks. It was fascinating to witness the precision and efficiency with which the workers operated, ensuring that each TV met the highest quality standards.
One of the main highlights was observing the skilled labour force in action. The TVs are assembled at various stations going through a roller belt. Each section had specific tasks, such as attaching backlight LEDs, panels, installing motherboards, WiFi and conducting inspections. The integration of components tracking technology in the manufacturing process increased efficiency and reduced the margin of error, resulting in the production of high-quality products.
As we walked through the assembly line, we witnessed the transformation of raw materials into sleek and beautiful televisions. The factory produces TVs ranging from 32 inches to 75 inches, catering to different market segments. The process for manufacturing LED and QLED TVs follows a similar path, after which specialized techniques are employed for QLED panels to test picture quality and colour accuracy.
Quality control is a crucial requirement in the manufacturing process, with strict measures in place to ensure that every TV meets the highest standards. Random spot checks are conducted at various stages of production to ensure the quality is maintained. This commitment to quality is reflected in the final products, with TVs made in India gaining recognition for their reliability and performance. Moreover, during our visit, we saw a machine with a complete TV unit placed on it to test its ability to withstand the bumpy Indian roads while delivering the products across the country.
The tour ended with a glimpse into the SPPL warehouse, where rows upon rows of fully packaged TVs were neatly stacked and organized. It was an impressive sight, with each TV is ready for delivery across India. The warehouse was bustling with activity as workers were busy preparing the items for shipment, ensuring they were properly secured and labelled for their final destinations. It was clear that SPPL took great care in delivering their products to their customers, and seeing their dedication firsthand was truly inspiring.
Overall, the factory visit provided valuable insights into the complexities of TV manufacturing in India. Every aspect of the process, from the assembly line to the fully assembled package units, is geared towards producing high-quality televisions that compete in India. With a focus on innovation, automation, and sustainability, Thomson TVs will continue significantly contributing to the electronics industry.
The Consumer Electronics Show, or CES, is about to kick off on 5th January 2023. However, like every year, it has already created hype as most of the world’s leading tech giants have already announced what they’re going to reveal at the show. Let’s take a quick look at the major announcements before the actual event hits the shore.
Samsung
Samsung is known to play a vital role in the event and grabs the maximum attention every year. In a recently released press conference, the company unveiled the Odyssey Neo G9, a 57-inch mini-LED display sporting a 7680 × 2160 resolution equivalent to two 4K monitors in one. The massive and immersive desktop is going to be a paradise for every gamer as it offers a 240Hz refresh rate and a 1000R curved screen.
Besides Odyssey Neo G9, Samsung also unveiled its first ultrawide QD-OLED monitor – the Odyssey G95SC, which features a more subtle 1800R curved display, 32:9 aspect ratio and 5120 x 2880 resolution. The newly revealed monitors by Samsung are one of the coolest yet, but what caught most of the attention was the Flex Hybrid – a device with a 4:3 aspect ratio that expands into a 16:10 device; it FOLDS as well as SLIDES.
LG
Samsung and LG have always made CES their home pitch, but in 2023, LG looks a little slow, at least in the initial phase. Till now, the company has unveiled the Z3, G3, and C3 OLED evo series TVs, all loaded with the new α9 AI Processor Gen6. The latest evo series TVs will offer brighter displays, greater colour accuracy, a more personalized webOS experience, virtual 9.1.2 surround sound and enhanced dynamic tone mapping.
Nvidia
Nvidia has started off CES 2023 with a bang. The company, who’s a giant in designing and manufacturing graphics processing units (GPUs), has revealed the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti along with laptop versions of the GeForce RTX 40-series, which will be a part of laptops from Asus, Alienware, MSI and more.
Intel
Intel has enormous plans for CES 2023, and it can be seen how the company is exciting the products before CES hits the world. The chip-making company is expanding its Raptor Lake desktop processor lineup, which is compatible with motherboards previously used for Alder Lake CPUs. Furthermore, Intel has a long lineup of processor launches, ranging from the high-end Core i9-13900 to the budget Core i3-13100F.
Laptops
Alienware – Already trending with a massive 18-inch gaming laptop.
Asus – Revealed the ROG Strix G18 and the ROG Strix Scar 18 laptops, featuring Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards.
Acer – Revealed new 16-inch laptops with the latest chips from Intel.
TVs
Displace – We are going to witness the world’s first wireless TV, which is set to make a debut at CES 2023.
The world is already running out of fossil fuel reserves, and the level of pollution is increasing dangerously day by day, causing trouble in our routine lives. So, making electric vehicles part of our lives is the need of the hour and starting small with buying electric vehicles is a step towards meeting the global goals of climate change. To help you make your e-journey more comfortable, we’ve created a list of Top 10 Electric Bikes in India.
Revolt RV400
Range: 150 kilometres
Torque: 170 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
If you’re looking for an electric bike for your daily commute, then you should definitely go for a Revolt RV400. It is the first electric motorcycle from Revolt Intellicorp, a Gurugram-headquartered start-up managed by Rahul Sharma, the same man who co-founded Micromax in India. The Revolt RV400 is the first AI-enabled electric motorcycle in the Indian market. The sleek, sporty and muscular e-bike is manufactured on the same lines as Micromax, bringing the Chinese components and Indianising it.
The design of the RV400 resembles the Chinese-made Super Soco TS1200R e-bike. The RV400 e-bike offers a fully digital instrument panel, a 3.24kW lithium-ion battery, 85km of top speed, an ARAI-certified range of 156km, a combi brake system, and a warranty of 8 years or 1,50,000 km, whichever is earlier. The e-bike is available in two variants; the premium variant is priced at ₹1,02,000, and the standard variant is priced at ₹90,000.
TVS iQube Electric
Range: 75 kilometres
Torque: 140 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
TVS entered the electric scooter segment with the launch of the iQube Electric scooter. The e-bike is priced at ₹1,15,000 and offers exceptional value for money, along with riding comfort. The TVS e-bike is powered by a 4.4kW electric hub motor and a set of 2.25kWh li-ion batteries. It provides up to 75km of range in one single charge and a top speed of 78 Kmph. The exceptionally refined and silent e-bike has two riding modes – economy and power.
The TVS iCube electric offers a Q-park Assist feature, which helps in forward and backward motion assistance. Also, it offers several other features such as an all-LED lighting system, a TFT instrument cluster and smartphone connectivity. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the expansion of the iCube e-bike, and that’s why it is currently available only in selected cities, including Bengaluru, Delhi, and Pune. The impressive and practical iCube will compete with the Bajaj Chetak, and soon it will be available in more cities by March 2022.
Ather 450X
Range: 65 kilometres
Torque: 20.5 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
Ather Energy Pvt. Ltd. is a Bangalore-headquartered electric vehicle company founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain. The Ather 450X e-scooter is developed and manufactured entirely in India, and it is one of the best e-scooters to hit the market. The 450X was first launched in late 2019 at ₹1,32,000, and it appears very much identical with Ather 450. The stand-out e-scooter is offered in three colours, space grey with a yellow, white body with green accents and mint green with orange accents. Ather 450X supports a 4G sim card, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, smart helmets, and tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).
The e-scooter offers three different riding modes, X-Eco, Ride and Sport, with adjustable attributes, making 450X a flawless e-scooter for Indian roads. It also offers one special mode, Warp mode which helps you to accelerate from 0-40kmph in 3.41 seconds. The e-scooter has a battery capacity of 2.9kWh, and it takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes to charge the battery fully when using a standard home-charging point. A fully charged 450X can aid you to achieve the average 65kms of range. Ather Grid, an electric vehicle charging infrastructure, has set up over 120 fast charging points in 18 cities across India as of March 2021.
Bajaj Chetak
Range: 95 kilometres
Torque: 16.2 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
The Bajaj Chetak scooter has a special place in the heart of the middle-class Indians, the iconic scooter was relaunched in 2020 as an electric scooter, and like the good old days, the scooter grabbed people’s attention. The Chetak e-scooter is priced at ₹1,42,000, and currently, it is available for sale in Pune, Bangalore and Nagpur. The company has plans to expand the sale and make the model available in 22 cities by the end of 2022.
The Bajaj Chetak has a 3.8 kW BLDC motor that offers Eco and Sport riding modes. The e-scooter has a 3kW lithium-ion battery which provides a range of 80 km on a single charge. The Chetak e-scooter is available in urbane and premium variants with 6 colours options. The seamless and stylish e-scooter from the house of Bajaj is designed in metal, which helps it stand apart from the other e-scooters. The Chetak competes against the Ather 450X and the TVS iQube Electric.
Okinawa iPraise+
Range: 139 kilometres
Torque: 40 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
The name Okinawa may sound similar to Japanese or Chinese background, but Okinawa is an Indian company started in 2015. The Gurgaon headquartered company manufactures India’s fastest and most advanced e-scooters, and Okinawa iPraise+ is one of them. Okinawa e-bikes witnessed massive price cuts following the Fame II subsidy scheme in 2020, and that’s why the e-bike iPraise+ is now priced at ₹99,708, about ₹17,892 less expensive than the previous price.
The Okinawa iPraise+ is identical to its elder sibling iPraise, but the new plus version e-bike uses detachable lithium-ion batteries and gets premium features such as geofencing, virtual speed limit, find my scooter, battery health tracker, maintenance/insurance reminder, and vehicle status. The e-bike is powered by a 1000w BLDC motor that can make up to 2500w power to reach a top speed of 58kmph. The iPraise+ is claimed to be charged in 4 to 5 hours and provides you 139Km of range in one go.
Hero Electric Optima HX (Dual Battery)
Range: 122 kilometres
Torque: N/A
Battery: Lithium-Ion
Hero is one of India’s most popular and trustable bike brands, and only the name is enough to make sure this scooter will be reliable and suitable for the average Indian biker. Hero has several e-bikes in their lineup, but if you’re looking for an electric bike that will best fit the city roads in India, then Hero Optima HX (Dual Battery) is the best option for you. The e-bike offers a Telescopic Suspension to help you avoid rough and bumpy rides; the suspension assures you a smooth and jerk-free ride.
The 12-inch alloy wheels in Optima HX make your vehicle lighter and more stable. The 550/1200 Watts of Motor Power allows you a top speed of 42kmph. The lightweight frame Optima HX (Dual Battery) is claimed to be charged fully in 4 to 5 hours and provides a 122 Km range in a single charge. The e-bike arrives with a shiny body design, along with a spacious comfortable seat. The Optima HX (Dual Battery) is available in four colour options and is priced at ₹59,000.
Ultraviolette F77
Range: 108 kilometres
Torque: 90 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
Ultraviolette F77 is India’s first sporty electric motorcycle and brings its design inspiration from the aviation space. The e-bike offers innovative engineering from the inside out along with intelligent interfacing. The F77 is powered by a 27kW electric motor producing 33.5bhp and 90Nm of torque to provide you with 0-100kmph in just 7.5 seconds. Currently, Ultraviolette F77 is the most powerful on sale electric motorcycle in India, giving you a top speed of 147kmph.
The F77 motorcycle houses three removable lithium-ion batteries of 4.2kWh each to allow you to cover the range of 150km on one single charge. The electric motorcycle also supports fast charging to give you 0 to 80 per cent in just 50 minutes. The F77 offers smart features such as LTE connectivity, Adaptive dashboard brightness with Ambient Light Sensor, GPS/GLONASS positioning for real-time velocity, Shock and Impact sensors and Customisable Performance Profiles. The freaky and sporty looking e-bike is priced at ₹3,00,000.
Joy e-bike Monster
Range: 75 kilometres
Torque: 30 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
Joy e-bike Monster is one of the most stylish products offered by the Gujarat-based two-wheeler manufacturing company Joy e-Bike. The Monster e-bike is inspired by the Honda Grom 125, and at the same time, its design looks quite similar to the Ducati Monster. The sleek and stylish petrol free bike runs on a powerful 72V/39Ah Lithium-Ion battery and hydraulic suspension. The e-bike takes 4 to 4.5 hours to charge from flat to 100% and offers 75km of range in one charge. The Joy e-bike Monster is powered by 250 Watts Brushless Hub motor and priced at ₹1,06,000.
Pure EV Epluto 7G
Range: 90-120 kilometres
Torque: 60 Nm
Battery: Lithium-Ion
The Pure EV Epluto 7G is a premium looking e-bike that offers a serene ride with an emission-free and anxiety-free experience. The e-bike is specially made for Indian roads and matches some of the best options on the list. The design of the Epluto 7G is modern and attractive, which resembles the Vespa models and Bajaj Chetak. The e-bike generates 1500W power from its BLDC motor to get a top speed of 65kmph. The high-speed electric scooter helps you achieve a speed of 0-40 kmph in just 5 seconds and offers a range of around 90-120kms in one full charge. The bike accommodates Anti-theft Smart Lock and a ladies footrest option. The e-bike is available in 6 colour options and is priced at ₹83,999.
Hero Electric Photon HX
Range: 108 kilometres
Torque: N/A
Battery: Lithium-Ion
The new Photon HX is a high-speed electric scooter from the house of Hero electric. The e-scooter is offered in a single variant – HX and three colour options. The Hero Photon HX generates 1200W power from its motor to provide you with a top speed of 45kmph. The e-scooter arrives with powerful LED headlamps to help you ride safely, even in the dark and 10-inch alloy wheels to make your vehicle lighter and more stable. The Hero Electric Photon HX takes 5 hours to charge the battery fully and offers 108km of range in one go. The e-scooter is priced at ₹71,440 and can be a valuable option for any rider.
There must be hardly anyone unfamiliar with TVS motorcycles. Not just in India, but these motorcycles have caused uproar even in international markets. Built with quality, endurance, and performance in mind, TVS motorcycles have been used by Indian commuters for generations. But how did it reach its current standards? What went behind creating one of the best Indian two-wheeler manufacturers? Here’s a look back at some of the highlights of TVS’s journey:
Beginning:
TVS stands for Thirukkurungudi Vengaram Sundaram. T.V. Sundaram Iyengar established the company as a bus service in Delhi. Called Sundaram Iyengar and Sons Limited, it was the first bus service provider in Delhi. The year 1962 saw the inception of Sundaram Clayton. This company was invented by the collaboration of Sundaram company and Clayton Dewandre Holdings of the United Kingdom. They manufactured spares such as bike brakes, compressors, and other automotive products. In 1978, they set up their first automobile manufacturing plant at Hosur Tamil Nadu. In 1980, they launched India’s first two-seater model named TVS 50. 1982 was when Sundaram Clayton Ltd collaborated with the Suzuki Motor Corporation and thus began the era of TVS-Suzuki.
TVS-Suzuki Era:
TVS launched most of the products under the name of Suzuki to have a better position in the market. Suzuki Supra, Suzuki Samurai, Suzuki Shogun, and Suzuki Shaolin were some of the models launched by the joint venture of TVS Suzuki. This collaboration took the market by storm for about 19 years, when it ended in 2001. The end of the partnership of these two giants significantly impacted the country’s automobile market. It turned out to be a wild attack on the market as this end of the collaboration resulted in the departure of Suzuki Ltd from the Indian market for about 30 months.
As per the agreement, Suzuki could not enter the Indian market for the next 30 months in any form if it is a collaboration or a self-producing company. After the end of the partnership, this company got its present title TVS Motors. This title also turned out to be a good sign for the company. After that, all the models launched by the company ruled the market for a long time. The company brought its hands significantly impacted all kinds of automobiles, including mileage specific bikes, sports bikes, scooters, and three-wheelers.
Solo standings:
This company also holds the title of “first” in many things in the Indian automobile industry. It gave us the first indigenous scooter, the TVS Scooty. It also gave us the first motorcycle with Digital Ignition technology, the TVS Champ. Victor, which is India’s first fully indigenous motorcycle, is also a model of this company. The first motorcycle in India with ABS was Apache RTR, and the first scooter with Body Balance technology was TVS Wego.
Early 2015 was when the company achieved new heights. Its racing division, aptly named TVS Racing, became the first Indian factory team to participate in the Dakar Rally, the world’s longest and most dangerous rally. It partnered with French motorcycle manufacturer Sherco to form Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team. The Indian racing team has also won accolades in the Raid-de-Himalaya and the FOX Hill Super Cross rallies in Sri Lanka. In the thirty years of its racing history, TVS Racing has won over 90 per cent of the races it has participated in.
On 17th April 2020, the company officially announced that it had acquired Britain’s most iconic sporting motorcycle, “Norton”, in an all-cash deal of GBP16 million (roughly Rs 165 crores). This unlocked new heights for TVS, which has since become deeply rooted in the international automobile scene.
In recent times, TVS has collaborated with BMW to launch its trifecta of motorcycles. These include the TVS Apache RR310, the BMW G310R and the BMW G310GS. All these motorcycles share many similarities, the most significant being a common engine.
TVS Motor Company, a reputed manufacturer of two-wheelers and three-wheelers worldwide, introduced the 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle today. The motorcycle continues to stay true to its racing pedigree by offering increased power and torque in line with its customers’ evolving needs, thereby ensuring the best performance and power of 17.63 PS – making it the ‘Most Powerful’ motorcycle in its class.
Speaking on occasion, Mr Meghashyam Dighole, Head – (Marketing) Premium Motorcycles, TVS Motor Company, said, “Backed by 38 years of racing pedigree, the new 2021 TVS Apache RTR 160 4V offers best-in-class performance with enhanced power to weight ratio and increased torque, offering our customers better-riding experiences along with advanced technologies. TVS Apache has always been committed to scaling higher benchmarks for customer satisfaction. We are confident that these enhancements will further strengthen the success story of our TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle.” TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle gets an advanced engine 159.7 cc, single-cylinder, 4-valve, oil-cooled engine, that now churns out 17.63 PS at 9250 RPM and 14.73 Nm torque at 7250 RPM. The engine is mated to a 5-speed super-slick gearbox that offers an authentic and powerful riding experience. The motorcycle comes with an all-new dual tone seat with a carbon fibre pattern and LED headlamp with claw-styled position lamps adding to its overall premium appeal. Additionally, the motorcycle has become lighter with a two kg weight reduction, with the disc variant weighing 147kg and the drum variant weighing 145 kg.
The new TVS Apache RTR 160 4V motorcycle will be available in three colours: Racing Red, Knight Black and Metallic Blue. It will be available in two variants at the current price; Disc priced at ₹ 110,320 (ex-showroom Delhi) and the Drum priced at ₹ 107,270 (ex-showroom Delhi).
Many adults (like me) have an inner child hidden deep somewhere. Although we don’t usually get a chance to let the child loose, TVS is offering a great opportunity! Even if that is not the case, parents of today’s generation can now help their children unleash their inner Avenger!
The global two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer recently launched the TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition inspired by Marvel’s Avengers. The Company has associated with Disney India’s consumer products business to introduce a special SuperSquad edition of TVS NTORQ 125 – India’s first Bluetooth connected scooter with RT-Fi technology, inspired by the iconic Marvel Super Heroes.
In 2018, TVS NTORQ 125 was launched as India’s first Bluetooth connected scooter. In the past year, TVS NTORQ 125 has also introduced Race Tuned Fuel Injection across its portfolio. It continues to evolve and seeks to delight its new-generation customers – Gen Z. For Gen Z, the Marvel Universe is a strong affinity area. TVS NTORQ 125 breaks new ground with the launch of the SuperSquad Edition inspired by Marvel’s Avengers.
The SuperSquad Edition will comprise three new enticing offerings, namely Invincible Red, Stealth Black, and Combat Blue inspired by Iron Man, Black Panther, and Captain America respectively. The edition brings forth finer nuances associated with each Marvel Super Hero through the product design. To further delight the enthusiasts, the fitting campaign tagline for the edition is ‘Play Smart. Play Epic’.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Aniruddha Haldar, Vice President (Marketing) – Commuter Motorcycles, Scooters & Corporate Brand, TVS Motor Company, said, “We are excited to launch the TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition inspired by Marvel’s Avengers. With this association, our common Gen Z consumers can ‘Play Smart. Play Epic’. We have all had our favourite Super Hero, with whom we relate. We find ways to celebrate this relationship. The TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition, gives new expression to this ageless fascination. The initial feedback has been nothing short of EPIC. We are sure that this too will be a blockbuster!”
The SuperSquad logo and the iconic Avenger’s ‘A’ are prominently placed on the front panel, leg shield, and below the speedometer.
Stealth Black
Inspired by Black Panther, this edition packs in the jet-black colour along with hues of purple. The scooter sports elements from the Black Panther suit as a large part of the decals. For enthusiasts, it packs more surprises with the signature salute Wakanda Forever and the inclusion of the number 66 (1966), denoting the year when the character was introduced in the Marvel Universe.
Invincible Red
Inspired by Iron Man, the decals replicate his Red and Gold suit giving it a stellar look. The Iron Man helmet is embossed on the leg shield, while the arc reactor finds its way to both panels. Enthusiasts will be delighted with the Mark XXIX encryption on both panels which signifies Fiddler, Iron Man’s 29th suit, along with the number 63 (1963) indicating the year when the character was introduced in the Marvel Universe.
Combat Blue
Inspired by Captain America, the scooter gets the blue, white, red colour tone associated with the First Avenger. True to the character, it sports the number 41 (1941), the year when Captain America was introduced in the Marvel Universe. The shield is at the front of the scooter and the edition flaunts Super Soldier on both panels with pride.
The TVS Connect App of the SuperSquad Edition is powered by SmartXonnect* and will come with customized UI, inspired by the characters. The app opens with the silhouette of the respective characters and then important elements such as Captain America’s shield, Iron Man’s suit, and Black Panther’s eyes along with the character crest are consistent across the app interface. Each app screen is crafted with a unique character trait of the selected Super Hero, making it a complete Marvel experience.
TVS NTORQ 125 SuperSquad Edition is priced at Rs. 77865 (ex-showroom)
